“Dear John”,
I certainly hope you had a nice trip. I can’t even imagine all of the things you need to catch up on. I know it’s Saturday and I have no expectation of a reply; I’ve just felt a pressing need to share, sooner than later, what I’ve been going through.
I’m having a hard time deciding how to begin and how much information to share as I know your time is very valuable and this is a complex situation. I’ll try my best to leave emotions out of it, although it’s certainly been emotional the past few months.
Are you ready to “dare greatly”...again? At first, it feels almost unfair to ask. Especially of those that have dared so greatly before, only to suffer its consequences. For most have loved and then lost. Trusted and been betrayed. Belonged and been cast out. Believed and been deceived. Stood up and been shut down...But the workplace bullying target has the unimaginable shock and pain of these all crashing down simultaneously, resulting in a primal need to protect themself.
I’m always searching for books that will expand my knowledge and offer insights on ways employees can better protect and empower themselves in the workplace. So, when I came across a recommendation to read Corporate Confidential by Cynthia Shapiro, a tell-all book by a former HR executive promising to expose the secret agendas and unwritten rules of Corporate America, I jumped at the chance to be in the know.
“How long does it take to fully recover from workplace bullying?” I asked. “A lifetime,” He replied. My heart sank as I took in the workplace bullying expert’s words. His response cut sharply through my hopes of someday being able to put this whole experience behind me. And it left me wondering,
What are you willing to die for? This may seem like too serious of a question for those simply defending themselves against unfair treatment at work, but it’s one that must be considered. Employees who find themselves suffering in the workplace often fail to heed the advice of experts to leave their toxic environments. And understandably so. There are countless reasons we become attached to our jobs. And even more reasons we fight to stay…including the sheer injustice of what we’re facing.
Not ready to forgive those that hurt you at work? That doesn't mean you can’t experience freedom from your pain and return to enjoying life again! Forgiveness can be a touchy subject for those of us that have experienced workplace abuse, especially when the cruel actions of others have altered our life in so many ways. Adding to the difficulty is that workplace bullying targets seldom, if ever, receive acknowledgment from the ones that caused so much harm.