I work for a small company that is owned by a large private company.
Anonymous
I work for a small company that is owned by a large private company. We do not have an HR department anymore but there is a corporate HR department.
The President of the company and I have a personality conflict and have since he was hired last year. He is not in the office very often, so this has not been a direct problem except he constantly by passes me when he makes decisions that affect the company's finances. I am the Controller of this company.
For example: he cannot read our financial statements, or our job status reports regardless of being shown several times.
When he started I informed him that the prior President allowed the 2 hourly workers to not punch out for lunch so they could be paid for their lunch hours, His reasoning was they did not make enough money. When this occurred, we did have an inhouse HR that allowed this to happen. I told him this was costing the company money and needed to be stopped. He has allowed this situation to continue.
Last year my husband passed away. A few weeks later he accused me of taking off more too much from work . The company allows you 3 days of grievance pay. I informed him that I have only taken off with approved vacation requests, that he approved!
Last year raises we given, and I received the lowest even lower than my assistance. When I asked why he told me I do not contribute to the company therefore I do not deserve a higher raise. I brought this to the attention of corporate HR but nothing happened.
Last week everything came to a head.
As part of our year-end process, I must make an accrual for any bonuses and the amounts. I asked for this information. parent company. Instead of giving me the information, I received an email back telling me how I must be discreet and not talk about the bonus amounts with anyone within or out of the company. I wrote back that this email was not necessary because I am a professional and have never spoken with anyone about someone's wages. (I CC'd HR) His response was that I only included HR to throw him under the bus and that now he must include his boss on the email telling me that he did not how he was going to handle this continuing unacceptable situation between us.
I took the tone of the last email as a threat to terminate me, I wrote back and included everyone mentioned above that I felt I was in a hostile and intimidating environment. I felt discriminated against for not only myself but also my assistant. Both of us are over 60 while the younger men were given higher %.
HR contacted me:
1) she told me I could not claim age discrimination because my co-worker has not complained.
2) She does not see sex discrimination either
3) She said I am going to be held liable for allowing the over payment of overtime because he inherited the problem, but I was the Controller throughout the time.
I have a meeting with HR via Zoom on Monday where are I am to come up with the dollar amount of overtime. She is missing the point that I feel like this is an intimidating and hostile environment.
i do not want to lose my job because I enjoy it for the most part. I like what I do and who I work. I just came back from a business trip with him, and 2 other people and we all got along.
I am I right that this is an intimidating and hostile environment for me? Do I need to hire a lawyer or file complaints with the state/federal government?
Share your insight
Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.
8 Comments
Join the conversation