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'I was fired [...] right before Christmas for sticking up for myself': Office manager instantly fired for reporting workplace harassment

Being a target of workplace bullying or harassment is almost always a no-win situation, particularly in a small organization. If the offending party is a long-time member of the organization or otherwise well-connected to the organization's decision-makers, reporting them for their behavior isn't going to do much of anything; in fact, it may cause them to turn on youinstead in order to relieve themselves of "the problem." 

Large corporations will have no tolerance for this type of behavior and will have human resources teams that have no attachment or involvement at the local level to handle any complaints and protect the organization. That doesn't mean you won't still run into issues if the local management structure is able to spin a narrative against you if they have some reason to protect the bully.

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Posted by Brad Dickson
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  • Without a doubt, it was a risky move for this office manager to stand up for herself against a member of the team, a salesman, who had been making life difficult for her. During her year with the company, there had been repeated incidents of the salesman intentionally going out of his way to torment her. The salesman had been a member of the small organization for 20 years—despite his apparent history of bullying in the workplace—a history other members of the organization shared with her… And the fact that he was still working there while being a known problem and his previous targets were no longer working there tells you all you need to know about his position in the company.

    Still rightfully determined to stand up for herself, the office manager sent a message to her boss describing the situation. The next day, she found herself unceremoniously fired without discussion or explanation. She shared her experience with this online community, sharing the text message exchange between herself and her boss. And giving a brief explanation of the situation. See these and the community's response below.

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  • 1
    "I was fired last Friday right before Christmas for sticking up for myself."
    Via LinkedIn Sales Solutions
  • 2

    "I was fired last Friday right before Christmas for sticking up for myself."

    6:49 < T Ta S I'll be an Yesterday 11:13 a.m. ● lll 51% Sa Bevert so So when I tried to nab you this morning there was just too many people around. So I get to work at 6:45 stop in the shop and mark is here. Super nice guy. I talk with M and M for a minute and go to my desk to get my day going. So i go into rhe shop atound 25 minures later and its now D Ry M and M (My fingers are cracked really badly from the dry cold and I use murrys salve because it helps heal them
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 3
    quickly.) Anyways as I'm walking into the shop I hear M. he says that D turns around and walks into the other area in the shop. I found it weird but thought I'm going to wait to ask M appreciate that M | is honest enough to tell me. So about an hour later i pull MI- into the lunch room and I asked him about what the "shut up" comment meant? He was very nice about it and he said "I was telling C to shut up because he was going on, and on, and say "Shut up" as had his back to me,
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
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  • 4
    on about you to Rya ark and I. So now not only does De literally bully me relentlessly with his snice comments ect he now does it in front of customers. It's extremely embarrassing, it's extremely undermining my potential and ability. It's not nice period. When you xane into the kitchen M was telling me about what was said. Since day 1 I have tried to get a long with Dr I have been bullied relentlessly by him and Mu aid he's like a dog with a wounded paw that keeps licking it and licking it. De
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 5
    and i have caught but for some reason he's not bullied over it and is allowed to treat others really unfairly. He's a grown man but honestly he is acting like he's a child when he stoops to talk about me like that in front of people I don't even know. I know this much. I do not deserve that treatment. I am intimidated by him, I have gone home crying many times because of him and he's starting to affect my mental health.
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 6
    It's really not fair especially when I am doing a good job at what I'm doing, I ask for help or questions if I am unsure. He is creating a very toxic work environment. But anyways that's what I wanted to speak to you about this morning. In not sure how I want ti handle this but I want to keep all lines of communication open with you.
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
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  • 7
    A 11' + It's like when is enough - enough? I forgive him and try to move past it bit it's him that keeps pulling the band aid off. Mi told me not to worry and he told me that pretty much every previous office manager has dealt with this. It's very disheartening. 10 Text message
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 8
    10:54 a.m. Your final pay and severance with explanation of what and how I've paid out back end #s (paid You thru end of current pay cycle, with two weeks severance plus an extra Week topped up severance -- no holiday pay owed currently )are with here or we can put in the mail... Whatever you'd prefer, just let one of us know Thx & regards Hora ext message C
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 9
    I was fired from my job as an office manager last Friday. I'm a single 44 year old mother with a 12 year old daughter that pays child support offset amount to my ex husband. Since I started there - there was a sales guy that didn't like me. He would purposely do things to sabotage my job to a harassing point. He would fudge numbers to "make sure" I catch it. If I didn't put my initials in a certain place he would "bring it to my attention" he made my life 1. The last straw was he was bad mouthin
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
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  • 10
    message about how it wasn't right. The next day (yesterday) I was let go. He's been there for 20 years, I had been there for a year. Christmas is next week. I don't know what to do. I'm beside myself. I have to pay rent Jan 1st. It's almost impossible to find a job during the holidays. He put me thru for the whole year and this is what I'm left with. I'd stay late when no one else would, I was there and dedicated to that company. One of my coworkers was on holidays for 2 weeks before I was let g

    Editor's note: 

    I have removed a line from this part of the post in which the original poster makes reference to their level of desperation and despair and its effect on their current state of mind.

    I feel conflicted even covering this post due to some of the serious aspects of the story—especially given that you're likely to see this post right up against something more light-hearted on our site. Still, I feel this is an important conversation to have and share so that we can spread awareness on this workplace issue and so that others experiencing something similar with their careers will realize they're not alone and that not all is lost.

    If you or a loved one is experiencing emotional distress, just know that there are people who are there and who want to help. In the USA and Canada, dial 988. For other countries, dial your local hotline, which can be found with a quick search.

    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 11
    idrivelikeanIowan 9 hr. ago Be sure to file for unemployment. The usually decide in favor of the worker. You were in a tough situation and you did nothing wrong. You were trying to improve the atmosphere of the workplace. They were bullying you as well as baiting you. They are all Your boss was a weakling and could have nipped this in the bud. He was spineless. I suspect your coworkers were part of an "old boys network ". I've been in a similar situation in the past. It was awful. I quit just be
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 12
    Desperate-Outside135 OP. 9 hr. ago I truly appreciate that - thank you. I only mentioned child support in my post because I have bills and I am responsible for them. It was definitely an old boys club. Who's he going to let go of? The guy with 20byears he'd have to pay upwards of 100K to in severance or me a year in for a couple of weeks. I did documentat everything and I'm going to seek an employment lawyer on Monday. I truly cared about my company and making it a better place. I was told that
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
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  • 13
    wolf_in_sheeps_wool 11 hr. ago If you believe it was totally unfair and undeserved to be fired, look in to no-win-no- fee lawyers for unlawful retaliation. They will tell you if you have case they can pursue Reply Share 289 Desperate-Outside135 OP 11 hr. ago I'm going to look into it further on Monday. I needed some days to decompress and acknowledge. It's honestly so unfair. Grown men acting like complete children. You can't stick up for yourself anymore or ask for help. Reply Share 120
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 14
    16 GarBagE_PaIL-FaiL. 8 hr. ago Wow! Was the other guy fired as well? Seems odd that it went from your complaint to "you're fired". Was there perhaps a conversation after your text? Either way it . That job definitely did not deserve you 63 Reply Share
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 15
    Fleet FootRabbit - 7 hr. ago . Could this be considered wrongful termination since you have legitimate proof of asking for help and got fired instead of receiving any help? I say, Show this to a lawyer and find out.. Reply Share 58 walkingman24 . 1 hr. ago Not in an at-will situation. They can fire you for any reason, as long as it is not discriminatory. Vote Reply Share
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
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  • 16
    Bridge23Ux 6 hr. ago Have you reported the bullying or abuse before? It might be worth speaking with an attorney to see if you have options for additional compensation. 14 Reply Share
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135
  • 17
    . KellyAWilliams - 6 hr. ago I'm not saying the next few weeks are going to be easy, but this reads like potential for much more than just unemployment to me. I would consult with a labor attorney. It very much feels like you reported someone for creating a hostile working environment, even used those words, and the response was to terminate you. Big red flag there. IANAL but you should def at least talk to one. EDIT: fixed typo on last word Reply Share 16
    Via u/Desperate-Outside135

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workplace discussion getting fired employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs fired employment-discussion job work coworkers workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace

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