Feeling Harassed at Work: How Can I Address Lack of Training and Pressure from My CEO?

I have been working in a company as a software engineer trainee, and as I'm a trainee, no proper training was provided to me. The CEO of the company totally harassed me for my mistakes and put pressure on me. The training period was for 6 months, but I have been working as an employee for four months. What steps should I take to compensate myself against the company?

According to me, your concerns are:

1. No Training
The company had preferred you as a trainee and given you the opportunity for on-the-job training. On-the-job training is the most used and effective method of training. Sometimes, due to various reasons, organizations do not use other methods of training. It doesn't mean that they are not training their key assets. At the same time, continuous learning and development is the responsibility of the employee as well, so try to learn as much as you can from your seniors, colleagues, friends, online resources, books, etc. Try to understand the needs of the business and your role, and focus on it. You will get positive results.

2. Mental Harassment
It is subjective, and without knowing the actual facts of the case, commenting on it will not be right.

You are new in the organization; learn fast, work hard, and show results. There is a well-known proverb: "Trust and respect are two things which everybody has to earn." In spite of all your efforts, if things do not improve or you are not happy, then it's time for a change.

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy; they just promised it would most likely be worth it." ― Harvey MacKay

Welcome to corporate life, and best of luck.

As you are undergoing on-the-job training, you have an opportunity to learn more. In the early stages of your career, it's common to face challenges due to a lack of proper knowledge of facts, figures, and company culture. If you are experiencing difficulties at this stage, don't worry. Consider it an opportunity to learn more, as this pressure can help you see the prospects of the problems in depth.

Regards,
Sunita Dhoundiyal

You mention harassment for your mistakes... I'm not sure what you mean either by harassment or the nature of the mistakes you made. Some mistakes are often perceived as worse than others.

I'm also not sure what you mean when you say you want compensation from the company—for what? For informing you of your mistakes? I assume you are getting paid a salary. Is this not compensation?

I believe working environments can be difficult, as pressure and competition mount daily. We all need to armor and protect ourselves. Understanding oneself can often be key, thinking about what you are doing in this situation to add to the angst you feel. It may be (as suggested by colleagues) simply a matter of mindset, or perhaps it might be behavior—what you actually do.

Work is essentially about meeting the expectations of your employer. If you feel you are unable to do so, then you need to rethink why this is so. Only then will the path before you become clearer.

Hope these brief comments help you—Good Luck!!

Regards,
Arshi

Your expectation, lack of understanding, your mistakes, and lack of concentration and dedication toward your work are actually the main villains here. I agree with the people above and would like to say that you must improve your work and change your perception towards seniors first. Seniors always expect their juniors to work and sometimes work under pressure that actually tests their perseverance, which makes them the best in their work/field. They always expect new people/trainees/juniors to put forth their best efforts to learn and work, but most often juniors take these things with the wrong ideology and pressure of work that actually starts bothering them.

Understanding Harassment and Responsibility

You said your CEO totally harassed you, and I believe that you do not know the meaning of harassment and are taking it in a very wrong way. Are you directly responsible for his work or reporting to the CEO? How can a CEO bother a trainee is surprising to me.

Addressing Mistakes and Training

You also accept that you have made mistakes that actually need to be rectified first. You are a trainee, and for the last four months, you have been making mistakes and now claiming that you have not been given proper training. It is important for you to learn as much as you can and maintain a good relationship and understanding with seniors. Until you take things positively, you cannot be a good learner and achieve success in life.

I wish that you will understand these things. Please remove negative thoughts from your mind and concentrate on your work.

You are a young professional, and at this stage, you need to concentrate more on learning and development rather than thinking about compensation. Just understand that nobody will pay a salary to harass anybody. Take suggestions from your seniors positively and try to learn so that you can grow in your life. Animosity in any form will spoil your career. If you still feel that you are a misfit here, go for a change - but remember, every organization needs people who will work as per the company's policies and plans.

Regards,
Anil Nagpal
Chairman and Managing Director
Oyster

With due respect to your views, may I submit as a great admirer of Human Relations and Human Rights that one has to earn this bargaining power in real life. It's not bestowed upon a beginner like the blessings of the great Jesus Christ. Therefore, for a beginner, learning comes first, and human rights come later.

You must be in confusion after all these answers from the most senior persons. However, let us get this to our understanding correctly. You are working there expecting something other than your salary. It might be for reputation, recognition, or internal fame. And you are not trying to show it; instead, you are continuing with a few mistakes. These mistakes might seem right to you at that moment, but they could be fatal to the company. Hence, the company might form a negative opinion about your efforts. So, even though you are trying to do something, it is failing. These failures may appear as harassment to you, although they are not really so.

Kindly make the organization feel positive about you, and try your level best to articulate what you have learned. This will definitely enhance you.

Regarding the Word 'LEARNT'

It might strike you that you mentioned not receiving proper training. No one is responsible for your learning except you. It is you who needs to seek out opportunities to learn.

Regards.

Well, it's tough to say whether what you are facing is truly unhealthy, prejudiced harassment or just the pressure of a new environment that everyone faces when joining their first job or on the first day of college.

If he is treating you the same as he is treating others at the same level and he is not being mean, then, in all probability, it's just the transition period. After a while, it will all be okay, and you will be settled.