Is your work environment hostile? Probably not, but it could be.
Employees throughout my career, and in various companies, have complained to me about their hostile work environment. And, yes, some of them have had pretty bad work environments. They claim bad bosses, dysfunctional, back-biting coworkers, and management decisions they abhor.
But, hostile? Not really. When I studied what comprised a hostile work environment, it had a lot to do with potential discrimination. Not a lot to do with people and issues that ticked me or you off. Too bad, in some ways, since I wish a productive, happy work environment for everyone.
Unfortunately, that's not going to happen.
Until people stop using work to play out their control issues and their domination fantasies, their dysfunctional adolescences, and their unhappy home lives, work for many will be a struggle. When people at work start talking to each other like adult co-equals, perhaps environments will change. I can only hope, but, in the meantime, I have lots of business.
I consult, and always have, on common sense solutions and systems - creating systems that give people goals, personal and career development, feedback and recognition; protect the employer and his interests; and create an employee-oriented, empowering environment, supportive of people and their dreams. I wish this for every employee.
But, a hostile work environment presents these parameters. Does your workplace actually qualify as a hostile work environment - or are you a victim of wishful thinking? If so, there are other approaches you can pursue - like job searching.
Image Copyright Alan Crawford
NY State has had a bill in the works for many years now regarding this issue. Currently, as you know, a ‘hostile environment” requires discrimination of a protected class. This leaves little recourse for those of us who have worked in hostile environment where the boss knows how to walk that fine line. I spent six years in an environment where it was not uncommon to see the boss punch a hole in the wall out of anger, throw things and threaten people over the paging system. An environment so bad he told me once he would hit people if he could get away with it. He knew though where to stop….he would call his sales people stupid, not stupid broads. Then he would apologize. It was like being in an abusive marriage. I don”t know how prevalent this type of work environment is in the U.S, I’ve only encountered it once. That was enough for me. As an HR manager I am on the fence about the NY State bill. Having experienced a hostile environment I understand there may be a need, on the other hand I envision a feeding frenzy of lawyers every time an employer says boo.
Wow! recently my boss tore up one of my contracts crunched it in a ball and hurled it across thier desk at me
I do consider this hostile but more disrespectful.
I have worked all of my life and within the past 6 years have had three different bosses with the same personality.
I have never went to HR for anything but find myself considering it.
My boss is a fine liner, always apoliogize’s when no one is around but continues to do the same thing on a daily basis and to other co-workers as well.
Barbara- your comment was an eye-opener wow! Some of us have been very lucky because we haven’t endured such work relationships. However, sometimes these bosses are just overreacting to perhaps minor probs in their lives but i’m sure its just a stage and they will eventually get over it and get back on track. I hope this boss apologized? You just have to let those negative moments go by and give that boss a chance and i wouldn’t hold any of it against him as we all go thru such experiences at 1 point or another in everyones lives. Remember ppl can go from weird to normal within 45 min and everbody is guilty of such behaviors. We just have to think of all positives.
In general, a hostile work environment should not be tied *only* to the protected classes. I work in a hostile environment. Bullying is common. Yelling, intimidation is the norm. There have been a few violent/death threat incidents. And no, this is not a prison. It is local government. I repeatedly hear “there is nothing you can do to me – I am elected.” As a taxpayer, I am appalled. As an employee, I shake, I am physically ill, I watch others react the same way and not be able to work productively. Could I look for other work? Sure. But my tax dollars would still be supporting this behavior. I have to stay. Change has to happen.
Hi,
Just because a workplace hostility does not count as legally hostile, does not mean that it can’t be hostile, mean and ugly. Here are some of the steps I recommend:
http://humanresources.about.com/od/difficultpeople/qt/work_bully.htm
If you follow all the links from the end of that article, you will find a lot more information.
Good luck.
Hi, I am a manager at a restaurant and I recently had an employee write a 2 page letter about me telling my GM that I “belittled” and “yelled” at her constantly when we worked together. She claimed that I made her cry on several occasions. I never knew these things were happening until I read the letter. I never yelled at her but yes, when I am doing your job while you’re texting, I am going to tell you to do it yourself if you have time to text. My GM told her she had to continue to work with me and I was okay with that because I didn’t think I treated anyone unfairly. Because she was told that, she did not show up for her shift the next day. I had decided to text her and apologize to her if she felt that I mistreated her. She sent a reply back being very rude stating she hopes, for the sake of anyone working under me, that I use this experience as a learning tool. I was a little frustrated by the message. Very unprofessionally I replied and told her she needs to check her web of lies because they are growing quickly. Could this be considered harassment? She said that she was in the process of filing a workplace harassment lawsuit against me and the company when I sent that message. I fear I will lose my job and the company I work for will be out a lot of money because of this. I know replying the way I did was not the smartest idea but does that really qualify as work harassment?
I have been called a liar and daily I am subjected to a supervisor watching my every move. He accuses me of wandering all over and not staying in my area. On Friday, he got so mad he threw parts on the floor in front of other people. It was over an issue that he said the previous day didn’t matter. After I punched out I went to the plant manager. I told her since the first time I talked to her about him, it just keeps getting worse. She wanted to know why I waited so long to come to her. I honestly didn’t think it would make a difference. The supervisor said, “I been this way all my life an I’m not gonna change now”. When he threw those parts, I got very afraid and my anxiety caused a panic attack. He knows I take medication for depression and panic disorder. I finally went to the plant manager because if they are going to fire me – do it. I told her I refuse to be intimidated by him anymore. She said he has issues with me staying in my area. I have to move about the shop, I work there. I get my work done and he never says anything about my quality or production. I love my job. I really would like to work here until I retire in 12 yrs. But the plant manager seems reluctant to follow through on complaints about this guy. I am not the first to go to her in the last year. I feel as if I have to walk on eggshells every day and no matter where I look he is watching me or here he comes again like I am a target. My ex-husband did this to systematically destroy my self esteem and stalk me. My supervisor points at what he wants me to do. If I have a question, he accuses me of giving him an attitude or tells me to calm down. I told the plant manager that the big joke now is that I am his new Annie. She worked here in the past and was singled out for this kind of abuse. She was in tears most of the time at the way he treated and talked to her. I do not want to lose my job. I am 56 and jobs are not easy to find at my age.