When you see illegal actions at your workplace, it makes sense to want to speak up against them and blow the whistle.
However, there are cases when would-be whistleblowers – or even people who actually do blow the whistle – end up gaslit. But what does that mean, and what does it look like?
What is gaslighting?
Better Up discusses gaslighting in the workplace. First off: what is gaslighting? This term recently popped off in popularity. It is a psychological term to describe situations in which one individual attempts to manipulate the environment around another individual in a way to convince the other individual that their memory is faulty.
This causes both psychological and emotional stress for the victim. Some even end up quitting their jobs due to the immense pressure that gaslighting can cause.
Attempting to confront a gaslighter
Since the entire purpose of gaslighting is to trick an individual into thinking that they are misremembering or misinterpreting things, it rarely does a person good to confront the gaslighter directly.
Typically, the person accused will dismiss the claims, deny them, respond with hostility or aggression or reply evasively. They may even attempt to gaslight the individual about their accusations.
Protecting yourself from hostile work environments
Gaslighting can easily cause a work environment to grow so negative and toxic that a person may feel pressured to quit. Fortunately, protections exist for workers experiencing such negativity.
In many cases, it is possible to take legal actions in these situations and reclaim a healthier work environment, or financial compensation at the very least.