HR Ethics

[Hey Blinkin]

I discovered a hand written note by our HRETL about me having a shitty attitude with "meds?" written next to it.

Some back story..,

A few weeks ago, I started on some new medications for my mental health and physical health. I informed both my ETL and HRETL of this and told them if I seem out of sorts for a while, that would be why.

They both acknowledged and I moved on with my day. Fast forward to today and I'm in the HR office doing work on the computer when I notice a notebook laying on the desk with a few names on it, including mine.

Most of it is this person's perception of the leaders in the building and frankly kind've derogatory to each person written down.

So it wasn't as though I went snooping through their office to find this, it was literally left out in the open for anyone to see.

What course of action should I take as at the very minimum, this feels incredibly dismissive and discriminatory?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Talk to your SD.

 

[Hey Blinkin]

Talk to your SD.

I've considered this. They're a tightly knit group though and they look out for each other.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

Document the event or talk to ap.

 

[Hey Blinkin]

Document the event or talk to ap.

What would ap be able to realistically do in this situation?

 

[IWishIKnew]

OK, so, first off--deeply unprofessional to have such comments written down in a notebook at work left open on a desk (if your ETL is older they should 100% know better, but most ETLs at my store were pretty young and professional norms were not yet a thing they've learned).

However. You warned your leaders that you have new meds and that might affect your attitude. Sounds like the HRETL noted the attitude change, and could have given you an 'out' with the 'meds?' comment. Possibly. Have they been shitty to you otherwise or have they been pretty normal to you face-to-face?

Again, deeply unprofessional to write this stuff down, but sometimes we humans need to vent about other humans, and it's possible that's what your ETL was doing--processing on paper so they don't get pissy with people IRL. If they've been treating you fine otherwise, I'd just let it go for now but be very cautious about what you share in the future. If they've been shitty otherwise, did you see any nasty comments about anyone you're more friendly with, like your ETL or a TL you trust? It might not hurt to mention what you saw to that person and see what they say?

Ideally, you'd be able to bring this up to your SD and trust them to take care of it, but we live in anything but an ideal world, so do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Even if that means saying nothing but keeping an eye out (especially for a new job somewhere else).

 

[Hey Blinkin]

OK, so, first off--deeply unprofessional to have such comments written down in a notebook at work left open on a desk (if your ETL is older they should 100% know better, but most ETLs at my store were pretty young and professional norms were not yet a thing they've learned).

However. You warned your leaders that you have new meds and that might affect your attitude. Sounds like the HRETL noted the attitude change, and could have given you an 'out' with the 'meds?' comment. Possibly. Have they been shitty to you otherwise or have they been pretty normal to you face-to-face?

Again, deeply unprofessional to write this stuff down, but sometimes we humans need to vent about other humans, and it's possible that's what your ETL was doing--processing on paper so they don't get pissy with people IRL. If they've been treating you fine otherwise, I'd just let it go for now but be very cautious about what you share in the future. If they've been shitty otherwise, did you see any nasty comments about anyone you're more friendly with, like your ETL or a TL you trust? It might not hurt to mention what you saw to that person and see what they say?

Ideally, you'd be able to bring this up to your SD and trust them to take care of it, but we live in anything but an ideal world, so do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Even if that means saying nothing but keeping an eye out (especially for a new job somewhere else).

The exact verbiage was:

"Name: Shit attitude. Attendance? Meds? All over the place!"

I called out one day due to withdrawal symptoms. The following day, my ETL pulled me into the office and told me that they're doing their best to help me with my career and they get being sick, but I have to do better. I told them what I was going through and they even commented how unwell I still appeared and to go home if necessary.

I don't feel confident bringing it up to the SD, though I will if necessary, because they have a tight inner circle and will look out for each other. Not to suggest I think the SD would do anything to risk their own job, but they've let questionable things slide in the past.

As for the HRETL's age, they're mid 30's, so old enough to know better.