Bullying in the Workplace

     It is very apparent that bullying is increasing in our society.  When I think of bullying I don't think of it occuring to people my age (25) or older.  That changed when I saw that infamous youtube video of that lady on a school bus.  I always thought of bullying as kids picking on other kids.  Little did I know that I would soon experience bullying first hand. 

     I was one of those few (and lucky) people who enjoyed their job.  It may not have been the best out there, but it was one I enjoyed.  I had been there a few months and got promoted and moved to another department.  That's when things started to change.  Some of my fellow employees had a malicious demeanor to them.  For some of them it wasn't always obvious; you could tell there was something there: something unpleasant waiting to strike at any given moment.  So I kept to my work trying my best to do my own thing. 

     One Wednesday afternoon was when it all changed.  It had seemed as though one of my fellow employees had been leary of me the whole day giving off an unpleasant vibe.  I was very confused but kept going about my day.  A little later we found ourselves crossing paths in the back (of course where there wasn't anyone around) and this employee decided to confront me.  Well startle me was more like it.  This person's approach was to make an a-line right towards me, start yelling at me, push me, step on me, grab something from my hands, and stare me down.  I, shaken up, didn't know what to do so I just left the area.

     I immediately called my manager and explained the situation.  No action was taken.  I was beyond shocked.  We weren't called to discuss and resolve what had obviously been some bullying not to mention assault.  In my opinion by not doing anything you are empowering this person to do it again (which I have no doubt said person will). 

     I decided to go to lunch 30min early because I was mad and still shaken up.  It was then that I decided I was just going to leave early for the day.  I wasn't in any state to return back to work after what had happend.  I was honest in telling my manager my reason for leaving early.  I wasn't expecting what was about to happen.  Instead of getting the "ok but it will count as an absence or tardy" that I thought I was going to hear, my manager's response was no.  I was told I was not allowed to leave.  Seriously?  Now I'm more upset than before.  Let's review:  bullied and assulted, nothing gets done, and I'm told that because of that that's no excuse to want to leave work early.  Then my manager becomes condescending.  I can't take it anymore (this kind of stuff had been going on for sometime now by the way:  the employees going at each other and the managers doing nothing).  I know what I have to do.  I am shaking and without hesitation, I quit.  This is something that I have never in my 9 years of working have done.  I don't know how this works.  So many thoughts are racing through my already fast paced mind.  It wasn't until I got home home had it really sunk in.  I didn't work there anymore due to many things but it mainly boiled down to I was bullied in the workplace and wasn't going to accept it. 

     A good article to read about bullying in the workplace:http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-3114-Workplace-Issues-Workplace-bullying-on-the-rise-according-to-new-study/?SiteId=cbmsnhp43114&sc_extcmp=JS_3114_home1