Commenting on Mobbed at Work

by Anonymous nj
(NJ)

I write comment to the counselor who spoke of what he's experienced. He wrote of one observation:

9. Bullies run in packs and that makes most of the situations that I see mobbing. The "bully" almost always has support from colleagues, subordinates and especially organizational leadership. Current "anti-bullying" measures have been learned, integrated and turned against the targets.

I too, finally realized this most important piece of information about the business world. (so obvious it is, but if we don't think like 'them' we don't expect what is happening)

A 'bully' is a worker. Salaried or hourly; they work 'for' the company and they need their job. So, of course they aren't going to do 'nasty stuff' or 'say nasty stuff' if they don't have 'the okey dokey' from 'their boss.' Bullies are not stupid, they know the walls have eyes and ears. So obvious. We know a bully is a coward; yet 'we think' they act as they do by themselves. NEVER. They work 'for the company' and will do what 'the company' tells them to do. (right or wrong) So; another reason why one does not seek 'help' from a member of exec management. They already know and they hope you run to them; it says "can't handle people" (which is
of course not true, it's all about intimidating co workers but THEY KNOW IT...so keep the lips TIGHT. (laugh at it, silently, that they think we the worker is 'so dumb' to their ways.)

Companies no longer need a lot of help. But, at times it benefits them to get things "tidy" / maybe the economy is bustling and they need extra hands to churn things out. This doesn't mean they will keep the new hire. I firmly believe they 'test' the character of their new employee to see what they do, say, or how they act. In the old days, good character was a given on all sides. Management set the example, of course. I do not think that's how management thinks anymore. They will have someone poke, mock, rattle the chains to get mad, ostracize, leave out of information pertinent to the job; to see if this one passes 'muster' (somewhat like boot camp in the army) But the testing never ends...they are never satisfied; they keep it up. It matters not if the victim is terminated; he or she sweats, puts out lots of work, and then when this worker yells Uncle...they throw up the yellow 'penalty' flag and that good worker is OUT of the game. Then they hire another victim and the cycle continues. (if they can, they try to make it such they don't have to pay unemployment insurance: ie: they hope the victim quits or they can trump up some charge so they don't have to pay.

Without a doubt, when another worker 'like the bullied worker' is arrogant, nasty, demeaning...BEWARE because he acts not on his own. He knows better than to act on his own.

When taking a job make sure you are filling a bonafide need and not just 'replacing' another. That the NEED is there for this added position.

Such a sad world.