If this is your first visit, check out the community guide. You will have to Join us or Sign in before you can post.
Workplace Bullying
RAwarrior
Member Posts: 875 Pioneering
Workplace bullying of disabled staff is a very real problem which is rarely addressed by management who would rather cover it up than stop the bullying. As someone who is disabled I already have more than enough to cope with in managing my health problems, dealing with the side affects of my medication and generally trying to make the best out of my situation. However, being bullied at work for many years was not helpful, needed and was not something I welcomed but unfortunately nothing was done about it and I have ended up with more health issues that I neither wanted, required or asked for as a result. In my case the bully took great pleasure in bullying me especially since they knew that management couldn’t touch them because they would make false complaints about them. Unfortunately disability discrimination in the workplace is rife and it can destroy someone’s life because the person being bullied is alone, not supported by colleagues who are either scared of the bully, scared that the bully will make vexatious complaints about them or prefer to bury their head in the sand. I suspect many disabled people who want to work resign because of workplace bullying and it is something which needs to be highlighted because sometimes this protected characteristic is forgotten about and being disabled is hard enough without the dread of going into work and knowing you have to face yet more abuse whilst nothing is done. I wish bullies would think before they choose what they deem to be an easy target before they start bullying and harassing someone who is disabled because bullying someone is a choice and can destroy someone’s life.
This discussion has been closed.
Replies
Isnt there a whistleblower anonymous helpline for such problems?
Thank you so much for your kind words and support. I did seek advice from my trade union who were supportive and I did follow the formal grievance procedures, however, management did not uphold my grievance despite the overwhelming evidence and the number of witnesses I named. It was clear that management had already decided not to uphold my grievance which I only raised through desperation. I was left with a choice whether or not to go to an Employment Tribunal. However, because of the drastic toll many years of bullying had taken on my health including weight loss, anxiety, depression, Insomnia and PTSD, I couldn’t face the long process of an Employment Tribunal. The bully is still employed but at another location but I have the constant fear that I will see them again. I learned a few months ago that the bully had physically attacked two members of staff about 20 years ago so as I see it they can’t touch the bully. Unfortunately the bully accuses anyone that tries to challenge their behaviour of racism which is completely untrue and does a real disservice to real victims of racism. A senior manager also told me they can’t touch the bully. My GP was horrified about the bullying and so was my Rheumatologist but until management tackle this person they will be allowed to continue harming others especially disabled staff which were the bully’s main targets. Although I don’t want anyone to suffer like I did ( and still am), I really wish bullies would think twice before targeting disabled people because it is far worse than perhaps targeting someone who is more able bodied and doesn’t have to live with a permanent illness and all the things which go along with it. On a positive note I am really glad that I have found this community forum with people that do understand what it means to be disabled and actually try to help others instead of harming them.
Thank you so much again for your kind words, information and support. I am glad that I don’t feel alone as I did when I was being bullied. I am that you are not feeling very well and I hope you feel better. Thank you so much for your reassurance. Take care of yourself.
I hope you are feeling better. I have this online community to be very helpful and I only joined yesterday. It’s great to be part of an online community that really does understand the difficulties which many disabled people face. Many thanks again.
I’m glad you’re feeling better and what a lovely thought from your husband😁.
(some of which are a big no no because they interact with the medication I take) and been told that I don’t look ill. This online community is a welcome change and hopefully I can learn about other disabilities and the problems people face whilst hopefully trying to make a useful contribution by trying to help other people. I find that actually trying to support and help each other can make a huge difference. In my case it can take the focus away from my own problems. I think it takes so much energy which many of us simply don’t have (as in my case fatigue is a huge part of RA ) to have to fight for basic things which can make someone’s life a bit easier when sometimes there is a straightforward solution. Thanks again for your support.😁
My penultimate job was awful due,to,one of the management team being a really bad bully. Unfortunately there was little or nothing which could be done about it due to his position and the way in which he cleverly bullied. He especially enjoyed denigrating someone in public, much to the amusement of his cronies. The worst job of my life, I resigned after six months even though I needed the job. Sometimes self respect and self esteem are more important than money.
i think it’s important there employers learn that we as disabled people aren’t going to tolerate there crap .
@[email protected] im also sorry you went threw this to your so nice and don’t deserve that treatment either xx
Unfortunately this person is what I would call a serial bully who has just been moved to different locations for years instead of being sacked. Unfortunately I have been employed for many years and I didn’t suffer from PTSD until the bully was moved to my workplace and started bullying and harassing myself and other disabled people almost immediately. As I have said in previous posts I found out recently that they had physically attacked two other members of staff years ago so there was no point in me challenging the behaviour because what chance did I have? The bully was one of my peers. It is not acceptable when a senior manager says that they can’t touch the bully. I tried to avoid any contact with the bully once I heard that but the bullying got even worse because they didn’t like the fact that I didn’t want to have anything to do with them for very good reason. Bullies like to believe they are in control and hate it if someone stops talking to them but who wants to talk to someone who ridicules them on a daily basis? The bully used to run to the manager making false complaints about everyone and unfortunately the manager did nothing.
Thank you so much for your support and kind words. Good luck with your employment tribunal and I am so glad you have the courage to go to a tribunal. I hope you win and it will then be in the public domain for everyone to see as the culprits will be named.
I raised a formal grievance which contained so much evidence (pages of examples) and I named many witnesses which they did not bother to even interview, however, it was not upheld and I no action was taken. I believe that management had decided to cover it up at the beginning because if they upheld it they would have had to dismiss the bully. The bully also accused anyone who challenged them of racism which was completely untrue as people did not like the bully’s behaviour and it had nothing to do with race. I believe this was part of the reason the bullying was allowed to continue and the irony is that the bully used to make racist remarks themselves which I and several others witnessed yet they accused other people of racism. It made me feel like I didn’t matter because management were terrified that the bully would say they were racist so did nothing at the expense of my health.
I think it would be published online under the Tribunals Service so people would have to specifically look for the tribunal’s decision on that website as far as I know but your legal representative would be able to advice you. Unfortunately I am out of time and I do still work there. The bully is at another location but I am always fearful that I will see them again.
Many thanks again for your support😁
Want to tell us about your experience on the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know.