Can an employer constantly threaten an employee?

Question

Regardless of what I do or how well I do it at work my supervisor always makes me feel like she is going to fire me. Sometimes she will yell insubordination when I am asking a question. She recently had a fellow employee create a checklist to follow. Getting used to it has been a challenge but I use it. We are supposed to double check each other's work for mistakes and the checklist was created for her to get out of having to proof read the work although that is her job. If she finds one mistake in my work she threatens diciplinary action. Everyone has one or two details that are missed. She also acts like a child when she is mad not making eye contact, whispering behind employee's backs and gossiping. She throws her weight around like she is ALI. And if anyone asks a question we are being insubordinate or if we question her directive, when we know she is wrong, we are dirt. Help.

Answer 1

get yourself another job....you don't have to work there...and you don't have to take the abuse.
if all of you can't get together as a group and talk to her boss about the problems, then it is time to get out....it might be nice if all of you gave notice on the same day - for the same reasons....That Would Make A Point!

good luck

Answer 2

There are laws against harassment and you can go to the labour board, but you need to be sure that what you are experiencing is harassment.

1. I don't understand how a person can be insubordinate for asking a question. Is it possible that the person asking the question is being sarcastic or suggesting that something should be the manager's job and not his?

2. Proofreading your own or an employee's work is an expectation of today's employees. A manager usually has enough to do without having to correct an employee's spelling and grammar.

3. If you do have grounds--see link below--you need to have appropriate documentation of what was said, who said it, to whom was it said, date, time, and any witness statements to back it up.

Even if you don't have grounds to file a harassment complaint, it sounds like your workplace is unsafe or at least unpleasant, and her behaviour is inappropriate. You can take your complaints to her employer, the HR department or the owner.

Good luck.

Answer 3

First thing is her major responsibility is probably not proof reading your work. its probably being responsible for the whole departments work and managing all of you. Which I promise you is much more pressure than what you're feeling. In any case, She shouldn't be threatening insubordination for asking a question. However there is no law against saying insubordination. What there is, is lawful termination and unlawful. It avries state to state. But if she has enough evidence to show termination was appropriate then she could win a court case. But one thing on your side, is if she keeps employees and terminates you but you gave the same quality of work as the others, then thats a good time to question and seek a lawyer. However if your work was shown to be lower then you can still seek a lawyer but you may not have as strong of a case.
it is up to you if you stay and work here. My question would be how long has she been the manager. and how is her manager. are they very supportive of her, or what. Reason I ask is, maybe she is being watched like a hawk and she may or may not be your supervisor for very long.

good luck.

Answer 4

Don't agree. Salaried employees still have a basic schedule; and a starting time. She's not docking your pay; that might be illegal. Repeated tardiness is grounds for a bad performance review in any company I've ever worked for. If I need you to open an office at 9 and you don't show up till 9:20, I don't care how late you work; you aren't there when I need you to be, thus I'll be writing you up. The 9 hours verses the 15 minutes are a totally different isssue. Ask to have your starting time changed to 9:30; or get there on time.

Answer 5

Sounds like a new supervisor who thinks she has power, but has no idea how to use it, or how to get the best out of her employees. All I can say is patience, if she is treating all like this the word will get around and she will be reigned in. Many people feel they have to show the world of the new found power they think they have, but will settle down in time, esp when they see that those tactics do not work in forming an efficient cohesive work environment. Hang in there she will learn.

Answer 6

Well there are laws about harassment, sexual and other types. You can go to the labor beraue(spelling) and file a complaint.
If I where you I would document all actions and comments this person makes, even take a small recorder to work (concelled of course) and record these comments and gossip.
It could be considered harrasment.

Answer 7

sounds like a terrible place to work.
to have a good team in the workplace, even the boss needs to give a pat on the back from time to time to show appreciation for the employees work.
everyone makes mistakes.
sounds like your boss needs to know that too.
joe

Answer 8

This may not answer your question, but it may help. I was told once if you never want to work a day in your life find a job that you love to do. It does not sound like you like your job to much and she just adds to the missery. Find a new job and ***** her out on your way out the door!!

Answer 9

Sounds like it is time to look for a new job. You can't change her; you can only change you! Don't invest your energy in trying to fix a situation that is out of your control.

Either go over her head, or find something else.

Answer 10

The boss can be an idiot, a jerk, an asshole, but theyr'e still the boss.
Accept it or find another job.

Fair?? No, it isn't..
The way it is. Yes.