Workplace situation anxiety

[tesla88]

In 2019 I was hospitalised with severe anxiety after I was severely micromanaged and bullied by an manager placed in charge of my team.

This bullying includes thing such as:
Putting pressure on to do tasks that do not align with organisation policies
Constant pressure to give access to systems this manager is not meant to access
Derogatory and incorrect comments in relation to work performance
Not correctly reflecting the great work the team do to senior staff of the organisation.
Constant pressure to do work not within our roles

At that time this manager was to move into my office at the worksite. The boss of the organization then removed this person as our manager.

The same Boss has now indicated she would like to move this same person back into our office again.

Is there any laws/systems in place as to when a person with a known Mental Health disorder to prevent such bullying happening again and the same result of hospitalization?

The organization has many other managers that can manage our team, and we have not had this problem with other managers.

[Sophie_M]

Welcome to the forums, tesla88

We're so glad that you have reached out here tonight, but we are so sorry to hear what you're going through at the moment. It sounds like it must have been such a stressful year, but please know that you've come to a safe space to talk these feelings through. 

f you feel that it would be helpful, we'd recommend getting in touch with our Support Service, which is available anytime on 1300 22 4636 or you can contact us on Webchat 3pm-12am AEST here: www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport One of our friendly counsellors will be able to talk through these feelings with you and help you to find useful supports.

We'd also encourage you to visit Heads Up, where you can find more information about discrimination in the workplace and the steps you can take: http://www.headsup.org.au

Thanks again for reaching out, we know that it can be really tough to do this for the first time. We hope that you find some comfort here in the words of wisdom and kindness that our wonderful community can offer.

[Croix]

Dear Tesla88~

Welcome to the Forum. I'm glad Sophie_M has been able to give you a couple of starting points to consider.

Frankly I'm not sure that your anxiety condition is a necessary consideration. From what you have said it would be a plain case of workplace bullying anyway. If the same manger abuses the position over your team and does not report their achievements accurately then it does not sound like you are not alone in this.

Being bullied makes one feel helpless, and often afraid one might lose one's job if one does anything. Unfortunately not doing anything can itself not only encourage the bully to feel safe in their activities but make you feel worse too. Having an anxiety conditon makes matters even harder, as if you are like me you will worry a lot abut any action -or non action you take.

Having been in hospital myself for an anxiety condition I'm not sure how bad your experience was, mine was not that good and I think I'd try a lot of things before going back again.

Do you think you are able take any action?

Most often having the support of someone else makes a big difference. Is there anyone there for you? Perhaps from others in the organization?

If you decide to do something really the first thing you need is a specific list of incidents, perhaps where you have been asked to reveal material that should not have been show, derogatory comments on satisfactory work and so on.

What you do with this list depends in part on the structure of your organization and if there is a sympathetic welfare or HR person you can approach where you can make a complaint. Normally one gives the organisation a chance to rectify the situation before going outside, however it is not a hard and fast rule.

Otherwise it is a question of involving an outside body, such as Fairwork Australia

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints/contact-national-information-service

who may be able to give advice or say which may be the best authority to approach in each state or territory.

You are in very disheartening position and we would like it if you came back and said what you felt

Croix