Are my bosses and colleagues targeting me at work? It seems that whatever I do at work especially when registering patients, my colleague keeps on badmouthing about me to the rest of the team, even to my new manager. It’s affecting my self-esteem at work, what should I do?
Sue-Lynn says
Dear Disturbed@work,
You can first consider speaking to colleagues whom you are on reasonable terms with to find out if there any aspects of your work you might have overlooked and can improve on. Having established that you are doing what your job requires of you and following necessary processes, monitor to see if the badmouthing continues.
If you are sure that you’ve been doing your job well, you might be experiencing workplace harassment, where your colleague is engaging in behaviour that causes distress to you. Such behaviour seems to be creating an unfavourable work environment for you, affecting how you value, respect and trust yourself as an employee.
First, know your rights under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA). Also, get familiar with workplace harassment-related procedures in your organisation, if any.
Take reasonable steps to protect yourself and keep away from potential harassment situations. For example, keep a distance from the colleague who seems to be badmouthing you.
Tell this colleague assertively to stop his/her unreasonable behaviour and warn that stern action will be taken if harassment persists (e.g. escalation to management or authority). If needed, bring a trusted colleague along with you to speak to this colleague. Document and keep a record of evidence (e.g. photographs, screenshots, messages, audio recordings) as necessary, taking care to respect the confidentiality of other parties.
However, if the harassment persists, report it to HR, supervisor/manager, or delegated neutral party, following your organisation’s harassment reporting process if available. Your organisation should intervene promptly upon receiving such reports and take all appropriate action necessary. Try to resolve this within your workplace as far as possible.
If there are no avenues for reporting or nothing is done, contact the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Inclusive Work Practices (TAFEP) for advice and assistance.
