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Anonymous
10/29/20 at 3:25PM UTC (Edited)
in
Career

HR Creating a Toxic Work Place

I’m exhausted. Please help. I have been at my current job for 3 years now. My Human Resource department has always been the source of my problems ( and others at work). Our HR department is made up of one person, let’s call her P. From the moment I started this job, upper management employees warned me about P, saying she is a terrible person, not someone you want to talk to, and other names that I shouldn’t mention. Despite their comments, I still was kind and civil. P and I did have one issue a year ago where I went to ask the HR department about my sick days / vacation left ( we don’t have an online system) and she gave me a nasty flippant answer that was completely uncalled for. We are not allowed to go into the HR department Monday - Thursday. We are only allowed to go in on Friday, which is also the day P leaves early. We are in the office building and the culture is a toxic one. There is constant gossiping and negative comments made by P. Anytime I leave to go to retail store locations, she questions my moves ( I’m the Marketing Manager and part of my job is to visit store locations to make sure the ship is running smoothly). She also treats one of our IT department employees terribly. She is the HR department and is the very person creating the work drama. Coming into work is the most exhausting and demotivating thing. Last week on Monday I was cleared by the health dept to come back to work. On Thursday, a store manager came into my office to talk ( knowing about my health, because I shared it with him to make sure he was comfortable). Later that afternoon, that same manager shared with me that P said “why would you go into her office after all she has been through. She is still contagious probably” . The next day I wrote a formal complaint about her using my health as water cooler talk and that as HR she should keep my health confidential. Her supervisor told me to leave work and work remotely until this situation was resolved. They called the manager in for a statement and he changed his story in fear of getting in trouble (he told me that and not the people conducting the investigation). That very same day P, who doesn’t know anything going on, goes into the managers office and tell him that another employee ( her supervisor ) has Covid. We have this on video, because my IT department has been helping me since he is fed up with the work place, too. As of yesterday the investigation is closed. She get a measly warning. Nothing more is done. Management sent out an email about the workplace and Covid, but that was the extent. Management also send an email to me offering to mediate a conversation between P and I, however knowing P, I know it won’t be productive. She will act super kind information of upper management and then be vindictive when no one else is looking. I ask that he tell her to not communicate with me unless completely necessary and that I will avoid all conversation with her into the foreseeable future. We are back to square one, because I never talk to her unless I have to anyway. The same toxic work culture. Today I return to work and the secretary, who is close with P Returns the most flippant hi to me while rolling her eyes. Please help. I am exhausted and honestly want to leave. NOT BECAUSE of the job, I love my job. I love everyone else I work with. I want to leave because of the toxic workplace she created. I don’t feel comfortable here. I don’t feel motivated, but I don’t want to move to another office location. I work closely with IT who is right next door to me. I suggested maybe moving her to our other office location close by, but management didn’t entertain that idea. I offered to work remotely, but they want me in the office ( I actually prefer the office so that I can be creative with coworkers). I AM AT A LOSS AND SO EXHAUSTED. Our HR is compromised. The office is toxic. My motivation is almost nonexistent. Edit: One of the owners did say they are looking to outsource her department. Actively. They had a meeting this week. I’m thinking I may be on a “need to know” basis and they may in fact be taking larger measures. P’s supervisor is one of the owners, but she is the only HR employee. Please help me.

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Pamela (Princess Amela) G. Johnson
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29
AMPAS Screenwriting Studio EIC, Multi-Trade-Jill
10/29/20 at 4:59PM UTC
Seems to me the Owner (whose decision is final, and can replace the HR person "problem" with outsourcing) gave you the outsourcing search info to keep you-as an apparently valued employee, despite the HR problem being actively worked on by a replacement search. Take Heart in this info & give the Owner time to rectify the "Problem," especially since you like your job. My Advice: This is No Time to Leave Rashly! Good things come to those who work & wait-especially with the "Active Search" incentive info given you. Head up, hang in there, and I hope to hear good things happened to ease your "HR Problem person" out of your company as swiftly as the Owner can. Wishing you the best!
Anonymous
10/29/20 at 3:57PM UTC
It is a really hard decision to stay or go at times, especially when you really love what you do and enjoy the people you are working with (except one). I keep seeing when people respond with the advice to "freshen up the resume" you respond with; This is vital to mention: One of the owners did say they are looking to outsource her department. Actively. They had a meeting this week. I’m thinking I may be on a “need to know” basis and they may in fact be taking larger measures. It sounds like you have already made up your mind to let it play out. So freshen up the resume, let it play out. Give it a scheduled amount of time... say a month or 3, whatever you feel you are comfortable with and then proceed with your plan. You can only make the change when you are ready, just don't let it go to long. It won't get better without change with "P" or with you finding a less toxic situation. Good luck and remember we have to advocate for ourselves, it's rare others will do it for us! BTW I am not an HR person just someone who's been there!
Karen Mattox
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160
Lead software developer in the cloud
10/29/20 at 3:11PM UTC
I once worked in a similar environment. I was able to avoid the HR department for the most part, going to my manager with situations I would normally have gone to HR with. I loved the position so I simply outlasted her. Most of the time these people don't last forever because no one else likes them either. The brown nosing of people above only works for a while.
Anonymous
10/29/20 at 3:21PM UTC (Edited)
Thanks for replying. That’s where I am stuck. I love my position, freedom and flexibility. I can choose to work from home, within reason, whenever I want. When I have kids in a year or two, I KNOW I’d be able to take as much time as I need or even work from home entirely. I’m happy to hear that things workout for you. She has been here 25 years...I have been here 3. The issue is that while I am NOT the only one having problems with her, no one else has put in formal complaints. One of the owners did say they are looking to outsource her department. Actively. They had a meeting this week. I’m thinking I may be on a “need to know” basis and they may in fact be taking larger measures.
Karen Mattox
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160
Lead software developer in the cloud
10/29/20 at 9:10PM UTC
Hang in there! There are always problem people everywhere you go, learning to live with the situation is an important skill.
Karen Berger
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74
An innovative leader in high growth industries
10/29/20 at 2:43PM UTC
I'm sorry you are in this difficult situation. You mentioned that she is the only one in the HR department, however she does have a supervisor. Who is her supervisor? Are they already aware there are issues with P (other than this current one)? Unfortunately, if you are not motivated and feel the work place is toxic, leaving may be for the best. It's not a bad idea to freshen up your resume and start to see what else is out there. You may find something that is a better fit for you, and a work culture that you enjoy. Best of luck!
Anonymous
10/29/20 at 3:21PM UTC
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and reply. Her supervisor is one of the owners of the company. Yes, he is aware of the other issues with P. The problem is, no ones else has made formal complaints. This is the first. While they have told the owners, no one formally addressed it. This is vital to mention: One of the owners did say they are looking to outsource her department. Actively. They had a meeting this week. I’m thinking I may be on a “need to know” basis and they may in fact be taking larger measures.
Karen Berger
star-svg
74
An innovative leader in high growth industries
10/29/20 at 10:19PM UTC
So it seems that they may be taking positive action, which is good. I agree with other posters about giving the owner a change to rectify the situation. In the meantime, it's always good to update your resume just in case you will need to use it. Hope things get resolved quickly!
Anonymous
10/29/20 at 2:31PM UTC
You have to leave. No way around it. From your side of this conversation, it seems that for better or worse, the company is comfortable with this situation and that is it. In regards to "P" discussing COVID with this manager, its a sticky situation and I am unsure what else could have been given as punishment other than a warning. She did not specifically comment on protected health information, since this manager was aware (from you) about your situation. She did not say "you are contagious" she said might, which may/may not be correct without knowing all the facts AND the bigger issue here, is that since she is HR, she can argue she is acting in the capacity of protecting employees. Also this does not fully rest on her, if the company had to follow up with guidance, that means they did not have proper procedure already in place. No excuse for that. We have had a while now to think about how to react to these situations. You need to start looking and move on
Anonymous
10/29/20 at 3:23PM UTC
Thank you for helping me and giving insight. I am absolutely torn. I do love my job, the freedom, the flexibility... but I dispose this situation. I think it is important to mention: One of the owners did say they are looking to outsource her department. Actively. They had a meeting this week. I’m thinking I may be on a “need to know” basis and they may in fact be taking larger measures. I will start brushing up on my resume today. Thank you.

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