I have worked for an company in the US for a somewhat short time and have achieved some phenomenal successes. I have identified a means of changing something huge in a small field. This would benefit the population the company serves tremendously. I have been working on this since I joined the company and was supposed to give a presentation this week. Instead, I have been placed on administrative leave for the rest of this week.
I have had glowing reviews from my current boss, Stan, and Stan's boss (two bosses up from me), Richard. There is a third boss involved in this scenario who recently joined our department, Fred. Fred has only been with the company for a week or two. He seems like a really nice guy.
The entire time I have been with the company I have been bullied by a colleague, Karen. Karen is awful to deal with. Karen used to have the position that I have now and she stepped down because it was too much for work her. She stepped down to a lower position at lower pay but was unable to relinquish control of projects. She does not act in the best interest of the population served by the company. She gatekeeps aspects of projects in order to remain in control. She is hateful and unprofessional and extremely difficult to deal with. The company is aware and this is not news, but they have never taken any measures to handle it/her. I did not complain until recently. I asked Stan for protection from Karen by not allowing her to sit in on a presentation I was giving that I knew she would give me hell for. My proposal involves change that would basically kill one of her pet projects. She gets lots of attention from being involved in her pet project, but it does the company and no one else any good. She gets to hang out with her friends and they are paid high contractor wages to do this. The project does not serve the company's mission. I have been bullied enough and was hopeful when I approached Stan. Stan had to ask Richard. Richard had Stan approach me and ask me to change my presentation to make it more palatable to Karen rather than protect me from Karen's behavior or provide an alternative. In my field, this would be highly unethical, as I am presenting research paid for by federal grant money (your tax dollars in the US). I said no way. I would rather take Karen's bullying than falsify data and recommendations to keep her happy. I realize that being asked to do this is wrong and email Stan and Fred and say that I will not be bullied any longer by Karen and that today is the last day of this. HR became immediately involved. They wanted to meet with me ASAP. I told them that I am afraid of retaliation and ask to move any discussions into the following week.
The following day, Richard calls me. He becomes irate and asks me to falsify the recommendations to make them more palatable to Karen. I say no. I tell him that I am sorry but I cannot do that. I reiterate that my presentation is based on actual data and is not an attack. I am simply trying to help the population my company serves. I cry because I do that when I get upset and I hate that this man made me cry, but altogether I do what is right. The day after Richard's call I have a planned meeting with a higher up and it goes well. Everyone is pleased with my work. The higher up refers to my presentation that is upcoming. Nothing exceptional occurs.
The next working day, I receive communication from Richard indicating that he spoke to his boss (this person is many levels up from me and does not regularly interact with me) and Stan and that it is best if I do not present my data this week. I am extremely confused. The reason is not wanting to offend anyone. Richard deletes my name from the documents in the presentation folder that is shared at work. He deletes half my presentation. The amazing breakthrough that I uncovered for the field and was about to present to a specialized body is gone. I frantically work with my team to redo the presentation to his specifications. Then I am called into a meeting with Stan and Richard. Stan does not speak. Richard hands me a letter. I am put on paid administrative leave due to inconsistent work performance. Richard refuses to answer any questions. His only input is “we will talk about it when you get back.” The letter mentions that I have been stressed and that I refused to speak to HR due to fear of retaliation and negative career ramifications. I tell Richard that this is retaliation in and of itself. I am put out for the remainder of the week. All access to company systems is blocked. I am shocked. I contact Stan the following day and he has never seen the letter and HR never talked to him prior to Richard giving the letter to me. He refers to it as a pile of excrement. I call a meeting with HR and am told, basically, that Richard requested that I be put on administrative leave and wanted the letter drafted, but that there was no investigation into his claims and there was no discussion with Stan who is my more immediate supervisor. I realize that they have made a critical error but also fear that I will be unable to be promoted or fired when the leave period ends and I have to return to work. I miss the presentation.
Thanks for reading all of this. This is a sad situation. WWYD?