We were told by a higherup to give “instant feedback” even if it’s to our boss, like that’s not going to backfire. I raised an issue with my supervisor yelling at me and HR just quoted policy like that magically protects me. I’m tired of pretending this is some equal, feel-good environment when it clearly isn’t.
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Don't fall for it! It is a trap! It only works if you and/or the complaint check certain boxes.
Don’t expect “proper channels” at the company to protect you. The best thing to do is to collect information quietly and build a case without them knowing. Get things in writing. Companies will use everything you say against you even to not pay you out. I’ve seen them do it with unemployment where they lied saying you resigned. Look for a better job if you can and worse case use your information with an employment lawyers. We are a united in corporations and the laws are not set up to protect the workers.
Why is almost every linked in post by a MDT employee, especially management, a testament to how great they are or some "important" meeting they attended. Get some humility, waste less time traveling at the meetings go round (Earl Bakken's words) and get some fricking real work done. What a bunch of self promoting blow hards!
The toxic positivity at MDT is unrelenting and ruthless. As STEM people you're taught to look at things objectively...sometimes for many years. Almost everything has advantages and disadvantages. At MDT if you point out possible disadvantages of a product or therapy you're a labeled a bad actor or not a team player. I can't help but draw parallels to the current administration at the White House. If you want to get ahead be a yes person or better yet, a sycophant. HR are paid snitches at best.
I used to work at Medtronic. My job was sent overseas in 2024. I empathize with the OP. As an old engineer with decades of experience at different companies and government agencies across the country, be very careful on communication with HR about a manager with anger issues. A very good YT video is "How HR Cheats Employees" by an employment lawyer, Branigan Robertson. I have watched his videos and wished I had seen the set early in my career.
I was at one job in Florida when a manager went on an angry diatribe. At the time, there was a video that went viral about a sorority nearby in Alabama accused of racism. I looked at the video and IMO it was just a school spirit video - not racist at all. My friend from AL and I joked about it at work with sarcasm. But a manager nearby thought I was not joking and went off on a very angry diatribe on me. He essentially thought I was accusing all white southerners of racism when I wasn't. I had actually thought that viral video was not racist. So, I reported that whole diatribe to HR which reprimanded him badly months later.
I later found that they had informed him immediately of my complaint. It was supposed to be anonymous but it wasn't. Then I found that the circle of mid-level management and senior engineers (leads) had decided to counter with a very bad performance review. I figured out the company was bracing to defend itself and wanted to bring up "dirt" on the complaining employee. The "dirt" or bad review could be valid or not.
So, when you complain to HR, there is a network of coworkers who are managers or leads who will likely be contacted for "corroboration". Their response is all up in the air. Some could support you. Others could turn against you. Statistically, there could be a mix. So, sometimes reporting to HR is in your favor. Other times, it isn't. In that case, my report to HR ruined that manager's career and mine.
In hindsight, I should have just left around the time that manager went on a diatribe. I should have never reported to HR. I learned the hard way. Later, I learned that manager got fired for exploding at a female co-manager. He is now suing the company for "gender discrimination". I think he is blaming DEI. So, it got ugly after that report and never got better. As for me, I left that company and Florida about a year after all that went down but should have left earlier.
In summary, beware of going to HR. It can backfire badly.
HR exists to protect the business -- they play no other role and are definitely not your friends. Regarding feedback, it will depend on whether your reporting structure is worth even a fraction of their salary. Some teams and departments have good leadership, others (most) are just there to collect a paycheck and fight anything they feel could be a threat to their position and livelihood. The most useless managers are the ones who have no understanding of what their reports do and take a fake-it-till-you-make-it approach to their jobs.