I am an IT Professional and this
is my true story.
In 2007, when I was working in my previous IT Company, I came from
India to work for one of their public sector projects in Singapore.
During the initial settling phase itself, the new guys were bullied
by the project managers (all Singaporean PRs) to prove their own
worth (many of these managers had prior experience with similar
public sector projects in Singapore). Since it was my first onsite
trip, I somehow adjusted to the situation. Unfortunately at that
same time I faced certain health issues, had a surgery also (took a
couple of weeks off).
After sometime, my program manager (like senior manager) asked me a
favour by working overtime for another assignment in another
project. This senior manager was extremely bossy and known for
being hard. I thought that this was a good chance to prove myself
in his eyes. So I accepted and started working even harder to
fulfil the tasks in both projects (my role at that time was of a
senior developer). Fortunately I started enjoying my time in this
other project, due to some appreciation by colleagues and managers
in that project. And finally it ended up with a positive
feedback.
Then came the annual appraisal in the mid of 2008. This
senior/program manager recommended me for a promotion in the
initial phase of the appraisal process. And this was in spite of
the negative feedback (not so good) of my immediate project manager
(who disliked me). Then came the final phase of the appraisal
process which was decided by the senior/middle management based on
vertical and company profits. It was during this time that my
immediate project manager became a real bully.
He passed a lot of underline comments, sometimes became abusive,
and tried his best to undermine all my hard work. He behaved as if
my tasks counted for nothing, and could not be achieved without his
inputs (none of which he actually ever gave). Every time he tried
to keep me out of the loop including those discussions/meetings
which directly related to my tasks. Eventually this frustrated me
and I discussed this with my colleagues (many of them were facing
similar heat from this manager directly or indirectly). But none of
them raised voice because it was appraisal time and everyone wanted
to play safe.
Finally because of his negative and biased behaviour, my appraisal
was screwed (an average rating). The senior manager blamed this on
me because I discussed about what was happening with the fellow
colleagues. After that I started searching for another job in
Singapore, but nothing worked (being on Employment Pass was also a
factor).
Then in early 2009, the chairman of this previous company got
involved in a huge scam. The company was in a lot of trouble and it
was hell (sleepless nights). Everyone (from the bottom to the top)
in the company was afraid of losing their jobs and were just
appeasing their bosses. I took it as an opportunity to pursue some
certifications and credentials, hoping that it may help find
another job quickly. In next few months, I completed one technical
certification and one project management credential (PMP). Everyone
thought that I will definitely leave now because I may get a good
job, and hence things (bullying) improved a bit.
Unfortunately I did not get any job offer, and eventually in early
2010 my program manager (he was a new one, the earlier one was
thrown out by the company in mid of 2009) asked me to contribute
more by working overtime for another assignment in other project
(and this was completely off the record). Once again I agreed
hoping that it would be a learning phase. But it turned out to be
another nightmare. That project was the worst I ever imagined (a
horrible mess). Till today I do not understand why the client (a
Singapore public sector company) did not sue them. Eventually I had
to say no to that project’s leadership and come out of it. Now this
senior manager used this as a negative point against me. He even
criticized me for my work, overlooking all the hard work that I had
put in. Before that I thought that this guy was cool, but then I
understood what others said about him was true.
Then came the appraisal process of 2010, it was during this time
that this senior manager asked to do a huge task all alone without
a team, and the timeline given was totally impractical (it was
virtually impossible). In spite of all my effort and hard work, my
appraisal was completely screwed (this was the worst in my career).
The sole reason was that this management wanted some scapegoats
because the project’s contract extension was almost denied by the
client (they had already put up a tender). That was the first time
I felt that I did a mistake by coming in this IT industry. Maybe I
am too simple a person for such cheap/unprofessional politics &
tactics.
Finally by god's grace, that horrible project was taken away by the
client in the end of 2010. And then the company asked everyone in
the project team to either leave (for Singaporeans) or go back to
offshore (where at that time, the situation was worse and the
future was insecure). It was during that time that I got a job
offer (a permanent one) from my present company (a reputed IT
company based out of Singapore). So I resigned and then joined my
present company in early 2011.
Here I enjoyed the first 2 days of the company’s induction program.
After that I had to meet my supervisor who happened to be one of
the directors (by designation). I will never forget my first
meeting with that classy lady. She was not only demoralizing but
abusive also (trust me on this). It was my third/fourth day in the
company. You can imagine my pain. How can someone join under such a
person? I simply did not understand that if the directors feel so
uncomfortable talking to people at my level (a project lead), then
why should we directly report to them. Can they not create a
hierarchy to streamline the process and the person of
contact?
After that I met my project manager who initially happened to be
nice but was completely out of control of his team. He was even
bullied by them. That made things worse for me also. The colleagues
with whom I had to initially liaise for my tasks simply took
advantage of this manager and he slowly started losing faith in me.
This is the first company I have seen where the concerned people do
not share the necessary stuff also for the other person to work
(and the managers do not intervene at all).
Here most of the project managers are sitting ducks. Some of them
even prefer doing the low level tasks on their own just to avoid
their team bullies (not because they wanted it). When these project
managers are not in control, then how can they make sure that a new
team member gets a nice environment. These managers often pretend
as if they are in control of their team and they are the ones on
whose order the bullies are being bullied. In reality, these
project managers now do not have a choice.
This bullying culture is highly abusive in nature, and most of the
victims are not only abused personally, but they are literally
tortured mentally. And to add to their pain, this bullying is being
completely backed by the HR and the Senior/Middle Management. Those
who ignore or support this bullying culture are allowed to work by
this management. All those who show signs of discomfort or talk
against this bullying culture are made bullying victims
immediately.
And above all, this Director, her Vice President (whom she reports)
and other Senior Management people (who are sitting close to their
large teams) simply ignore whatever is happening. It appears as if
they are enjoying all this. I am working here since last 15 months,
and I still do not understand how this bullying (highly abusive)
culture satisfies the goals from the senior management's
perspective.
This company certainly has the worst HR department possible. Here
only the management dictates terms. And to add to the dismay, some
of the HR people themselves are being bullied badly by the foot
lickers of this Senior Management. Seeing all this, how can someone
approach these HR guys for help and on what basis (when they are
themselves ignorant of this bullying culture)?
Honestly like me there are many more victims in this company. I
feel more upset when I see them giving in to this bullying culture.
Is this the true face of today’s job industry in Singapore?
I have even complained to MOM for the same. According to them there
is no legislation on workplace bullying in Singapore. The
Employment Act, which the Ministry of Manpower administers, could
only inquire into disputes between an employee and employer arising
from the contract of service between the two parties or from the
provisions of the Act. The Ministry has no jurisdiction to
intervene in any "personal dispute", verbal abuses, management
style/ lack of professionalism on the part of the employer or among
colleagues.
One more strange aspect to this bullying culture is the use of SPY
GADGETS by the team members (either guys or gals) to get some proof
against the rival team/member. The use of spy gadgets is a common
trend in this company. These gadgets are mostly used by the
long-serving employees of this company.
Generally in a team, at the least one person definitely owns some
sort of a spy gadget. Their strategy is to FIRST BULLY (to ANY
extent possible, be it personal or abusive, you just cannot
imagine) the rival team/person and EXCITE them to REACT/SAY
something offensive/ridiculous. Then they RECORD this rival’s
voice/video (ONLY WHEN the bullied team/person reacts) and present
this to the senior people (managers/senior leads) and complain
about the wrong behaviour of the rival team/member. Most of the
managers are aware of this and they don’t care. But this tactic
also works like a sort of blackmailing the rival team/member by
telling them indirectly (by getting this information passed through
someone else) so that they do not complain as they themselves may
get in trouble.
I am sure that most of these bullies are aware that there is NO
legislation in Singapore for bullying (verbal abuses or
inappropriate behaviour) and hence the only defence has to be from
the Civil/Criminal Law. That is the reason every team/member is
desperate to have these recordings to save from any legal
action/consequence.
Most of the new employees in this company are black-mailed using
this bullying tactic. First they are bullied in a very bad way
(abusive/personal, you cannot imagine), and then eventually their
REACTION gets recorded by someone (generally the rival group of the
team he/she has joined). Thereafter they are blackmailed for doing
whatever the rival team/member wants, be it bullying someone else
or working against their own team, could be anything. These senior
employees threaten for any LEGAL consequence (in case someone
complains, then their recording might also be used).
And as I told earlier also, the HR, the Senior Management are aware
of everything, yet they are completely ignorant. Many people have
tried to complain in the past but none of them has got any
support/justice from either the HR or the Senior Management.
And this bullying is also impacting my job search in another
company. As we all know that all company HR do internal reference
checks before deciding on a candidate for any job position.
Generally before closing on a candidate, HR of a company checks
with the HR of the candidate’s company. And HR always has links all
around.
With my experience I can say that YES the bullying victims face a
lot of trouble getting through the selection process of any job
position. Due to the negative feedback from internal reference
checks by HR, they are lesser preferred over other
candidates.
In my job search (both in my previous company and the current
company), I have often experienced that in spite of ALL my effort,
repeated follow-up, interest in the job opening, perfect fit for
the role, being a victim to the bullying culture does make the
selection chances very lesser.
I am really tired of trying. In spite of ALL my credentials,
certifications, education, all what matters is that I have suffered
at the hands of the bullies. How to get out of this trap?
How to leave this place (worst HELL you can ever imagine) when
there is NO other job offer in hand?
I am sure that there are many others who would have faced similar
situation in their careers. If you are reading this, then please
share with me your experience. How did you come out of it? What
different did you try? Your ideas, suggestions could do wonders for
me.
Please suggest something practical and effective.
You are not alone. Singaporeans are also subjected to bullying
by Singaporean bosses/superiors.
I also get verbally abused, backstabbed and all sort of
bullying. Except that, I didn't take it lying down. I stood my
ground and argued. I proved my abilities. After making everything
impossible possible, I submit my letter.
"Thank you for your guidances."
Right now, I am in an European MNC and I am not subjected to
bullying.
