Dear Department, Part I

Some of you may know that I have a somewhat tumultuous relationship with my supervisor.  For anonymity's sake we shall call her Evil Boss.  The emotional turmoil has been going on since April... it subsided temporarily in August as a result of me going to the Chief. Then she began to rear her ugly head again in September but I left for a small chunk in the middle for the wedding. *Refer to October 2012 post: Forever, Here We Come!*

When I came back on October 1, Evil Boss was back in business.  For some historical context here... she has targeted and pursued multiple coworkers in the past.  Several of which no longer work at my office anymore.  (P2 - I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS!)  Anyway, for those of you who really know me... I am not one to just take it.  I mean, I try to be as polite and respectful and professional as any other person at work - and I put on a good front - but I have a limit.  Some of you have seen me reach this limit, and a select few of you have seen me blow past the limit.  I'll admit it, sometimes I lose my marbles.  If I had to choose a geological entity to identify my personality - I would have to say Volcano.  If I had a totem animal - it would be the Sonoran Desert Grasshopper Mouse (Seriously, this mouse hunts like a cat, howls like a wolf, and KILLS for a living).  But it's freaking adorable.

Although, I really haven't been keeping it cool - I often sit at my cubicle and shake with overwhelming anger.  But I am a mature, professional woman working for a government agency... with parents who really, really, really emphasize the importance of being a good worker.  I'm not going to bust into her office and tell her a piece of my mind!  That's just going to make me look psycho!  Especially since she is that insidious type of workplace bully.  She never steps out of line publicly.  She will ALWAYS make you come to her office, close the door, and sit down. *shudder*

At any rate... things have escalated at a very rapid rate as of late and Evil Boss is no longer tolerable.  I have written a 4 page letter which I intend to send to HR, the Chief, Assistant Director, Director, The Union, and the Ethics Committee.  I won't include the entire thing but I'll include what I've been dealing with this past week...

                On October 31, the current Training Coordinator informed me that *Evil Boss* engaged her in a conversation specifically regarding me that day.  *Evil Boss* asked her if I was happy with my job because I did not seem “invested.”  *Evil Boss* also told her that I missed a lot of work and have not even tried to do any cross-training.  While I felt her private workplace bully antics to be something I could personally overcome, I found this highly prejudicial public mischaracterization of my work ethic, performance, and attendance record to be completely out of line both ethically and professionally.  I had previously grown to distrust *Evil Boss* with personal or medical information but never suspected she would breach the level of confidentiality and discretion expected of a supervisor.

                On Novermber 1, *Evil Boss* refused to let me use Sick Leave Other (SLO) on Kronos *timekeeping software* because I did not use the words “medical” and “family” at any time of my request, nor did I notify her of my intention to use SLO upon returning.  I consulted *HR Lady* regarding this specific timekeeping regulation matter and e-mailed *Evil Boss* the instructions from *HR Lady*.  She came to my desk and asked me to follow her to her office.  She had already begun walking away when I asked her what the meeting was for.  She turned back and asked me to come to her office again, and I refused.  At which point she said, “Ok, we can do it here if you want.”  She flipped open the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and began quoting it to me.  I brought up my conversation with *HR Lady* and she interrupted with the following: “I just went upstairs to talk to *HR Lady* and corrected her.”  She read the MOA aloud again and then stated, “I am the appointing authority and I can request verification.”  I explained that it was my understanding a doctor’s note was only required if I missed three or more days of work.  She stated that she was not asking for a note.  To which I replied, “Then what are you asking for?”  She restated that I could not use SLO and I announced I would use another code.  She walked away.

                *Evil Boss* actively undermines her subordinates’ relationships with Human Resources (HR) and upper management.  I found this episode to be highly embarrassing and completely unnecessary.  It also proved that HR could not assist me in my grievous interactions with *Evil Boss*.  It elicited a strong emotional response from me as I felt very humiliated and offended.  I have, on other occasions, been extremely frustrated by her actions to a point where my hands would shake.  I have even missed or left work as a result of interactions with her.

                On the morning of November 2, *Evil Boss* and I exchanged e-mails that were copied to *2 HR Ladies* in continuation of this matter.  The final action was *Evil Boss* walking up to me and brusquely placing a copied page of the MOA on my desk with two highlighted sections.  At this time, I began to feel extremely ill.  The symptoms were unrecognizable to me and I made an urgent appointment at Kaiser Permanente using their website.  Soon after, my condition worsened and I called their hotline.  After answering screening questions, the nurse recommended that I go to the Emergency Room immediately and that I do not drive.  After ruling out a cardiac event, I visited my regular physician who conducted further diagnostic evaluations.

                I have been placed off of work from November 2 through November 18, during which time I will seek additional treatment as prescribed and referred by my physician.  I am also actively pursuing enrollment in the Employee Assistance Program.  I am filing an official complaint against *Evil Boss* and a worker’s compensation claim.

EPILOGUE: I was diagnosed with an Acute Anxiety Attack and Generalized Anxiety.... caused by EVIL BOSS!  My doctor placed me off work for 2 weeks, prescribed medication, and gave me a psychiatric referral.  That witch sent me to the looney bin!  I loathe her.  I am seeking a 2nd opinion on how to order HER a psychiatric referral.  *scowl*