'I call it a win': HR employee reaches out to supervisor for help on an escalated situation but receives incompetence instead, so she gets her demoted

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Mar 28, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Everyone should already know this, but in case you don't, make sure all of your important discussions at work have a paper trail. That means, even if it was discussed face-to-face in-person, follow up with an email to make sure you have proof that the conversation happened. This is pretty apparent for people who work in HR because they know how the inner workings of a company goes down. But, we just in case you didn't know, now you do—always keep a paper trail. 

 

In the case of this HR employee, she was able to prove the incompetence of her own supervisor when things really started to hit the fan! 

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  • As an HR employee, you work closely with other employees to make sure everything happening within the office walls and hours is all savory. When it's not, that's when HR starts the paperwork. Sometimes things become so unsavory that the regular HR employee isn't even allowed to handle it and it has to be escalated higher. That's what a supervisor is for. In this case, however, the supervisor refused to help over and over again. Unlucky for her, once this issue got so escalated that the company's top dogs had to get involved, it was too late to save face. And the employee has all the proof of the supervisor's incompetence.  

  • Cheezburger Image 10486879488
    via Unsplash+ (and Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I work in HR and recently an employee called me with a rather serious concern. One I could not fix due to legal regulations. I explained this, and they said they needed the matter escalated to my superior, and they were considering taking legal action if it wasn't addressed properly.
    via ChargeInfinite410
  • (sorry, keeping it intentionally vague to ensure privacy & prevent repercussions for me) I talked to my manager while the employee was on hold, they said they couldn't take the call right then, but to escalate it to them via the email thread this employee had also started. I explained this
    via ChargeInfinite410
  • to the employee, they seemed reasonably happy, and I sent the email to my manager immediately after getting off the phone. A week later, my manager responds to the email thread with the employee included, @'s me and says they'll have me handle this from here. They never sent
    via ChargeInfinite410
  • Cheezburger Image 10486883840
    via Unsplash+ (and Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • any other email. They never did anything to help. Just waited a week after it was escalated to them and then immediately sent it back to me. I responded to the email, without the employee included, and explained the situation again, reminding them why they said they would be handling it. They told me that this
    via ChargeInfinite410
  • was in my job description and I had to handle this, as they didn't have time. They also said they never agreed to handle it. So, I handled it. I explained there was nothing we could do, again, and that I couldn't provide them with any further assistance or escalate the case. A few weeks
    via ChargeInfinite410
  • later we get a lawsuit. Guess who finally steps in to handle the situation? Too late, the CPO and President were already involved, and I was able to provide the supporting documentation showing my supervisor refused to take over & prevent a potential lawsuit. They didn't fire her but she was removed from a supervisory position, so I call it a win.
    via ChargeInfinite410
  • Cheezburger Image 10486898944
    via Unsplash+ (and Milles Studio)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Wog3322 You just gotta love supervisors who don't give two craps UNTIL it's gone too far.
    via wog3322
  • CoderJoe1 She said, "Not it," and was permanently moved to a not- it position.
    via CoderJoe1
  • National Pension... People like your manager are the reason people hate HR so much. Glad you documented enough to CYA. Feel bad for the employee who had to resort to legal involvement because HR failed them so badly though.
    via National_Pension_110
  • swomismy itch Lucky this was all done by email. Every interchange documented. Not so easy if it was a verbal instruction from the supervisor. Then you have to immediately send a "confirming our convo" email.
    via swomismy*itch
  • Illuminatus-Prime HR feeding upon its own? Justice is served!
    via Illuminatus-Prime
  • CatlessBoyMom That's one de-escalation technique I've never seen before.
    via CatlessBoyMom
  • Kitchen-Arm7300 I can't stand useless HR people, but I love HR people like you, OP. You did your best until you were forced to comply maliciously. The vague aspect of this only made your story more relatable. Great story; short and sweet! Well done!
    via Kitchen-Arm7300
  • BRIZER OLIV, quae 10- PESSOA
    via Unsplash+ (and Maksym Kaharlytskyi)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • AlaskanDruid Yep. I learned that if it isn't in writing, it never happened. Saved my bt from firing people that higher ups wanted gone for and giggles many times.
    via AlaskanDruid
  • RyukyuGaijin I've started saving PDFs of emails at my work for stuff like this. Had a contracting agent approve buying an item that I specifically said was unapproved. (I'm the tech/quality assurance step in the buying process, and items for contact must meet certain guidelines.)
    via RyuKyuGaijin
  • Pyehole They didn't fire her but she was removed from a supervisory position, so I call it a win. It's always satisfying to see people get their just rewards.
    via Pyehole
  • Bont_Tarentaal Now that's a stuporvisor of note... excellent manglement material.
    via Bont_Tarentaal

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