Mobbing 2 – Health Camp Diaries -XXVIII

If you know what is happening  and why, you can also know “How”  to protect yourself in an effective manner.

We have compiled this for you, good readings.

(10-16)

10. Most commonly observed and applied mobbing behaviors. People would behave as if you are not there. Your words are interrupted. Your decisions are continuously questioned. Your work is criticized. They would stop interacting with you with gestures and looks/glances. They would talk behind your neck. Baseless rumors are told. Traps are set to lead you towards the wrong track. You are given meaningless work to do, which requires much less capacity than what you have. A negative, humiliating, daunting, harassing, controlling communication is established; you are treated as a victim; you are forced to resign by intimidating public actions, views and words.
11. In the end, Mobbing undermines a person’s professional integrity and self-esteem; decreases self-trust; the person experiences burnout syndrome and does not want to go to work; this would lead confusion and paranoia, the victim may lose self-confidence, isolate himself/herself from other people, may seek refuge in alcohol, he or she may have interfamilial communication problems. He os she may experience, on and off, feelings of restlessness, fear, shame, sudden outbursts and anxiety. Mobbing may cause crying, sleep disorders, depression, high blood pressure, panic attacks, health problems leading to heart attack and post-traumatic stress disorder. According to social psychologist Gary Namie, while the chance of depression varies depending to the intensity of the pressure applied, it is on average 41%, and the possibility of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSB) is 31% for females and 21% for males.
12. Things to do: Record events, the meaningless orders and practices in writing; store information and documents, such as notes, correspondence, messages, e-mail, which prove that you have suffered psychological abuse; at the first opportunity, report the bully who is harassing you to the related authorities, if he or she is your equal, inform your superior of the situation clearly and with all documentation. If the bully is your superior, inform the Board of Directors and to the Department of Human Resources. Seek medical and psychological help if necessary; in this way, get also the necessary evidences;  share information about your situation with your collegues. They may also experience the same problems. It may be more effective if you take action in group. You can use voice-image records.  The legal procedures are described below.
13. It is possible to initiate legal proceedings against mobbing in Turkey. The first case in this respect was opened by Ms. Tülin Yıldırım against the Chamber of Geological Engineers (JMO) in February 2006. She won this case in December 2006 and set the first example in this respect. The decision of the court was appalled by the JMO, in July 2008.  The Court of Cassation approved the Decision and paved the way for future legal cases.

http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/07/17/haber,95C725657E374CAC934B3E266B097EBE.html

14. Another case was brought against Türk Telecom, national telecommunications services provider of Turkey. This case was reflected in the press as the case of “goatee”. Bülent Atuk, a chief engineer at Türk Telekom, requested the Ankara Labor Court to determine the systematic psychological harassment and the award of non-pecuniary damages. In 2010 the Court  conside4ed the fact that Chief Engineer Bülent Atuk had not been not given work appropriate with his profession; that he was compelled to stay alone in a room without any heating installations, phone line, computer and even any garbage bin and curtains for many years and that he had been given disciplinary penalties because of the shape of his beard because of the disciplinary systematic psychological as “systematic psychological harassment (mobbing)” and sentenced the company to pay non-pecuniary damages.

http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/top_sakal_davasini_calisan_kazandi-1027729

15. If you feel yourself under psychological harassment at your workplace, you can call, report or make a complaint to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security Communication Center: ALO 170. If you call ALO 170 for the first time, you will be asked to provide your name, surname, TR ID number, date of birth, place of birth.
16. Anyone who is victimized by psychological harassment at the workplace must firstly caution the employer through the Notary channel and warn the employer by means of a notary public that the psychological pressure and intimidation actions against him/her should end , otherwise he or she will seek legal remedies. If the employer continues to oppress the workers, or does not take the necessary measures for a healthy work, the employer may unilaterally terminate the employment contract, rather than resigning from the work, in accordance with Labor Law 24-II (behaviors contrary to the employer’s benevolence, morality and integrity). As of the date of termination of the contract, the employee can file an action of debt before the Labor Court located in the headquarters of the workplace or employer in order to get his or her due rights.