Victim of workplace politics?

Question

Hello,

I'm wondering what I should do.  I'm a front line supervisor at a state university.  One of my employees had an interview to move up and my boss, his boss, and our department's HR specialist decided to make it a lunch meeting and they ate lunch in front of the candidates.  I felt it was completely unprofessional and I reported it to our Director of HR.  She was livid over it and took steps.

Now I'm being targeted with disciplinary actions due to "poor customer service", time theft, firing my employees for the drop of a hat and a bunch of other things.  I'm not perfect at customer service.  Like anyone else I still have much to improve on with my customer service but I don't think it warrants discipline.  And it doesn't warrant all of these false accusations from my boss and his boss.

Is this retaliation?  I've reported these actions to our HR director.   If I were to get fired due to these workplace politics how do I explain this in future job interviews.  Can HR fix these issues?

HELP!  I used to really like my job and now as soon as I graduate from said university I'm getting while the gettings good.

? · Answer

I also agree with the above poster, best not to snitch unless absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately you can’t go back in time and not speak to HR, but in your future jobs you must remember that people aren’t going to respond well to getting “told on.”

It definitely sounds like you are being singled out now unfairly. :(

As a general rule, it’s best not to go above your boss/fellow employees to HR, unless, what the other employees are doing is serious enough to impact you or the customers. (For example: Harassment, Discrimination ect.)

Eating during a work meeting, might be unprofessional, but it just isn’t a big enough deal to warrant alienating your boss or co-workers.

There’s no use in worrying about it now though :) All of this will likely blow over and if not, I’m sure you can find another job that you might enjoy more!

babyboomer1001 · Answer

It sounds like they felt it was none of your business to comment and if they ordered lunch for the candidates too, then, I don 't see what is wrong with that.  It is usually not where or how that sort of thing is done but, I was once invited to lunch for a similar purpose and it was fun.  We got to know each other on a personal level, relaxed around each other and, it was very productive, until one inappropriate dimwit decided to stick her fork into a lawyer 's lunch and steal some of it before he had a chance to taste it himself.  I ended up working there and my employer was a top notch person as well as a lawyer - a super nice guy.  I did not hold the same opinion for all of them.  If it is retaliation, good luck proving it.  You will have a heck of a journey and expense trying to do so.

Libraryanna · Answer

Taking prospective employees out to lunch is NORMAL and nothing wrong with it. Even if the candidates weren't eating, it may be the only time they could get everyone together. You should not have reported it because it was nothing wrong and it's not your business.

HR represents  your employer, not the worker. You admit you have work problems. You also were involved in something you should not have been. It would be very tough to prove retaliation.

Slickterp · Answer

It IS retaliation, which isn't illegal.  You were very stupid to call HR about your boss and his boss.  That was flat out dumb.  What did you think would happen?

Anonymous · Answer

This is what happens when you snitch. You should have minded your own business.

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Victim of workplace politics?

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