Don’t let the bully boss get to you

Oscar ongwen is a company driver who has the privilege to attend all office events. However, he always feels bullied by his superior.
“On a rainy Monday, my superior came in late for a meeting and being the gentleman that I am, I offered her my seat and went to pick another for myself, from our office, which is a good distance away from the meeting room. To my surprise, at the end of the meeting, she asked me to take back the chair I sat on and the one I offered her,” Ongwen shares one of his unpleasant experiences with his superior.
Kate Akello, a human resource officer, says: “Often times, employees get bullied by those who are either their employers or superiors because they have to work under them.”

Focus on your work
She says the employees need to be careful while dealing with such people because they expect a lot from their subordinates and failure to do that may cause friction between the two parties.
Akello advises that when an employee comes face to face with such an employer, the best thing they can do is play a fool and make sure that they do their work on time.

Refer to your contract
She says the best way to defend yourself when it comes to working with such people is make good use of your contract so that all they have to do is what is stipulated in the contract and you can defend your failure to take on other duties.

Let them know if you are bullied
On the other hand, Bosco Lotte Bogere, a procurement officer, says sometimes bosses do not realise they are bullying their employees so walking up to them and telling them does not hurt although one has to use polite language. “They too are human so you do not expect them to act like they are aware of all their actions. Sometimes they may ask you to do something thinking you are doing them a favour yet they have unknowingly intimidated you into helping,” says Bogere.
He says you have a right to refuse to do something against your will because doing it will leave you frustrated.
He, however, notes that sometimes those around may view a situation as bullying yet it is the employee’s fault because they seek to please a boss, who takes advantage of their weakness to have them do what they do not really need to do.
Benson Okiror, an employee, says drawing a boundary between what is acceptable and what is not should always be the first thing an employee does because your beginning determines how your stay at the work place will be. He says discipline should be your first priority but people should not mistake it for your weakness.

Effects of bullying at work places
Ali Male, a counsellor at A-Z counselling centre, says bullying makes the employee less productive because they think all the boss will do is find fault in their work.
“The employee will lose self-esteem simply because even his or her workmates will treat them the same. ” says Male.
He further says instead of finding joy in bullying the employee, the bosses should uplift them so that they can feel comfortable working hand-in-hand with them.
“We need not forget that psychological torture is another thing that will tear down the employee because it is frustrating to always have someone get on your nerves yet you still have to go to work and at the same time report to them,” says Male.