#### #WorkplaceDrama #HRConcerns #Retaliation #CareerGrowth
Hey everyone, I could really use some insights on a tough situation I’m facing at work. Here’s the scoop: After spending five years in a challenging environment, I decided to change teams because my former boss (let’s call him X) was a real piece of work. He micro-managed and threatened us constantly, and I stood up for my team, which made things pretty tense. Ultimately, we took our concerns to HR, and X was asked to resign due to multiple complaints against him.
Fast forward six months: I’ve left the company and returned only to find out that my new position falls under X’s organization! 😳 Not surprisingly, I’m now facing issues with him again. Recently, I applied for a job within his division, and word is he threatened my new manager for even considering my application. Seriously? 🙄
Now I’m in a contract-to-hire position, and my current managers are feeling the heat from X regarding their decision to bring me in. During a recent meeting, they even suggested I lay low, change my appearance, and essentially hide! 🥴 This has me worried about retaliation.
Here are my main pain points:
- Threat of Retaliation: X has a history of making life difficult for those who stand up to him, and I’m concerned my career might be impacted.
- Job Security: As the primary income earner for my family, I need to assess my options carefully.
- Professional Reputation: I’ve received great feedback in my short time back, but X’s influence can undermine all that.
So, what can I do? 🤔
- Document everything. Keep track of any communications with X and my managers to establish a paper trail.
- Consult HR about the potential retaliation and explore my options for a smoother transition into a different department.
- Network with colleagues to build a support system within the company. 🙌
Ultimately, I’m not afraid of X; I just want to protect my career. Would it be better to look for a full-time role elsewhere, especially since I’ve received multiple offers already? Or should I stay and fight it out? 🤷♂️
I’d really love to hear your thoughts. Have you faced something similar? What did you do to protect yourself in the workplace? Share your experiences or tips below!
You pissed off a senior manager and how it’s biting you because he uses his influence to prevent your recruitment? While he sounds like a dick this wouldn’t break any UK laws, and since America is often way more lax I can’t imagine it breaks any of yours?
Why don’t you look for work at any other company other than the one he works at?
Just quit.
You’re going to be fired as soon as he finds out that you snuck back into the organization behind his back. There’s nothing to protect you. He can fire you because he has an axe to grind, he can fire the manager who told you to just act like you can change your appearance and that’ll fix it.
Retaliation in this case would not be illegal. Guy seems to despise you and he’s going to mess with you.
Is it retaliation? Yes.
Virtually all retaliation is legal.
Retaliation in employment law has a very specific meaning. Nothing you wrote is covered under that definition.
Yeah, that well is good and truly poisoned. I’d move on to a different company, preferably with old coworkers who can Grease the skids for you.
I’d make sure to have two resignation letters, the first one being the short and sweet “leaving to pursue other opportunities”. The second one being the magnum opus of why you are leaving, and you won’t be coming back as long as that guy is anywhere in the org chart. Deploy the first with notice, then the second as you leave, can also be a Mass BCC email.
If this chucklehead shows up anywhere near your new org, feel perfectly free to throw them under the bus as they have you, up to and including “if he comes in, I will be out one way or the other soon thereafter”. As said before, yes, it’s retaliation, but it’s perfectly legal retaliation.
First, while this absolutely retaliation, your description does not meet the standard for legally actionable workplace retaliation.
Second, you sound intelligent. What makes you think you can go to war with an executive and come out unscathed? There is a large power differential here and you just don’t win in a situation like this. You claim to have other offers on the table – take one and move on. This organization is salted ground for you.
I think we all learn this lesson at some point in our careers. It happened for me when I was working in Qatar and it almost ruined my career. Mine was a combination of a jackass matrix report with cultural issues. Thankfully I had a mentor who helped escape my hole and recover.