*Workplace Bullying Stories submitted to Know Bull!

I've thought long and hard about contributing my story of workplace bullying. Yes, even ten years after the event I still suffer from the 'trauma' I went through. It cost me my job, my health, future career prospects, it ruined me financially, affected my home life - and it forever changed me. Maybe telling 'my story' serves no other purpose than validating to others that they are not 'alone' when it comes to workplace bullying. However, after reading the survey questions on the 'Know Bull!' website, I truly believe that workplace bullies, and the 'damage' they inflict should be considered as a 'criminal act', and they, in addition to the companies and organisations that 'protect' them - should be punished to the full extent that the legal system can provide. And if my story can contribute to that outcome; to a possible change in legislation - I consider my time writing this as well spent.

History: I was raising a daughter on my own, when I decided to complete my education in the hope of securing a better future for both of us. So when my daughter turned 10 years old, I used the money that I'd managed to save from working, and I began full-time study at university.  In the space of 6 years I earned a BA Degree, and a Post Graduate BA Degree. After graduation I secured work in my chosen field, and I continued working hard until I secured a position in an organisation where I ultimately became the target of a workplace bully. If I had to describe my myself back then, I'd say I was hard working, honest, morally responsible, professional, and generally well-liked by those I came in contact with. The job was very time-consuming at an average of 60 hours per week, but I loved it none-the-less for the opportunities it provided, the people I had a chance to work with, and of course the income it provided. The organisation was a professional association, and my job was a national executive role. I ran boards and committees, I contributed substantially to the strategic direction of the organisation, and undertook a multitude of other tasks. The workplace bully was the CEO.

Essentially, he was a 'charismatic conman', with fairly lofty 'political aspirations'. In his mind, he considered himself as genuine contender for residency at 'the Lodge'. His working days were spent either viewing and downloading porn, or engaged in organising and/or attending to various political party activities. The governing body of the organisation was unaware that the 'work' he laid claim to, was predominantly the work of others that he had taken credit for. Neither were they aware that the organisational functions and events that he attended around the country were planned to coincide with his political calendar - meaning that the organisation bore the cost of his travel and accommodation - rather than the political party he represented. The remainder of his time was spent visiting political colleagues, on the phone attending with political business, or in conversation with his latest 'bit of fluff'. 

Over the three years that followed, his claims and behaviour increasingly became more extreme, and the governing body of the organisation was still blissfully unaware - largely due to fabricated reports about his supposed business acumen. They were impressed when he announced that he had completed, and was adding an Economics Degree to his resume (which in fact was a two-week course in stock market appreciation); and they were similarly impressed with a new revenue-generating product he claimed to have developed (which actually resulted from his theft of intellectual property that another company had spent more than $1,000,000 on research and development). Further, he had gone from merely spending hours on the phone with his 'fluff' - to entertaining them during the day in his office. As a general 'rule', his ever-faithful Personal Assistant ran 'interference' in case the CEO's wife ever phoned or made an impromptu visit to the office. In which case his wife's visit would be announced via phone, allowing his 'visitor' to make her escape through a sliding door leading to an unseen walkway outside the building.

The nature of my own work meant that I frequently worked back in the evenings. On one particular evening the CEO was in his office, and his latest 'fluff' made an appearance around 8pm. Then around 9pm - the CEO's wife arrived unannouced. Certain that the 'fluff' was still in his office at the end of the hallway - I called out 'hello' to his wife. She came and sat in my office and we chatted for a brief moment. While we were chatting I contacted the CEO via the internal phone line and announced that his wife had just arrived. After another minute or so, the CEOs wife proceeded down the hallway, and I stepped outside to catch some fresh air - feeling angry that I had been placed/placed myself in such an awkward situation. Even though the CEO in my opinion, was little more than a sleazy con-artist, I had good deal of respect for his wife, and felt that she didn't deserve to be confronted with whatever might have been taking place in the CEO's office.  Anyway, I arrived outside the building to see 'fluff' scurrying across the road, adjusting her skirt and heading for the car park. Two weeks later it was Christmas holidays, the staff were on leave, and I was at work taking advantage of the phones not ringing.  The CEO dropped in briefly to retrieve something from his office, and I decided to speak to him about the evening in question. I basically said that what he chose to do outside his work hours was his own business - but that out of respect for his wife, I felt that I had been placed in a precarious situation and that I didn't wish for it to happen again. Shortly after this, the bullying began.

The CEO initially began by polling the various boards and committees that I worked on for a vote of 'no confidence' in an effort to have me removed. Over the years however, I had developed respectful working relationships with these board and committee members - so it didn't take too long for information about his actions to get back to me. Further, the assistant assigned to help me with transcribing minutes of these meetings was re-assigned, and I had to perform these tasks on top of an already heavy work schedule. The CEO also added additional work - requiring me write 14 separate reports every week on everything from the topics discussed on the telephone with board members, to a minute by minute itemisation of my weekly work schedule. Within 2 months I was working 7 days and 130-140 hours a week, to accommodate these additional tasks.  I was getting severe headaches, was plagued with nausea, and most mornings I was so tired I knew that I was a hazard on the road to both myself and other drivers around me. The situation was intolerable, and I began looking for other work. But my schedule meant that I didn't even have time for sufficient sleep - let alone afford the time to write a job application and address the selection criteria that was frequently requested with the majority of job vacancies. 

Within 6 months I had been refused any leave, and my health was suffering terribly. The CEO's relentless bullying campaign continued to increase by him maligning me at every opportunity to the governing body.  In a last desperate attempt he fabricated false allegations and instigated a formal hearing and investigation. His efforts were subsequently supported by his Personal Assistant (who was later rewarded for her efforts with an all expenses paid trip to Hong Kong at the organisation's expense).  At this 'sham' of a hearing I requested the presence of my solicitor as a witness, who came to the conclusion that he'd never seen so many sinister actions in his entire career, and urged me to pursue legal action against the CEO and the organisation, as there were more than sufficient grounds in his opinion in conjunction with the evidence I provided (and have kept to this day), to justify substantial damage claims based on the treatment I had received, and the effect it was having on my health.  However, my strength and health was waning fast - and I just wanted out. Within a matter of days of this 'sham' hearing, it became necessary for me to get my daughter to catch a taxi to collect me from work one night - when I became extremely unwell. Within the hour I was admitted to a hospital emergency department in shock, and two hours later I was in an intensive care ward with a suspected perforated stomach ulcer. In the morning I was scheduled for an heart x-ray and pending possible surgery. Since I was attached to various monitors I asked a member of the nursing staff to contact my workplace and let them know where I was. The nurse came back in shocked disbelief, she said the CEO said I was to discharge myself from the intensive care ward immediately, or I would be fired. I had no option but to do as requested. And leaning on my daughter for support I went into work staying long enough to clean out my office and to resign. The CEO threatened that I wouldn't get any references, and that I would not only have my pay withheld (including all leave pay from the previous two years), but that I would also be 'billed' for any advertising costs incurred in finding my replacement (which he subsequently did). I left without a job to go to, no references, no pay, nor leave pay that was owing, and I was handed an account that was payable within seven days for $8,500. Within two weeks of leaving I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

I was too unwell to work for the next six months, and then when I did, it was only in short-term contract roles. Initially, without references it was particularly difficult, but the ongoing depression, which plagued for me for most of the next 7 or so years that followed, in conjunction with the sleep difficulties, ongoing nightmares, headaches, and severe anxiety which persist to this day along with chronic fatigue - have all but ended any career aspirations. These days I work as a casual in sales. I earn less most weeks than someone who is on the dole - but I'm grateful that at least I have a job. 

If I had my time over, I would have taken my solicitor's advice and pursued legal action - no matter how ill I was. And I urge anyone else going through workplace bullying - to do precisely that - to take legal action, and without hesitation.  In the end I lost my home, and I'm still paying off the debt associated with it, and probably will be for some time. The reality is that I was a hard working, decent, caring, and honest person - who always strived to do a good job. And while I no longer have a career... this CEO eventually went on to bigger and better roles heading up other national organisations, and various Federal Government Departments in Canberra - unscathed, untouched, unapologetic, and unaccountable. 

SB
Canberra, AU
Oct 2008