RL Workplace ARGGGG! - suggestions?

I have a friend in real life who is going through alot of aggravation at work right now. The department he works in now has been doing things to make his work almost unbearable. They constantly find little things to make him look like he's done something wrong, when he brings up the issues with is boss, he is totally ignored and the boss usually sides with the rest of the co- workers. If he ever uses the internet, personal phonecalls etc, he gets reprimanded, while if his co-workers do it, they don't. They even had a meeting about him, without him present.

When he took the situation to Human resources, they told him to put up with it or lose his job. He is extremely frustrated and upset, and has asked me for advice....

Thing is, is i live in Canada, he is in the states...does anyone know what kind of resources he could look to for help?

Thanks in advance

He needs to document everything.

He needs to write down every comment made, meetings, reprisals, favoritism, etc..with exact time and dates.

He needs to document when he goes to his boss or human resources and present his concerns in writing, and have them sign them as having been read.

He needs to make sure he is on time, works hard, and follows company rules. he also needs to get a written copy of his job duties.

Then, if they are looking to force him out or fire him, he has material to go to a lawyer with.

Companies tend to fear employees with documentation, knowledge and a lawyer.

thanks David

Wow - this sounds like a scene from the show "The Office".

The problem is that there is very little one can do from a legal perspective unless they can prove discrimination of some sort.

If I were him I would do the following:

1. Start looking for another job with a better environment (sometimes easier said than done, but working in hell can be very stressful).

2. Lay low, do the job and fly under the radar from a personal perspective. Don't use the internet or phone for personal use or do anything that they can document as proof that he has violated their policies, even if others are allowed to.

3. Come in early, go home later and say as little as possible to co-workers. It will just make things easier until he can find something else.

Most of the time this sort of environment in a work place is perpetuated by someone in management. Asshat middle managers come and go quickly. It could also be that if he stays under the radar, the manager will eventually be recognized for the asshat they are and move on to torture an entirely new group of people.

.

Yes its exactly middle management. The woman who is manager of his department has been there for over 12 years and thinks she is a 'know it all'. He is just sooo frustrated because all he wants is a good environment to go to every day. I would wish that for everyone..

*giggles at the 'office'* indeeeedy!

Im sorry to hear about your friend. My mother went through the exact same thing with her former employment. And the sad thing is, even with all the documentation, doing your job right, staying under the radar - it doesnt always work. Lawyers and Labour/human resources board.. wont touch most things - because thats a risk you assume as an At will employee. Its often very hard to prove discrimination.

The good side to this is - after she was ultimately fired.. she found a great job.. same pay.. and no hassle.. So sometimes its a blessing in disguise.

Hope everything works out.

thanks for your reply, i just think its horrible that he can't go to work everyday and look forward to it...i know i do. We spend more time at work then we do at home...at least most of us do

Erm, no it doesn't. That was a comedy.

Find a better job. Nothing is worth putting up with that BS for. Trust me -- there are better things to do, even if you're unemployed for a while.

If he's taken a stand and it isn't working; fine. But doing something else somewhere else.. maybe something he's dreamed of doing.. is much healthier.

Life is too short to put up with other people pissin on ya.

The Siggy solution... it's fast - efficient - and gets the point across really fast:

1. Find the ringleader of 'operation work-hell'
2. Come in early
3. Take a shit in thier top drawer.

Siggy.

lol ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww


effective however o.0

Sorry to hear about your friend, Aurelie.

I think it's some political situation where they're either favoring people unfairly or intentionally making him miserable in hopes that he 'll quit (if they fire him theymay have to fork over unemployment money.) He's probably better off finding work elsewhere.

I can sypathize with the person in question - I've had experiences like that in the past.

I just do my job and ignore the cliquey workplace environment here - although everyone in the newsroom knows where I stand as I tend to speak my mind and not put up with any RL crap.

The phrase I used when a producer told me how they didn't much like me, as I wasn't a terribly nice person was : "I'm not here to make friends - and rest assured if they didn't pay me I'd throw rocks at you all" and "Yes, I'm a prick - but I'm a prick with and Emmy so go fuck yourself".

It works for me - I get to do my job unhindered, and they get to play popularity contest in the other room and ne'er the twain shall meet...

For your friend I guess I'd just tell em to knuckle under, get their 8 hours a day (or whatever) done, and spend the downtime looking for a job where they will be happy and appreciated.

Siggy.

Get Human Resources to say that in writing.

Then document.

Then tell HR that either they fix this, or the issue will be forced to be escalated to the next level (Director of HR / Vice President / etc - who should be savvy enough to know that they don't want to be sued.)

Thanks everyone for your replies, i've passed them on to my friend, he appreciates them

goodluck, there is little protection for workers in the USA...

I'm sorry to hear your friend is going through Cubicle Clique Hell. I hope he's taking all the advice offered here into serious consideration.

I was in this situation too and it downright depressed me to the point that I'd have to go into the restroom and bawl my eyes out. I wouldn't quit though, I figured if I leave I should just get fired so I'd get paid for the unemployment. But it got so bad that I'd play with the thought of driving my car off the bridge to avoid the assholes at work. So I took a leave of absence. And when my date to return to work came, I called HR and told them I wasn't coming back. I still am bitter about it sometimes, I did waste 4 years of my life at that company. The whole ordeal left me burnt out from the working environment. So I definitely am hoping your friend gets out of this situation under better circumstances and with a better emotional disposition.

He could consider going 'Postal' on their asses.

Thanks again for your comments, my friend is taking all you said to heart...thanks again

He needs to get his resume in order and get the hell out, because for sure they are looking to get rid of him.

Very impressive advice!

As someone who has managed people, hard to say I could give better advice.

Key points:

- Come early
- stay late
- stay low
- and send out resumes.

I hear ya. The state of South Carolina, for whatever demonic reason, is considered a "Right to Work State" or an "Employment at will" state....Which means that an employer can terminate you for any reason not protected by federal discrimination or workplace harassment laws. Here, your boss can just walk up out of the blue and say "take a hike"...and you have no legal protection (unless he pinched your butt or chased you around the desk)....