Hey all this is long tldr at bottom, thanks in advance.
My manager is not good. She is petty, vindictive, and just plain mean. If you end up on her shit list (which is easy with her constantly moving goalposts) she makes your life hell. Currently she is doing it to one of my coworkers who has had a shitshow of a last year to put it lightly. A relative was murdered, and her mother isn’t doing well. My boss is stressing her to the point of tears and she is a grandma that makes you cookies type of lady.
I like most don’t like bullies. Also, in the hope of self preservation I would like to do something to get this behavior from her fixed before I end up on the shit list.
There are more concerning things aside from just her being awful. There was an issue with pay with at least three people (I one; went on for months) that we wouldn’t have known of without another coworker telling us to check. So, that could lead to legal trouble. When I addressed it with payroll boss was pissed and told me I need to go through her for talking to anyone. Which, no lady. I will reach out to hr without your okay. But implying I shouldn’t even speak to hr about issues also seems dancing on the edge of legality. She is the direct cause of more than one resignation.
Coworkers have reported her to HR before but she is friends with many of them, or they just don’t care. Her immediate supervisor is also her friend, and won’t field concerns regarding her (though is otherwise helpful). It’s like the whole place has a blind spot for her.
I’m debating either: making an anonymous email and emailing the CEO about this in terms like ‘this employee is opening the place for legal issues’ kinda way. Or typing an anonymous letter to put in his mail box.
The CEO seems like a good dude. He knows my name despite me being bottom of the pecking order, and has been receptive to hearing about ideas on how to improve the place. He also seems genuinely kind and goes out of his way to validate those around him.
However I don’t want to risk telling him in person for fear of retaliation from boss if she were to find out.
This is long and I can answer questions in comments (though will stay vague about the industry).
Other than her this is a great job! The pay vs responsibility is super fair, and the pay is pretty decent. The people besides her are awesome! Helping clients is amazing! Best job with the worst manager I have ever had.
Tl;dr: boss is toxic, otherwise awesome job that I don’t want to quit or be fired from. Tell her ultimate boss anonymously? Hr useless. Pros: things get better. Cons: I lose my job/things stay the same/things get worse. Help.