Today I am thankful for an exit plan.
Well....I thought the bullying at work was kept secret from the patients.
I'm still nice to my colleagues (even the gossipy ones and the boss who revels in the gossip). I still buy birthday cakes, expensive birthday cards and gifts for everybody.
One would hope a leader would be far too busy to give life to stories.
I still enlist help of my colleagues to pick out the flavor of the cake and help make the decorations.
I must spend $50 a month on birthdays.
I spend about $100 a month on office supplies and donations. Last Friday, I spent over $50 buying clothing for the patients so they could go on a hike. The Case Manager asked me to take them shopping, she just didn't give me very much money to buy clothing for 14 people. I had to add to the pot.
They don't know that. I told them that ARC donates coupons to pay for things non-profits need, then I sent them to wait for me while I paid for the stuff.
I didn't lie.
I just didn't tell them what they didn't need to know.
I'm trying to change the energy of the workplace.
*****
After I spent money on the clothing, a former employee broke down and told me that two specific people were gossiping about me and that the boss was rewarding them for making up the stories. Apparently, I am the topic of discussion during the morning staff meetings. She also called it bullying and suggested that I get out before I get sick.
When I was trying to prevent the facility from violating the ADA with a deaf patient, the counselor told me to stay quiet when I tried to share the solution we used at Kaiser and Optum. She told me that the politics of the office would cause the suggestion to go unheard. She also told me that I needed to find my tribe and the place I fit in.
I put in an application to a competitor on Monday and was offered a job on Tuesday. The moment I had the offer, I called and gave my two weeks' notice.
I'm still smiling. I'm still being nice. I'm still hoping to change the energy of the workplace but I know that they're trying to make me into a scapegoat. The moment I leave, they'll have to find someone else to fill that role.
Maybe I should print out those incriminating emails for HR? Honestly, I doubt they're even interested in them.
I also received a phone call from the Federal Wage and Hour Department. Yep, they're breaking several laws (even a couple I didn't know about). I had no clue that companies are required to pay employees to attend required trainings. I was asked to file a complaint on my last day.
I probably will.
*****
There was a moment that broke my heart.
A patient asked me if I worked seven days a week.
Sure do. (Most people I know work seven days a week).
Where do you work?
I didn't tell her. I just said I worked for someone else in the field.
At this point, the patient asked "Is your other employer nice to you? They'd better be because when they aren't I want to kick their........." she became silent.
Hoping to make this a teaching moment for someone used to having to prove herself, I said "Yes. Mean people are like snakes. It's best to stay away."
Another patient started talking to her about jerks. So, I walked into the office and sat down next to one of the gossips and asked if there was any possibility that the patients overheard any of the stories circulating about me.
She didn't think so. She thinks that they could perceive that I was unhappy.
Boy - I will be pissed off if the stories interfered with the treatment of the patients!
I wrote an email to HR letting them know about the notice I gave Tuesday, reminding them that I should have my PTO paid and asking them to call me if they care to know why I decided to leave.
Their job is to prevent the company from being sued. If I read my notes to them, they should be able to discern what is gossip (vague feedback) and what the manager could have done differently (ignore the gossip and give concrete feedback).
Man, I hope the patients aren't focused on that drama. I pray they are focused on themselves. If they don't get what they need out of treatment, that will increase the odds of a lawsuit.
Sigh....
Positive energy usually changes negative behaviors. I'm shocked that my efforts are failing.
Please surround yourself with positive people who resonate with you. Life is to short to hang around bullies and asshats.
Love ya,
S.