Alex Smith

I have a story that I would like some feedback on and greatly appreciate everyone’s comments. I know it’s not professional of me to say what happened but I won’t be using company names or any employee names. I recently had to sit in on the Director of Human Resources and a bartender meeting as a witness because the supposed person it was about was off that day. First, this is happening because the bartender left a letter at the end of his shift. He is required to lock up the bar and set the alarm at night and has to wait on the kitchen crew to clean the kitchen. For this company corporate has a rule that supervisors or managers are supposed to lock up the restaurants of the hotel. He wrote a note on the “how long you wait for the dishwasher log” asking if he was going to ask the Food and beverage director if those logs served a purpose. That he had proof of doing what corporate defines a supervisor/managers responsibility for 8 hours, and not just him but others on the list too. That it was ridiculous and he was tired of waiting when he only makes $7.50 an hour and supervisors make $17 or more an hour. The letter didn’t have any name on it directing it to anyone specific. The supervisor came in the next day and turned it into HR saying it was rude and disrespectful towards and she felt threatened. The director told the bartender that she considered that a hostile work environment. He asked what was hostile about it? That it was just stating the truth and it wasn’t directed towards her that her name was nowhere on it. The HR director then tells him he needs to find another job! Can she do that? She wasn’t firing him. I looked into him after and he has one write up over a year ago for something very small. Corporate policy is a write up “goes away” after a year so his slate is clean other than this. She never really explained what made it hostile and in my opinion kept beating around the bush when he would keep asking what was hostile about it. She then said every time she came out to the restaurant for a problem it always seemed to be him. He calmly said do you mind telling me the last time that was? She sunk in her chair and said well you don’t really work much now. He said well that sounds like you contradicted yourself. Apparently I’m always causing problems but I’m not working here working? The last and only time I’ve been written up was over a year ago. She says to him again you should get another job since you’re not happy here.  He smiles and says I’m happy or I would’ve quit a long time ago. I’m just tired of all the bartenders not being compensated for having to per corporate do a supervisor or managers task at the end of the night making $7.50 an hour. Is our time not valuable? She says one last time you need to find another job. We’re done now. I’m curious to know if she’s allowed to tell someone to get another job? Is it legal? It would make me scared that HR was out to get me and not feel like I’m protected at work or feel safe to talk to them. I really appreciate any feedback because I’ve never heard anyone once complain about this worker ever. I was shocked when I saw the director of HR talk to him like that. I found out a little later that the supervisor that took offense to this father is the corporate attorney so nepotism might have something to do with it. I just don’t want this young man to be fired for something I don’t think at all is hostile and stating something that’s legally true. I look forward to feedback!