Office Politics

» Melissa Dylan - A difficult co-worker or office bully

It's really quite a shame that so many of us have been in this situation. Unfortunately there does not seem to be a lot of support in many work situations. As Wendikaren pointed out, a lot of times these situations occur in small environments without the support of HR or other personnel to intervene.

Bullying is not generally acknowledged as a real workplace problem, because people incorrectly assume that bullies grow out of it by the end of Junior High. Many supervisors assume that it "takes two to tango" and assume that the person filing the complaint provoked the bully. That is not always the case.

It's not always easy to disengage from these toxic people, but sometimes that is your only option. If a bully doesn't get a rise out of you, he or she may move on to a different target. If they see they are affecting you, they will continue their behavior. You are giving them your power every time you get mad and react. Is it fair? Absolutely not. But take a moment, count to ten, choose not to respond, and concentrate on your tasks.

As for explaining the short jobs on your resume, it's important to stress what you have learned from each experience, so in interview situations just emphasize that this time around you're committed to finding the perfect fit for both of you, to avoid the situation in the future. Then ask detailed questions about the job and environment (without sounding defensive) to be sure you're going into a supportive situation where this won't take place again.