PDA

View Full Version : Need to know if this is retatliation


ugafan2123
Feb 24, 2009, 08:33 AM
Hello,

There is a situation going on at my workplace that appears to be to be retaliation because I contacted HR due to my bosses behavior and comments that were made to me and about me during a meeting. My boss yelled, stated that I do not know what I am getting myself into... I better tell her... and that I was about to get myself in trouble if I did not...
Because I did not like the tone and very uncomfortable with the conversation I requested that we get a third party involved/HR. When my boss, the HR rep and myself met my boss denied the claims. I advised them both that I did not agree with what my boss stated and that I do not want to be retaliated against in any way because of me seeking assistance from my HR rep (as our company encourages us to do). Since then my boss has been making false claims stated that I was insubordinate, disrespectful and among other things. Is this a retaliation for reporting or speaking out against unethical and inappropriate behavior which goes against my company's policy?

Please help me this has been going for over a month

tickle
Feb 24, 2009, 09:27 AM
Has someone been informing you of your boss's comments regarding insubordination and disrespectfulness ? Or has your boss been saying these things directly to you. I ask because if he is speaking directly to you, then you can call it retaliation per se. I believe retaliation would be dismissal from the company.

What got your boss so upset with you at the meeting ? That is the whole issue I believe. Did you make a wrong decision, didn't tell her your approach on something, did not keep your in the loop, so to speak?

Sorry, need more information.

ugafan2123
Feb 24, 2009, 09:49 AM
She is speaking directly to me in additon to sharing this with another person. I called a meeting with her to discuss a communication pattern that I noticed and requested to speak with her 1:1 about it to make sure that we are on the same page. This was documented in the email. When we got on the call that is how she responded.

JudyKayTee
Feb 24, 2009, 11:29 AM
There is no way to know if this is retaliation or a whole new problem. If there is an employment contract or Union, then I see you have a place to go. If there is not, I see that you could get terminated, retaliation or not retaliation. It would be your word against hers and I would assume she is keeping (or making up) records.

twinkiedooter
Feb 25, 2009, 02:24 PM
Once you start making waves at any company (regardless if you are right or not) you can expect to have more problems than you wished for.

Your comment of:
"reporting or speaking out against unethical and inappropriate behavior which goes against my company's policy"

What exactly was this superior saying about you that upset you so much at that meeting?

ugafan2123
Feb 26, 2009, 09:32 AM
It a pretty long story but here goes... there has been a pattern of communication issues by my manager and I ask if we could meet to discuss it via email. Based on her email responese she took offense to this and was upset and responded back stating that I was being disrespectful for putting that in an email. When her and I finally met via conference she was yelling and stating that I need to tell her what I meant by there is a communication pattern, you better tell me or I you are going to be in big trouble, you don't know what you are getting yourself into, etc. Whenever I tried to answer her question she would continue on in that manner and interrupt me until I requested that we get a thirdpary/hr involved. She then calmed down and we ended the meeting pending a third party was there. During the that meeting with HR she denied ever saying those things and has since then characterized me as being insubordinate, speaking to her with my hand in her face, an employee that has leaked confidential information regarding a project to others which all are untrue since my contact HR about her behavior during the meeting. Her boss has contacted me and stated that she feels like I turned on her. Since then my performance ratings have "suddenly" change for the worse and HR only says that we should just try to work this out and move forward. Hope this additional info gives some context as to what I am dealing with. My concern is that I have seen this person damage 4 other persons careers where they left the company altogether or went to a lower level job just to get away and because of what she has place in her binder. She has outwardly said that she has managed people out of the business and off her team before. Any suggestions or thoughts?

JudyKayTee
Feb 26, 2009, 10:01 AM
This additional info does not change my previous advice. "If there is an employment contract or Union, then I see you have a place to go. If there is not, I see that you could get terminated, retaliation or not retaliation. It would be your word against hers and I would assume she is keeping (or making up) records."

If it comes right down to it, the company will decide which of the two of you is the more valuable, who will go, who will stay.