“I was employed at a technical school under the Tennessee Board of Regents. The bullying began with snide comments from the president, my supervisor. In addition, a new VP was brought on, and the bullying intensified.
Tactics included mocking me in front of my faculty and staff during meetings, withholding information pertinent to my job, attempts at recruiting others to say negative things about me, disparaging my professional reputation, and constant criticism of my work.
Tactics included mocking me in front of my faculty and staff during meetings, withholding information pertinent to my job, attempts at recruiting others to say negative things about me, disparaging my professional reputation, and constant criticism of my work.
I felt picked on and stuck in the situation due to financial constraints. I was also angry and always on guard. The behavior made coming into the office almost unbearable. In addition, I began having health issues, gaining weight, and losing hair. Upon the president’s “resignation,” she decided to grant me my first employee review in the 2.5 years I reported to her. Of course, the review was scathing and spoke to none of the contributions I made to the institution.
Things escalated under a new president. He came in and mis-assessed the bullying as me and the other VP “just not getting along.” I was told that I’d better get along with her or risk termination. If I responded to communication from her, I was admonished to watch my tone.
If I didn’t respond, I was told I was not being a team player. Emboldened by the previous president who was still hanging around the school, the other VP made it her business to stay in my business, constantly overstepping with no resistance whatsoever from the new president. Frankly, I believe he was too insecure in his first ever presidential role to confront what he perceived as the powers that be.
I was terminated. I’m told the place was like a funeral when the news went around. Almost everyone knew who the primary bully was; many of them had been bullied by her as well. Not long after my departure, the president apparently began to realize what a small part — if any — I played in the issues at the school.”