Returning To Work / Co Worker Harassment

[gerryduffett]

Feb 21 2007

Returning To Work / Co Worker Harassment

Lethal Bullying

Hi

I was wondering if anyone knows anybody who had to take time off of work for "stress related problems" and have had problems "returning to work".

Personal injury, disease, nervous breakdown, loss in the family, addiction problems, careers, etc.

In my case things started out when I was poisoned by a co worker when I was employed at Harper Detroit Diesel in Toronto in 1997.

Since then I have been poisoned or drugged and people have tried to expose me to toxic environments in my workplace, without proper personal protective equipment, numerous times in the last 10 years.

I am interested to see if they have run into the same types of harassment problems as me when they "return to work".

I have been working thru some electrical contractors and thru some temporary agencies as an electrician.

A lot of the projects are short term, a few weeks or a few months.

When I start an assignment people understand that you are on light duty or are on a retraining program.

Before long the harassment starts in my workplaces.

Employers try to get you to work longer hours, 10 12 or 14 hour shifts or afternoon or midnight shifts.

Employers try to get you to work 6 or 7 day weeks, for extended periods.

Employers try to get you to work thru lunch or miss breaks.

Employees begin a program of harassment which includes really off coloured comments about mental health, sexuality and a variety of other topics, verbal threats or accusation of theft or damage to projects.

Its like........ "lets go bug the guy with the mental health problems".

There are usually never any witnesses to any of these incidences.

I shake my head and ignore these people.

Fortunately most of the projects I work on are short term and you do not have to spend a long or great deal of time with these ignorant people.

I have never met so many trashy people as I have in the last few years, absolutely bizzare.

I have spoken with some healthcare workers and some have indicated they hear that complaint "all the time", from people who have been thru a traumatic time in life, and they are trying to "return to work"

After a short time management and the employees begin to pick at the person who is trying to "return to work".

-----------------------------

Gerry Duffett

gerryduffett47@yahoo.com
gerryduffett@fastmail.ca

Toronto / Ontario / Canada

http://gerryduffett.proboards54.com/index.cgi

http://www.goliathboards.com/users5/gerr.../index.cgi

[gerryduffett]

Feb 18 2007

Social Assisstance / Counseling

Here is something I did not expect when you come thru the "healthcare system" for "stress related issues".

Trying to return to "everything".

There seems to be an awful lot of people in your life, family, friends, co workers or even strangers who you just meet, etc., who have their own stress related problems, marriage, divorce, psychiatric disorders, addictions, physical health, kids, careers, etc.

Who have never been in the health care system and don't have the intelligence to even realize they have problems.

Well, they want to

help you out
they want to be you buddy
they want to offer some advice
they want to show you the way
they want to be politically correct
they want to lead you to the promised land
they want to share their lifes issues
they want to work things out
they want to create a family atmosphere
its probably good if you do this
you still need help and don't realise it

Absolutley "obsene".

Probably the most "obsene" form of "harassment" anyone could ever experience in life.

Did I ask for you help ?

I guess they feel that thats kind of a social responsibiliy they have.

You already know that they are sick people who don't realise it.

Maybe their bored ?

Maybe they want to stir the pot ?

Maybe they want to dump their problems on you ?

Maybe they want to push your buttons ?

Who knows ?

I think anyone who has been thru a "stressful time" in their life is really trying to maintain good health and speaking with the proper people about how things are going when they feel there is a need.

What an experience.

Absolutely bizarre.

-------------------------------

Gerry Duffett

14-4218 Lawrence Ave E Box 218
Scarborough Ontario
Canada M1E4X9

gerryduffett47@yahoo.com
gerryduffett@fastmail.ca

Pager # 416-612-5689

http://gerryduffett.proboards54.com/inde...rd=general

http://www.goliathboards.com/users5/gerr.../index.cgi

[punk]

I'm a little confused here, help me out a little. I don't want to give and unwanted opinion here, so if you could tell me what it is you want from us we'll be very happy to offer up our best opinions on this matter.
Harrassment in the workplace is commonplace. Especially when returning after an injury of some sort to your old employer. I'm wondering how people at your temporary positions are finding out about this. Hmm....are you letting it slip to someone you feel you can trust? Are you being 'watched' by your old employer or someone from your WC (work comp) IC (insurance carrier)? If you're being watched maybe there's someone in the new places that gets information from these people therefore lending to the harrassment. For some strange reason there's always a stigma attached to having ANYTHING mentally related going on in someone's life. It's not right, and it's not fair, but it happens. Most people don't know how to accept someone that has depression, bipolar, anxiety problems or something related, therefore they tend to be obnoxious about this.
Can you tell me, please, are you being treated for "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome"? If not, it might be worthwhile to ask about what it is, the symptoms and if it's been considered in this case. I'm not trying to diagnose you, but feel it might be something to look into. I'm not a psychiatrist or anything like that. I am a LPN who has many years working with and treating people with mental disease, therefore I feel comfortable in telling you this. Do with it what you want, it's only my opinion on the matter! I'm wondering if there isn't a little bit of paranoia on your part...which led me to the post traumatic stress syndrome because that's a symptom that can be treated with anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants.
Please seek some help. I'm sure that if you are not being followed by a private investigator of some sort and you are not telling someone/anyone about your past and what's happened then it might be possible that this is mostly anxiety related.
I, too, have gone back to work for a short time on light duty for my former employer and I was treated differently. I felt like people were constantly watching me or talking about me and my injury. I even overheard someone talking about it and confronted them about it! After much explanation of how the injury occured, the treatment and surgery that I had then they were able to understand why I wasn't able to do my job as I had before. I found that if people don't know what's going on from someone that knows then they begin to make things up....be it true or false. That's human nature, sorry to say! People can't stand "not knowing" what's actually going on..they tend to need all the details. For me, being a nurse and communicating with other nurses, it didn't bother me to tell them the details of my injury. NO, I didn't tell them everything....not everything is their business. But the more you tell them the more they will know. Therefore, hopefully lending to some understanding. If they don't understand and don't tell you that they begin to speculate and that's when things start to go down the toilet! LOL Before being hired by my former employer I was treated for bipolar disease with major depressive disorder. Therefore, noone that I worked with at my new job didn't have any idea that I was being treated for this. I didn't tell them. One day I flew off the handle and some one, trying to piss me off even more and or make me laugh to defuse the situation said something to the effect, "You're acting like someone with bipolar....you need to chill!!" Well, that ticked me off even more so I, in my madness, said, "As a matter of fact, I do...and I'm being treated for it so lay off." They did and everything was fine!! LOL Not always is it that easy...they just found me in the throws of anger and I let them have it. I never intended to, it just happened. So, after my injury my pre-existing bipolar was exacerbated (made worse) and I had to deal with two things, it's been a difficult road for me. I still have my days or weeks when things are way off kilter for me...and having work comp on my back isn't making it any easier...but I do the best that I can with what I have.
I hope this will shed a little light on your problems for you. Like I said, I'm not trying to diagnose you or tell you what to do, but I'm giving you an educated opinion from someone who not only lives with a mental defect but works with it (when I'm working) as well.
Please consult your Dr. about some anxiety issues and then consult your supervisor at the temp agency about what's been happening at the places you have gone to for their agency. Ask them if they're telling someone at the new place about your mental history...if they are tell them that it is illegal for them to do so. It's a pure and simple case of "Breach of Confidentiality" on their part. If it continues, find another temp agency in your area to work for and don't tell anyone there about it unless and until it becomes an issue.
Welcome to our little world of work comp! It's not pretty, it's not fun and it's definitely not pretty fun to be going through. But with the help of everyone here it makes life with WC a little more bearable and we have become our little family of sorts. There's many good people on this forum...you'll see, if you haven't already!! Feel free to stop in to ask a question, tell a funny, vent a little or even offer up an opinion if you feel moved to do so!!! Have a good day![/color]

[Guest]

As Much as I hate to admit it, its true that harassment in the work place once youve filed a claim and or returned to work exists and is very common. Granted, Ive never been poisoned by anyone in my company. I was just demoted, called a dam Jew, written up, made of fun of because I had to miss so much work, and they screwed up my paychecks every week for a few months, they cancelled my leave of absence on me, cancelled my insurance on me atleast 4 times, called me a liar and a thief. I was being messed with heavily, thankfully it stopped. Been a little over a month or so, since theyve messed with me.

Welcome to our wc family, hope you will stick around. There are a bunch of great people here.

Good Luck to you!!

ps. be very careful of posting company names, addresses and phone numbers, it could come back to bite ya in the butt.

[grundig]

gerry,,,,,I,m an Industrial Electrician GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!!!
are you telling us that you been poisend, Harresed, drugged???
I find that very hard to swallow. How long you been an Electrician?
I,ve been 1 for 31 years,,,,,,Yes we do work 10,12,14 hours a day,,
6 day,s alway,s a LOT of 7 day,s.
That,s the way Industrial electrician,s work,It comes with the job.
It,s very hard on Your personnal life,,,,, NOW TALK TO ME!!!!!

[grundig]

I,m a Leader.(you know what those are).
I,ve gone out of town,usually 28 out of 30 day,s.I,ve missed many lunch,and a lot of dinner,s. WE (meaning every one on this site) WILL HELP YOU.
I have never and I mean never heard of such a thing from fellow electrician,s...Sure we laugh,,,we pick on each other,,,,,It,s nothing personnal,,,But what your saying is totally out of whack.

[grundig]

If your going to continue to be an Electrician,,,You gotta keep a clear head,,,,,1 mistake,,,,, and I mean 1,you may not go home that day,,,,,
Every day when I leave the house (5am) my Wife hug,s me extra tight,,,, She know,s as well as I do, I may not come home again.
I got hurt I,m of work a while,,,,,, You got freind,s here bud.

[rabidcoyote666]

sounds more like a case for the criminal justice system to be looking into...attempted murder or intentional injury with malice. i think i'd be going to your local law enforcement to file a complaint or at least tell them. strong-arm tactics like these are wayyyyyy beyond just the scope of Worker's Compensation laws. also....does anybody think this poster is yanking someones chains? or is it just me? if you follow up on his links, you'll see he has his own forum even, so just being cautious and not thinking we're getting the entire story yet. sorry but thats how i see it.

[Wink]

Guys and gals~
I thought all of this was rather strange, so I performed a Google Search and other type searches and came up with 11,800 bizarre hits for the poster, gerryduffet. Please don't waste your time!

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=na...rryduffett

[rabidcoyote666]

me too Wink.....need to send him on over to the Labor Law Forum. LMAO