...and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

I've been working part time (extremely part time, usually 4 hours a week while spending 3 hours a week in transit time) at a group home for the mentally ill. I came to really care about the residents there, who generally get marginalized or dismissed as useless or unreliable (I think of this as sanity-ism, and though it affects a smaller group than racism it's no better).
Anyway, I've been working for a guy who's been abusing his power for a long time, but he's the only point of contact between his area and the rest of the company so they hear him blaming every lapse on his employees. Intimidation and threats have shut the mouths of those who really need the paycheck, and it came to a point at which I realized that the right thing to do was for me to burn my bridges, get out of there, and out him. So I emailed him, his boss, and HR last night, describing the situation and challenging the company to investigate. I don't know if anything will come of it, but I can hope that either A) he wakes up and chooses to be a better person/boss or B) he wakes up without a job. Either way, the residents win.
I keep telling myself I did the right thing, but there's still this creeping doubt about 'telling on him.'
I'm not asking for affirmation, condemnation, or commiseration. Just felt like sharing this with someone.

I greatly appreciate you sharing this. My father is in a group home at 44 years old due to a car accident that caused a brain injury. I realize this isn't quite the same, but it makes me wonder about what happens when family isn't there visiting / at the administration level.

Having worked with the mentally ill before (at a truly wonderful facility), I applaud you for looking out for their welfare. They often cannot get heard.

It sounds like you have left yourself in an exposed position -- I hope you're working to protect yourself and find other employment. Email is an interesting communication tool.

If you can stand to, you should also call HR and management to ensure that the message you were trying to send actually gets heard. I guarantee that the manager of your facility will be doing that.

Steve

Its been my experience that companies just don't care. You'll only get some action if you state that you clearly have evidence of malfeasance. Choice of words can also be helpful.

Also, if they didn't listen to you when you were there, they'll hardly care if you're gone. No one wants anyone to rock the boat.



I once had trouble with another guy in my office. Nothing serious but he was pissing off my entire software team. Then he started harassing us. We worked lighter hours and seemed to never have any hard work on our plates. (Too much internet time.)

I'd also been noticing that someone had been going in my office... So I set a trap... I set up a tiny USB video camera and left my equipment running for an all weekend test. Sure enough I got a video showing him turning off the power supply ruining the test.

Monday AM I sent off an obnoxious email to all the people above him and me. I chose words like 'harassment' and used them over and over again. I implied that by doing nothing management was condoning harassment.

10 AM management filed into my office to see my video... 11 AM they read him the riot act... If he wanted to stay in the company he'd better smarten up. I was hauled in so he could shake my hand and apologize to me. My team and I had no further issues with him.



By the way, if he's yelling at you and demeaning you, then you can leave and demand severance. I've been having issues like that in my current job, with a 3 month exit clause stressing me out. If someone is rendering your work space unreasonably unlivable.. you got rights.

Usually however, I just find another job and quit.

I'm sorry to hear that, Talae. I really hope this place is the one you're looking for.

He has been at this one for about six months and we are still happy with it. It is a group home and an all male staff seems to help. I am sorry for derailing this. It is just that yesterday marks two years since the accident so it is fresh in my mind.

/back to your regularly scheduled thread.

So don't regret it. Just move forward. At least you can do so with a clear conscience, and nothing can take that away from you.

I know you are questioning your actions now but:
If you can hold your head up at the end of the day and honestly say to yourself that you did what you though was right and that it would help those who can't help themselves, then you did the right thing.

In fact in my book that's pretty much the definition of doing the right thing.

Wow, when I first read this thread, it was just the OP. A few hours later, look at it!

I say do not fret about it. I have been in your position (more often that you might think) and have even been on the receiving end on one occasion. It is one thing if a person can be reasoned with and truly has a desire to fix their issues. If not, there is no reason to feel upset about doing the right thing; if that means reporting him to someone who can do something about it, so be it.

If the person truly did not see what they were doing as wrong and now does or has a change of heart after being reprimanded, all the better. If not, he has no one to blame but himself and such is life.

Good on you uncre8d1!

Personally, I find your example inspiring. The world needs more people brave enough to do the right thing.

Put an 'S' on your chest. +1