Replies to 'Stress at Work'

Hi - I recently resigned for a governmental job after 16 + years do to being bullied in the workplace. It was a nightmare. My union rep kept telling me that I would be squeezed out and to seek employment elsewhere that he had experienced a similar situation. I loved my job and tried to stand up for myself and what I felt was the right thing to do (gut instict). In the end, I was off work with severe depression for 8 months, I did file harrasement & retaliation complaint through ca fair employment & housing because my employer would not accept my complaint, stating that I did not have a legimate complaint. Well... my complaint was accepted and also forwarded to the EEOC for action as well. It is a long process but I will follow through. I also filed a workers comp claim for stress, it was also validated after 8 months, but to late to keep my job, I resigned before I was to be terminated. The bully had bullied others before me and they had attempted to file a complaint with our employer to no avail, they were smart and moved on before it ended up with what I have gone through. They have a job, and for the first time since I was 14 yrs old, I don't. 

Question: How do you start over again, once your reputation has been ruined? I had A+++ up until a downsizing and mandated job move 2 yrs ago. Since some of you have returned to employment, I'm looking for any advise that will help me return to the workforce once again. 

PS I have read about bullying in the workplace and bullies always bully others that they are intimidated by. 

I can sympathize. I've been a prof. caregivier for 10 years, and been lucky to travel around the country with my hubby and never had a problem finding work in my field. But we moved back to the mainland from Hawaii in June, and found to my amazement just how brutal young people in this field can be. I'm 46 years old, and working with young care givers younger than my two children. Their lack of self control of their mouths, attitudes and behavior baffle me. Being a temporary staff support, I come into the facility to assist existing caregivers, but I have little or no avenues to direct my concerns. I have to provide the best of care of my ability, make sure no abuse occurs while I work with my asigned co-worker, and just get through the shift without grinding my teeth to the bone.  

The stress is so high that I jumped at the chance at a job offer referral from another facility with better benefits, and hopefully better caregiving environment.  I jumped through all their pre-hiring hoops...a physical an occupational and physical therapy examination, background checks, and drug testing and etc....only to be informed the following day by their Human Resource Dept. that the job offer had been withdrawn because I lifted 65 pounds and not 75 pounds due to the fact that I was recovering from a head cold that is going around all the healthcare facilities in the area. I met all the other requirements, and had excellent recommendations, and besides, they sought me out, not the other way around. I had my resignation all written up to deliver the following day to my current company, and the job offer being withdrawn just devastated me.  

The other healthcare facility told me that all the numbers had been entered into their central corporate database, and it determeined that I was not "fit" to do the job.  

Can anyone imagine how that just felt like a fist in my heart and soul? My worth as an individual comes down to numbers being entered into a computer program? How is this right? 

I'm good at what I do as a caregiver, a professional who provides care to those that no longer have that ability to do that for themselves whether it is temporary or long term.  

I will go back to work today at my current position, an question my abilities until I can work this out in my heart and mind. Perhaps it is time to change careers, because it appears that the human factor, individual abilities no longer matter...that recovering from a head cold determines your worth as a human being in the work force anymore. We are no longer people anymore...we are numbers........this saddens me more than anyone can know.