Dealing with a manager on a power trip is so stressful and frustrating, especially when it complicates issues in your personal life.

See how this employee took a stand to protect her mental health.

Taking on my Bullying Boss

I enjoyed my job and my company had supported me when I had to take 3 months off 2 years ago with a serious health condition.

But then I got a new boss. We’ll call her Helen. She started reprimanding people for random things.

Unable to deal with Helen, my colleague Jim hands his notice in.

Before he leaves, Helen makes me a technical reporting architect for BOTH customers — Jim and mine.

I must point out here that my serious health condition was PTSD and a nervous breakdown.

The cause was having a baby, watching my dad have a stroke , my mum being in a coma following a massive heart attack and a friend committing suicide.

Helen starts to get personal.

She says she doesn’t believe in mental health and I should prepare to have my handover from Jim.

So I ask her to check with HR whether what she’s doing is legal as it’s a change of role with no new contract.

A week later she hauls me into a “stress review meeting,” which was a reprimand. One of my crimes was being “miserable.”

Day after New Years Day I called in sick.

I had sixteen lovely weeks off with my family, at full pay, while I prepared all my evidence to take the company to court for bullying.

It never got to court.

Things get much healthier for OP after her break.

The entire department was made redundant due to mismanagement.

On top of my redundancy package I was paid for the remainder of the year plus all my holidays.

I got a better paid job the day after I handed my laptop in.

My new boss is absolutely lovely and my new company treats me with respect. And I can see boats and ducks from my office window 🙂

She did not lose her job. Her friend promoted her to another department where she’s universally hated and back to her old tricks.

Let’s see what people are saying.

A lot of them knew firsthand what these office politics are about.

This makes sense to me.

Solidarity can be helpful. I hope this situation gets better.

Health must come first! I’m glad so many commenters get this.

Wouldn’t surprise me, but I doubt this manager cares.

Who enjoys alienating people like this? I don’t get it. It’s sick.

If you liked that post, check out this story about a customer who insists that their credit card works, and finds out that isn’t the case.