Coping with bullying in a contract (long post).

[jimjamuk]

turn it into a game where your job is to point out how tulip they all are. Take every oppotunity to professionally point out their failings and how it affects the process - make suer everyone gets cc'd on these mails just to wind them up even more. Smile to everyone to make sure they know you are enjoying it and waltz into the office greeting everyone good morning in a nice loud voice. If they hate you then they probably aren't going to change their view so you may as well try and get the most from the situation. As for the stuff going missing contact site security and say your stuff has been stolen - make sure the "missing" item has some token value lets say a mobile phone - that should stop people going through your drawers

After all if they were any good you wouldnt be there trying to clear up the mess. So thank them for it...........

[curtis]

I have had this happen to me once in a permie job not as a contract, I think you or someone else said it will make you stronger if you stick it through till the end, it will but it will make you stronger in the knowing you won't put up with that kind of cr@p again.

To me this is how I would look at it if I hit this situation in a contract......

If it bothered me enough to the point I felt horrible and dreaded going to work I would hand my notice in and walk its not worth it it can start to knock your confidence, UNLESS my warchest was low and I needed the money in which case with a weeks notice on the contract I would be firing my CV everywhere with the intention of giving my notice as soon as I found something. How I would be dealing with it still being there until that time....I would be just seeing it as a means to an end and looking ahead to the next contract that I would be getting very soon and then could be walking out and never having to see the sad sorry ar$@holes ever again!!

You have a weeks notice you have your escape and still carry on working there for the money/experience if you need to, no job is worth dreading or effecting you in the way this one seems to be, use that blessing of a weeks notice and be thankful its not a month and look to get out!

[dang65]

I have made lots of notes. Baking! Check! Champagne! Check! Casual remarks! Check! Thicker skin! Check!

Also, if you're going to be out of the office for a couple of days, it should be quite easy to rig up your desk drawer so that it pops a stink bomb if someone opens it.

[thunderlizard]

Whenever I'm surrounded by idiots in the workplace, I like to pretend I'm the special guest human in an episode of The Muppet Show. Usually Bill Cosby or Paul Simon, but you might like to try Debbie Harry.

[Xenophon]

Whenever I'm surrounded by idiots in the workplace, I like to pretend I'm the special guest human in an episode of The Muppet Show. Usually Bill Cosby or Paul Simon, but you might like to try Debbie Harry.

I've been known to hum/mumble the theme tune to The Muppet Show.

[Hawkeye]

Am loving all the suggestions.

Although damn it about the car thing. I have a photo of my car on my laptop as it makes me get through the day although the number plate is blanked out. Yep am one of those annoying people that loves their car too much. Might remove that sharpish. Am not registered at the flat I rent so they would struggle to find out where I live.

Actually I do get a kick of making them look like idiots. That needs to be carried on but in a subtle way.

I should thank them for being so crap or I wouldn't have been offered an extension.

[neil987]

Hello,
Slightly off topic, but a comment about incompetent staff in the public sector.

I was working for a certain public sector employer last year, and heard many comments about lazy and/or useless staff. It seemed that it was impossible to get rid, so line managers were giving fantastic references whenever they applied for another job just to palm them off on someone else, even if it gave them a pay rise.

There was even one story of a new manager who got lumbered with this particularly useless worker. They were not only lazy, but also didn't follow procedure when doing any work. The manager tried to give warnings etc, but the worker complained to HR, who backed them and gave the manager the good news that they were bullying this person.

Is it any wonder why they are in a mess and need contract staff to sort out the mess. The worst thing is these people wouldn't last 2 minutes in the real world.

Carry on the good work and make sure everyone sees the results of their "work"and how much it is costing to put it right.

[eliquant]

Whenever I'm surrounded by idiots in the workplace, I like to pretend I'm the special guest human in an episode of The Muppet Show. Usually Bill Cosby or Paul Simon, but you might like to try Debbie Harry.

Thats been my working life for the past 15 years !!!

[TheFaQQer]

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

Until the Mail gets hold of the blog, completely distorts what you write and then threatens your job and ability to work in a particular market sector ever again.

But that wouldn't happen, would it?

Oh.

[TheFaQQer]

I've been known to hum/mumble the theme tune to The Muppet Show.

I have it as a ringtone on my mobile for certain people.