Does your office feel like a World War II battlefield, complete with the “Axis of Evil”, the Allies (perhaps your coworkers or supportive family members), daily battles of words, and constant tension? This kind of workplace is more common than you might think, unfortunately. The good news is that others have gone through this and have developed coping strategies that you, too, can use to survive in a hostile workplace.
It’s crucial to have some on-the-spot coping mechanisms. No amount of planning will help if you can’t control your impulse to engage the “enemy” in combat whenever possible. Always try to avoid this — the more calm and rational you stay, the more it will benefit you later. Even if snide comments are flung at you or someone is trying to provoke you, just smile politely and stay neutral whenever possible.
Once you have survived the small-scale incidents, it’s useful to have a short-term plan for dealing with the aggression you experience in the workplace. Always keep a record of what was said, by whom, and when. Include as much detail as possible. If necessary, buy a journal and keep a record when you go home every day (consider writing exact quotes on a post-it note or scrap of paper as soon as possible and pocketing it for later, if you’re concerned about forgetting exact details). This journal will benefit you if the situation continues and/or escalates. The person with the most documentation of abuse or hostility will often come out on top in the end.
Go to management if feasible, bringing some sort of records or evidence of harassment. Sometimes, it’s possible management or the HR department simply isn’t aware of the hostility, or nobody has presented sufficient evidence for them to take action. If your immediate supervisor is an ally, talking to them without appearing to be whining about your “mean coworkers” might produce great results. If, on the other hand, your immediate supervisor is the source of the hostility, your situation is trickier. Consider whether it’s best to go to the HR department, a high-level manager, or your supervisor’s boss. Make the effort to work with an unreasonable boss or coworker and your efforts will be noticed and appreciated. If the demands to “just put up with it” are unreasonable, however, you have the right to seek further satisfaction.
In the meantime, keep an eye on the job market in your area. Research possible job openings at other companies, or even in other cities. It’s always useful to have an “escape” if the situation gets truly nasty. Of course, this isn’t practical for everyone, but it’s worth a try.
For those stuck in hostile workplaces for a long time, you may consider legal action. Your journal of events will be one of the most precious pieces of evidence here, as it’s hard to refute a carefully-kept record of events over a long period of time. Seek a good lawyer’s advice on this route if you wish.
A hostile workplace is a challenge to survive at the best of times, but keep these tips in mind and you can come out with fewer battle scars than everyone else!