I just came out of my one-on-one with my People Manager, and honestly, I walked away with more questions than answers. I raised my concerns about Jun’s behavior, hoping this time it would be taken seriously. Instead, I was told that Jun is also considered our “functional manager.”
On paper, that may sound like clarity, but in reality, it feels like another wall. If the very person I escalated is part of the chain I’m supposed to rely on for support, where does that leave me? My manager did say he would talk to him about it — but the way it was framed felt more like downplaying than resolving.
It’s frustrating. I’ve done my part: I spoke up, I documented, I even sought legal perspective. Yet here I am, with the same weight on my shoulders, watching the issue get brushed aside as just “something to be managed.”
What makes it worse is that I’ve already asked to be transferred — either back to the bench or to the other project that offered me a role. Both were constructive solutions that could have spared me this toxic environment. But those requests have stalled, and instead of being given a way forward, I’m left circling back to the same dead ends.
I’ve also pushed my escalation through the online channel, hoping that route might finally make a difference. Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t. But right now, it feels like another failure — not just of process, but of the promise that workplaces are supposed to protect dignity and respect.
I don’t want to give up, but days like this make it hard not to feel that the system is built to wear you down.
Reflection: Maybe the real test isn’t just surviving the system — it’s finding out how far we’re willing to go to demand the respect we deserve.
Comments