Dealing with harassment at work
I'm on my way to Örebro in Sweden. In Denmark I started to feel better, more creative and more productive. The manager from whom I experience harassment (my entry 166 is about this situation) emailed me again with a "notice" and a request for what she calls "corrective action". One of them is to "respond to [her] emails promptly". She seems to have a tendency to send rude emails late in the evenings and feels entitled to an immediate response. The email she sent was violent and intimidating, and I believe it was her intention to phrase it this way. Her manager said that after several conversations with her, she will not step down from my supervision and that the HR do not encourage replacing supervisors. Unsurprisingly, she does not want to give up on the power she believes she has over me.
I have done everything I could to fight harassment, violence and mistreatment from her. Some of my colleagues in permanent positions promised to help. I wrote an email to the manager's manager saying that HR policies should be better. Current policies validate and encourage harassment, mistreatment, intimidation, and abuse. I also requested a meeting with the manager's manager to discuss my further steps. My partner and I agree that working with the manager is unsustainable for my mental health.
This situation provokes so many thoughts. The system defends those already in positions of power. I've been shocked by a lack of action from the university but not surprised.
To leave the job, or to let the university fire me, is possible only thanks to my savings and my partner's support.
I haven't yet received my residence permit for Denmark, but I hope that I will soon. At least in terms of migration this would make my life easier.
It's an incredibly stressful situation.