Dear Joan:

At a department staff meeting, our supervisor stated "If you want to keep your job here, you better vote for Candidate X". He then looked around the room and made eye contact with each of us. Since I intend to vote for Candidate Y, I just didn't say anything, just smiled at him. I'm hoping that is the end of it and the topic doesn't come up again. I avoid talking about religion or politics at the office, but how do you respond to a supervisor who tries to intimidate you into voting his way?


Answer:

This is unbelievable, and even un-American. These Gestapo tactics have no justification. Send this column to your HR department and ask that these threats be stopped. If they continue, send the column to your supervisor's boss.

Typically, I would recommend that you go to your supervisor and speak with him directly if there were something you found offensive but your supervisor has showed such a profound lack of common sense and integrity I can't imagine that he wouldn't retaliate against you for discussing it with him.

If he is this intimidating about voting for a candidate I can only imagine what he must be like if you question him or disagree with him on other issues. If this is his style, look for a different supervisor.


Dear Joan:

I was a call center supervisor for almost two years after being out of the work force due to a serious hand injury. I LOVED my job. I was called into the HR office and told that I was being let go because they had received complaints from several agents that I was asking to borrow money and personal vehicles, and that the agents felt that if they did not comply, I could have them fired. They said that they had conducted an investigation, and that effective immediately my job was terminated.

When I asked for specific information, they were not able to give me any. I explained that I had constantly been loaning money to employees so that they could get food, etc. from the vending machines and in two other specific situations, I had loaned quite a bit of money to employees for emergencies at their homes. I also explained that there was one employee that would let me borrow her car to run to the bank on paydays and that I ALWAYS gave more gas money than I would use. This was a situation offered to me by an agent that had become a good friend over time. The only other vehicle that I had been using was one that was offered to me by another supervisor because it was a spare car and I was going to be purchasing it from her as soon as she got confirmation on the asking price.

Nevertheless, I was handed my final check. When they appealed my unemployment, I was able to provide the judge with emails from both "supposed complaining parties stating that they NEVER had a problem with our arrangements and that they were called in by HR and asked if this was a problem. They both insisted that it had been their ideas and that it was not a problem at all. I was also able to provide documentation from other employees that I had loaned them money on several occasions and had never asked to borrow from them.

The judge found in my favor and stated that if a true investigation had been done, I would have been given the opportunity to provide this evidence and would never have been fired.

This ordeal took place immediately after another supervisor was given a higher position of authority and had promoted two friends to supervisory positions and began icing me out. I had less than a 3% turnover rate on my teams while the average was an outstanding 36%, my teams had won all three productivity competitions and had the highest call quality average.

I was devastated! My question to you is, how do I handle the question, "Why were you fired from your last job? The reason this is so serious for me is that this was the first job I'd had after a five year disability leave. Please HELP!


Answer:

This is a cautionary tale that points out the dangers of crossing the line into personal territory at work. Loaning moneyeven small amounts can be a slippery slope, even among family and friends, let alone co-workers.

You have two years of excellent results that you should emphasize on your resume and during interviews. It sounds as if you have insiders who will be willing to give you a good reference. This should be enough of a solid track record for you to build on.

When asked why you were fired say, "There was an allegation against me from several agents who spread some lies about methey said I was asking them for money. When the truth came out in court, it was proven they were lying. I'm just glad it's over and I was able to clear my name. Now I just want to move on. 

The goal is to not appear bitter or retaliatory. You want to demonstrate that you are indeed the mature, exonerated professional.


Joan Lloyd is an executive coach, management consultant, facilitator and professional trainer/speaker.  Email your question to Joan at info@joanlloyd.com.  Joan Lloyd & Associates, (800) 348-1944, Visit www.JoanLloyd.com Joan Lloyd & Associates, Inc.
Joan Lloyd & Associates, Inc.