Treated badly at work

KevinCavan

I was greeting colleagues at work recently, when they burst out laughing. It was very demeaning and has bothered me a lot since. I feel there is talking going on behind my back and that they have jokes about me. I just felt so worthless on the day. I would have plenty of jokes to make about these too myself, but I try not to get involved in such activities at work. I feel that the particular phrase I used with them/ the style I said it in, had obviously been discussed between them previously. I just don’t know how to approach this kind of behaviour going forward.

GreeBo

Ignore it.

ncmc

I think its a big leap to assume that because they laughed after you greeted them, that they had previously been mocking you. They could have been in the middle of a funny story and just happened to tell the punchline at that moment! It’s more than likely that the laugh was nothing to do with you. I think it shows extreme lack of confidence that you immediately jumped to that conclusion. Has there been other instances where you’ve been the butt of jokes? Or instances of bullying? Because if it’s just this one instance, then you’re coming off as being paranoid.

Don’t get involved in replying with tit for tat jokes, you’ll just come off looking bad. Be polite and keep your distance and maybe look at working on your self esteem so that you don’t let a relatively small occurrence knock you back so much.

KevinCavan

One of the two from last week had been walking past me with another person a few years back and the same thing happened. I passed it off that time as relatively innocent. Now I feel there is a lot more to it, I feel they have in jokes about me/ the way I talk or are just generally smirking at me behind my back. A lot of disingenuous people on my staff.

ncmc

But you don’t really have any proof that this is happening? Just two fairly innocuous incidents years apart? I’m not saying it isn’t happening or that your feelings aren’t valid, but I honestly think it’s a stretch based on the incidents you’ve described, that you’re been treated badly.

I think you just need to forget about it. Let them smirk if they want, stuff like this goes on in every work place. Rise above it and be polite and professional and don’t get involved in anything that isn’t work related. You shouldn’t let this get to you to the stage were you’re still talking about innocent exchanges from years back. I really think working on your confidence and self esteem would help you.

KevinCavan

There are a lot of two faced people on my staff who publicly ask about your weekend, etc. and privately make jokes about you. The funny thing is the main person I am describing is psychotically sensitive herself.

FizzleSticks

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Arrival

What way do you say hello that could possibly be mocked?

Defunkd

If they start laughing again, ask what is so funny. Ask in a firm yet non-confrontational manner.
If you have superiority over them, accept that bosses will always be joked about.

KevinCavan

I guess anybody’s voice or mannerisms can be imitated, think Mario Rosenstock

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