'It was the last straw for the team': VP undermines team of designers, they all quit at once, manager caught in the middle reports VP to HR

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 17, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

There is nothing worse than being caught in the middle of a toxic workplace dynamic. This manager had to constantly deal with a temperamental and disrespectful VP who routinely made matters all the more difficult for the manager's team of designers. 

The last straw came when the VP delayed a project for so long that the design team had to put together an entire marketing strategy for a prospective client in less than a week. When the day for the meeting finally arrived, the VP decided to disinvite all the designers and to ignore all of their ideas, as if all that work was meaningless. So, the team decided together to inform their manager that they would all be pursuing other job opportunities, which of course left the manager in a tough position.

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the consequences for the VP. For more, check out this post about an entitled coworker who was excluded from a birthday party.

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  • 01
    "Today, All of My Employees Told Me They Want To Quit Because of Our VP"
    via Michael Fousert
  • 02
    Hi All, I am a Creative Director and I have 6 Employees that report to me. I was on bereavement leave over Thursday and Friday. When I got back, during our usual Monday sync... they all told me they want to quit and some are already interviewing. Why? Because of our VP.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 03
    Now the VP is a¸ . He delays projects constantly, he has no respect for deadlines given to us by other departments or even by the CEO, which puts me in a horrible position whose job it is to manage a timely and quality execution of projects. He plays clash of clans on his phone during meetings. He has laughed at designers for their ideas,
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 04
    to their face. He is constantly playing politics rather than creating actual marketing strategy. Obviously, I have the same sentiment and complaints and even tried to quit earlier this year... but the CEO offered me a substantial raise to stay.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 05
    If you are curious about the exact incident that occurred over the weekend, I can go into depth... but long story short... we are about to launch a new fitness brand,
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 06
    the VP sat and did nothing for months about it, and then made it the creative teams problem a week before the CEO gave a hard deadline.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 07
    In one week, my designers worked their off and created not only compelling logos, packaging, etc. but even came up with marketing strategy. They stayed late, one even cancelled their vacation.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 08
    So all of these deliverables were sent to the VP for presentation last Friday. Lo and behold, when I came back Monday... VP did not present a single one of their ideas, he actually dis-invited the designers to the meeting with the CEO...
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 09
    even though he didn't even have an idea for himself to present. Even though the CEO specifically wanted the designers to present their ideas. This was the last straw for my team.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 10
    They all want to quit, two are already in interviews. They love everything else about their job. Except the VP and his politics. These types of antics happen all of time. For the last two years he's been here. He is on a sort of "probation" with the CEO and COO already, so I am surprised this is even happening.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 11
    So I took all of this to HR, they are now launching an investigation with each of the team members. Before you ask, yes, I have tried to solve all of these problems directly with the VP, to no avail. I try to never involve HR when it comes to conflict management, but when your whole team is threatening to quit... I didn't know what else to do.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 12
    TLDR: VP did something really s to my team, on top of two years of s behavior, it was the last straw for the team, they are all threatening to quit. I went to HR and they are now investigating.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 13
    The big question I have for reddit: Did I do the right thing, and what sort of outcomes should I expect? Thank you all, I have never in my whole career had to do this before. Your input is super appreciated.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 14
    kangaroomandible. You should tell them you'll give a great reference for them and then start your own job search.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622
  • 15
    Chicken Usual6622 OP. Done! I have already written letters of rec to the two that are looking. Will absolutely support any new efforts they choose to embark on.
    via u/ChickenUsual6622

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company quitting toxic-work-environment
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