THE BOSS MAKES MY LIFE HELL

Dear Coleen

I’ve worked for the same company for 12 years, and six months ago a new boss came on board. She’s making my life so difficult. She is my line manager, and finds fault with every single thing I do.

I don’t know who to complain to as it’s a small company.

She would be the person I should speak to about any problems and I’m worried about going over her head in case that makes things worse.

I don’t really understand what her problem is, but basically she just has it in for me. I’ve heard from my colleagues that she criticises me behind my back and she even makes jokey comments to other people about my weight and the clothes I wear.

No matter what I do it’s never good enough and I just feel like handing in my notice.

But I’m a single mum, plus I love my job. Or at least I used to. What can I do?

Coleen says

I would definitely speak to her. Just say, “Have we got a problem? And if so, what is it?”

Calmly and politely explain to her that you’re finding it increasingly difficult to work with her, and you’re wondering why she dislikes you so much. If it’s something to do with your work, then she needs to be professional about it and sit you down to talk it through and find ways you can improve. But if it’s personal, then that’s a different matter altogether.

She’s your manager, so she shouldn’t be criticising you and saying mean things about you to your colleagues. So call her out on it – tell her that everybody is informing you she’s saying things about your weight and clothes behind your back.

Hopefully that’ll shame and embarrass her into stopping. If she doesn’t give you some proper answers, then you need to go above her head. Don’t worry about it making things worse – they are already bad.

Let this woman know you won’t stand for her bullying, which is what it is.