I'm leaving a job I love because of an extremely verbally abusive boss. HR won't do anything about her.

Question

She is not only verbally abusive to me but to my coworkers. She will literally rant and rave at her employees. She was screaming so loudly at one of us one time, that the construction workers remodeling down the hall could hear her (they were talking about it later). We have tried talking to her about it, but she gets mad and defensive. HR won't do anything about it because she brings in so much money. I turned in my notice on Friday, I can't take anymore and I'm severely depressed. The last AA before me said she was able to go off her meds and doesn't get migraines anymore since she quit. Transferring to another department won't work because she harassed the last AA in her new dept. so that she had to leave the company altogether just to get away from her. The AA before that is in another department in the same company and still gets tears in her eyes when she talks about her time with my boss. I can't afford an attorney. What, if anything can I do? Isn't what she's doing illegal?

My co-workers and I have already (as previously mentioned) tried talking with her about it. The top echelon of the extremely well-known institution already know about her...her reputation is well-known. No one will do anything (as I said) because she brings in a lot of money (grants as well as service billing) and prestige (she's world renowned). She's what we call a "rock star" in her field of practice. (A deserved reputation, I'll give her that). It's just that somewhere along the way, she's lost her humanity and it's killing our moral. I'm too old to be this miserable. I've always been proud of how well I do my job, but she's only happy about it if it is convenient for her. This last bout was because I pointed out something that could get us shut down if we were audited and she basically told me she could do what she wanted. Frankly, I'm not willing to be put in the legally tenuous position that put me in.

Answer 1

Hi there - unfortunately there are no laws against terrible bosses or half of corporate America would be in jail. It is not illegal for a boss to scream, rant, call people names, or even throw things.

What IS illegal would be for that boss to do so in a discriminatory manner - using racial slurs, making harassing statements about parts of employee's bodies, stating that an employee is too old to perform the job properly, that sort of thing. It's also illegal for her to "retailate" against an employee who has filed a complaint of corporate wrongdoing or safety violations by targeting that employee (demoting them, writing them up, etc.)

A new job is the best idea here - it is not only this woman who is a problem, it is the corporation which is protecting her and her bad behavior in order to preserve their earnings. You aren't in a position to forcer her to change; the folks who ARE in a position to get her to change her behavior aren't willing to do so. It is a pity, but there are some situations in this life that it's best to just walk away from.

Answer 2

Actaully you do not have to be able to afford an attorney. If you can prove you have been medically harmed (anxiety, depression, etc..) and you can prove it is a result of this boss you have a Workers Comp case. In these type of cases, it takes years before the case is even heard and the lawyer usally takes a percentage of anything you win. If you don't win, it did not cost you anything.
It is illegal what your boss is doing, and I am not suprised to hear HR is not doing anything. I respect HR as a career, but at the same time they fight the wrong battles. They would fire someone because they talked on the phone too much during the day, but someone who treats their employees like crap, oh there is nothing we can do she is a great asset to the company. Asset or not, your boss is harrassing her employees and is going to cause her employees to quit. How effective do they think your boss can be at bringing in money without her team?
Have you been documenting her abuse? If so, you can file for unemployment if you do not already have another job. I had a similar case to as you, and since I had the documentation of how I was treated I was able to collect unemployment even though I voluntarily left my job.

Answer 3

She should not be a manager. Sadly, HR reps are being paid by the company and are usually pro-management. Before you quit, what do you have to lose, you should try to get her in trouble. Try going over her head, department manager/ regional manager. I bet they don't even know about her behavior because HR kept everything in house. Make a list of complaints and try to get as many signatures as you can to back you up.

Get a tape and record her verbal abuse a few times and document your complaints that were overlooked and then get an attorney that will not make you pay unless he wins the case.

Answer 4

Yes it is it is called verbal harassment and she should be fired for it. You can try going up the ladder past human resources and complain. Get a signed letter from other employees to submit as well. You need to go through corporate and managerial levels as well. To be even nasty report your job to the better business biro about what is going on and that they aren't doing anything about it. They may look into it for you. Good luck to you and I am sorry this is happening to you and your co-workers.

Answer 5

record her verbal abuse on ur cell phone or any recorder and talk to a good lawyer.....u can easily sue her if u have proof.....and u can even ask her to compensate you for the mental trauma it caused u...........dont leave and run away from ur problem.........this way seel never learn tomorrow shell have a new target...........face the problem.........Best of luck

Answer 6

Just talk to her with thought

" Live or Let us Live"


=)


there are lots of opportunities in this world ..................