What do I do when my coworkers are harassing me?
132 Answers
Moderated by Smita Joshi, BA Psychology / MA / Advanced EFT Practitioner
Updated: Jun 2, 2022
BriskerAir
on
Jul 17, 2021
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Think about how you feel and write your emotions down. All of them. Talk to someone you trust, whether it's a superior in your office or the manager. Sit down with them and talk to them and tell them what happened. Don't be afraid to input how you feel and how you felt at the time. How had this affected you? How have they affected your work? You are worth the time this takes. You are worth the time people will take to deal with this. You are helping everything by putting this situation into words. You can do this. Stand up.
HelpfulDeer
on
Jul 21, 2021
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This has happened to me before. Finding a coping mechanism will allow for a more peaceful working place. Understand your support around you such as who you can go to to discuss the harassment. Always remember your job is important not the people around as much. The need to know you are working as hard as you can do is important. Achieve your own goals and enjoy the job at hand try not to worry about others. I spoke confidently to another co-worker which helped me. She understood the situation and was able to offer advice and encouragement to allow me to conquer the situation!
Anonymous
on
Jul 29, 2021
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I think about what makes them behave that way and try to understand it. It's often about them than about me, so I remind myself that I don't need to take it personally. In my past experiences, when these coworkers see that I'm not bothered and they don't get extra attention for choosing to harass me, they stop and move on to other things. I have tried to befriend them and realize that they're even more disturbed than I can imagine and they only need someone to deflect this hatred onto. I am no expert on harassment but to me, this is how it works.
Anonymous
on
Sep 25, 2021
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Depending on the severity of the harassment, I might report it to an upper manager if I felt I couldn't solve the problem myself. I wouldn't let someone get away with it if it was harmful enough. However it the harassment was something I felt I could handle on my own, I would probably first ask where the hostility was coming from. "What did I do to cause you to harass or lash out at me?" If the answer is something that is within my power to change, I would take it into consideration and adjust as needed. But if it had something more to do with something that couldn't be easily changed, such as my gender identity as an example, I would simply explain that I am not going to change myself to make someone else more comfortable in a workplace setting. I think everyone deserves some level of respect in the workplace, even if they don't always see eye to eye. How a person goes about expressing the differences would determine how I'd react or respond to it.
Believeinspiredream
on
Oct 8, 2021
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If you can speak to your manager, speak to them and keep a record of every incident of harassment so you can go to them with a clear picture of what is happening and who is saying it. If you manager can't be spoken to or is also the one harrasing your company should have a whistleblowing policy which is where you can report harrasement to someone higher ie the bosses boss. If this all fails there are unions (i am from the Uk so not sure if its available in every country) that will support you with co- worker harassment. Stay strong x
gracefulPresence7315
on
Oct 21, 2021
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Make sure you address the situation with management to get it handled. Like that management can deal with it and address it with the cowokers and take the appropriate action towards them. When you talk to management let them know the issues you are having with the coworkers and what they are doing to you. It is also good to keep a record of the events that have happened word for word with the date and time so that when you report them you have solid proof. Remember that it is good to report these things to maintain a good work environment.
AmarahSofia
on
Dec 24, 2021
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Report it to your supervisor or to the management immediately. It is supposed to be a safe palce for all the employees. Please know that there is no need for you to be afraid, your supervisor should not tolerate this harassments at work. If you already made a report then the management did not do anything, then leave. It is not worth risking your safety for a company who doesn't care about the employees. No one has the right to abuse their powers or do power tripping. I just hope you are okay now. Please know your feelings are valid, and your safety is much important than the work,you have right now. It maybe challenging to look for another job right now but you should always look after your safety.
friendlyWhisper7648
on
Mar 3, 2022
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I am sorry to hear that your coworkers are harassing you. This should not be happening to you. I wonder if you could first talk to the person/ people that are causing you to feel this way! Approaching it with I statements and keeping any blaming or "when you" statement out of it might help. E.g. I feel x when y happens. If after talking to them does not resolve the issue I would be looking at reporting these people as this should not be happening. Your work environment should be a safe and harassment-free environment. I alsi know that this is not an easy thing to do.
Anonymous
on
Mar 25, 2022
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When I've been harassed by coworkers, I start by asking kindly to stop. If it continues I bring it up to the manager or the HR department, if its the manager I bring it up to their boss. I work my way up the structural ladder until the problem ends. I tend to be a person who lets things roll off their shoulders but I don't stand for harassment. It's unnecessary and hurtful to those on the receiving end. Staying calm and collected is important to be able to show you're in control of your emotions and not feeding into the nonsense that the coworker is trying to bring up.
Anonymous
on
Apr 21, 2022
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have you spoken to the person? Do you feel comfortable to do so if you haven't? if you have spoken to them and they are continuing to do so.
I would then look for a way to make management aware that this is happening. Keep all evidence you have of this matter so you have things to back up what you are taking about.
Does it need to be taken out of the company and taken further? Do you have friends or family that can support you with this? Talk to someone that isn't connected to this and see if they can help you
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