“I was the supervisor for advanced practice providers in the anesthesia department at a major cancer center. The workplace bullying began when a new manager with no clinical background started micromanaging my work. She questioned every decision I made and gradually stripped away my ability to lead.
Soon after, a new physician leader — someone who had previously supported me — joined in the bullying. I became the target of a campaign that included false complaints submitted to HR, an effort to stack the deck against me and build a case for termination.
One of the key incidents involved a falsified WhatsApp message that was allegedly posted by me to my staff. I wasn’t even in the group. The name was cropped and misrepresented. Even though I provided proof that I had not posted it, I was still terminated without cause.
The toll on my mental health was devastating. I experienced intense anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm. I have since been diagnosed with PTSD.
This situation has severely damaged my chances of finding new employment in my field.
Professionally, I lost my income and my reputation in what is a small and close-knit professional community. This situation has severely damaged my chances of finding new employment in my field.
The impact on the organization was also significant. Many staff members left following my termination. They are now critically short-staffed — down by 14 employees — and are spending $100,000 per week on contract workers to fill the gaps.”