I tried saying no, but HR just shook their head multiple times and slid the piece of paper towards me.
I felt like I was put on the spot.
It was confusing too because HR took me out for lunch during work hours and paid for my lunch. But I know now that just because someone takes you out for lunch, you don't owe them any information.
My brain must have shut down. I wasn't firm when I said no. HR shook her head as if to say there'd be no consequences.
I knew it was bad to write down bad stuff about someone. But I guess I'm an easily influenced person. I'm an easy target.
I picked up the pen and started writing bad stuff about that staff member.
I felt like I was pressured.
Because why would I want to write bad stuff about someone.
I think there was a power imbalance since HR is my senior and I was just the intern.
I wish I just walked away. Because I now realise no amount of saying no would have worked.
And now HR is saying that they came to me out of concern.
The reason why HR came to me is because I gossiped about that staff member, and then it got escalated to HR. And then they wanted me to put it in writing.
I regret writing down bad stuff about that staff member so much. Because that staff member was my own mentor.
Im only 23 years old. I don't want this regret to follow me around.
The worst part is that HR is telling me they did nothing wrong.
It's so sad because all of that negative stuff I wrote down is in my own writing.
Looking back, I should have just went to that staff member and raised my concerns with them to give them a chance to improve. But HR didn't give me that option.