need opinion - bad manager

[lailanni]

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I have a random question I could use your professional opinion on.

Goes a little like this:

Say you worked at a certain place where a manger was hostile, made people feel very uncomfortable, and was generally unpleasant.

Then you break your ties with this work environment/Bad Manager and move on.

Out of the blue, a few years later, you get a notice to see if you'd be willing to write a letter about your negative experiences with Bad Manager.

I've moved on and am reluctant to kick up old dirt, but this Bad Manager was really ..well.. bad.

Should I just let it be water under the bridge? Or do I go through all the politics and old garbage for some well deserved retribution?

Thanks guys, I appreciate your insight!

 

[Angelo84]

For me it would depend on why you are writing the letter. Is it for a prospective employer for bad manager? If so I would likely write it (truthfully) so they know what they are getting into. If it is just for retribution or bad mouthing I wouldn't do it.

 

[DreamDVM]

Out of the blue, a few years later, you get a notice to see if you'd be willing to write a letter about your negative experiences with Bad Manager.

Hi!

I can appreciate your dilemma. I would also be tempted to write a retribution letter! I think your answer really depends on three things -

your personality. Personally, I've never been one to get much out of revenge, and I tend to err on the conservative side when it comes to standing up for myself or getting back at someone for something they've done to me. It's up to you whether you'd feel "right" about it or not.

the reason behind the "notice". As someone mentioned already, it might depend on why the letter is needed. If you think you may be potentially inflicting an awful situation on a person or group by not writing the letter, you might consider writing it.

finally, the potential consequences. I would not do ANYTHING that might come back and bite you in the butt later on, whether that means future applications, jobs, etc. If someone evaluating you ever got a hold of this person, that person might have reason to say something really snarky about you.

best of luck with this! 🙂
LeAnne

edit: made some comments about applying to vet school, but realized you are already in 😛

 

[lailanni]

Thanks for the opinions so far!

The letters that are being collected will be taken to the Board so they can decide if diciplinary action/termination should happen.

I do hate to speak poorly of someone and I'm not one to throw stones, but if we collectively don't take action then that manager may keep on being hostile/offensive to others...

 

[sumstorm]

In that situation, I might write a letter, but limit it to factual observations. Keep connotative phrases out of it and just state the events you wish to cite as they happened, without emotion. If there aren't actual situations I could cite, I wouldn't write a letter. There is a difference between 'she referred to X by the following terms: X, Y, Z' and 'she was terrible to work with.' The more unemotive you can be, the more likely reviewers will see the letter as factual rather than vindictive.

 

[twelvetigers]

Does the manager deserve it?

If you think they deserve it, then write the letter.

But, as sum said, try to stick with factual recollections of events and not ... poop fling. You know what I mean. 🙄

If you DON'T write the letter, would you feel guilty about that? Just a Q.

 

[ImaJerseyGirl]

.

 

[sumstorm]

I kind of agree with JerseyGirl if the case is just a really bad manager. I think, if the manager was abusive, racist, etc.... I would be more prone to write.

 

[OnceBitten]

Think back on your experience with this manager, and try to imagine returning to that same situation. Would you go to great lengths to prevent that from happening? Would you want to prevent anyone else from suffering the way that you did?

If so, write the letter. If you don't, you may be condemning someone else to your past situation.

 

[lailanni]

Think back on your experience with this manager, and try to imagine returning to that same situation. Would you go to great lengths to prevent that from happening? Would you want to prevent anyone else from suffering the way that you did?

If so, write the letter. If you don't, you may be condemning someone else to your past situation.

That is a good point I've been mulling over. I really don't want anyone else to have to go through what I (and others) have gone through. Lots of inappropriate comments about girls' body types, racism, hostility/threats about job security and other very unprofessional behavior.

I'm thinking I may write the letter so others don't have to be subjected to this. If I do, I'll probably request that I remain annon -- I don't want to be personally involved or singled out.

 

[VAgirl]

That is a good point I've been mulling over. I really don't want anyone else to have to go through what I (and others) have gone through. Lots of inappropriate comments about girls' body types, racism, hostility/threats about job security and other very unprofessional behavior.

I'm thinking I may write the letter so others don't have to be subjected to this. If I do, I'll probably request that I remain annon -- I don't want to be personally involved or singled out.

Those sound rather like things that the majority of the population would agree are bad (sexist/racist/threats, etc.), so from that standpoint, I would think it would be safer to participate by writing a letter. Sounds like a situation with less gray area and more obvious wrong-doing on the part of the manager. I say that because that makes me think it is less likely participating would come back to bite you in some way because the situation is less open for interpretation as to who was wrong, etc.

 

[SaintSamson]

I think that writing the letter but requesting to remain anonymous is the way to go.

I had a manager for about 6 months that was rather unprofessional. He wasn't the worst out there, but he made the crummy job I had that much worse. He was prone to coming in super hungover and taking multiple shots of espresso first thing. I got yelled at for being on time, not early, one day when he had to leave and apparently he couldn't leave until I got there (I was a peon there, I had no managerial skills or rank, so I was totally befuddled). He was rude and crass and would make sexual and degrading comments constantly and frequently touch the employees (all of which were females).
I never had a chance to write a letter about him, but given the opportunity, I would in a heartbeat.
By writing a letter, you'll save that many more people from having to deal with what you did.
Bad managers are no fun, but they still exist, unfortunately. Hopefully they can be surely, but slowly, weeded out.

 

[Nexx]

Being that it was many years ago, I would recommend against writing a letter. You can legally be held accountable for anything you write and while you may not write anything more than the truth, it could still come around and get you into legal trouble especially if this manager's career ends up in ruins -- and when it comes to legal issues it would be rare that even an 'anonymous' letter would be safe.

Problems should be dealt with when they occur, not 30 minutes later and certainly not months or years later. I sympathise with the thoughts about keeping others out of a similar situation, but frankly it is up to the individual to stand up for themselves and take action (better said than done, I know).

I just think back to laws in FL where when you call and check references from previous employers and pretty much all you can ask legally is "would you hire this person again, Yes/No?"

 

[robeezy08]

That is a good point I've been mulling over. I really don't want anyone else to have to go through what I (and others) have gone through. Lots of inappropriate comments about girls' body types, racism, hostility/threats about job security and other very unprofessional behavior.

I'm thinking I may write the letter so others don't have to be subjected to this. If I do, I'll probably request that I remain annon -- I don't want to be personally involved or singled out.

I agree, I wouldn't want to subject anyone else to this type of "management" behavior and if nothing is done about it, this individual may get off w/ a slap on the wrist and never truly know how much emotional/psychological damaged they might have caused their subordinates/coworkers. I can't think legally, how this could cause you trouble in the future, especially if you account what is the truth and if you had others who would support these allegations.

 

[Catnapper]

I'm trying to remember whether I've ever had a good manager! 😕

 

[sumstorm]

I think there is a difference between bad management and abusiveness. Racist remarks, comments on anyone's body, threats are forms of harrassment. You can be a terrible manager (incompetent to lead, unable to organize, etc) and be an ok or even wonderful person (I know many managers who are very charismatic but are terrible at managing.)

I personally believe if someone is experiences harrassment either directly or observationally, it needs to be reported. Hostile work environments aren't productive for anyone.

 

[chris03333]

I have a random question I could use your professional opinion on.

Goes a little like this:

Say you worked at a certain place where a manger was hostile, made people feel very uncomfortable, and was generally unpleasant.

Then you break your ties with this work environment/Bad Manager and move on.

Out of the blue, a few years later, you get a notice to see if you'd be willing to write a letter about your negative experiences with Bad Manager.

I've moved on and am reluctant to kick up old dirt, but this Bad Manager was really ..well.. bad.

Should I just let it be water under the bridge? Or do I go through all the politics and old garbage for some well deserved retribution?

Thanks guys, I appreciate your insight!

Legally you cannot say anything other than what is listed on an application for employment for a coworker. You saying, actually putting it in writing....really bad idea. Especially if this said person is in the veterinary field (a very small world). I would leave the past behind you.