Workplace Harassment forced me to resign

[Drgnfy13]

Hello,

I just don't know what to do, I'm hoping someone out there has been in a similar situation and can lend me advice.

I have just resigned from my job. I lost a pension, matched 401K, my health benefits, top pay hands down and a job I love, well used to love anyway.

I was experiencing blatant harassment and witness to favoritism in 2016. All began when there was a overhaul in Management and our director of the Home Health Agency "resigned' and there was a shift with the new Clinical Director who came in from another field office.

Everything went down from there. It got so bad that I went out on Stress Leave to avoid a complete mental breakdown. Yes we were unionized and yes I worked with my union rep.

But in the end, the intimidation by Management and a couple coworkers got the better of me and I took the easy way out.

Now my old coworker is experiencing the very same treatment I did and I feel that I need to do something.

I'm no longer an employee, just resigned on Monday of this week. I have written proof of some of the harassment as well as detailed descriptions of what occurred and when. Most of which was never formally revealed to Management or upper management

Does anyone know if I have a leg to stand on at this juncture if for nothing else but to support my coworker and keep her from having the same fate?

FYI- I worked for a very large Corp, with a lot of money and known to not support their nurses.

thank you in advance,

Rnpeds13

[Avid reader]

Since no one actually knows the situation except based on your description, you need to get an attorney. Try several so you can find out if you are being objective or just emotional. If as described, you shouldn't let them get away with it but you need to consider that it is a raw wound currently and you could be possibly over reacting. I would get a new job first and then reconsider if you want to litigate.

[Purple_roses]

Why? Workplace harassment is wrong and turning a blind eye allows abuse to continue. If the employees before me had spoken up and resisted the intimidation (and their were several) then maybe this wouldn't have happened to me. maybe wont happen to you in your career..

what happened to nurses standing together?

I don't think anyone means that nurses shouldn't support each other, but that there simply isn't much you can do about the situation, especially since you don't work there anymore.

Also, it sounds like you had a rude boss. Comparing this to the Holocaust and everything the victims went through....nope. Let's not go there.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

I do not support the idea of comparing workplace violence, however bad, with Holocaust as well...

That being said, workplace violence continues because the perpetrators feel pretty much invincible. Taking action - even very modest action but completely outside of their scope of influence and especially if it was taken after some time passed, - and letting them know that it is the direct result of their deplorable actions, sends them in complete shock. In at least two cases I observed so far, doing so made the NMs who were before that malignant as plague, to become way more careful in their actions.

OP, you WON'T get your job back. Accept it, let yourself fume out for a while, get another job, let the dust settle. Keep the evidence, though, and keep the contact with the second victim, if there is in fact any. And save the money - if yuo want to act, you'll need them.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

It not my friends "problems", its harassment and intimidation by Management.

Famous Holocaust Poem:

First They Came for the Jews

by Martin Niemöller

First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me.

This is admirable and true.

I admire your desire to help your friend, but wonder if it is a realistic goal. Does your friend even want help?

What do you think you can do, especially without a lawyer? Do you not need to find work/income?

Why didn't you get a lawyer?

I really have to wonder again - does your friend even want help?

What is your friend doing for herself?

What is your plan of action to help the friend?

Best wishes. Hopefully, you will find that you have lost a lot but still landed on your feet.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Why? Workplace harassment is wrong and turning a blind eye allows abuse to continue. If the employees before me had spoken up and resisted the intimidation (and their were several) then maybe this wouldn't have happened to me. maybe wont happen to you in your career..

what happened to nurses standing together?

Some coal miners stand together. Some auto workers, some other groups who have fought literally bloody battles have stood together.

It's fairly rare for nurses to stand together. Some have.

Why didn't you stand up while you were still working there? Because doing so is extremely miserable. Not saying to not do it, just thinking out loud, I guess. Best of luck to you.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

The Holocaust reference is COMPLETELY out of line in this discussion. And you really should be ashamed to bring it into the discussion.

You voluntarily resigned from a job and now (as an ex-employee) feel like you will be able to effect some type of change. In a place you no longer work.

And- if anyone is not 'standing together' is it YOU, as you quit.

The Holocaust by the Nazis was, of course, horrific.

It is not the only holocaust down through history, though.

We seem to never talk or think about the many brutal, evil regimes that have existed throughout the history of humankind. They are legion. Slavery in America, the Caribbean, and Europe comes to mind. What about the British treatment of natives in their colonies, such as India?

And the Dutch (I think) in South Africa?

What about Native Americans in Canada, the US, South and Central America?

Some of us might see abortion on demand as a holocaust.

The Nazi Holocaust is far from the only one.

And OP need not be ashamed to bring it up.

She resigned because she just could not take the hate and maltreatment any more. Let her see an attorney or 2 or 3 and see what she might be able to do.

A lot of us here know how it feels to be on the receiving end of evil employers and I admire her for wanting to help her friend. I don't necessarily think it will go well, but you never know.

[Drgnfy13, BSN, RN]

Because it is raw and emotional and my not wanting to overreact is why I was reaching out for objective advice.

I appreciate your insight, thank you.

And yes, I will secure employment before taking Action.

[Drgnfy13, BSN, RN]

Thank you. I'm not sure what a realistic goal is..hence why I was asking if anyone had ever been in a similar situation.

To answer your question, yes my friend does want help but she's scared of retaliation if she speaks up. That's how it began for me and look where I am. I don't blame her for being scared and hesitant to speak up.

Not sure why you question my need to find income/work. Yes of course I need to find work. I didn't resign without thinking first. I'm good with money, I have a large nest egg and finding immediate employment is ideal but not crucial. I have 2 job interviews on Monday.

As far as what I think I can do for her? Well I can establish a pattern of abuse. It's not just her. It was me, hen her. Plus the other 2 nurses that we know of. Maybe I can't help, but I feel I should try.

Now in hindsight, I wish I had not taken the easy road and stayed and fought harder as my union rep advised. I'm human, I made a mistake and unfortantly it has indirectly affected my friend and her situation as 2 is stronger then 1.

In the end, I was forced to make a decision whether to stay and fight causing more stress and emotional turmoil to myself and my family or leave. I left.

Now I'm simply trying to see if I can help her from where I am now.

FYI- there is 2 other former employees that have come forward with similar stories. Stories with documentation to support claims of harassment, intimidation and retaliation.

This is not some jaded employee seeking revenge.

Thank you for your thoughts

[Drgnfy13, BSN, RN]

I wasn't trying to be high and mighty.

I made the decision to resign due to the toll on my emotional wellbeing. It wasn't an easy choice nor is it something I'm proud of.

I wish I could go back and suck it up as to fight harder but I can't. What I can do is see if any of my experiences and documentation supporting could be of help to others including my friend. I'm human, I made a mistake. I'm trying to do what I can.

Thank you for your thoughts

[Drgnfy13, BSN, RN]

Again, I apologize for the misinterpretation of the my reference to the poem.

Of course my situation is nothing like Holocaust survivors, that's simply ridiculous not to mention deplorable.

Please understand that I was referring to the general/broader message as I read it-

that if you wait for wrong doing to become personal before you speak up then you will find yourself all alone with no one to stand up or speak up for you.

That's all I meant by posting the poem.

Your right, you do not know me and your assumptions about my motives as well as my character couldn't be further from the truth.

I don't seek revenge, that's not in my nature just as neither is seeking or creating Drama.

I experienced a wrong doing, I stood up and fought. I lost. Instead of getting back up again for round 3, I opted to step down for personal reasons including self care.

In hindsight now that I see the same wrong doing happening to another, I feel terrible that I didn't fight harder and stay, but I can't do anything About that except try to see if I can be of support from where I am now.

I mistakenly thought I could come here to the nurses forum and get some advice from fellow nurses.

Thank you for your thoughts

[Drgnfy13, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately my posting of the Holocaust poem was greatly misinterpreted.

i just want to clarify that I was NOT in any fashion trying to compare anything or anyone's struggle to Holocaust survivors, and I apologize for any offense that caused. Please know it was not deliberate.

the poem was in response to one of the first comments that basically asked why I was even wasting my time and energy getting involved with my friend/coworkers problems.

the poem was in response to that only. I do not feel that fighting for others injustice is ever a waste of my time or my energy. Hence why I like that poem. It reminds us that we need to look out for each other and fight for those who may not be able to fight themselves.

Maybe I posted it incorrectly and thus it was showing as part of the original post. Again, I apologize.

I was was referencing the message of help g others even when it's not directly affecting you...because one day it might and you'll be alone in your struggle.

Bad reference as it turns out.

Just needed to clarify that. I would never make such a insensitive comparison that belittles the suffering of, well anyone.

Ty

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

OP, I understood your message with the poem. Even though I am extremely sensitive and emotional regarding the Holocaust, I do understand exactly what you were trying to say. Yes, I have been in your shoes with workplace harassment, and honestly I fought it for too long before leaving, as I do have some left over battle scars. I think it shows great character wanting to help others, including your friend. But I recommend that you don't and that you move past it. Through the years I've found that fighting other's battles can cause you more damage than it's ever worth. Pick your battles wisely and this one you shouldn't take on. It can hurt you professionally and prolong your ability to move on. Your friend will need to fight or quit, she/he has the same option you did. This is JMHO