Okay, I'm down to the last week of working in a very toxic bullying work environment.

67 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 17,2022 at 2:42PM UTC

   If you can't see your way through your last week, I would request that last week be worked from home. Explain the intensity to both your boss and HR or higher ups if you don't have HR.

   Do this in writing and name names.

   Otherwise, laugh your way through each day. Say thank you to each person you see as a bully. Laugh out loud. You say you need tge paycheck? Then focus on that paycheck. If your sanity is at stake go to your doctor and request a note from him saying your mental health is suffering and you need to be separated from your abusers.

2. PJ BhaktaJune 17,2022 at 2:50PM UTC

   It’s your last week, end goal in sight. With nothing to lose, choose self- advocacy & educate relentlessly. It’s not a kill with kindness approach but a form of virtue signaling against the “isms” (racism, ageism, sexism, etc)

   and if that seems exhausting, because you shouldn’t have to out your the extra effort anyways because people should just be kind, ethical, and do the right thing …. Maybe plug in earbuds and get through it? Glad you’re moving onto better paths in life!

3. AnonymousJune 17,2022 at 4:00PM UTC

   You are wasasyyyy too focused on other people. Look at the big picture here. You've put up with this behavior this long so honestly there is no way you’ll have a nervous breakdown in the last week.

   Just breathe, smile and get some rest. You have the choice react or not. It's all in your hands. Why would you grant other people power over your well-being??????

   It's only intense if you allow it to be. This is a good lesson since there will be bullies at every job you’ll ever have. You need to learn how to cope and gain some confidence. They only have power when you allow it.

4. Audrey KirschJune 17,2022 at 4:12PM UTC

   If you have any vacation time left, use it. If not, just focus on the day you'll walk out of there for good. If you're smiling to yourself for no apparent reason it will drive the aggressors crazy. Every last day will be an opportunity to let these people know they no longer matter in your world.

5. AnonymousJune 17,2022 at 7:02PM UTC

   It’s your last week, do the least tune them out. Plan a celebration on the last day or into the weekend. See it as a marathon race and it is almost over

6. AnonymousJune 18,2022 at 12:48PM UTC

   It’s the last week there so be happy. Sounds like it was a horrible environment. I left a similar job pre-pandemic. I wrote down the pros and cons over the weekend, come Monday morning, slammed the resignation on my bullying manager’s desk, said I quit and walked out of her office with a smile. It felt great. You can always follow that direction or hang in there and remember that you’re almost out. I didn’t care about the reference because I was only there for five months. It was a municipality HR job and I was lucky to get a great reference from my friend in HR. Poor thing tried here best to help but she since has left herself. We both now are in great jobs that we love and the bullying boss I had has been fired along with the rest of her staff. Karma my friends.

7. AnonymousJune 18,2022 at 2:39PM UTC

   Work 9-5, focus only on your tasks at hand. Make sure to take lunch, and please do yourself a favor and leave the building when doing so — even if it’s just to walk around the block for an hour listening to your favorite music.

   And by all means, look forward to walking out of there on Friday, knowing you’ll never have to go back. Just think of the smile on your face! :)

8. Jacqueline CutlerJune 19,2022 at 12:42AM UTC

   The end really is near. You've survived this place for long enough that you have an end date.

   Get there precisely on time, and do everything you're supposed to. Please take all breaks. Do the job well, and hand off whatever responsibilities you're supposed to.

   Take lunch.

   Leave it with dignity and ignore the bullies. If they goad you, you can say that you'd love to stick around and hear their nonsense but you're finishing up projects before moving on to the next chapter of your life.

   If they persist, smile and wish them well, then walk away. You will be doing that within a week -- walk away.

9. AyianJune 19,2022 at 12:17PM UTC

   Mindfulness meditation can really take the edge off current grated nerves. I found it very helpful when I was in a toxic bullying workplace and needed the paycheck.

10. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 12:20PM UTC

    If you live in the US, then I'd highly suggest filing a claim with them as soon as you leave your current employer if not sooner with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Council).

    I went and filed against my former employer for allowing me to continuously be bullied and harassed not just by other co-workers but also by members of upper management. I ended up getting a small monetary settlement from them, which allowed me to start my own small business where I'm now the sole employee.

11. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 1:55PM UTC

    This is what I came here to say. Casually dropping the word "lawsuit" or "lawyer" in front of management or HR usually shuts people up really quick.

    Do not ever sign anything when you leave a job. You could be forfeiting some free money if you did decide to pursue legal action.

    They cannot make you sign anything either. You will not be employed there for much longer.

    Good luck!

12. Bradford McCormickJune 19,2022 at 12:21PM UTC

    If it's one week to go you can keep your sanity. You must be scrupulously polite to those bad people and do everything right on the job (dot every 'i' and cross every 't') because you do not want any of them to hurt you any more than they already are. But you must politely but firmly draw a line if they try to get you to do anything which could hurt your health which could include many extra hours or expecting you to do stuff for them after you get out. Give them no cause to hurt you more than they already have. The finish line is in sight; don't trip over you own feet. Remember Lot's wife in the Bible.

13. SusanJune 19,2022 at 12:42PM UTC

    I have the same situation, made even worse by the brand new manager calling me to vent their dislike of the supervisor of the team. It is a nightmare. Over the last 6 months, I have learned how to address any aggression head on, nicely but firmly and it usually stops. Bullies tend to be afraid of being called out. I would do it, they should know how upsetting this sort of behavior is.

14. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 12:51PM UTC

    You’ve got this! Only work 9-5, do everything you’re supposed to do (but nothing more), and take your entire lunch break. And take lunch away from the office. Be polite but don’t put up with the bullying. If they try to bully you, just be a ‘gray rock’ and let it roll off your back. Try to ignore the bullies as much as you can get away with. (If you’re feeling particularly feisty, you can also smile and reply “well, bless your heart” to the bullies.) Don’t stay late. If they try to make you do anything extra, either say you can’t because you have another obligation after work, or, if they make it impossible for you to say no, just do what you can and leave the rest. You don’t need to announce all of this. Just quietly do it and get through your week. Friday will be here before you know it.

15. BethBJune 19,2022 at 1:00PM UTC

    Good for you for finding a better situation!

    Why do you need to tolerate the bad behavior? It’s your last week. Do the absolute minimum, if someone is being nasty, walk away even as they are talking. You are not at their mercy, you do not need to engage or tolerate the nastiness.

    also, do you have any sick days left? If so, be sure to use them!

16. CiaraJune 19,2022 at 1:08PM UTC

    It’s your last week and you can’t be fired. Now is the perfect time to practice advocating for your without risk. Look into firm yet direct responses that clearly set boundaries and set a tone for respect and professionalism. These issues travel wherever you go (trust me I know) so learn the best way to manage it. Putting up with work bullying isn’t acceptable. And it’s certainly not taking a high road. It’s enabling bad behavior and making it acceptable.

17. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 1:15PM UTC

    Approach this week with complete emotional detachment.
    Just go to work, do the bare minimum you need to do, and don’t stay late or do anything extra. Be polite and cordial but completely emotionally detached. If the bullies start their crap, ignore them. Or give a delayed reaction like “oh, did you say something?” as if you didn’t really hear what they were saying because you were busy doing something else. They’re no longer your co-workers. You’re just there for the week to finish things up.

18. LORI-ANN BURLINGAMEJune 19,2022 at 1:21PM UTC

    Think of it as the last week of a really bad cold or flu -- better days are ahead. In adition, have you learned anything about yourself? Do you need to set better boundaries?

    This may be the perfect time to do some self-reflection. You deserve to be treated with respect and that starts from day one on the job. You set the standards by which others treat you.

    Keep your stardards high and do not accept anything less.

19. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 1:36PM UTC

    When things like this happen to me I try to mentally check out at work and just focus on when it is time to go home so I can do something I look forward to. Worse case scenario just fight back, at this time they can’t do anything to you either since it is your last week. You can finally tell them no to the things they ask or are bullying you about. It sounds like things can’t change so you did the right thing by finding a new job just wait out the last few days.

20. Jennifer FingerJune 19,2022 at 1:44PM UTC

    Keep reminding yourself that the days you have to put up with this are drawing to a close. Make a ticker that counts down the days. And when you go home at the end of each day between now and the end of your current job, do something nice for yourself. Plan something special (not necessarily big, just special) to celebrate when you finally finish up there.

21. Rhonda RoyalJune 19,2022 at 1:56PM UTC

    This is an awful situation and one that I experienced a few years prior to the pandemic. It will be difficult but come to work as usual, stay your full time, do the least amount of work (Mgr. will complain but heck, you’re leaving) don’t do any socializing (especially with those that made it impossible for you to stay there in peace). A few days after you leave contact EEOC and report the reasons why you had to leave and PLEASE be detailed about everything. Most of all be happy that you’ve left such a toxic work environment. Good luck to you!

22. Jill Kepler-FritterJune 19,2022 at 2:18PM UTC

    Just smile and be agreeable to everything. You know you are leaving. Keep smiling. It makes them nervous. ?

23. Marsha HatchelJune 19,2022 at 2:26PM UTC

    I just went through a similar situation, but it was my boss that was the bully, and ended up doing something I’ve never done before… I resigned effective immediately, turned in property, signed the paperwork and left. I don’t have another job yet either, but I already locked in my pension from another employer and I decided life was too short to put up with that kind of bs one more day! Good luck to you!

24. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 5:20PM UTC

    Best of luck to you and great advice

25. Gretchen SkalkaJune 19,2022 at 2:29PM UTC

    There are so many really great comments, suggestions and pieces of advice here! I'm so impressed!!

    I hesitate to add to what everyone's already said, understanding there is a wide variety of advice being shared here.

    From emotional detachment to self-advocacy - there are great tips here. The question for you is 'what are you most comfortable with'?

    It's 5 days, likely 40 hours. I know that can feel like an eternity when you're in the middle of such hostility.

    For me - I think of release.

    You're already leaving this environment. You've taken the steps to release yourself physically from this situation, which I also know is no small task.

    Now come the work of releasing yourself emotionally from all of it- and you can start now.

    It may take quite a while AFTER you've left to completely release yourself from the effects this has had on you, but it will happen.

    We spend more time at work/working/interacting with people at work than we do on any other single activity in our lives. It's understandable that if impacts us - often heavily.

    So, if you can - try to begin releasing yourself emotionally from carrying the burden of people and experiences that are damaging to you.

    How to do that?

    This, too, is different for everyone - but hopefully something here is helpful:

    -Change of scenery.

    By that I mean to take frequent breaks. Even if it's just a break from the immediate scene. Get up, walk to the elevator or to get water or the bathroom. Just remove yourself from where you physically are for a few minutes to give yourself a bit of physical 'space' to just be with yourself.

    -Smile (even if only inside).

    But don't react. Specifically any time anyone does or says anything designed to irritate or anger you. This is quite difficult at first, but immensely satisfying once you get the hang of it. Just smile at whatever is said or done - and go about your business. Don't react to it.

    No attention/reaction is like water on a fire. Any reaction at all is air to a fire - just feeds it. So cut off the food supply for negative energy.

    -Understand.

    Every day you get through this week is a triumph. Understand that it will be challenging, frustrating, hurtful, angering, etc. - but also understand that it is finite and actually has nothing to do with you. Seriously - as soon as you're not in the picture, this group will turn their fangs on another person - often this person is one of 'their own'. That's just what small people do. Again, understand that it may have been directed at you - but in the big picture, their behavior actually has nothing whatsoever to do with you at all. You're the 'now' target. It will be someone else when you're gone. It will always be someone.

    Understanding that will help you begin to create that emotional separation from it because it will help you understand that it's not you, your actions or anything you could control.

    I hope you're able to get through these next 5 days with as much peace as possible. You deserve it!

26. froerden@yahoo.comJune 19,2022 at 2:56PM UTC

    Well you made it this far! Keep going! Try to think about it as one more day, one more hour. In fact, I would count down the hours and just do my job in slow motion until the end. Good luck in your new job.

27. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 3:25PM UTC

    I was relentlessly bullied - mostly passive aggressively - by a supervisor for three years. It was made worse by the fact that we had, at one time, been friends. HR would do nothing, I was told "it's not illegal to be a jerk." In the end, I realized that bullies are in fact miserable people-it wasn't about me-it was about her feeling good about herself by trying to kill my spirit. I ended up feeling sorry for her. Realizing that helped me move on.

28. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 5:18PM UTC

    Great advice

29. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 3:50PM UTC

    The time will fly by as you complete unfinished projects and pack your belongings. Shut down the negativity, they're just jealous they didn't make the move.

30. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 4:37PM UTC

    Can you describe what they're doing and how many coworkers are involved? If answering the phone isn't part of your responsibilities, wear some noise cancelling ear buds.

31. Kimberly WorrickJune 19,2022 at 5:03PM UTC

    Document, Document, Document! If nothing else this gives you a clear record of the atmosphere and culture.

    When I left my last position I dropped a document package on corporate HR showing two years of microaggression and bullying which was condoned and participated in by the lead and manager.

    It produced some changes after I left.

32. Bradford McCormickJune 19,2022 at 7:05PM UTC

    YOUR RESPONSE IS THE BEST!

    And it's not only for a bad work environment. Jus today I was looking at a piece of computre code I wrote (for myself, not for my emploiyer!) which I had not documented and I could not figure it out. Why? Becaus I had not documented why I did it. Who was the plumber you used 5 years ago tha tyou really liked and you have a leak today? No problem if you logged it.

    As an aside: here's one which does not apply to human relations but to things like if you write something and are going to change it and somehow you lose what you started with but you don't like what your currently have, or suppose somehow it gets lost:

    TAKE A BACKUP!

    Got a few minutes with nothin to do? Make a copy of some work you can't afford to lose, and store the backup some place else..

    Logging what happens, and backing up what you do are solid gold and platinum. They are not fun, but if you do them long enough you will find you get guilt feelings when you are about to not do it -- then you have won the prize!

33. ChrishoggJune 19,2022 at 7:35PM UTC

    Hmmm ...

    And now you've got me wondering.

    Had you gone to corporate HR 2 years earlier, do you think those changes might have occurred then

34. Jackie RukaJune 19,2022 at 5:16PM UTC

    One word: Detach…

35. Christine Brush, MSW, MBAJune 19,2022 at 5:25PM UTC

    No paycheck is worth your health or sanity. But if you insist, just keep singing na na na na na to yourself because you will be out of there. Once you are out, go celebrate with some trusted friends and just let it all out.

36. Madam anon663June 19,2022 at 5:28PM UTC

    I feel so bad for you, and hope your next job is with a great company who treats you well.

37. Edna ThackerayJune 19,2022 at 5:43PM UTC

    rise above it all by looking to the future

38. KathrynJune 19,2022 at 5:49PM UTC

    Be polite but distant. Only discuss work product and truly if it gets bad call them out on it what can they do?

39. Vanda LeeJune 19,2022 at 7:28PM UTC

    Fire the heck back at the aggressor! It's your last week, what can they do? The boss won't address them, you think he's going to say something to you? Use this as a time to build up your beaten down self & lift your confidence back up. In other words don't take any shit off of anyone this week...do your job & think about how great the future is gonna be!

40. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 9:08PM UTC

    Agree with others' posts.

    If you weren't on your last week with a new job on the horizon, I'd have recommended a medical (stress) LOA , as you'd receive pay from employer + supplemental pay from the state. I put up with a similar toxic environment for almost 2 years before a kind coworker in management recommended leave to me. It saved my health; I got a new job and am loving my job and stress free life again.
    God's blessings to you!

41. AnonymousJune 19,2022 at 9:36PM UTC

    Just pray- hang in there! I did the same in Oct 31,2021. Much happier @ my new job. You can DO it!

42. Terri NewellJune 20,2022 at 12:04AM UTC

    This sounds exactly like my current experience and I’m so sorry to know anyone else has to endure this. Management is non existent and the cliques are in charge. I am happy you are getting out soon and I’m applying for jobs as we speak. Try to lay low, stay out of their radar and focus on getting out. Best wishes

43. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 12:31AM UTC

    Call out sick ,tell them you think you may have COVID, they'll be so scared of you,that they won't need you to go there , and you will be able to have your paid sick days at least 5. Peace ful work relationships are a professional standard,and not just a preference. You really don't owe these people anything ! They are lucky you even showed up to help and be professional about integrity in having given the 2 weeks notice . The psycho in the workplace you described is going to notice how much extra work she has to do by herself after you are gone why not let her have at it . Then go on to a healthy workplace understanding how much easier it is to enjoy work with people whom are willing to be a team and appreciate how everyone is able to help each other,much kinder and gentler,and with respect and value towards each other. You will breathe a sigh of relief that you took a stand for you ,and for us all in raising the bar for zero tolerance for bullying in the workplace. Too many people overlook such a thing ,however all of us woke up ,and walked away from bullies in the workplace ,I have seen upwards of 7 incidences in the last two months ,talking with friends in my field of work alone and employers are noticing ,that they have to keep looking for hires but can't keep them ,are they too scared to fire the culprit the bully? How soon will they address the real issue,it costs them every time they have to rehire ,how is this bully so priceless to the employer?

    Let them devour themselves ,while you walk a free professional with a new and better career,realizing how important it is to have basic manners and professionalism and care for each other and your client base.

44. Karen SpenceJune 20,2022 at 12:39AM UTC

    It will be over before you know it. Meanwhile, bite your tongue and keep congratulating yourself for making the right move! ? ?

45. Liz MilneJune 20,2022 at 12:51AM UTC

    Any time it feels like too much, just imagine next week, when you will never have to deal with any of those people ever again. It's hard, but bite your tongue, keep your head down and focus on the end of the week! xx

46. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 1:06AM UTC

    Be honest with them ,you don't have to lie or anything. Tell them you aren't going back ,and that peaceful work relationships are a requirement and a healthy professional standard , NOT just a preference. You will be glad you kept your sanity . Would you tell your daughter she has to go somewhere ,where someone is purposely bullying her ,because of some false teaching that going to work means putting your body into intense fear mode, to steel herself against a bully , for the sake of a one week paycheck? Who said this is professional? That's why most of our grandfathers and grandmothers and mothers and fathers developed cancer ,and suffered heart conditions and strokes in their retirement years ,work is supposed to be a good thing ,and not a prison sentence.

    The more people that don't participate in such ghastly conditions based organizations ,the better we will all be , including our up and coming generations.

47. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 1:20AM UTC

    Walk away from Egypt my friend,the bible backs you up on this in,1 Corinthians 7:23 Amen!!! God did not design us for slavery,and He will provide Amen!!! It worked for me and it will work for you Jeremiah 29:11,John 10:10 Amen!!! Thank you almighty God the ultimate Father whom loves us and with Psalm 91 also Amen!!!

48. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 1:36AM UTC

    Unfortunately work place bullying is real !!

    Some management will rather team up with these Bullies!! - !
    Hang in there it will be over before you know it.
    All the best of luck

49. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 1:45AM UTC

    I would stand up to them and make their last week with you miserable!! Or... They can send you home on paid leave....

50. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 4:09AM UTC

    I am a big fan of sticking up for yourself, but if you feel the confrontation is just not worth it; Wear noise canceling headphones.

    If you feel uncomfortable at anytime, excuse yourself and leave the area. Extra bathroom breaks, take a walk around the building, or decompress in your car. It’s ok to tell them you disagree with the behavior and if they don’t want to have your work on their desk next week, kindly leave you alone to work in peace.

    Hang in there!!!

51. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 6:32AM UTC

    I concur absolutely with a great many of these comments. I particularly agree with those who are recommending that you go off sick. I truly believe that stress is as good a reason to have time off sick as any physical ailment, because we know that stress leads to serious physical ailments and is, as someone correctly states, life limiting in the longer term.

    With bullies, the perpetrator is only 50% to blame. The rest of the blame lies with the organisation for enabling the bully. If the situation is as you describe, five days of pay is less than you deserve for struggling through this situation.

    I have to post anonymously because I am genuinely tackling a bully right now and the process is in an early stage. Otherwise, I would be very comfortable putting my name to this comment.

52. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 10:30AM UTC

    Go off sick, if possible. Your sanity and peace of mind must be protected at all costs. I was in a similar situation 3 years ago. My manager, the perpetrator, tried to play down her anger when I informed her I lwas leaving, I knew that her anger would intensify leading up to my end date, and that she would also encourage the rest of the team (x5 females) to collude with her in making my life extremely difficult. Consequently, things became unbearable and just 1 week into working my notice, I went off sick (with the permission of the CEO who I had spoken to in confidence). This enraged the manager further and resulted in her launching a stalking campaign on Linkedin (she also roped in others in the company to 'stake me out' on LI). I was terrified and blocked all individuals, known and unknown, that suddenly started to take an 'interest' in my LI profile and in the end I closed my LI account for 4 months until things had calmed down. To this day, I am grateful to the CEO that gave me a 'safe passage' away from that wicked bully.

53. Rae WagonerJune 20,2022 at 1:04PM UTC

    It is my hope that the CEO also corrected the behavior of that bully, or send the bully on their way.

54. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 12:35PM UTC

    I was in a similar situation but I had Comp time and the new job started the next week so that Monday I came in, put in for my four days of comp time packed my shit and said sayonara at the end of the day. If you don’t have that, I think the COVID excuse is great just send in a picture of a positive test and tell them you’re scheduled a PCR on Thursday

55. Deirdre FisherJune 20,2022 at 3:46PM UTC

    Lying is never good advice or an ethical way to conduct yourself. It's not good for your reputation as an employee or human being, either.

56. Brenda CrawshawJune 20,2022 at 4:14PM UTC

    In normal situations, I agree. But when you are being subjected to daily abuse that is going unaddressed, well, they've set the tone about ethical behavior.

    OP - at this point, you do what you have to do .

57. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 3:11PM UTC

    Hope you take the advice offered and avoid a meltdown. You want to start your new job with a rested and positive outlook rather than dragging a bunch of toxicity from a few former employees into your new role.

58. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 3:13PM UTC

    Take sick leave

59. Patricia Osborne RandolphJune 20,2022 at 3:29PM UTC

    Do not allow you worth and value to be determined by others who build his/her worth and value on bullying others. I do not know your situation whether it is dangerous or lack safety from upper management above your immediate boss due to microaggression being defined as a 'statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority'. Have you reported these microaggressions to HR? Stay strong for one week by reviewing positive affirmations about self to get you through the week to freedom!

60. Brenda CrawshawJune 20,2022 at 4:18PM UTC

    You have lots of advice and opinions here. Do what feels best to you.

    One thing you may not have considered is letting your inner Mama Bear roar at them on the way out. Whether that's boomeranging some of their crap right back on them or giving them a piece of your mind or calling them RIGHT OUT on their behavior - remember, bullies bully from a place of fear - this ball is all in your court.

    And don't worry about future reviews or any of that stuff. If and when you need to share that they were an employer you can use the old "everything was fine until I gave my notice for a much better opportunity and then they did a 180 on me" line.

    Screw them - this is your LIFE. I say let the bully have it right between the eyes and leave on a high.....

61. Paula BrantnerJune 20,2022 at 4:54PM UTC

    Some advice I got from a recent newsletter from the group Defend Yourself concerning verbal abuse: (some is related to harassment but some works for any abusive conduct including microaggressions)

    Here’s one strategy to get you started. When someone says something problematic, pause, take a breath, and ask yourself: “What do I want them to do?” Then turn that into a sentence.

    Here are some things you might say:

    ● Stop!

    ● Take your hand off me.

    ● I don’t find that funny. Don’t joke about other people in front of me.

    ● No hugs right now.

    ● Don’t touch me!

    ● I’m not interested. Stop asking me.

    ● Please don’t comment on the way I look.

    ● You’re standing too close. You need to back up.

    ● Please stop asking personal questions. I keep my work and private lives separate.

    ● I can't have a conversation when you're yelling at me. You need to stop.

    ● Let me go!

    ● That didn’t feel okay to me.

    Of course, there are an infinite number of boundaries you might set, and how you do that depends on the situation, your relationship with the person, your personality, and a bunch more factors.

62. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 7:28PM UTC

    Congrats for escaping! Keep your eye on the goal. Put in earbuds and play your music loud! Say, "sorry I had my earbuds in". Do not and I repeat, do not spend one ounce of your life, time, hours, minutes, seconds listening to bullies. Each day is a new day and each day offers new hope. Glad you are getting out!

63. AnonymousJune 20,2022 at 7:33PM UTC

    One of my favorite movie quotes is from the first Hangover movie.

    Ken Jeong's character puts his middle finger out, rolls his window up and says, "toodaloo motherf*rs". I love that saying and it makes me laugh every time. Even if you don't cuss, you have to admit it's funny and sends a clear message. Even if I don't actually say it, I think it and I just laugh. Hang in there!

64. Farah BajwaJune 21,2022 at 1:01AM UTC

    Take it one day at a time and celebrate the count down! You're phasing out of your job so likewise phase out of reacting or responding to their toxic ways. Write yourself a post-it or set a phone reminder with a motivational quote so that you can constantly go back to it to disconnect mentally and emotionally from them. And just think - in 5 more days you'll never have to deal with these people again!!

65. AnonymousJune 23,2022 at 6:10PM UTC

    Document everything in writing. You may have a case for a discrimination/harassment complaint if you want to pursue it later. Save any improper emails, etc. to your own device. Consult with an employment attorney. And polish up your resume if you don't have a new job yet. You don't owe those people jack.

66. Karlene BrownJune 24,2022 at 2:26AM UTC

    I've been there, and most of it came from my leadership. I told myself everyday to: (1) document it all, (2) asked myself what can I do to keep my nose clean if I have to give a statement in court so that I didn't do anything that would discredit myself (I had a council I turned info into as I resigned so I had a real possibility of having to give legal statements), and (3) lastly the most important thing that helped me was this continual thought:

    "What they say to me, says more about what is going on inside of them than anything else. They are being mean to me because I am a good, kind person that stands up for what is right, and that is why I am leaving this place."

    After that, it's okay to (esp. in writing) have go to phrases such as:

    "please do not talk to me that way, it's disrespectful/uncomfortable...",

    "my focus right now is to make sure you have what you need for this project before I go, I would like your communication to me to be only focused on those priorities right now", and lastly

    "I understand that you feel me leaving allows you to say these inappropriate comments to me, but I am not willing to be disrespected/ talked to in this way. When you have figured out how to talk to me appropriately, then I will listen. Until then, I will be working on (whatever wrap up task you have)."

    You may be asked to leave sooner with some of those

    go-to phrases, but they're not inappropriate and hey, if you go home sooner it's not the worst thing in this kind of scenario. Hang in there, do your countdown and listen to music that makes you feel like the amazing person you are when you drive in/ leave each shift! :)

67. Terri NewellJune 24,2022 at 6:45PM UTC

    Fantastic answer and advice