So, for some context. Starting in January of 2022 my previous manager was laid off and my new manager, who we'll call Gary, took over. Sinde then, my life at the job has been hell.
I've had responsibilities I used to have taken away with no reason, been relegated to just answering phone calls, I work at an IT service desk, but I used to be able to stay off the phones and work tickets or help train or coach newer techs.
I started looking for work elsewhere in the company, trying to get into one of the 2nd level teams, but every attempt ended in an interview and then the job going to someone else. I ended up getting really bad burnout, and in November of last year after my 9th failed attempt to get out of my job, I was suicidal and fell into a deep depression.
When I told Gary I was burnt out and needed help, he said, and this is an exact quote: “I don't care that you're burnt out. You need to hit your stats.”
My stats falling has lead to Gary putting me on a PIP, and I am convinced he intends to fire me and is just trying to get paperwork on me.
This leads me to this past week. I've been on the vacation I take every year when I get a phone call from a friend at work telling me that someone else has told them that Gary is intentionally sabotaging my attempts to leave the team.
I've suspected as much for a while, but I don't have any way to prove it. I guess the reason I am making this post is for advice on how I might be able to get proof to take to HR. I'm worried that my reputation in the company may be shot if Gary has been poisoning me to other teams.
I know I should probably look for work somewhere else, but I haven't done any job search since like 2006 and that was just working retail, I got this job initially through a contracting company.