The Magic Pill

Along the way, I’ve given lots of advice on how to cope with workplace bullying and how to move on, but I’ve never been able to prescribe a magic pill: that elusive panacea that can put all things right.

I resigned myself to the sad fact that there were some unpleasant truths targets of workplace bullying have to learn to live with. 

Over the last year, there has been a significant challenge to this mindset and, as a result, I find myself unusually sentimental. A former boss and partner in a law firm has done something completely unexpected. I’ve talked of this boss previously in blog posts. After giving it some thought, he offered to try and put things right for me. At first, I suspected it would only be a month or two before he changed his mind or made his excuses and disappeared. 

On the contrary, he only grew more determined. While it’s fantastic that the legal issues have been successfully resolved, my sentiment stems from how touched I am by his commitment and how vehemently he argued on my behalf. I didn’t realise how much I needed that. I didn’t realise how much emotional baggage I was quietly still dragging around with me. The workplace bullying I went through and the initial attempt to take action was a grim period, but one that is firmly in the past and I can even say, largely thanks to him, that everything worked out in the end. I’m able to say I’m over it.

So this week, I thought it would be good to remind ourselves of the good bosses out there – and they are out there – the bosses who support staff who are seriously ill or going through a time of personal upheaval. These are bosses who know that hard times can be temporary and gratitude is often long lasting. It’s easy to forget these great bosses are out there when you’re working for someone who is a sadistic so-and-so. It’s so easy to think: ‘better the devil you know’. 

I didn’t ever say I had the answer to workplace bullying but, take it from me, a great boss is the antidote. Make it your mission to go and find one!

Very best wishes

BBTB