THIS MUST BE AN APRIL FOOL’S JOKE!

Hey there! Hope all is well. Today I want to hang out and talk about an experience I had last April Fool’s Day. I could not believe what was happening. I thought to myself, surely this had to be an April Fool’s Joke! I was sitting in the office minding my business, as I was known to do. Somehow I was reminded of an object left to me by another manager that had recently been forced to retire from the company. It was still sitting at that old desk, so I got up from my cubicle and headed to collect my new property.

While collecting the object, an individual in the cubicle next to the desk began to speak to me. During that short convo, a manager about a few cubicles away turned back over their right shoulder to look on. I was confused because nothing was said, but they just continued to stare. As I said goodbye to the other individual and walked away with the object, the manager turned completely around in their seat and watched me walk back toward my desk. They said something about the item in my hand. I could not understand why I was being questioned about what was left to me, but I responded by letting them know I had permission to get this item from the former manager’s desk.

The manager did not like how I responded and made a remark stating something to the effect, “Y’all and your smart mouths!” Since it was nearing the end of my work tour, I ignored the manager, put the item down and walked out of the office to the restroom. Upon returning to my desk, I realized that the manager was still discussing the situation. As hard as I tried to ignore it, I eventually felt that I needed to speak up for myself. I was hoping that once I made it clear that a sticky note with my name was left on the object since I was not in the office on the other manager’s last day, all would be left alone. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Once I explained that, in a firm tone of course, the situation only escalated. The manager arose from their desk and began walking towards my cubicle as they continued to talk about the situation.

If you didn’t already know this about me, I’m a lover not a fighter. I keep to myself and I don’t bother others. I’m an advocate for treating others as I’d like to be treated. Without going into a very long and unnecessary story because this never should have gone any further, the manager continued to escalate the problem. At this time, my boiling point is being reached. I did not know how much longer I could keep myself under control and I kept thinking this is not only a place of business, but this is MY WORK LOCATION, at least for the next month! This is the last place I wanted to deal with an issue of this magnitude and I wanted to leave in good standings, just as I had been for the past 17 years.

What I haven’t told you is, I had issues with the same manager a few years prior. Only during that time, everything was done in secret. The work and other employees were used to cover up what was actually happening. Because of that it was hard for me to fight the situation and find another manager or someone to assist me. The manager would always find a way around the system. It was even said that they’d been a union rep before becoming a manager so they were very familiar with the union book; cover to cover. Therefore, they knew exactly what to do and what to say to make me look like the culprit, when it was really the other way around. It had gotten so bad that this manager and another employee worked together to make a false report against me that stayed on my record for 9 months. No matter that I had no priors or other issues on the job in 12 years, they were able to convince someone that I was the bad apple.

I had gotten out of the union many years prior because of the way I saw some being treated compared to others when representation was needed. Understandably so, I wasn’t really getting any assistance on that end either. The issue was passed off from one individual to another until my 9 month probation had basically come and gone. Those last few years at my job were the worst! If you read my post about how I thought I would only work 6 months when I first started at the company, those moments pale in comparison to the drama I dealt with basically up until I left. It was because of all of the history with this manager that I couldn’t take it any longer.

I continued to push back and although it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, I was FED UP! As the altercation continued, others sat around and watched and listened. The saddest part was the managers sitting nearby just ignoring the entire situation. I thought one of the main reasons people were promoted to management positions was because they were good at “managing.” Not only do they manage their job responsibilities well, but they can manage teammates, issues and other problems. I was shocked to see no one stepping in to attempt to defuse the situation. But by far the absolute worst thing, the manager’s manager had been called over while things were spiraling out of control and they only sat quietly and WATCHED! It wasn’t until I finally had to digress and walk out a few minutes earlier just to escape, that I realized the upper level management had been sitting close by.

After everything had transpired, all I wanted to do was let this go and come in the next day as if nothing ever happened. After all, I had a little over a month before I was about to walk away from the company for good. I decided not to leave it alone because this is a repeat offender. Not only did I have issues with this manager a few years before, but I’d also been told about others they caused problems for and with prior to me coming into that group. Nobody in times past wanted to deal with the issue either. One way or another, they left the group. If someone had handled things better before I came to that department, maybe I would have never had this experience. Although I figured much would not come of this, I knew that I was no longer fighting just for me. I was also fighting for those before me and for anyone that would come after me. This is repetitive behavior, so I knew it would only be a matter of time before they found their next victim.

I was so irritated with the situation, especially knowing I was about to resign. I just couldn’t continue to shake this idea that this manager or somebody was trying to get me on an April Fool’s Joke. I mean, it was April 1st. Unfortunately, it was real! I moved forward with making the necessary reports and going through the proper channels in an attempt to get this handled. I was extremely hopeful that this manager would finally receive disciplinary correction for their actions. I even had others step in this time. That had my back and supported me through it all. It was a drawn out process over the next month. In my opinion that was purposely done once word had gotten out that I was leaving. Even the manager I had the issue with was going around asking individuals if they’d heard that I was leaving soon. THE NERVE!

Unfortunately, I’m saddened to say that I walked out of those doors never to look back and the manager was free as a bird to continue wreaking havoc through the office like an elementary bully taking kids lunch money. I received a call from HR about a month after my official resignation date to let me know that the situation had been handled and the manager was talked to. Of course they won’t tell you what happened with them, but I knew it was nothing more than a slap on the wrist like they usually give. One thing I’ve learned about management while working at a major corporation, the majority of them will back each other up NO MATTER WHAT! Right or wrong, they are almost never at fault. Not to mention what I’ve heard and witnessed for myself about a lot of Corporate America companies. They don’t care much about you as an individual. Their concern is the success of the overall company, their upper level management bonuses, etc. You can pass away at any given moment and all they will do is replace you with another body or machine, or just pile your responsibilities on to someone else.

I hope and pray that this situation does not happen to anyone else in that office or anywhere this manager may end up. So far the behavior has continued to get overlooked, but hopefully the right person will come in and assure that it is corrected once and for all. Like the airport intercom says, “If you see something, say something.” I know the snitches get stitches code too, but at some point we’ve got to stand together to help each other out.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this…I walked away from that situation knowing that everything happened for a reason. God has put me through situations like this to continue to grow me, my patience and my self-control. I am a firm believer in what the Bible states in Psalms 119:71, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” Because I endured, I can help someone else in a similar situation. As much as my flesh wanted to see repercussions for wrongdoing, I know that God has everything under control.

While some say KARMA is a @#%*!, I prefer to use a portion of the Bible verse Galatians 6:7 that reads, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

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I believe without a shadow of doubt that there will be consequences for everything that was done to me. Beyoncé said, “The best revenge is your paper.” But another version I say to myself is, “The best revenge is your PEACE!” Should you or someone you know have to deal with anything like this, please go through the proper channels and do all you can the right way to handle the issue. At the end of it all, allow God to have His way!

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