Comments on: Don’t sue–run for your lives! (Part II)

By: KatSimonne

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By: Department of Corrections : Historiann : History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:50:32 +0000

[...] I was mistaken on the facts about my major antagonist’s career. I had written on my blog in this post that, [m]y major foe at my former university was someone who was tenured but simultaneously (and [...]

By: Historiann

Historiann — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:40:47 +0000

Kelly, you really must run, and run away fast and NOW. I’m so sorry that you’re being treated that way, but if they don’t appreciate your work or encourage you, you risk damage to your physical and mental health. Drop out and work for a while, or find another university to finish you degree.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:37:11 +0000

I have worked really hard to get into honors year at the University of Canterbury and I just treated like shit on a daily basis. Most days I just want to die because nothing I do works. They say “suck it up, ignore them etc etc,” but it just doesn’t work. Even the ex academic women exam supervisors are bullies. I will never forget a particular experience this year where I was shouted at, and told that I was stupid, it cut me to the bone and I just spent the first half an hour of the exam in a daze. I hate that place, everyday it just makes me sick. I want to get my honors but I reckon that they will do anything to break me. They would rejoice if they learnt that I was found dead with deep wounds on my wrists. Then “she’ll be right, mate,” as the popular New Zealand saying goes.

By: Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:36:14 +0000

Some of us sadly do not have the option to leave but we are made to leave through penalties, and disciplinary procedures that are unjust. We then suffer depression, PTSD and other conditions… Sometimes, by the time you are bullied it is too late…

By: Historiann

Historiann — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:56:24 +0000

Hi Rose! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I think you’re right: giving up tenure in a bad department is the only rational response to an abusive work environment, in the way that divorce is the only rational response to an abusive marriage. You can get married/tenured again if that’s what you want, so it’s stupid to fetishize the status at the risk of your health and happiness. In cases like yours, you really have to question the value of tenure: what exactly was it doing for you in your former job?

Hope all is well with you and your spouse in your new positions.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:44:04 +0000

Having just left tenured positions for untenured (and, in my husband’s case, non-tenure track) positions at another university, we’ve heard our share of “How the hell could you do that?” sorts of comments. And yeah, it’s been a difficult transition in some ways. But I think that tenure is an idol faculty need to stop worshiping, at least in the “better tenured than dead” sense that many people have. Tenure is only liberating if you’re somewhere you can imagine being happy and productive for the rest of your career. When you’re in a self-destructive department, tenure might as well be a cat o’ nine tails to whip yourself with.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:07:56 +0000

Hi myiq–thanks for stopping by to comment. Interesting observation about the money–I guess people think it’s the only legitimate reason to quit a job, and that if you resign a position, it had better be for more money or people will think you’re an idiot. But as you suggest: mental health and happiness may be worth more than gold!

By: myiq2xu

myiq2xu — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:30:19 +0000

I recall a study written years ago that showed that most people who are changing jobs cite “higher pay” as the reason, but many of them are lying because the new jobs pay the same or even less.

Better working conditions, including escaping a “hostile work environment” is often the real reason.

I’ve worked jobs I hated even though the pay was good. The way I was treated made the pay insufficient.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:42:54 +0000

Hi SF–I think you’re right about there being no good answer to the “million dollar question,” at least when the proportion of bullies reaches a tipping point: your only option is to stay and get sicker (or get co-opted), or to leave. Direct confrontation plus a supportive Chair or Dean might be effective if you’re dealing with one or two jerks in a much larger unit. But your unit in the honors program was (as I recall) only 4 people, with your bully the Director, you, and two others. That’s a high percentage of bullies, even if there was only one (although the other 2 were enablers who were happy that they weren’t the ones targeted.)

Good point about HR, too. They represent the interests of the institution, not the interests of workers.