When you are dealing with a horrible manager, you might feel like you can never get away from their bullying. This manager might make your life so miserable that you do not want to come to work, but you need to know how to document bullying even while you are looking for a new job. There are two big things you should take away as you read, and you can use this information to make things right and improve how you handle each new job you take.
First: Document Everything
First thing’s first; workplace bullying is not illegal. A manager can bully you by just being a mean person so long as they do not violate federal laws that govern workplace discrimination. For example, your manager might tell you that you are terrible at your job, you do not deserve to have a job, and you need to get it together. This manager might get in your face consistently, and you should document everything they do, say, and when it happened. Up to this point, they have done nothing illegal.
Reflection on Your Experiences
When you document everything that is happening in the office, you can use this information to better yourself in the future. As you reflect on what happened to you, you might notice a pattern of behavior that you can stop at future jobs. If you cannot stop another manager or colleague from behaving in this manner, you will know early on. You can either report these people or find a new job while you still can. Do not be discouraged when you can at least learn from the situation.
Second: Now You Can Prove Discrimination
Document everything your boss says to you. They might not break the law most of the time, but they will likely cross the line at some point. If your boss tells you that they do not know why they hired you, they are just being a horrible person. If they tell you that they do not know why they hired you because you are…
· A minority
· A woman
· A man (this goes both ways)
· Pregnant
· Believe in a certain religion
· From a certain country
· Identify with a particular sexuality
· Express your gender in a certain manner
…they have violated laws governing workplace discrimination. This is why you document everything. You need to capture the moment when your boss crosses the line because they feel they are entitled to do so.
Speak to an Employment Lawyer
Since you have documented everything that happened, when, where, and who did it, you can go to an employment lawyer to discuss the bullying you have endured. Allow your lawyer to review the information and help you file a harassment or discrimination claim if possible.
You Can Help Someone Else
You might help someone else if you document the horrible behavior of your boss, hold them accountable, and make it stop. You can also help people in the future if you can see that a horrible boss is making someone miserable. You might show that person what to do so that they are not enduring discrimination or harassment at work. Everything in the business world is a learning experience even if you need to sue for discrimination in the end.
