I have real trouble with a new manager. I've been either left out of the work that fits my skillset, or outright subjected to passive-aggressive treatment. I thought it was some personal animosity at first, now I have the impression it's a campaign to make me leave. If that's the case, why not just lay me off? It's not as if my salary makes me worth all the special attention. Have any of you had a similar experience?
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@pm that’s the goal
Prior to my layoff (8 months or so) I started getting mountains of unrealistic workload dumped on me and the pressure was enormous to complete it even though it was just busy work. It was all work from the people who were let go from the last round of layoffs. I believe they wanted to force us to quit. One of my colleagues did quit, just day before the layoffs where he would have received severance. Win for the company.
@ak
IMHO #3 on your list is a non-starter. I don't think an employment lawyer will do a thing to mitigate current situation. Depending on location (Ex: majority of states in US are "at will" states). My guess is the OP has a required arbitration clause already agreed to in their employment agreement signed when they onboarded.
That will take a while and usually if any judgment is awarded it is almost always just the severance the employee would've gotten..except now..the employee will have to pay their own legal costs. I have seen this happen with a former colleague (it also took her two years.)
As for complaining to HR..they work for the Leadership, the Board and the OT Investors/Shareholders. Their job is to mitigate risk to the company.
However if the OP wants to get laid off..complain to HR..that will get you put on the layoff list every time.
@fe there are “WARN” rules public companies must follow.
@en it depends on the state more than the federal government, but most states are at-will. Meaning you can be let go at moments notice with no compensation for any non-protected reason.
@am
I don't think the severance pay is mandatory in the US, and I think it's worse than in other countries. 1 week pay per year, up to a cap of 12, unless you're M5 or above.
@ak Absolutely this. Documentation is key. That way, if they do lay you off or try to fire you, you have much more leverage to push for higher separation payout. I've seen cases where someone was put on a PIP, but because they had documented evidence of poor workplace conditions and contacted an employment attorney, they were given months of severance to leave quietly.
@ak Just remember HR isn't there to protect you it is there to protect the company.
i'll do anything for an a but corporate
@ap When the hard workers are cut, the remaining good managers lose their best leverage. It creates a ghost town where everyone is still logging in, but nobody is actually invested.
OpenText is an excellent case study on unmotivated employees.
I had my fair share of d*** manager at Micro Focus and Opentext. There are also some good managers though in the minority.
See if you can change departments. A bad manager can make daily life he-l. No point in putting up with it unless you are willing to wait out the manager.
@ak what can a lawyer prove from passive aggression?
Reprisal?
Welcome to OpenText! What you’re describing, the passive-aggression and the skillset starvation, is a way to erode your confidence until the stress of staying outweighs the fear of leaving.
Layoffs trigger mandatory severance pay and increases the company’s unemployment insurance premiums. If you choose to leave, the company saves that money.
I would suggest..
#1. Read more about passive aggression, and find is your leader really doing it.
#2. Keep a note of each incident with evidence.
#3. Talk to a employment lawyer and OpenText HR with written complain.
You will see positive outcome
Yes , put up with it long enough and you’ll get fired / laid off
Enjoy the severance
@OP Actually, now that you mention it, yeah. New boss. Micromanager. Uptight about all the wrong things. Asks people to do things their already in the middle of doing. Excluding workers who were previously included. Had assumed he was just an ar--hole, and maybe that is it. But now I wonder.