We are in the 21st century however, we are still very much lacking in basic human decency to treat an employee in the workplace.
In Japan, people are suffering from Karoshi – overwork death in Japanese. All over the world, females are being paid significantly lesser than their male counterparts. In reality, many of us are still suffering from workplace abuse and harassment. Something that nobody wants to talk about. A sensitive topic that managers and HR want to shush it under the carpet.
It’s shocking, isn’t it?
Bullies are not just in school or in the playground. They are very much real in our workplace. A place where we suppose to feel safe where we put in many hours, sometimes more hours than we spent at home.
It isn’t just about the one-time careless sexist remark from your coworker.
It’s about fearing you will be fired anytime because you don’t fit in the company’s culture just because you don’t subscribe to certain political views.
It’s about fearing to step into your boss’s door because he may throw a file or a cup or anything on his table at you. Or yell at you until you are in tears.
It’s about fearing over time because you don’t feel comfortable working with a coworker alone in the office because he has a history of harassing female colleagues.
It’s about the badgering of text messages and calls over the weekend after weekend, even on your vacation.
It’s about being overlooked for a deserving promotion that you have worked your arse off because you are not of a certain race or gender or religion.
It’s about unequal opportunities at work or looking for one.
We need to do more than that. We need to be better than that. When we see injustice at our workplace, we need to speak up. When HR drafts out company policies, they need to include fair and safe practices. When management conduct appraisals and promotions, they need to make sure all the candidates are judged equally and fairly.
We need to feel safe to report any misdemeanour, inappropriate behaviour and unjust treatment without fearing reprisal. And we need to know where, whom and how to report.
Don’t let workplace abuse to be swept under the carpet. Don’t let it be “don’t ask, don’t tell”.
Let us do something about it.
If you are an employee, defend your coworkers when you see them being harassed. Don’t stay in silence. Don’t think this is none of your business. Fight for them as much as they will fight for you when they see you in trouble.
If you are an HR, advocate fair practices into your policies and provide a safe place for employees to report against superiors and managers. Make sure that direct supervisors and managers follow the restriction of the number of hours in a week.
If you are a boss, if something smells fishy, it probably is, investigate. Don’t ignore the issue. Don’t dismiss it as over imagination. Don’t treat it as a nuisance. Don’t stand for it.
Together, we can make a place where we spend more than 40 hours a week, where we strive for our dreams and where we exchange our time and efforts for financial stability, safe for everyone to perform their best in their work.
So please help me, help yourself and help others by sharing this post out. So that nobody need to suffer silently anymore.
Thank you.
For more articles on workplace abuse, please do check these out:
No Place For Abuse
Singapore is the 2nd-Worst Globally For Workplace Diversity; 1 In 4 Workers Bullied
How to Deal with Sexual Harassment at your Workplace
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MiddleMe 
Great article. I’ve found HR to be mostly worthless over the years. Whenever I have gone to them, it ended up biting me in the butt, and I lost my job.
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I’m sorry that you have had to suffer injustice.
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Me too. Just a part of the working world.
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Big hugs.
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If you’ll indulge me, Kally, I’ll post a link here to a friend’s blog. She had a post (language alert) about an employer’s comments that would make most men uncomfortable, let alone women.
https://www.strangecousinsusan.com/post/190003439670
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Awesome share! I’ll think the guy who commented is crazy and if I have a coworker like that I probably will stay very far away from him. He is absolutely delusional.
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Awesome post…much needed today !! increased workplace harrasement mainly at hierarchy levels, standard of living, abuse of power
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Thank you so much. Please do share this post out so everyone can benefit from it.
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Thank you for sharing this out!
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Reblogged the post
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I loved your post Kally… and you made me think to the say “people don’t leave companies, people leave bad bosses”, that is often true.
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That is true. The people is what companies are made of.
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Brilliant post this is, Kally!
I totally agree with your point here about standing together as one for someone who is being mistreated in anyway by anyone in an organization. Everyone should act upon instantly to ensure not only a good working environment but also to build trust and respect among themselves and most importantly, for their customers.
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Thank you, Hammad. I just think that it’s crazy that we are so ahead in technology and education but so slow in respecting basic human rights.
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I wish people could be more considerate! Will help all environments even the working one 😉
Have a wonderful new year!
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I totally agree with you. Have an awesome 2020!
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I think we should all print out a copy of this and place it next to the work water cooler, and on the office fridge. Great post 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Absolutamente de acuerdo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 please let me share this post
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Please go ahead and share this post out. Thank you!
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Reblogged this on Blog of Hammad Rais and commented:
For many, their workplace is a heaven but do they actually know that some of their colleagues may consider it as hell?
Because a place where most of us spend such a big amount of our weekly time should be a place where individuals are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their personal believes.
Kally of MiddleMe is talking about what should be done to improve and nurture a healthy working environment, regardless of its size.
Click on the link below to read it out!
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Thank you so much, Hammad for sharing this out and the awesome intro!
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Thank you for sharing this Kally, there is still so much more to be done to bring about equality for ALL..
As some one who was in the past bullied by her boss in my textile working environment way back in the 90’s I can fully understand just how this needs to improve..
Have a wonderful 2020, may it bring about the much needed changes we all need to see, that embrace harmony, equality, fairness, and peace..
Happy New Year Kally..
Sue 🙂
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Thank you, Sue. And I agree that there are so much more that can be done on equality for all. I do hope one day we can bring down abuse at the workplace and create a safer environment for everyone.
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❤ Lets hope so Kally
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Wow! Great expose!
Even here in America where what you describe is either less frequent ; or more cleverly concealed.
I’m retired now many years; but while employed as a”Buyer” (purchasing agent) for a Regional Retail Department Store ; I was passed over for a Vice-presidents Spot because I wasn’t Jewish. ….I left and sought and found more suitable employment.
Not only are these practices hurtful to the employees; they betray the company itself. Passing over the more qualified personnel will over time sink the company. The company that did not promote me, went Bankrupt in 2018.
If your in this kind of environment; I suggest you move on.
(PS: I was even put up for the promotion by my JEWISH–Boss).
God Bless and have a Blessed New Year
Patrick
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Thank you for sharing your experiences and insight with us, Patrick. Yes, I find it disgusting and sad that promotions are based on religion or races or gender, not because of results and productivity. I do hope one day we can all be equal and fair at the workplace.
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I thought what you said about the “boss” part was great. Also about the employees was needed to be said. What in the world is HR? My guess is Human Resources but I might be wrong. I know those who work in that field make a ton of $$$$$$$!!! At a corporate level.
Take care Kally.
Best wishes for the start of the year and all years to come to you.
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Yes, HR = Human Resource. I’m not so sure about the $ part. Lol. Happy New Year and looking forward to many more wonderful posts from you.
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Thank you for expecting more posts of me.
By the way HR, I´m not that Smart but they say that it has to be great to fire a person while making them feel that the company is doing them a favor. Sort off like the British, they might insult a person, but they do it in a way I even thought they were complimenting me.
Take care Kally……the beautiful!
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You take care too! Enjoy mid week!
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Thank you for this stirring call to what should be normal decency! There are way too many workplaces where fear and overwork are common, and the fear just makes each hour over feel like two.
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Hear hear! Thank you for standing by this statement.
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Great post! My employer is what you’d call a Bully. It’s a very large organization where we are all just numbers. They bully both women and men, it’s a terrible environment. It would be nice to see equality for everyone in the workplace. Thank you for writing this post.
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Oh dear. It sounds like you are working in a toxic environment. Really terrible. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, Mark. I hope one day you will get out of there soon and find someone who appreciates your work.
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Yes, prison is an extremely toxic environment.
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A timely post and needed. I am encouraged that more females have taken the much needed stand to address these issues. Payment, attitude, respect, and the need for equality in every way shape and form. There is still a glass ceiling concerning earnings. The social and cultural attitude of male dominance has gone on for thousands of years, it’s time for it to stop.
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I agree with you that it is the time to stop. Thank you, Bryan.
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♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
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Thank you! And welcome to MiddleMe!
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Reblogged this on barclaydave and commented:
A different take on bullying in the work-place, a woman’s point of view, but it is still wrong and we have to fight for each other in order to stamp it out.
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Thank you, Dave for sharing this out.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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Very well put Kally, I believe that if everyone sticks up for each other then the workplace bullying will stop. Unfortunately too few males will stick up for an abused female, this has to change because when we see something wrong we should never be afraid to act. I have never been afraid to take a beating because I stepped in to protect a woman in danger, I believe we have to act against injustice in order to stamp it out and it has to be stamped out in this century.
The laws are already in existence to protect workers from bullying and harassment but it does still happen too often. If we don’t protect others then we can’t expect others to protect us when our turn comes.
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You are such a gentleman. Which a rare find these days. I will be very happy and feel very safe if I have a colleague or boss like you, Dave!
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Thank you so much, Kally
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Voice out – People must be bold enough to voice out. Almost all the younger generations are going on mute mode when it comes to a problem. They always wanted someone to open up, and looks at the people who does that proudly. They should be proud about themselves and voice out for such things. Let’s have the Hope that things will Change! Have a beautiful day Kally 🙂
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Great discussion! This issue remains on the front burner in many workplaces around the world.
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Absolutely! Please do share it out.
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Thank you so much for sharing this. I really needed to read this. Would it be possible to ask you for advice?
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Of course! Drop me an email at kally@MiddleMe.net. 😊
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