How to Defend Yourself From a Harassing Boss
Is your boss harassing you or bullying you on the job? Everyone at some point has had a boss that has made their time with the company less than pleasant. Dealing with a harassing boss can be difficult especially if they have the power to fire you. You may feel intimidated, scared, and stressed daily. You can and should defend yourself.
- Keep
in mind that harassing bosses get away with bullying because it
becomes a he said she said case. There is no proof and therefore,
the employee is often made out to be the bad guy if there is a
complaint filed against the boss. Your goal then is to get something
in writing showing that your boss is harassing you, collect these
pieces of “proof” before you speak to someone above him or her. - Know
your job description and what is expected of you. This is important
because if you were hired for a specific job and find that you are
continually doing duties unrelated at your boss's request, this can
help prove your case later. - Make
sure you know the company's stance on harassment in the workplace as
well as bullying bosses. Take notes of conversations you have had
with your boss and date these so you have a paper trail. - Save
all email correspondence with your boss. Often these can show the
harassment your boss is giving you and if he or she sent the email,
there is no way for them to deny. Print out these emails because
these are on the server at work, if your boss knows how, he could go
in and delete the emails. The more information in writing you have
about the harassment you are suffering, the better your chances of
having your boss reprimanded.