Workplace Abuse - HR problem? Employee problem?

My HR rep was powerless, and could not help with a bullying, threatening supervisor. She wanted to help but was in fear of her job and had not support to get anything done. It was pointless. She would even have me meet her in the bathroom to talk and check in because the supervisor and his special VP friend had cameras installed and if they saw you talking to certain people would come out and ask why you were wasting work time or interrupt. The bathrooms were the only spaces that you could "meet" without being interrupted. The cameras were a result of their affair and the increasing paranoia of the female involved since she was convinced everyone was talking about her...

I got out of a terrible situation this fall. I endured a bully supervisor for well over a year. I had more experience in our field than she did, and rather than use me to bolster her section, she turned on me. She started to pull projects and funding from me, micromanage, turn minor time card issues into major crises that required top leadership involvement, and gossiped like Perez Hilton. She was incompetent and a liar and everyone know it, but for whatever reason management supported her. She caused our organization some trouble but she was, and probably still is, very important to a handful of people, so they continue to defend her. I actually loved my job and had planned to stay there for several years, but once I realized that she could do no wrong and that my strong performance record meant nothing to management when it came to my supervisor's happiness and fragile ego, I knew it was time to get out. It was a real shame because I did not want to leave at all. I waited until the time was right and I found something new I could live with for a while. I'm not happy, still angry, but in the end, I no longer have to wake up dreading another unpredictable day. Sometimes I think I could have fought it out and withstood a few more months. I have to remind myself then that things were NOT going to change. And yes, as everyone else here has said, HR is pretty much useless. Even HR turned on me when I had a valid complaint. Again, my supervisor was a skilled liar who had friends in high places. Perhaps HR was scared of her, too. My supervisor and her protectors only backed off when I threatened legal action-- I think they were used to bullied staffers running for the hills rather than fighting.