I started off on Bravado with a job rant a couple years ago (wow...) and I decided to make my 100th post also a rant. So please excuse me while I get this off my chest.

I took on a new role in December managing a national sales team. I knew that my coming in would be somewhat disruptive since it was a mediocre preforming team and I have somewhat high standards for activity and performance (for myself and all around me). The team hadn't had a real leader in nearly a year and had grown somewhat lazy and complacent.

Coming in, I quickly instituted some reporting discipline in SF and expectations around (very) regular 1-1's I'd have with the team - things they weren't accustomed to. Some grumbling ensued, but nothing too vocal directly, although indirectly I knew it was going on. Regardless, I had cleared everything I was doing (and was going to do) with my boss and he fully supported everything - he knew the situation. My boss knew the team needed a higher level of accountability and he was happy to let me manage it and "be the bad guy" here.

Being human, I still wanted to team to like me & relate with me on a personal level, so a couple months ago I made a couple "locker room" remarks when someone mentioned they had a Dr appoint saying "good luck with the Proctologist" and "the company doesn't pay for your Transition" - all amidst a bunch of laughter and other people making some comments as well. I immediately regretted the last comment, but once said there's not much one can do. I promptly forgot about it.

A few weeks pass by and I get a call from an HR weenie about him investigating those comments. Someone had reported me to the anonymous HR hotline. Mind you, not the person I had directed those comments to, but someone who was offended on their behalf. Regardless, I had HR up in me and I had to deal with it.

Come yesterday I had a call with the HR weenie's boss and my boss - who was only brought in a couple days previous. The HR douche dressed me down and showed me the letter "going into my permanent file". I played my part but at the same time I was very angry that I got busted by someone who was offended on behalf of someone else, by someone who's not performing, knows it, and was probably trying to get me fired so they have more time in their job of not being accountable. I got my hand slapped but I held my tongue.

Well fuck 'em. I won. My boss was equally as appalled (as half the stuff he says should get him reported to HR - he freely admitted to me after the call). I'm pretty sure I know who reported me. I won't directly retaliate, but be sure I will keep this filed away for future reference.

Lesson learned though -> When dealing with subordinates (or most co-workers in general), keep a professional distance. They aren't your friends, nor ever will be. Treat them professionally and don't make sophomoric comments, even when good natured and/or when meant in jest.

That feels better. Thanks for reading.

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