The Reality of Being a Coworker Who’s Targeted

Adhiambo Catherine
2 min readOct 18, 2021

In today’s workplace, it is not uncommon for coworkers to form cliques. In some cases, this can be great because they can continue their friendships from outside of work, and in other cases, it can lead to intense feelings of loneliness or isolation. However, one negative consequence that may not have been considered when forming these groups is the potential for a witchhunt situation where one person becomes targeted by an entire group to make life unbearable for them.

What is witch-hunting?

In a workplace setting, it is when an individual becomes targeted by their peers to make them no longer want to come to work. It is not uncommon for this target’s job or even career prospects to be threatened as a result. This type of behaviour has been seen in many high-profile cases, which have occurred both online and offline.

Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels

What are ways to keep your sanity?

In cases like these, you must try and surround yourself with friends who will support you emotionally and professionally. It can also be helpful to find a mentor who is more senior within the organization that can help you navigate your career and ensure that witch-hunting does not have a lasting effect on it.

What are ways to keep focus?

In an effort not to let workplace witchhunts negatively impact your job or career, you need to remain focused on your goals. Do not take workplace bullying personally, but rather plan to address it professionally or seek guidance from HR if needed. Most importantly, try and stay positive as you navigate this challenging time in your career.

In conclusion, workplace witchhunts are a real thing that many people have to deal with. While it can be difficult, try and surround yourself with supportive friends while seeking guidance from mentors but do not let this situation ruin your career.

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Adhiambo Catherine
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Passionate about writing and everything that comes with it. Looking forward to learning through other writers.