The Boss Who Humiliated

Ravi, twenty-eight, a junior analyst in Mumbai, was shouted at in meetings by his senior, who mocked his accent and left him out of emails. It happened again and again. Ravi began dreading Sundays, lost sleep and made sm…

Ravi, twenty-eight, a junior analyst in Mumbai, was shouted at in meetings by his senior, who mocked his accent and left him out of emails. It happened again and again. Ravi began dreading Sundays, lost sleep and made small mistakes because he was tense.

He believed he must become tougher. His friends said, "Just ignore him." But he felt humiliated and stopped eating lunch with the team.

A cousin who worked in HR told him this was bullying, not a test of resilience. She advised him to keep a record: dates, what was said, who saw it. Ravi spoke to a trusted senior colleague, then used the company's complaints process, and sought advice from a legal service. His doctor, hearing about his sleep and anxiety, offered support too. Ravi learnt that a safe workplace is something he deserves.

The complaint took time, and the process was not easy. Ravi's record helped, and two colleagues agreed to speak. The company moved him to another team and began an inquiry. He kept seeing his counsellor, slept better and began to join lunches again. He told his cousin that the hardest part was believing that it was not his fault, and that once he did, everything else became possible.

How to recognise it

• Repeated unfair treatment, humiliation, exclusion or abuse at work.

• Dread before work, poor sleep and anxiety.

• Self-blame and believing it is a personal failing.

• Pulling away from colleagues and loss of confidence.

• Physical signs such as headaches or stomach upset on work days.

What this story explains

This story shows bullying and harassment at work as a rights problem as well as a mood problem. Harassment is not a resilience exercise.

Probable root causes

• Power imbalance and a workplace culture that tolerates humiliation.

• Fear of losing the job or being judged.

• Lack of clear complaint routes or support.

• Isolation, which makes self-blame stronger.

What to do

1. Keep a record of dates, what happened and witnesses.

2. Speak to a trusted person, such as a senior colleague, friend or family member.

3. Use the organisation's complaints process and ask HR for help.

4. Seek advice from a union or legal service.

5. Protect your sleep, meals and time with people who care.

6. See a doctor if anxiety or low mood continue.

Whom to consult

• Family doctor or counsellor for anxiety, sleep and low mood.

• HR, union or legal service for complaints and rights.

• A trusted senior colleague as a witness and support.

• Emergency services or the nearest hospital if you feel unsafe or have thoughts of self-harm.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• To a friend: "I need you to hear this without fixing it."

• To HR: "I want to report repeated treatment. Here is my record."

• Listeners: "That sounds hard. I believe you."

• Stay factual and calm in writing.

• Do not mock or minimise: "It is not a joke."