Abused by your Boss?

Workplace abuse is grownup bullying at it’s worst. It’s any pattern of behaviors meant to intimidate, offend, exclude, and/or humiliate a person. It might be verbal abuse, gossip, yelling, sarcasm, spreading malicious rumors, offensive behavior, mistreatment, and even sabotage. So is making offensive jokes and gestures, sexual innuendos, or intimidation. Workplace abuse can also be attacking a workers competence, invading their privacy by spying or stalking, threatening, or withholding training or an appropriate promotion.

Over seventy percent of workplace abusers are bosses, according to the Canada Safety Counsel. Such abusive behavior can have serious psychological and physical trauma to individuals.

I know. I’ve been there. And in my newest novella, Sara’s Surprise, my protagonist, Sara, does too. Her superior regularly abuses the poor girl who is just trying to learn a trade. She’s confused, hurt, offended, and scared until she’s finally ready to quit. Fortunately, someone comes to her rescue.

Victims of abuse may experience stress, anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, and/or changes in appetite. Workplace stress can literally make people sick, and chronic stress is known to contribute to chronic disease.

So if you face such challenges, what do you do?

 Pray

Praying will give you the inner strength to stand up for yourself without losing your cool or your dignity. When abusers realize you have the strength and courage to not play their games, they’ll often back down. Psalm 18:3 reads, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy, to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies.”

Report

Talk to someone you trust and use Matthew 18 as your guide. Report the actions to your human resources department, your supervisor, or one level up if your boss is the abuser.

Be strong but kind

God judges and disciplines and He’s called us to serve even our enemies. Romans 12:20 says, “Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Show the abuser God’s love, but don’t allow it to continue.

Workplace abuse is not acceptable in any form or fashion. Deal with it now. You’ll be glad you did.