WHEN I READ the article The Big Idea: How to build happier (and more productive) workplaces, I felt I had to respond.
It doesn’t matter if you finished school, have a degree, a master’s or a PhD, at the end of the day we all deserve respect in our workplaces. The United Nations opening statement is ‘It’s your world’, so why can’t the same apply to workplaces?
Employers have a common law and statutory duty to protect both the physical and mental health of their employees, but this does not always happen in practice. Isn’t it more important than offering gym membership, health checks and free food?
I am sick of the concept that I should be ‘lucky to have a job’ and that employers think that we can put up with be treated with disrespect. I work in an office where the employees are treated like skivvies. The office is cold all day – the only source of heat is a plug-in heater or hot water bottles – and we have a boss that goes through so many mood changes in a day that I cant keep up.
Workplace bullying can take many forms
I never imagined that I would be bullied or belittled at work by my employer, I never imagined that I would suffer panic attacks from the way my employer treats me. I am not in a position to walk away from my job until I get another job, and I won’t take sick leave because of my work situation.
According to reachout.com: “Bullying isn’t something that just happens in schools – workplaces can be a hotbed of aggression intimidation and general meanness”.
Employers shouldn’t be allowed treat employees this way. Workplace bullying can take many forms, from giving pointless tasts, ignoring or excluding the employee, being treated less favourably than colleagues, undermining the employee, or blaming a person for things beyond their control.
Mental wellbeing services like My Mind and other organisations may be helpful in big offices, but can they help within a small office dynamic? This is where I have my issue. It is interesting to see how Ireland as a society is evolving, inside and outside of the workplace, but I feel that many employees nowadays are not treated with any form of respect. I’m not saying that every employer out there treats employees badly, but there are still people like me being treated unfairly.
Bullying in workplaces needs to be addressed
Research indicates that you should communicate with your employer about your working environment; I did try that this but was made to feel even worse about my work situation and belittled even more.
Bullying in workplaces needs to be addressed, especially in small organisations. Instead of offering gym membership, health checks and free food, perhaps employers should focus more on offering respect, praise and a happy work environment.
The author wishes to remain anonymous.
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