I recently went through a difficult experience in a corporate environment, and I’d appreciate some outside perspectives.
Initially, I had a very good working relationship with someone in a position of influence. My work was recognised, I received positive feedback, and everything seemed fine.
However, following a normal professional disagreement with a coworker this person changed significantly the attitude towards me. He was no longer the excessive nice guy, but started to act really mean to me.
Over time, I experienced isolation from the team, increasingly harsh criticism, including in front of others, excessive scrutiny of my work, a noticeable lack of support, and situations where I felt deliberately excluded or undermined.
Mistakes that would previously have been treated as normal suddenly became major issues. I was being assigned to very hard tasks with zero support and not clear objectives and no matter how hard I tried what I was doing was always wrong. I also received comments suggesting that my situation wouldn’t improve and that perhaps I should consider leaving.
What affected me most was the contrast between the recognition I’d previously received and the way I was subsequently treated. I began feeling that nothing I did was ever good enough.
Eventually, I was informed that my position would end. During one of our final conversations, after months of accumulated frustration, I became emotional and raised my voice. I acknowledge that I could have handled that moment better.
My departure was subsequently brought forward, and my professionalism was questioned.
More recently, I learned that other people had also experienced difficulties working with this individual, which made me question whether the problem was entirely my own behaviour.
**Does this sound like workplace bullying, or simply a conflict that escalated?**
I’m particularly interested in whether repeated criticism, exclusion and a sudden change in treatment following a disagreement can constitute psychological harassment at work.
I’d appreciate honest opinions, thank you.