Today I was caught by head of HR when I clocked in and brought to the conference room out of no where. I was very confused and asked why I was being fired (because naturally given the big boss and my sections Big boss and head of HR were in there with me that’s where my brain went). I was told I’m not being fired, but we need to get to the bottom of a situation.
For reference I’m new, just got off training 2 weeks ago and was only hired in late April level of new. I had zero idea there was anything to get to the bottom of, so I clammed up and waited to be told more. After some beating around it, they finally said it has come to their attention I dislike a coworker; and since we are a “family” here, that’s not going to fly. I finally got which coworker and actually laughed.
This coworker “Kate” was training me my second week. In 25 minutes she asked if I was a lesbian. Kate then asked my opinion on abortion, religion in public schools and gay marriage. When I gave her no answers to go off and flatly refused to share my sexual orientation Kate went off on a 1.5 hour tirade to me and another coworker “Manny” about all of the above with some frightening opinions that would make the staunchest conservative uncomfortable.
I finally shut the situation down by asking Kate flatly if I needed to go do some work alone or was she going to teach me.
I never brought this up to anyone ever again, because Kate is 17 and still learning how to function and what “there’s a time and place” means. Apparently Manny finally got bothered enough by it to bring it up to Kate’s sister “Sam” who works here on occasion.
Sam, realizing the gravity of that conversation rushed to warn HR that there was a potential ticking time bomb between me and Kate that they may want to address. HR then took that to mean I just don’t like Kate, without actually reading what the email was warning about.
HR now doesn’t like me because I refused to apologize to Kate for making her “uncomfortable” and to Manny for including her in “petty rivalry” between me and Kate. I also refused to apologize to Sam who apparently has been “distressed” by this situation and won’t sign the form saying I’ve addressed my concerns about workplace hostility and absolve them of responsibility.
Big boss is on the war path over this, HR wants me gone i think but can’t figure out how to do it. And my departments Big boss told me don’t stress it, and if I want a mediation with Kate and Manny she will sit in as the observer “just in case HR gets confused again”.
So yeah, fun times. I hate working for idiots.