What Should I Do If My Manager Is Bullying Me?

In professional work environments, we expect our supervisors and managers to support us, mentor us, and have our back. So, when your boss betrays that expectation and subjects you to harassment or bullying, where do you turn? You have legal recourse, and though you may feel overwhelmed and anxious, you are not alone. Our employment lawyers at Carcich O’Shea have helped clients in seemingly impossible work situations like yours.

How Can You Recognize Bullying?

Verbal abuse, intimidation, and even unreasonable demands can all count as managerial bullying. Sometimes, you will recognize this sort of behavior immediately; yelling, threats, or personal attacks all constitute workplace harassment and can cause anxiety, panic, and stress.

Unfortunately, bullying is not always obvious. Perhaps your manager frequently criticizes your work without justification. Maybe they exclude you from important meetings or assign insurmountable tasks. All these actions undermine your confidence and professional understanding.

If you suspect workplace bullying, document everything. Keep a private journal of all problematic incidents, including dates, times, words, actions, and people present. To be safe, keep this record off any workplace computer or technology.

If you feel confident enough, assert yourself and your workplace rights to your manager. Calmly but firmly let them know that their behavior is unacceptable and that you expect to be treated respectfully. This confrontation may help quell the bullying—but if the behavior continues, consider seeking help from HR or higher authority within your organization.

When Should You Consider Legal Action?

You may feel hesitant to report the harassment due to fear of retaliation or uncertainty that anything will change. Check your employee handbook to review and understand your company’s policies against workplace harassment, and use this as leverage to protect your interests with HR.

Even with thoroughly documented logs and a firm grasp of the company’s internal harassment policy, your HR department or supervisors may fail to do their part to protect you. In these instances, strongly consider legal action to assert your employee rights against bullying. You may need to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to pursue a lawsuit against your employer. We recognize how physically, financially, and emotionally taxing this process can feel. You deserve a compassionate, experienced lawyer to advocate for your rights and protect your interests in your workplace. No one deserves bullying in the workplace.

Protect Your Workplace Rights With the Bergen County Employment Lawyers at Carcich O’Shea

Call the Bergen County employment lawyers at Carcich O’Shea to safeguard your rights. We will gather all the necessary evidence, assemble your case, and protect you legally as you seek justice. Call 201-988-1308 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Located in Hackensack, New Jersey, we serve clients in Bergen County, Edison County, Essex County, Morris County, and Passaic County.