Trapped In A Toxic Work Environment

[Philippa]

I know your post was a few months ago Mystery, but I wanted to say that I relate to what you shared in your post so much, and it's great you got away, even if it is hard. I had a similar situation at my last workplace, and I relaly think many managers are taking full advantage of the power they know they have over people, in this economic climate.

She didn't count on the fact that I don't care if I go a week without eating more than an apple, as long as I am not around people who treat me like shit, then I'm rich!

My ex-manager did the exact same thing to me, and manipulated the boss into thinking I'd violently attacked her, when there was no attack, except for HER verbally yelling and attacking me...all because I didn't answer her straight away when she asked me if I wanted to go home, when I told her I was feeling really ill.

I am still sick with the virus...but my health improved so much once I left that place. Toxic work environments are just so scary, because you start to become used to the behaviour and put up with it because of the fear of not being able to pay bills. It's so wrong...and the people in charge exploit it for everything they can.

I've had a mix of good co-workers, with the occasional passive-aggressive situation, and rotten ones, like the last one, and this time I left because I knew I was worth a lot more than being treated that way, but if I stayed it wouldn't take long before I no longer believed that, and stayed forever.

I like Inspired 2 B frees' advice.

This is just so endemic in society...toxic work environments. If people could somehow create their own businesses or money making endeavours, management would HAVE to change their ways, as they would know that they can't manipulate through fear anymore. But, I guess that takes a lot of personal development and work to move past fears of survival etc.

It can be done though...I've met people who have done it, and who will walk away without a moments hesitation, if they are being mistreated...and I've done it too. No job is worth your soul and self-esteem and HEALTH,and as hard as it would be to not have it, and as much as there is real fear about not being able to find more work...there are always jobs for those who want to work or who need to.

I hope you are able to find the right solution for this issue Ambivalent. It sucks.

 

[Sunny:)]

Oh! Thank you everyone for your replies to Ambivalent, and to you, Ambivalent, for starting this thread. I'm working where the office manager has "run off" five people on our staff in the four years he has been here. He "twists reality" and told the bosses they did things and said things they didn't do. The bosses know he has a problem, but I don't think they are willing to address it.

Now he's doing it with me. My relationship with the bosses has been one of integrity, honesty and character...things I had lost before my recovery from PTSD. Now that I have them back, I hold them dear. I'm afraid they will listen to him long enough that they will believe him. So I want to quit. I've been expending a lot of mental and emotional energy trying to hold things together in the office by telling the bosses what's really going on. There is another secretary (my best friend), me and then him left.

Y'all (yes, I'm from the Mississippi) have given me the word I need- TOXIC! He is toxic. Quite honestly, I think he has PTSD, because he does the same things I did before I hit bottom and got help. But I think I would be entering dangerous territory to try to help him.

I love my job, but it is not worth my sanity to try to "hang in there." I've worked too hard to regain it.

I will pray to God for wisdom and guidance.

 

[.Ambivalent.]

Wow, thank you for all the replies, everyone. I have to say that a lot has changed since I last posted here in May. Things got quite a lot worse before they got better...

First, there was a situation that I had to deal with, which caused a lot of drama. I had to report a co-worker for something, which is not a position I want to be in. Unfortunately, it was the second time I had to report same co-worker for the same thing! Even more unfortunate, is the fact that nothing is ever done about it. :(

Anyway, It was around that time, that I learned a lot more about my boss and my company. I learned that my boss was under insane amounts of stress, from her boss, who was under stress from her boss. So, my boss' boss' boss is basically a control freak and queen of drama. I guess it's kind of a chain reaction type of thing. But, to make a long story short, my boss decided to step down from her position. She's now my co-worker. That has changed everything between us, and everything between her and other employees. Now, I'm not excusing her behavior, but I think she was taking out the stress on her employees. Without the stress, she's a much nicer person to work with!

So, second, I have a new boss now. She's actually a good friend of mine and someone I trust. So, that changes things a lot!

Third, I was in an accident and I've been out of work for quite some time. I'd say it was a nice vacation, but, no, not really. :p Anyway, I can't really comment on how things are at work now, since I'm not there. I'm hoping they've improved to some extent with the changes in management. At the facility I work at, I'm sure they have. However, my best friend (who works at the same company), is in a similar situation with a different boss. I've come to realize that the entire company is just a disaster. There's not a whole lot we can do about it. My friend and I are both trying to find different jobs unless something (like the boss' boss' boss) changes and stops what we've named "The Drama Train". :rolleyes: