u/kattushareads

Hey everyone, I am looking for some outside perspective and advice on a very stressful situation at my corporate design job. I am currently in the middle of deciding to write a formal grievance, and the toll it is taking is massive.

I have been working at a large corporate firm for three years. Over the past few months, things have escalated drastically to the point where I feel I am being managed out.

The core issue started when I had a conversation with my manager in a meeting about a goals review and I asked her if she thinks there is anything in my performance that could cause me to not get promoted soon as she knows this is my intention and I am working towards it as hard as I can. She flat out told me that I will not be promoted due to my sickness absences, which are directly tied to a documented physical health condition in my lower back.

Right after that, I decided to ask HR for an occupational health assessment so that my sickness absence can be reviewed differently and not block a possible promotion since ive been working as a grad for 3 years which is too long even in my managers view. When I talked to HR, the HR lady seemed very eager to know who told me I wont be promoted due to my sickleave and I felt if I told her that my manager did, my manager would get in trouble. So I said that im being proactive and letting the company know formally of my disability even though they know from 2024 when I initially got diagnosed. Only less than two weeks after this, my manager became increasingly hostile and initiated a formal Performance Improvement Plan entirely unannounced. The PIP was not even for actual performance issues; it was justified by minor mistakes that later happened after she even introduced the PIP itself.

There were zero prior warnings or constructive feedback leading up to it. The environment with her became so toxic that I formally requested a change in management, with her agreement but which was denied.

Due to all this happening and the affect on my MH I had to take sick leave for 6 weeks due to an extreme stress and flare up of my disability- I was unable to breath, had panic attacks and was very unwell I had to go to A&E.

During my sickleave, I have raised the issue of the PIP failing to account for my medical condition, and the way the PIP was initiated without prior notice and that the objectives were vague and undiscussed with me prior to the meeting where my manager ambushed me with saying the PIP starts today and I requested adequate workplace adjustments, and complained about the whole situation and my managers behavior. the response from HR was shockingly dismissive. They completely trivialized my need for accommodations. Instead of engaging with the specific issues I raised about my manager or my health needs, HR flipped the script. They failed to respond to my core concerns and actually threatened formal action against me regarding my absences.

Where I am at now:
Between my manager weaponizing my health and HR closing ranks to protect her rather than implementing any proper reasonable adjustments, or even changing my manager, the environment is untenable.

I am currently navigating a formal grievance process.

Outside of this job, I have been trying to building my own creative photography path and applying for other roles to transition out, but fighting this dispute while trying to do my everyday work is draining.

I am trying to figure out my next best steps:

1. Should I continue fighting the PIP and escalation process through formal HR and grievance channels?
2. Should I be speaking to an employment solicitor regarding failure to provide reasonable adjustments and disability discrimination?
3. Or should I resign and focus on like a new job or freelance work, and let the dispute go to protect my peace

I am worried that if I resign that I lose my rights because I genuinely feel like all of this has been unfair towards me. I have been working my ass of for this job, from working over time unpaid (from 9am - 10pm) and that my managers behavior towards me was unjustified. My only explanation is that she found out

Has anyone dealt with a similar corporate HR situation, a hostile manager, or a formal dispute regarding accommodations and PIPs? How did you navigate the exit, and was fighting it worth it?

Hey everyone, I am looking for some outside perspective and advice on a very stressful situation at my corporate design job. I am currently in the middle of deciding to write a formal grievance, and the toll it is taking is massive.

I have been working at a large corporate firm for three years. Over the past few months, things have escalated drastically to the point where I feel I am being managed out.

The core issue started when I had a conversation with my manager in a meeting about a goals review and I asked her if she thinks there is anything in my performance that could cause me to not get promoted soon as she knows this is my intention and I am working towards it as hard as I can. She flat out told me that I will not be promoted due to my sickness absences, which are directly tied to a documented physical health condition in my lower back.

Right after that, I decided to ask HR for an occupational health assessment so that my sickness absence can be reviewed differently and not block a possible promotion since ive been working as a grad for 3 years which is too long even in my managers view. When I talked to HR, the HR lady seemed very eager to know who told me I wont be promoted due to my sickleave and I felt if I told her that my manager did, my manager would get in trouble. So I said that im being proactive and letting the company know formally of my disability even though they know from 2024 when I initially got diagnosed. Only less than two weeks after this, my manager became increasingly hostile and initiated a formal Performance Improvement Plan entirely unannounced. The PIP was not even for actual performance issues; it was justified by minor mistakes that later happened after she even introduced the PIP itself.

There were zero prior warnings or constructive feedback leading up to it. The environment with her became so toxic that I formally requested a change in management, with her agreement but which was denied.

Due to all this happening and the affect on my MH I had to take sick leave for 6 weeks due to an extreme stress and flare up of my disability- I was unable to breath, had panic attacks and was very unwell I had to go to A&E.

During my sickleave, I have raised the issue of the PIP failing to account for my medical condition, and the way the PIP was initiated without prior notice and that the objectives were vague and undiscussed with me prior to the meeting where my manager ambushed me with saying the PIP starts today and I requested adequate workplace adjustments, and complained about the whole situation and my managers behavior. the response from HR was shockingly dismissive. They completely trivialized my need for accommodations. Instead of engaging with the specific issues I raised about my manager or my health needs, HR flipped the script. They failed to respond to my core concerns and actually threatened formal action against me regarding my absences.

Where I am at now:
Between my manager weaponizing my health and HR closing ranks to protect her rather than implementing any proper reasonable adjustments, or even changing my manager, the environment is untenable.

I am currently navigating a formal grievance process.

Outside of this job, I have been trying to building my own creative photography path and applying for other roles to transition out, but fighting this dispute while trying to do my everyday work is draining.

I am trying to figure out my next best steps:

1. Should I continue fighting the PIP and escalation process through formal HR and grievance channels?
2. Should I be speaking to an employment solicitor regarding failure to provide reasonable adjustments and disability discrimination?
3. Or should I resign and focus on like a new job or freelance work, and let the dispute go to protect my peace

I am worried that if I resign that I lose my rights because I genuinely feel like all of this has been unfair towards me. I have been working my ass of for this job, from working over time unpaid (from 9am - 10pm) and that my managers behavior towards me was unjustified. My only explanation is that she found out

Has anyone dealt with a similar corporate HR situation, a hostile manager, or a formal dispute regarding accommodations and PIPs? How did you navigate the exit, and was fighting it worth it?