Workplace terrorism is the term I always used to describe the harassment that workers face each and every day from the boss. I worked in the public sector where the environment is a little more humane but we still faced daily struggles as all workers do.
But I was talking to a building trades worker the other day and though they are Unionized and have relatively high wages, they have no job security like I did in the public sector; they open their mouth, and the next week they can be laid off.
This worker told me how the foreperson will regularly discourage a worker from taking time off. If you want to take a vacation or tell them you are planning one, the boss would often stick out his hand and say "I guess you don't want this job then." Or they may say that "it's been nice knowing you." This is what his boss said to my friend when he found out she was considering a vacation.
Given that in the private sector the boss can lay you off anytime and that her Union hall has gone from no members looking for work to almost 100, she decided to cancel the vacation. These are all subtle ways of threatening you with unemployment; it's an act of violence really.
It was the wise thing to do given that the Union will do nothing in these instances, she has no power. If this isn't terrorism nothing is. Of course, at MacDonalds or in some hotel (even Union ones, or other low waged jobs, the conditions are much worse.)
Do you have a story about workplace terrorism? If you do, share it with our blog.
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