I am not just as a victim but a long-term public servant whose career and health are being systematically destroyed by a toxic, retaliatory management culture. The internal system has completely failed me.
I have worked for a healthcare company since 2001 and in this abusive department since 2007. After filing several grievances about a lack of mutual respect, I became the target of sustained abuse led by a director.
The abuse is targeted and coordinated: the director has hired staff who were clearly instructed to belittle me, speak to me condescendingly, and publicly undermine my authority.
When I spoke up about the abuse, I was not protected. I was punished. While two coworkers who complained saw their situations improve, I was subjected to immediate, severe retaliation. I was placed under close monitoring and written up for “unprofessional behavior,” which led to an HR “guilty” finding in a show-cause hearing. My workload was punitively increased with impossible deadlines. In a final act of humiliation, I was asked to train new staff while simultaneously facing disciplinary action.
Written emails detailing this discrimination to the HR Diversity Officer and Labor Relations have been met with silence.
The result is a severe decline in my health, including constant anxiety, panic attacks, low blood pressure, and significant weight loss.
My case proves that current HR and Labor Relations policies are not shields for victims—they are weapons used by abusers to enforce silence.
My nearly 20 years of service and the documented retaliation I’m experiencing is a definitive case study to push for a law that will define and outlaw psychological workplace abuse and provide strong, enforceable anti-retaliation provisions to protect victims when they speak up.