I’m not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this but I just wanted to write a PSA about toxic work environments.
Currently, I am working for a large national organization that placed me and my other colleague in a local office with a separate entity to provide support to their programs. The amount of unprofessionalism, bullying, and harassment we both endured in this office was more intense than anything I have experienced, and being an attractive hard working woman, best believe I’ve experienced this shit before. I watched 4 other people go through the same abuse in 2 months time, it began within the first 2 weeks of hire. Clearly, mean girl mentality doesn't end in grade school.
It amazes me how people would not do whatever they can to get along with their coworkers and try to make the work day more tolerable. Instead, these people make it completely excruciating with micro aggressions, excommunications, making things up to get you in trouble, etc. The only way I can think to explain why people do this is because they are just straight up miserable insecure people and they feel threatened.
I’ve heard several stories from others about their experiences with this, mostly women doing this to other women. This type of behavior needs to stop! As Madeline Albright once said “There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.” If you are a workplace bully, go see a therapist and learn how to be cordial!
And for anyone going through this, document EVERYTHING. Every day, journal about every little thing you experienced that day. If anything happens like a legit confrontation, email your supervisor explaining what happened. Get that shit on record ASAP, as soon as it starts happening! You need to establish you are not the aggressor. Do not be afraid to tell your supervisor or HR. Thankfully by doing this, my colleague and I were taken out of this hell and reassigned to a much better space. Good luck out there!