TL;DR: In a hostile work environment and finally posted notice, but I need out earlier because it’s too much.
I need advice on how to get what I want out of HR. I want the paychecks I should get if I worked out my notice, and a positive letter of recommendation, without having to actually work my notice.
Backstory below:
I work in a hotel in a sales position. I’ve been here about 5 years and have always gotten positive reviews, written up only once (ADHD late arriver in the morning oops), and have made my sales targets every year since I started. Exceeding by 2-5% a year for a YoY of 5-7%.
Basically, I’m objectively good at my job, but my boss is awful. She lies almost compulsively about everything, from where she goes during the day (Oh a sales call? Funny, where did those macys bags come from?), what works needs done, deadlines, etc. She’s also extremely passive aggressive and will talk shit behind literally everyone’s backs.
I’ve been knowingly her scapegoat for most of the time I’ve been here, and I thought things were finally getting better when she had heart surgery last year and I covered for her for 5 months while she was out. She seemed appreciative for what I did (without additional pay and without complaining).
However it didn’t last very long. Like most hotels we’ve been understaffed and stretched thin. I’ve been working a lot and my mental health has been suffering. I’ve begged for help for 19 months, and it’s fallen on deaf ears. She won’t help. So I finally turned in my notice last Wednesday on the 9th, when I finally snapped. Between being understaffed and my boss harassing me about not being able to get to work in a snowstorm (despite it being a gvmt recognized storm/weather event), her lying, and awful customers, I was done.
I know it was too generous, but I gave them a 6 weeks notice. My last day is supposed to be 3/31. Mostly I felt guilty and wanted the money.
However, I won’t make it. I know I won’t.
I walked with her to the lunch place closest to the hotel on Friday, and the owner of the place recognized my boss. She asked her “Oh, did your employee ever show up?”
I am my boss’s only employee.
She is talking shit about me to people who don’t even work at the hotel!!!
So I’m done with her ungrateful ass. I literally risked my life to get to work in a snowstorm that had everyone closed, and all she did all day was complain about me to anyone who would listen. I found out later she was also storming around muttering “she better be here, she better show up”.
So my plan tomorrow is to call HR and file a complaint. I’m thinking hostile work environment. I’ve been keeping notes for years about her shit behavior (lying to me and others, racist remarks, claiming “corporate told her I have to do something”, telling me people are mad at me when they aren’t, etc.) and I’m going to present it to them. I want the wages I would have earned if I worked out my notice, plus a letter of recommendation, without working out my notice in the hostile environment.
Any HR people able to help me out here? What is the best way to approach this? Is there anything I should prepare to make my case stronger? Should I threaten a lawyer right away?
Any help is appreciated! I am financially able to walk out, but it’s a small industry and so leaving on good terms or with a recommendation is ideal.