When I was doing my internship with a company. There was this head of department (HOD) and another assistant officer on the team. I was told to handle a job that was done by permanent staff. There was a former intern who briefed me about the job scope and asked me to do whichever task I have been told to do!
After he left, one my first day the HOD told me to fetch coffee from the coffee machine. I went and saw dead cockroaches in the machine. I immediately ran to my boss and told her there was a dead cockroach inside. She was like “Don’t lie to me, all the interns tend to lie and just want to shake leg at the office !”. This was the first incident.
In the second incident, they always expect me to buy food for them for lunch. If I buy and if they don’t like the food they will refuse to pay me for the food. For 3days they did this to me! I got frustrated and told them I will not be buying food for them, and ask them to help themselves. My boss threatened me she will complain to my lecturer. To which I said complain by all means but I will report to the relevant authority! She panic and from that day she did not ask me to buy food for them already.
The third incident was when my boss and the other staff went on holiday overseas she instructed staff from another department to monitor every moment of mine. I caught the staff keeps following me wherever I go including to the washroom.
In the fourth incident, we are entitled to 1-hour lunchtime but this boss only gave me 15 mins, and by the time I go and grab food the 15 mins passed. When I thought to have my lunch at my desk, she scream my name and said 15 minutes is not enough for you, is it! You are not a staff to eat in the office. Was traumatized by her that I started to skip lunch and after a month I had stomach pain and I could not eat more than a few spoonfuls of food.
I went to the hospital and they did a scan. Helicobacter pylori were found in my stomach and the doctor gave me the medication I was told to take 3 times a day and was required to go for a follow-up check-up.
I was stern with my boss telling her I need to eat on time and have to take medication. She snatch the medication and said “ You don’t lie !” and she threw the medication in the bin I took back the medication and told her my health is crucial compared to her bullish*t
I started to rebel against her. She could not handle it when I stand up for my basic rights! She issued me a warning letter saying she will destroy my future. I tore the letter and throw it in the bin.
Every day she will scream at me, and the entire company staff will ask me what happen I will tell them to ask her.
During lunchtime, I will call my parents and my best friend and cry about what I’m going through daily.
If there are monthly meetings she will instruct me to go and buy chicken rice and will ask me to open the chicken rice packet for the staff. I told her I bought it for them already that’s already a big favor why don’t they open the packet themselves. She got agitated and she told me you are not one of us you are dirt. I told her since I’m dirt I’m not going to do any of this silly task she assigns and I will only focus on my admin work.
She reported to HR saying I have mental issues and she doesn’t want to work with me. I told the hr all that happen to which they replied you just do what she said. I told my parents I really can’t work with her and I told my lecturer and request to change company.
Finally, my transfer letter was accepted, and on my last day at work in this toxic company the boss hand over the counselor’s pamphlet and ask me to seek help. I gave her the mental institution contact number and told her to admit herself there and have her head examined!
I still feel traumatized whenever I think about my internship.