Read on Twitter
In my second week in a new job my boss screamed at me about a mistake I’d made. I worked late. I found solutions. I fixed it. When I explained how I’d sorted the issue, my boss doubled down on his criticism telling me how my failure reflected on him. 1/ #BullyPatel
For the next couple of months it didn’t actually matter what I did, the response I got from my boss was the same. Criticism and judgment. If I did something flawlessly- I’d be ignored, or he’d comment on how easy my job was. 2/
One morning I felt so shit about it all I had a full-blown panic attack at the thought of going into the office. I nearly didn’t, but I spoke to my mum who said if you don’t, you may never go back. 3/
Everything came to a head in my third month, when on my way into work I was hit by a car. I was very lucky, it was going slowly as it was just revving up after being stopped at a traffic light. But I took a solid hit to my legs and as I went down knocked my head on the bumper. 4/
Second bit of luck, it was being driven by a doctor who know just wha to do. The point was, in the ambulance, on the way to hospital to get checked out, all I could think was “thank god I don’t have to go to work today.” 5/
I was fine, bruised and with a headache, but the doctor released me and said I should go home. When I called my boss to explain what happened, he genuinely told me that the “timing was inconvenient as there was so much to be done” 6/
For the next few days I felt a bit shaken and had a headache that increased in severity through the day so I’d ask if I could leave early. The response, “you really are milking this aren’t you?” 7/
I was lucky. At the time I had a choice. That week, I tendered my resignation. What makes me truly sad, is that the senior manager (my boss’s boss) came to me to say how sorry he was that I was leaving. I was stunned. My line manager made me believe I was useless. 8/
Instead, the snr. Manager went on to say how impressed everyone had been by my diligence and work ethic and how some of the changes I’d made had increased efficiency and reduced mistakes dramatically. He asked if he could convince me to stay. 9/
I asked if there was any way I could stay, but with no direct contact with my current boss. He seemed surprised. Of course he was. He was in charge so he had only ever seen my boss’s charming side. In the end he couldn’t find a solution and I left. 10/
Why this long thread? My boss made me feel worthless, incompetent and useless when that was not the truth. I was lucky, I had choices and champions, so the longer term effects were mitigated, but even now, in a crunch, I doubt myself before others. /11
There’s no excuse for workplace bullying and our government should always set a good example, that’s what leadership is. By protecting #BullyPatel, Johnson further demonstrates how unsuited he is to be PM. They both must go. /end
