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

[Purple_roses]

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

I don't think you should feel guilty for quitting. You removed yourself from a toxic environment, and sometimes that's what we have to do to take care of ourselves. I definitely am not trying to make you feel guilty for not staying to help friends--because you have to take care of yourself first and foremost.

[Purple_roses]

Deleted...my computer isn't letting me quote things anymore for some reason.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I get that you finally had to save yourself, but still want to support and help your friends. I think the best way is through the union. And expect to play a long game. Keep your documentation and make sure your former coworkers are documenting everything. Go through the contract with a fine-tooth comb to see if any of the specific terms have been violated. Unfortunately, many union contracts don't address intimidation and harassment, so many of management's most egregious behaviours aren't necessarily grievable.

But get everything documented anyway. The union must have an attorney who can be a resource. Maybe if enough employees gradually come on board they can pool their resources and file a winnable suit.

It's a long shot. Your first priority of course is to secure another position for yourself. If you want to take on your former employer as a mission on the side, you need perseverance and patience. And cooperation from your former coworkers.

Here's another motto for you: Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[rudecat]

I know, I too loved my job and left work because of stress r/t pressure at work. Harrassment from management got yo the point that I did have a break down . Still I would never change my profession. Get a lawyer and have your union behind you . good luck .

[NurseLauraM]

I'm just going to be blunt here. If your judgement is so poor that you think it is appropriate to compare the Holocaust to your (most likely) paid "stress leave", then you were probably the problem.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Quoting from you:

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

You didn't stand up for yourself, and I see no indication that you reported anything, but you're digging in for a former coworker after you left the agency? This makes no sense to me at all. I also did not see any specific examples of what you are calling harassment, only your statement that it happened. There was a change in management and a change in direction for your agency. With it, I am sure that it brought some different ways of doing things. That in and of itself does not constitute harassment. As an upper level manager I am sensitive to allegations like this, because I have seen people allege harassment when all that happened was that they were reminded to adhere to newly-changed policies and procedures, or they were counseled about making mistakes.

I don't see how you can make a case for harassment when you left willingly on your own. You gave no indication that anyone forced you out, or that you ever reported anything to your employer - only that you got tired of the situation and left.

I also understand your intention in printing the poem, but making a parallel between a workplace situation and the Holocaust is so far over the top that I don't even know where to start.

Making a parallel between a workplace situation and the Holocaust may indicate that the "harassment" itself was blown completely out of proportion.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Everyone can go round and round on this but the fact is if you can show a pattern of abuse you have something. I was in a similiar situation but my skin is thick. I just went to work and ignorerd them. They finally set me up and the hammer was dropped big time. They put me on admisnitrative leave with pay. They paid me for 5 years as I sat on my butt. The unon would do nothing.

I went to the EEOC and they investigated and said I had a case. My ex-employer lied so much and when they said they couldn't hire me back with all the complaints and bad stuff in my jacket I demanded to see it (so did the EEOC). Oh, shoot...they lost it. Doing something like this is not for the faint of heart. It will get ugly. They will lie, but as long as you're clean it's fine.

Employers can't just treat people like dogs. We have rights. I believe your best bet is to make an appointment with the EEOC (It's free) and see what they say. You can also do a search on the EEOC (retaliation/unfair employment practices) and see where it leads you. An EEOC investigation take at least a year if not longer.

There are also stingent timelines to file with them, so if you're serious check it out. If your friend were to initiate with you it could protect her at work. Once the employer is aware an EEOC investigation is under way they must be on their best behavior or risk hanging themselves. Patterns is what the court looks for. If you're really proactive look for legal precedents that are similar to your case (stare decisis). :)''

Good luck to you. It is really sad how nurses just take it. I've seen way too many situations that should have never been tolerated. Knowledge is power.

[imenid37]

Having been the object of a very paranoid ,narcissistic boss' harassment...I do get your complaint on a certain level. From those looking outside in, the Holocaust analogy is just too superlative. I do acknowledge that to you, it is of huge significance, To others looking in, often, who have not experienced this situation, it is over the top. You lose them in before you can give any details of the explanation. You do have to leave and move on. It is not just possible to flick a switch. If your job and your identity were closely tied, you may feel very down and depressed. I am not sure when you get over it. It's been a while for me and I still am upset. If you have to work, you have to pull it together and move on. You can certainly see if you can file a suit. It may be that you have a good case or maybe not. Again, if you have to work, then you need to consider how you will be impacted. It isn't fair, but filing a lawsuit, may impede your getting another job. Will others support what you say? Will leaders back that up? Organizational leaders are tricky people who often stick together. There are great people in nursing leadership and also individuals who are paranoid,clueless, baffoons. Many people are protected by like-minded leaders higher up. In other words, a good leader will back up difficult or unpopular decisions by a good leader. A poor leader may profess great confidence in a very dysfunctional or even toxic lower level leader because they are the same type of leader OR they are not savvy enough to recognize the person as a poor leader. Just like at the staff nurse level, there are nurses who are there for the patient and the team and those who are totally looking out for their own interests. I am still down about what happened to me several years ago BUT I know I was right to move on. Focus on what you want overall with the job as one component of that. Your job may not be what makes you happy,but maybe you can get to a point where it is something you can live with and will provide you with things to support happiness in other aspects of life. Be careful about sharing opinions and lots of personal details before you know people well. Think of what happened to you as the checked bags on your trip. You only open them when you get where you are going usually in the privacy of your room.This experience isn't the keyring with the pictures of your kids or pets you show when you first meet someone. Keep what you learn from this experience, but share it very rarely and judiciously.(Yes, I know some sentences are run on. I am writing this informally.Please forgive this.)

[allstressedout1]

I really don't know your whole story but bits sound familiar. As far as the poem being bashed, i don't in anyway think she is saying what she went through is the same as what the holocaust victims went through. Change the poem a little,

They bullied the heavyset nurse but I didn't speak up because I wasn't heavyset.

They bullied the new nurses but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a new nurse.

They bullied the older nurses but I didn't speak up because I wasn't an older nurse.

They bullied the Christian nurse but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Christian nurse.

They bullied the slower nurse but I didn't speak up because I wasn't the slower nurse.

Then they bullied me and there was no one left to speak up.

Bullying is out there. There is intimidation, exclusion, belittling, unfairness, etc.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Without getting into the comments and follows ups that have been interesting to read, I just want to clarify that nobody FORCED you to resign. As an adult, you need to take accountability in that sense.

[guest2117]

If you want to pick a fight report them to the NLRB. If not, then move on and do your research on good facilities with strong staff and apply there.

[Niknnan]

If you were going to do this, it should have been done while an employee. Resignation indicates a desire to no longer subject yourself to harrassment, but it also means you walked away from any 'fight'.