Mobbed by female sociopaths at work

by Liz
(California)

My boss, the ringleader, was a serial bully who always had someone in her sights. Her targets were women, usually subordinates. Those who weren't targeted were treated very well. Later I realized this was part of her strategy to get those in her in-group to participate in the mobbing.

My boss gossiped and maligned her targets behind their backs to everyone in the office. Strategically this accomplished two objectives: 1. Persuaded others to mob the target and 2. Make people fear getting on her bad side.

She also had affairs with male superiors and wielded a great deal of power over them with her sexuality. This again accomplished two objectives: 1. Enlisted the CEO's help in ousting the target and 2. Prevented complaints about her from being taken seriously

Her efforts worked like a charm. While most would not directly mob the target, they would avoid associating with her. That person would for all intents and purposes be shunned.

A few fellow sociopaths would actively engage in driving the target out by harrassing and demeaning her, refusing to provide information the target needed to do her job, sabotaging her work, making false accusations, even physical intimidation.

I saw one sociopath co-worker do all of the above and visibly gloat when the target showed any sign of distress. Later on I learned this co-worker fudged her time and stole thousands of dollars of electronics from the agency, all enabled by my sociopath boss. When the payroll clerk spoke up about the fraudulent timesheets, she became a target and was driven out.

In the seven years I worked for this 15-employee agency, six women were mobbed and driven out. There had been several before I began working there and no doubt more after I left. I was the target who hung on the longest, to the detriment of my physical and mental health.

The worst of it came when my sociopath boss hired a friend of hers with no experience to become my supervisor and tormentor. She had bypassed the civil service process to obtain the job and I had to train her on how to use a computer.

In return, I was belittled, yelled at in public, accused and framed for things I didn't do, had my documents and e-mail lists broken into and tampered with, and had things stolen from me. Sociopath boss would come over to sociopath co-worker's desk, which was near mine and they would ridicule and laugh at me like I wasn't in the room.

Of course the longer I held out, the harder sociopath boss worked to force me out. I was probably the biggest challenge for her ever as I tend to be rather stubborn.

My job responsibilities were removed based on false reports of poor performance. My hours were reduced and I was given menial tasks to do. My desk was put into a converted closet, away from the rest of the staff. I was not included in any meetings or gatherings. Nobody talked to me and I was told to "talk to my manager" if I asked any questions. Of course sociopath boss would ignore me.

So the technique of solitary confinement finally drove me out. By that time, I had an anxiety disorder and developed an ulcer. My doctor told me to leave that toxic environment for the sake of my health. I had put it off because the pay and benefits were good. I knew I would have a hard time finding another job because sociopath boss would likely blacklist me, as she had done to other targets.

True to form I have been unable to find another job. Not being able to use anybody I worked with as a reference is partially to blame, as is a tough job market, as is the emotional baggage I carry from my previous experience.

Sociopaths destroy lives and female sociopaths are worse because they don't get caught. They are pretty clever at operating on the down low and society doesn't take them seriously, especially when they victimize other women.

I would say to anyone who encounters one of these monsters at work to get out but it is rare for a workplace to not have at least one. Pray you don't have to report to a sociopath and if you do, either plan to do their unethical bidding (if you lack a conscience yourself) or get out quick before becoming the next mark.