Well, for me, it was when I had to attend back - to - back meetings during a migraine. I could hardly keep my eyes open and focus on what was being said. I kept getting confused and had to ask people to repeat things. It was so embarrassing. Also, working in a place with strong smells, like a new carpet or someone's overpowering perfume, can be a migraine sufferer's worst nightmare at work. It's really hard to function when your head is pounding from a migraine and you're surrounded by these triggers.
One of my migraine workplace horror stories was during a really important meeting. I could feel a migraine coming on, the throbbing in my temples starting. But I had to present. As I started talking, the pain got worse. I struggled to focus on my slides, and I'm sure my presentation was a mess. My colleagues probably thought I was just unprepared.
The pain. It can be so severe that it completely incapacitates a person. For example, being unable to move or function normally.
One common type is bad management. Managers who are unfair, like giving promotions to unqualified friends instead of hard - working employees. Another is a hostile work environment. For example, when coworkers bully or harass others. Also, there are financial horror stories like companies suddenly cutting salaries without proper notice.
One common type is misinterpreting instructions. For example, a boss gives unclear directions and the employee does the task completely wrong. Another is when there are too many communication channels like emails, instant messages, and in - person meetings all at once and important information gets lost in the chaos.
Ignoring safety regulations. Just like in the previous stories, when companies focus too much on production or cost - saving, they might turn a blind eye to safety rules. This could mean not having safety guards in place or not maintaining equipment properly.
I once had a migraine during an important exam. The pain was so intense that it felt like my head was being split open. I could hardly focus on the questions and ended up doing really poorly.
One inspiring story is of a man who managed to overcome his vestibular migraines by changing his work environment. He realized that the fluorescent lights at his workplace were a trigger. After getting his office equipped with natural - light - mimicking bulbs, his attacks decreased. Also, he started taking magnesium supplements which further helped in controlling his migraines.
A common one is sexual harassment. I heard a story where a female employee was constantly sent lewd texts by a male coworker. She was so scared and uncomfortable but didn't know what to do at first. Another is racial harassment. A friend of mine was made fun of because of his skin color, with coworkers using offensive slurs. Verbal abuse from a supervisor is also common. One person I know was constantly called 'useless' and 'worthless' by their boss, which really affected their self - esteem.
One common cause is negligence. For example, not maintaining equipment properly as I mentioned before about the factory machines without safety guards. Another is cost - cutting. Companies might not want to invest in proper safety gear or training for employees to save money.
In construction sites, workers often face contact damage horror stories. For example, when a heavy object accidentally falls and makes contact with a worker's foot. It can break bones instantly. I knew a worker who had a steel beam drop on his toe. His toenail was completely smashed, and the bones were fractured. He couldn't walk properly for months and had to go through a lot of pain during the recovery process.