Originally Posted by louisemc

I have been working for several years in a section where there are a lot of problems. One colleague committed suicide because of harassment, another is taking the boss to court, a third has had a nervous breakdown and is off work on invalidity, another has to drink alcohol to get to sleep at night.

After the suicide of my colleague HR sent an evaluation on the boss which she only gave her friends to complete and the rest she falsified the signatures.

There are only 12 people in the section. Five are the bosses friends from the Philippines. There is one in each office so it is like we are working with spies. No one speaks in there with each other. I asked one colleague if she thought it was a toxic work environment and she replied "I would rather not say".

The boss gives people she doesn't look strange looks in the corridor. She talks with her friends (who work in our section) about what she is going to write in people's reviews. I walk into the office and hear things like "I am going to get Maureen", that is the woman who is going to take her to court. She openly humiliates people at team meetings in front of others. At one meeting she said "I am going to exterminate the cockroaches in here".

She tries to find out as much as she can about people's pasts and use it against them. She told one colleague she found out they were a former alcholic and another had gotten sacked from a job and used it against them and threatened them.

I have gained ten kilos in the past year because of depression due to work. Eventhough my work was fine my boss would not sign my review for 2 months and I could not handle it any more and almost had a nervous breakdown. I went into her office every 3 days asking if my work was o.k. and she was laughing at me seeing me in distress.

Should I try to get out of this workplace as quickly as possible? Would you work in this type of workplace?

Originally Posted by Oink

You could be right but there's always many sides to a story. Have you considered that it might be your behaviour and attitude that are causing problems?

Originally Posted by JonboyE

Assuming this is real then no, I would not work in such a place for a moment longer. I would take some time off and consider your next action:

a) Make a detailed, yet dispassionate, list of the problems. Make this as factual as possible. Support it with provable facts – either documentary proof or reliable witnesses. Particularly important is behaviour that is clearly contrary to company policy, the Law, or where there is a measurable loss to the company. You have to assume that whoever reads this will think their company is perfect and you are a disgruntled, spiteful, bad apple. Completely avoid words like feelings and strange looks.

If you can put together a convincing document then send it to the most senior person in the company with responsibility for human resources. Include a cover letter saying that you cannot continue working in this environment but that you have enjoyed other times working for the company, are grateful for your opportunities and, as you don’t believe they will condone the situation, you wanted to bring it to their attention.

The response will tell you what you need to know to make future decisions.

Unfortunately, you have to take into account that one possible response is that you will be considered a disgruntled, spiteful, bad apple and end up fired with a lousy reference. If this is not an option, or you can’t prove your assertions then:

b) Write a very polite and professional resignation letter, thanking the company for the opportunity they gave you and offering every co-operation in handing over your work to your successor. Take the high road and keep your dignity intact. (And not forgetting that in three or four years’ time the person writing your reference will have no personal knowledge of the situation and will only have the documents in your file to go on. )

Originally Posted by louisemc

I have been working for several years in a section where there are a lot of problems. One colleague committed suicide because of harassment, another is taking the boss to court, a third has had a nervous breakdown and is off work on invalidity, another has to drink alcohol to get to sleep at night.

After the suicide of my colleague HR sent an evaluation on the boss which she only gave her friends to complete and the rest she falsified the signatures.

There are only 12 people in the section. Five are the bosses friends from the Philippines. There is one in each office so it is like we are working with spies. No one speaks in there with each other. I asked one colleague if she thought it was a toxic work environment and she replied "I would rather not say".

The boss gives people she doesn't look strange looks in the corridor. She talks with her friends (who work in our section) about what she is going to write in people's reviews. I walk into the office and hear things like "I am going to get Maureen", that is the woman who is going to take her to court. She openly humiliates people at team meetings in front of others. At one meeting she said "I am going to exterminate the cockroaches in here".

She tries to find out as much as she can about people's pasts and use it against them. She told one colleague she found out they were a former alcholic and another had gotten sacked from a job and used it against them and threatened them.

I have gained ten kilos in the past year because of depression due to work. Eventhough my work was fine my boss would not sign my review for 2 months and I could not handle it any more and almost had a nervous breakdown. I went into her office every 3 days asking if my work was o.k. and she was laughing at me seeing me in distress.

Should I try to get out of this workplace as quickly as possible? Would you work in this type of workplace?

Originally Posted by nikki dreaming

sorry, this whole post seems a little odd to me, would you work here would you stay type questions?? I cant see many saying oh yeah, stay, it sounds great

Some of the comments made may actually have potential to identify individuals, if this is all a genuine post I would be cautious in the information you post

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian

Are people on here all spies or something? What does it matter if people can identify individuals? My take on it is that if people are not prepared to stand by what they post, they shouldn't be posting it

Originally Posted by mandymoochops

I wouldn't say it was harsh Bats, I mean come on - once you start listing things down and reading them back to yourself - it really is a no brainer.

Originally Posted by mandymoochops

If its an unused tampon there won't be much coffee left. Jus sayin

Originally Posted by bats

It might be to you, big an' brave an' bold, but we all respond differently.

Originally Posted by mandymoochops

You don't have to be big brave and bold to realise when something is not right and change it.

You did with your toxic environment, the op has stated weight gain and anti depressants due to this job. Nothing to do with being brash and everything to do with common sense and seeing what this is doing to your life.

This has been going on for a while it seems and the op is maybe just now thinking "hmmmmm should I / shouldn't I leave" ??????????

Originally Posted by bats

I read your post as meaning to face bullying headon, as in school bullying. My leaving was a bit of a copout, standing up to them would have been better. sometimes, if your mind is programmed that way you just think it is your fault and just stay.