Bullying at work

[Klaudia]

Hi everyone,

I have no idea how to start. For last couple of months I have felt so useless, hopeless and worthless. I would love to change it but I don't know how to do it.

I have been to Australia for almost 5 years. My husband and I didn't speak English at all and even though we decided to go to Australia. It was always my dream, dream which changed to nightmare. Our beginning wasn't easy but we were so determined to make everything work.

After 1 month I found a job. Co-workers were very nice and helpful. Also my employer seemed like a great guy. He was but only for first 2 or 3 weeks. I barely spoke English so I decided to stick with this job. I worked so hard even everyday humiliation and lack of respect from my boss side. I felt like a crap , like someone who is worthless. Staff changed very often. People didn't want to work there but I didn't give up. After 2 years I was promoted as a manager and my sponsorship visa was granted . I loved my team, I was always nice and polite. I treated them like I want to be treated.

My employer blamed me every single time even it wasn't my fault and my responsibilities. He yelled and sweared in front of everyone. Everyday I heard how shitty I am. Where shitty was a compliment in his mouth. I heard much worst words... He wasn't happy that I was always kind and calm. I was at work but on my way home always in tears. He thought that workers should be afraid of manager , otherwise they are not productive and don't listen. Most of people who used to work with me were Australian. He never said a bad word to them, if someone was from different background he treated that person like a worst category.

After 3 years I left. I couldn't work there any minute longer. I felt strong pain in my chest and stomach. I couldn't sleep and eat. I was afraid of leaving my apartment. On my last day at work my boss told me: ''f..k off and never come back. I hope you will be deported... It's not your country and never will be and remember if you say a word to Immigration or Fair Work I will smash you and your husband like a berry on my uncle farm. Remember , I know where you live."

When I left I lost my visa and I wasn't allowed to work in Australia for almost one year till our next visa was granted.

2 years left... but I still can not forget about it. I'm so angry that I allowed someone to treat me like that.

The worst thing is I'm so afraid to go to a different workplace. I have no idea what to do...

[Donte]

Wow Klaudia!

Welcome to this Multicultural Experiences forum and thank you for sharing your traumatic story.

I'm so sorry you have been a victim of bullying and harassment. What a terrible experience of discrimination and blatant racism. This is terrible! Absolutely despicable. And illegal.

I would go to Fair Work and Human Rights Commission, call the Union and VECHI and see if I could get a lawsuit against the employer. He sounds like he shouldn't be working with human beings. And to threaten you in such a manner! Would have gone straight to the police and report him.

Of course, being new to the country and not knowing your rights as an employee have made it harder for you. Such a shame! Some people should never really run businesses.

You've only being here five years and yet you write beautiful English. You've endured so much humiliation and mistreatment and you succeeded not only to stay on the job for so long but also to be promoted to a managerial position. Well done!

Yelling and swearing is definitely against the law in the workplace and in public. It is a civil offence for defamation of character and harassment. Also, treating you differently to the others is discrimination. Is there a way you could hire a lawyer to look into this case? This guy needs to pay up for what he's done.

No wonder you are anxious and depressed and your health has suffered so much. This traumatic experience doesn't just evaporate because it's been two years. As an employer he has to offer you support e.g. send you to EPA (Employment Program Assistance) for free counselling during working hours (minimum 3 sessions) etc.

Please check the discrimination information on this website and try and talk to a counsellor through this webpage (chat) or call (confidential and free), by accessing the information on this webpage.

First you'd need to deal with your emotional turmoil and stress that this situation has caused you. Then, perhaps get some legal advice and see if you could sue the company for compensation and loss of income for all this time, plus the emotional damages and impairment for future employment.

This is a very serious situation and unfortunately many newly arrived people fall victims of harassment and discrimination as they are afraid to speak up and do not know their rights.

Don't be afraid. You are not in the wrong. Just ask for legal advice and check out information from Fair Work and Work Safe Australia. Hope this will be a good start...

[Donte]

Critical incidents such as the ones you have experienced Klaudia can have a major impact on a worker's sense of well-being and emotions. Such incidents are often labeled as critical and cumulative stressful situations may also have a similar impact.

It's important that you have recognized that you have been through a highly stressful experiences and acknowledge that you may have a psychological reaction to these traumatic events. If you refused to accept your feelings or deny them excessively, then this is likely to delay your recovery process.

It's good that you have shared in this forum and seek support from others - both physical and emotional. Keep talking about your feelings to those who will listen and will understand without judgement and with respect in a safe environment.

Try not to block out thoughts of the horrible incidents or avoid reminders of these. Thinking about it and talking about it, confronting the reality as it arises will help you come to terms with the experience.

Look after yourself. people are vulnerable to accidents or physical illness following trauma. You may feel unmotivated and apathetic but trying to do things will motivate you and assist you to recover.

People who experience critical incidents like the ones you've been subjected to often experience strong physical and emotional reactions. These reactions are common and part of the process of coming to terms with the incidents. They may occur immediately afterward, or a few hours, or days, or weeks, or sometimes months and years afterwards.

Fatigue, nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, trembling, headaches, general aches and pains, chest pain, sweating, irregularities to heartbeat and muscle tension, are all common physical reactions and if these symptoms persist, you should be checked by a doctor.

There are also common behaviour, cognitive, emotional, and existential reactions which indicate that you have to look after yourself.

Get plenty of rest even if you can't sleep. Try to eat regular and well-balanced meals. Exercise regularly. Reduce your intake of coffee, chocolate etc. Do not numb the pain with alcohol or pills - this leads to more problems in the long term. Make time for relaxation and breathing exercises.

Try to resume a normal routine. Sometimes you may want to be alone, but don't isolate yourself for too long. Do things you enjoy and be nice to yourself. You may wish to help others in similar situations. Don't make major life decisions yet.X

[Hayfa]

Hi Klaudia

I am so sorry to hear about what you have been through, this is certainly not an easy thing to get through at all. Donte' has provided some very good advice about the steps you can take to look after yourself and initiate a complaint against this employer if you want to.
I think it is so important that you try to look after yourself first by ensuring you are mentally and physically healthy. I don't think you should panic about other workplaces because they are not all the same, on the contrary, there are some very good and caring workplaces.

Don't let this one very bad experience dictate your future and throw you into fear and doubt because you will continue to suffer and worry if you do.
Initiating a complaint against the employer is a personal decision and you have to ask yourself if doing this will alleviate what you are experiencing now or will it just bring further stress and anxiety. Bad workplaces should certainly not be tolerated but they do exist and bringing about changes in the workplaces for better care of employees should be an organisational change requirement, it is sometimes very difficult and a lengthy process to go after the individual employer within the organisation and if this is to happen, it's best done at around the time a person leaves employment but that's not to say that it can't be done after.

Please look at the support tips that Donte' suggested, you need to be alright and look after yourself first. I know what I am about to type may not be helpful but I want you to know that unfortunately evidenced based research from qualitative reports suggests that there is high incidence of workplace bullying against people of CALD backgrounds including being overlooked for work promotions and other work opportunities in the workplace, there are no definitive statistics because people are afraid to report it and in most circumstances it only comes out much later on in confidential surveys.
What I am trying to say here is unfortunately this is a reality in some workplaces and the sooner we move toward safe and equal Australian workplaces the better it will become, this is a process and some organisations are profoundly positive and working hard to achieve this fair and equal work environment.
In fairness to all the workplaces out there, there are some excellent ones with amazing equal opportunities.
Please stay positive Klaudia, start by looking after yourself and planning what you want for yourself and go for it!

Hayfa

[Donte]

Hi Hayfa,

Thank you for shedding light to a very important issue among many others:

‘unfortunately evidenced based research from qualitative reports suggests that there is high incidence of workplace bullying against people of CALD backgrounds including being overlooked for work promotions and other work opportunities in the workplace’. - Would you be able to share some stories/examples that have come to your attention?

I think this is a very important topic for discussion and I’d like to also invite others with similar experiences to share here.

This would definitely impact on the person’s wellbeing and sense of worth as our jobs are so linked with who we are and our personal identity. We say I AM this or I AM that etc when describing what job we do.

In Klaudia’s case of course there was no refusal of promotion as she became a manager, however, her life was affected deeply by bullying and harassment and ongoing discrimination to the point she was pushed to leave.

Im assuming that there are big differences depending on the industry one finds themselves in. Nevertheless, it is really worth discussing.

[Hayfa]

Hi Donte'

I absolutely agree with you! This is a discussion that is worth having and I encourage our readers to have a look at these resources as a starting point, specifically the Human Rights of Australia link and the information there about limited legal protection for people of CALD backgrounds.
It is very distressing news and demonstrates that we have a long way to go before we can see a real culture of fostering and inclusion in many of our community structures.

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/letstalkaboutrights/downloads/HRA_diverse.doc

http://www.eccv.org.au/library/doc/ECCVDiscussionPaper3-RealJobs.pdf

Keep the discussion going!

Hayfa