Our company still wants fewer butts in seats. Undeserved bad reviews, performance plans, RTO, withheld work, vague objectives, micromanagement and small raises are all part of the playbook.
- Record everything. Be aware of two party consent states and corporate policy, but audio recordings are worth a lot to you. Contemporaneous notes are a good second choice. Record good and bad. Photos of emails are also handy.
- Respond to all bad reviews, coaching memos and other escalations in writing, but only for the response to be added to your HR employee file. You aren’t fighting the review or memo. You’re laying future legal groundwork.
- Constructive discharge is rarely actionable. They can treat you badly unless you can fit into a protected class via age, s-x or disability. Use that. We go after 40+ regularly.
- Save money and always be able to cover your needs if you get let go.
- Never, ever think HR is there to help you. Neither is the ombudsman. You will be asked to meet if you push back and it is on the record. HR will try to corner you into reducing your story. Don’t fall for it. A good way to deflect is to say that you aren’t asking for an internal investigation at this time. If you have a good claim and are ready to introduce an attorney to the discussion, wait. Make them terminate you unless the case is solid. Each week of delay is one more week of guaranteed pay.
This board has other good advice in old posts. But that should get you started. Don’t believe that Texas law is against you. It’s tough, but you don’t need law - you need a case that’s good enough to settle.
Good luck and stay sane.