Hi Gabriel 2012, I'm sorry to hear about what you are dealing with. I don't know that its legal for them to cut your salary in half. Also, its interesting that you are targeted by her now that you are having health issues because she knows you can't fight back.

There is a sight that may have some info/resources that could help you. It's the Workplace Bullying Institute. Here's the link: http://www.workplacebullying.org/

I hope this helps you and that things get better.

Thanks Stillsearching. It is nice to have someone feel some empathy for what is happening to me. I thank you for that. I needed it. I did look at the Workplace Bullying Institute page before I saw your message and I found it depressing. It gives an impression that there is almost nothing one can do but look for another job, which I cannot do because of my illness. It says laws in the US are VERY weak and tend to favor employers. It also says Human Resources always side with management because they are management. In addition they state that employers typically side with bullies and if one exposes a bully one should expect retaliation. I feel powerless and trapped.

I'm sorry I wasn't much help. To be honest, the last time I was bullied it got so bad I finally just had to quit to keep my sanity. I did make a verbal statement but declined to make a written statement even though I was encouraged to do so by HR for fear of retaliation.

Can you transfer somewhere else in the organization?

I did want to add that this isn't your fault, the bullies are masterful manipulators and enjoy the suffering they inflict on others. I think there's a Workplace Bullying page on Facebook that could possibly be helpful?

Take gentle care of yourself and hang in there!

Sending you a ((((((((((((((Hug)))))))))))))))

Gabriel - you might want to look into exactly what power this woman does have so that you know what she can and can't do to you.

For her to threaten you is very inappropriate. Does she have a superior that you could talk to? I know that could be frightening because it might get back to her.....but if she is just blowing hot air - I think you need to know exactly where her power ends.

There has to be someone that can give you the details as to what her power is - and given that she is a bully - she is probably making unfounded threats - that's what bullies do.

I'm so sorry that you are in this situation - it sounds horrible. Please don't let what she is doing bring you down.

Have you seen her in action with other people? How does she treat those people? Is she overly solicitous with some and demeaning with others? In any event - please take care of yourself and remember that knowledge is power and finding out exactly what she can and cannot do would help you greatly.

And one more thing Gabriel - you might want to consult with a lawyer to find out what your rights are.

You don't necessarily have to get involved in a legal hassle but it would be one more way for you to find out what your rights are.

You have a legal right to reasonable accommodation.
talk to HR. This is very illegal
Just ask them questions like you are gathering info. Find a handicapped persons lawyer.

Good luck

You are under a protected status as a person wit a disability who has documentation on record. Try your state disability rights center
You are well educated with a great career. I am tired of hearing that there are no answers to all of the bullying and abuse in the workplace. Is there an activist group or a congressional committee working on this issue.
Back in the 80s and 90s employers were afraid of the powerful ADA but they have either found a way to get around it or they haven't been challenged under the protection that this law provides.
Don't give up. P.M. me if you want.
Mame

I'm being bullied at work. She has bullied the two new people before me too. Another worker advised me to go to the mgr but the mgr stuck up for the bully and now I am "the problem". I know how you feel.

Now, anything and everything is my fault. Everyone gossips at the office except I don't, so everyone gets the scoop about their opinions, but I am ostrisized because I don't gossip n my side is never known, only how the gossipers spin it.

Today two of us got pulled into the office and of course it was all my fault. They will never get rid of the bully yet she is trying to get me fired n it's so uncomfortable because they huddle together (The bully n her gossipers) n it's obvious who they are talking about or I catch their looks to each other but I of course am imagining it.

I wished I would have never let the coworker talk me into going to the mgr. Now I am branded the troublemaker. Great.

Hi Gabriel 2012....I'm sorry for what you are going through. I don't have specific advice for what you should do, but I highly advise you do something. At minimum you should be documenting what is happening...with time and dates of all instances. This will come in handy in case you hire an attorney later. If I were you, I would also start looking for different employment, or maybe self-employment like tutoring or something. You will have to be creative to find a way out if it does not change. I was in a really bad situation with my employers, who were also my business partners. I had no way out. It destroyed me all the way to the core. Even after 18 months of therapy, I still deeply suffer the long term effects of their abuse. If you continue to suffer from what they are doing, you will only pay a larger price emotionally. If you have insurance, get therapy. Sometimes a neutral person can see what an insider cannot, and give you ideas. My business closed, I lost my life savings, and I lost ME. I was out of work for 2 years afterward, and in a 18 month lawsuit due to the idiocy of my partners, in which I was being coerced to side with the 2 idiots. I mustered up the courage to get my own attorney to defend myself and it worked. I hired a real pitbull of an attorney and the lawsuit settled....just in time for me to sue the 2 idiots because the business deal was actually fraudulent. God will show you which door to open, but you will have to be the one to turn the knob. I can only promise you one thing....if you do nothing, it will get much worse. I became extremely depressed and suicidal. I could not leave my house, and could barely get off the couch. Years later, I am still barely involved in life. My lawsuit against the 2 idiots has taken 16 months so far, with at least 3 more months to go. It means I constantly have to re-live the details. BUT, it has empowered me. If you do nothing, you will regret it, and the emotional effects will be worse. If you can do nothing to stop this bad person, at least save yourself. Please DO NOT make the mistake I made by not protecting myself....

Sounds like it just pisses off your director that she has to acommodate you; this accommdation is your protection.

She cannot lower or remove it without a release from your doctor.
If in someway she did and you were injured or your cfs was compounded in any way, it would be good cause for a liability lawsuit against your place of employment. Her job is to protect the employer against these types of actions.

You might talk to your doctor about your cfs adding stress to your ability to get work done, s/he may be able to provide a new solution.

Or you could call Workmen's Comp to ask how your accommodation is suppose to work for you.

The other is to always talk to her calmly with steady eye contact; never flinch. Ask for specifics about your work & job performance ... what you need to improve. Follow up by e-mail with an outline of the conversation & tasks required. If there is anything you need clarifictation on, ask it in the email.

Keep copies of all correspondence with her on a personal USB. If she chooses not to answer by email, only verbally, that's okay. You will have your own proof to defend yourself.

Casually follow up w/her on your emails in person while in the presence of others. Sometimes, it catches them off guard & they forget what it was they were bitching about. However, you need to be careful not to make her your enemy because they just worse.

If she has always behaved like a bully & its only bothering you now b/c of your cfs, then I'd say hang in there the best you can & see the doctor. My attitude was always: "You want to f**k with me, then fine, but I'm going to make certain I get my unemployment when you fire me"
Out of the 3Xs of workplace bullying by a manager I was only fired once, and went on to a better job.

Hugs & good luck ~