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Career Management

Poll: Have you been a victim of workplace bullying?

January 25, 2011, 6:17 AM PST

Takeaway: Have you ever left a job because you were being bullied in some way by a co-worker or boss?

A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog about workplace bullying. That blog got a large response, leading me to believe that this is a problem shared by many people. A TechRepublic member recently wrote to me saying it would be interesting to get the stats of something like that. I decided to conduct a poll of our audience to see who has actually had to leave a job due to bullying, whether it be from a co-worker or boss. Please take a second to take this poll.

Have you ever left a job due to being bullied in some way?

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About Toni Bowers

Toni Bowers is an award-winning writer and Managing Editor for TechRepublic.

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5 Votes

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Yes

cbader@... 25th Jan 2011

Technically I was fired from this job, but I had an interview the next day and they made an offer so I wouldve walked anyway.

The boss was an arrogant micro managing ass. This was the first time that the stress of being around someone ever manifested itself physically, I literally left work everyday in pain.

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5 Votes

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Moderator

Yes, and no

GSG 25th Jan 2011

I had several people attempt to bully me, but I put a stop to it. When told that I was the "token chic" and that I should make coffee, I didn't say anything, but made the coffee, poured it, and brought it to them, and they all took a drink. I made it with 2 scoops of coffee, and 4 scoops of salt. I told them that if they wanted to play that game, that I'd make the coffee and would make sure they drank it.

When told that I should stay home and have babies, I reminded the person who said that about his personal life growing up that he didn't want everyone to know about, and that turn about was fair play.

When told that I was too stupid to be in IT, and that I didn't belong there, I quietly studied for my MCP, and took great joy in coming in after I passed the test, and showing my friends my cert. I then snottily asked the guy who told me I was too stupid, how many times he had taken the test and failed. When he said "three", I said, "Huh, I passed it with 90% on my first try. Maybe you're too stupid to work in IT."

Sometimes, you just have to pull on your big girl panties and take care of the problem. Think of the bully as a wild carnivore, and you're a nice, tender looking bit of prey. If you stand your ground you can usually scare off the carnivore, but if you turn tail and run, they'll hamstring you every time.

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3 Votes

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only job i ever quit the first day...

ls1313 25th Jan 2011

was due to the owner being the worst bully I had encountered in my adult life. The last straw was the fact that he harangued his employees to go to church, particularly his church, and stated repeatedly that he didn't care that he could get in trouble - this was his place and he could do what he liked. I ran like a greyhound from there!

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1 Vote

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Pro

It is difficult to bully an IT guy

JJFitz 18th Jul 2011

because we know what you are doing online on company time. happy

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0 Votes

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Bullying...

mikeydrinkwater 14th Jun 2011

Hi, from all of the above comments, it seems that bullying appears to be an American thing. Are the rest of the world frightened to write in here? I can assure you it happens in UK, having both seen and experienced it. Whilst I would never advocate violence, a serious word in an un-witnessed area can often sort out the problem! Alternatively find yourself work away from th endemic bully culture of the larger organisations, where it can flourish because of the size of the org.
Best advice, record each incident and e-mails etc, politely inform the bully in an e-mail to him/her, CC to HR, that if it continues, you will take legal action 'outside' of the Company. See how quickly the organisation gets on board!

Best of luck to the bullied, you can beat it, bullies, be assured that what goes around comes around!!

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0 Votes

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bullying on the job

plumbsue60@... 11th Feb 2011

I am a very strong person and I did not let the bullying drive me away from my job. I learned to be strong at a very earlier age because I was bullied and picked most of my childhood.

I have also learned if you give the bullies enough rope, they will hang themselves. I did not have to do anything to get back at them, they did it all to themselves.

And most of all, the best defense is always the truth.

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