There is a bully in my store and she happens to be the LEAD. She behaves in typical jealous and petty ways and also gossips about me constantly. I got fed up and filed a complaint but it went nowhere. Odds are stacked against me because i have only worked for the store a year and the store director likes her in a non business way (and she likes him). I have limited options due to unexpected health problems causing financial hardship and pretty much limiting my job search.
What would you do?
Are there bullies in your store?
What is the best way to deal with a supervisor that is a bully?
I am a department manager and get complaints like yours. I am not there to make friends. I am there to get work done efficiently. Sometimes, I have to be short with people.
If the drama is work related, then I would like to hear the other side of the story.
If the drama has nothing to do with work, then the lead needs to tone it down.
Choose your battles wisely. And, revenge is best served cold.
"Being short with people" is NEVER acceptable. This is NOT the way to coach or lead people. This type of behaviour would NEVER be allowed in my store and in fact it would be a write up and it HAS happened in the past. I have been in management before (not at Kroger but several other places.) You are putting your store at risk of a lawsuit or at the very lease a visit from the Union if this type of behaviour continues. Don't take it out on your employees-take it ELSEWHERE!
I've been "bullied" at my store. Not by management but by a checker. When I was a bagger I got picked on because I got a tattoo on my arm. Checker kept picking at me asking why I would get something like that and how it's going to look like crap when I get old. I tried to ignore it but finally had enough. I firmly told her that the ONLY thing that matters is if I like it. NOT anyone else.
Well apparently, I being a courtesy clerk, "overstepped my bounds and "forgot my place." She went to management and complained. Management looked at my tatt and told her that not to "waste company time" worrying about a tattoo that I had, and still do. She glared at me the rest of the day looking as if she wanted to rip me apart. (How DARE I overstep my bounds as a cc).
I simply do NOT tolorate bullies of ANY kind. Management bullies I'll just deal with the best I can. By ignoring or reporting if things get out of hand.
I have never tolerated bullies. I am a supervisor and yes there are times I come on strong but appreciate my team when they tell me I am.
Are there bullies in your store?
I recently transferred from a store that had a bully. I reported the bully to corporate and I mean actual Kroger corporate not the chain you work for cause they will stand by their own. But that is what they are trained to do.
What is the best way to deal with a supervisor that is a bully?
Reporting them is the best option but not without a paper trial and evidience. you may think that is not possible but it is. There are ways to get proof. Google legal right to recording conversations or other ways you can get the proof you need. We would NEVER allow a child to be bullied so it should not be ok to accept it as grown ups. If grown ups are going to be allowed to be bullies then we are doing the children injustice by telling them it is not ok in school but when they grwo up it will be ok at work. I am a strong willed, demanding person but I am not a bully. I want the job done and done right but I treat my employees as a team and I will stand by them always.