Coping with bullying in a contract (long post).

[eliquant]

I've reached a point in life where I don't care if everyone in an I.T. office loves me or hates me, I'm indifferent to their opinion of me - remember you cannot control how people behave.

I've been in so many peculiar situations and had to endure so many strange people in I.T. departments some of which wouldn't pass psychiatric tests for insanity (and some of them mask their madness and destructive persona really well when people in authority are around) - that I just don't give a damn any more and you shouldn't either.

[Hawkeye]

Sorry I meant the ladies that arrange the get together. When is SY01's do and where?

Thanks to all on this thread as it has really helped. Am feeling a lot better today now it is off my chest. I have plenty of options. Need to get on with it and see how I get on and not depress myself to the point where I cannot get out of bed in the morning.

Right I better run and get my train!

[BlasterBates]

Now they obviously hate you for what they're doing, to get back at them just continue what you're doing. Just think how much your comments and memos are irritating them. Also you make a point of ramming your unpalatable message down their throats (politely but obnoxiously). Cables can always be put back in the computer, and be careful they don't find out what your car is and where you live. Oh and always smile and say hello, that'll really get their goat, and you'll feel good. I always say hello nicely to people who hate me, that returned scowl really makes my day.

[cojak]

When I used to work on 24/7 shift basis, stuff would go missing from my drawers too, cakes/biscuits/etc... so what I did was a make a load of those chocolate rice cripsy and corn flake cakes, with 3 or 4 boxes of ex-lax thrown in for good measure and left them in my drawer. The thieving so and so on the night shift didn't manage to man the phone for much of it apparently.... and strangely enough, that was the last time anything went missing

See above... take extension, get baking!

I like it!

[cojak]

I would completely ignore them, I would also casually remark to other persons at least once a day on the inability of the subjects at their job, nothing major, just be heard saying stuff like "oh, I think we all know who was working on that" or "can we not give the task to someone else, remember the last time" etc etc.

They will find out this and once they know you are playing the game they usually back down as mud fights are not so much fun when the other person starts chucking stuff back.

I love office politics

<make note to contact minestrone should the same thing happen to me...>

[cojak]

..and don't forget to shake your head sadly when you mention the swingeing cuts in public services and how you'll just walk into another contract when it happens.

PS staff dread that above all!

[Churchill]

Hey everyone!

Haven't been on here for a while but wanted to pop in to get some advice.

Am currently being bullied (I guess it is bullying) by two members of staff in the department. Basically I was brought in to fix an ICT department that was falling apart and they blame me for pointing out the issues but not themselves at all. There is one 3rd line guy didn’t complete the list of project tasks on one of the sites. He went on holiday leaving the entire site down without any network access or setting up their printers. Then he emailed the whole team cc’ing the Director saying what is the point of the ICT’s Service Desk if not for cleaning up after him when he couldn’t be bothered to do the project work he was assigned. Literally they are a bunch of amateurs playing at running an ICT department.

Am travelling a lot for the contract trying to sort out issues across their 260 sites across the country and every time I go back to the office I find things have been stolen from my drawers (I had a box of chocolates which I was going to open for them all and they took it and nobody would own up to it), cables ripped out from my docking station, all the cables to my screen pulled out, my chair sometimes hidden. Then they all address the staff in the office to say good evening and then stare at me then walk off.

I have tried talking to the Director but he says there is little he can do as he is not around much. Also, said that he thinks they are a strange bunch. Not very helpful although he is a lovely guy.

To be honest am getting tired of it as it is all very childish. Am quite strong but was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to cope with it all as I have been offered an extension after the end of March and am going to raise the paperwork this week with my agency. At the end of the day it is work and a great experience (work wise) but not sure what to do to cope till September.

Thanks,
A

Grow a pair and punch their f**king lights out!

[PAH]

Grow a pair and punch their f**king lights out!

Yeah, works for Marillion Fan.

[PAH]

Could rant forever about everything that has happened there in the past four months as some of it is just unbelievable. Could write a book with the stories.

If you do decide to jack it in, you could do a blog* about your experiences.

Even better if you made sure it was obvious (but not too obvious that they could do you) which department and individuals it related to. May help make sure when the cuts come, the right ones get culled!

* it worked for that Belle De Journo, though her subject matter may have a bit more public appeal than IT life in the public sector.

I think there should be more whistle blowing, providing you weigh up any possible consequences to make sure you're not going to stuff up your life.

[NotAllThere]

Try this angle. The client is disrupting the contract. The director, by his lack of action, is preventing you from fulfilling the contract. Sue for breach!

Personally - I'd walk.