Latest news with #workplacebullying
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
The ultimate way to deal with a toxic friendship
COMMENT As a high-performance coach and organisational psychologist, I've seen all kinds of workplace dynamics. But one of the most unsettling is successful women tearing down other women. It's corrosive, often subtle, and incredibly damaging. Ask women who've been on the receiving end of female bullying how it felt, and the response is often the same – 'sucker punched', 'blindsided' and 'sideswiped'. They never saw it coming. Toxic friendships, particularly between women, are more common than we realise. And here's the kicker – when female friendships go south, they often come with emotional complexities that make them harder to escape. That's because we're wired for connection. We expect kindness and camaraderie from other women. So, when betrayal creeps in, it feels worse than when it comes from, say, an acquaintance or even a romantic partner. The emotional toll runs deep because we don't expect it from another woman – we're sisters after all. So why is it that sisterhood can sour so quickly? Anthropologists and psychologists have long studied female relational aggression, and some research suggests that competition among women can be traced back to evolutionary instincts, territorial disputes, social hierarchy struggles, and even subtle forms of sabotage. Regardless of whether the toxicity stems from deep evolutionary instincts or just personal baggage, staying in a harmful friendship isn't recommended – it's harmful. If you've reached the point where the relationship is taking more than it's giving, it's time to step back. Here's how: • Acknowledge the reality – If a friendship consistently leaves you feeling stressed or drained, that's a sign it's no longer serving you. If it's a workplace situation don't explain what's happening away. Face what's going on. Identify the type of toxicity it is – are they being disrespectful or something more sinister like frequent and repetitive bullying? • Choose your approach – Some friendships require a direct break-up conversation. Others benefit from gradual distancing. If it's a workplace relationship gone wrong, approach it strategically – consult with a mentor, or if necessary, HR if safe to do so. • Set clear boundaries – If you decide to talk it out, be firm and honest: 'I don't feel our friendship is healthy for me anymore, and I need to step away.' At work it might not be so cut and dry, especially if it's a peer or your boss. I would advise getting support to come up with a strategy that maintains your sanity and doesn't end your career. Often when a woman outs another woman it is a career limiting move to call it out. Figure out how much support you will receive from your workplace and whether it is worth the risk. Maintain professionalism at all times. • Bury your guilt – Prioritising your peace isn't selfish. If leaving a toxic friendship means walking away from a job, a social circle, or an environment that no longer serves you, so be it. At work, it's the same deal but it needs to be managed differently. If you have to leave the organisation because you can't see a constructive way to remove yourself from the toxic colleague's firing line, get out before you lose your confidence and strength to pursue better professional opportunities. Ending a toxic friendship isn't an act of cruelty, it's an act of self-preservation. And when you finally step away, you create space for friendships that feel lighter, genuine, and mutually uplifting. So, here's your reminder. You get to decide the terms of your relationships. You hold the power. You write the script.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
What To Do If Your Boss Affects Your Mental Health
A businesswoman looks stressed out at work. getty Having a boss who affects your mental health can be challenging. Maybe you took the job because of the company's stellar reputation. Or you might have known someone at the company when you applied. You could even be at what you initially thought was your dream job. Regardless of how you ended up at your current job, having a boss who is detrimental to you and the company culture can be disappointing. Shouting, intimidation, bullying– these are just a few ways a bad boss can affect your mental health. Dr. Nicole DeKay, principal consultant at Humanalysts LLC, believes that workplace bullying should be addressed with urgency— and not just for mental health related reasons. 'Bullying bosses are expensive and it should be an organizational priority to stop bullying when it happens. A study by Gallup found that poor management (and its associated loss of productivity) cost $8.8 trillion a year, or 9% of the US GDP,' said the Seattle based industrial-organizational psychologist. 'A boss has more impact on your health than your doctor or therapist. Their impact is about equal to your partners. Bosses are absolutely in a position to affect the mental health of the people who work for them, even though it's often unrecognized and ignored,' she said. So, is your boss affecting your mental health? Here's what you can do to protect your peace. Mentors are a great resource when it comes to managing a difficult job. You may have a mentor who has experienced similar challenges. If you speak to someone with years of experience, they will likely be able to provide sage advice on how to handle your situation. Plus, if you're looking for a new job a mentor can introduce you to people who are hiring. Make sure that when you speak to your mentor that you specifically ask for advice not how to get a job. At the end of the conversation ask if there is anyone else they recommend you speak with. When you speak to new people try not to get too personal. It's important to note that you have already established a relationship with your mentor. You shouldn't speak too candidly about your current boss to someone you don't know well. Also, I recommend that you speak with more than one person about how to deal with your boss affecting your mental health. Ask yourself: do I have more than one mentor? If yes, speak to several of them. If you only have one mentor head to LinkedIn, track down experts in your industry, and get on calls with as many people as you can. Having support from a therapist can go a long way when dealing with work-related problems. A therapist can recommend healthy coping skills for dealing with a boss who affects your mental health. They can suggest grounding techniques and ask insightful questions. They will listen to you without judgment. Therapy can definitely benefit you while managing stress from work. I spoke with licensed clinical psychologist and coach Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands about mental health and the workplace. She said that 'when there is a change in baseline functioning and someone is experiencing physical and/or psychological symptoms, it is important to initially get a physical to rule out any physical issues and also consult with a therapist.' Unfortunately, stress can impact your physical and mental health. For example, some professionals get severe migraines due to work-related stress. It's incredibly important to safeguard your mental and physical well-being. When I spoke to Dr. Norrington-Sands, she identified signs that your boss may be affecting your mental health. 'Some signs may include: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, difficulties sleeping, difficulties eating, agitation, crying on the way to work/leaving work/in the bathroom, preoccupation with the job outside of work hours, suicidal ideation, etc.,' she told me. She had plenty to say about how seeing a therapist can help someone who's experiencing workplace issues due to leadership. 'Based upon the individual's presenting issues, a therapist may initially explore the possibility of taking a leave of absence for some reprieve from the toxic stress in the workplace. A therapist may also work with the individual regarding identifying/utilizing relaxation strategies such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided visualization. A therapist may explore with the individual the costs/benefits of staying at the job as well as options for exit planning,' she said. If your boss is affecting your mental health it may be time to look for other jobs. Start by going on LinkedIn to change your job preferences. List that you are open to work if your employer can't see your LinkedIn or isn't on LinkedIn at all. You can enter specific job titles you are interested in and receive recommendations from LinkedIn every day. You can also specify what type of employment you are seeking out (contract, temporary, part-time, or full-time). Update your skills and experience to align with jobs you plan to apply to. Remember that it's better to leave a job once you've found another one. But making the decision to leave a job is far from simple. According to Dr. DeKay, the decision of whether to find another job depends on a variety of factors. 'Some bosses are able to be coached – if you feel like you can talk to your boss and offer them better ways to manage you that would impact you less, this can be a solution. If the situation likely won't change, if they've tried to address the behavior directly and it hasn't worked, if they've elevated it and said something, then yes. They should look for a new job. Just like you shouldn't stay in an abusive domestic relationship, you shouldn't accept being abused by a boss,' she said.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SpaceX Employee With Crohn's Disease Canned Over Excessive Bathroom Use
Surveillance, bullying, and the timing of bathroom breaks are all in a day's work at SpaceX. That's according to Douglas Altshuler, 58, a Seattle man who is suing Elon Musk's rocket company, his former employer, alleging a litany of wild OSHA violations at the company and personal discrimination on account of his Crohn's disease. The chronic bowel disease causes frequent and unexpected, uh, launches—as often as every 35 minutes, or 14 times within an eight-hour shift. Despite the company's awareness of his medical condition, and a medical note from his doctor, Altshuler was served a formal disciplinary notice about spending more than 10 minutes in the bathroom, The Independent reports. However, Altshuler's federal discrimination lawsuit alleges significant and serious workplace legal violations, suggesting he may have been terminated for raising issues with the company's practices. These include allegations that rocket parts were dried in ovens used by employees to cook their meals and that staff were retaliated against for taking time off following workplace injuries. Altshuler, who worked as part of the customer support team, underwent medical leave following 'chemical exposure' and claims that his termination came shortly after notifying OSHA of safety concerns in the workplace. Altshuler had his phone calls monitored, his movements in the office tracked with an 'electronic timekeeping system,' and was denied meal breaks after five hours of work. He also did not receive the additional compensation he was entitled to for working overtime and claims he was 'bullied and threatened' throughout his professional tenure. Altshuler's disability led to a series of back-and-forth communications with his superiors, resulting in what he described as a 'threatening and argumentative' performance review before ultimately being fired in January. The filing offers a window into the work practices of the company headed by Musk, who has been outspoken in his celebration of excessive work conditions. 'DOGE is working 120 hours a week,' Musk tweeted in March. He has also previously railed against working from home, something he described as 'morally wrong' in 2023. It's not the first time that SpaceX's workplace practices have been scrutinized. In 2023, Reuters revealed there had been at least 600 unreported workplace-related injuries at the company in less than a decade. These included crushed limbs, amputations, and even one death. Altshuler himself is seeking compensation and damages at a cost to be determined by a jury. The Daily Beast has reached out to both SpaceX and Altshuler's attorneys for comment.
