MomsFatKid's journey

I’m writing this entry to document my sister’s ongoing struggles at her job. She’s been working from home for a virtual call center that handles government contracts for about a year and a half now. Over the past six months, the work environment has become increasingly toxic, primarily due to her manager, Rick, who seems to be bullying her out of her position. The training she received when she started was subpar, with much of the material being outdated. She went eight months without encountering a specific type of call that was covered in her training, and when those calls finally came in, she felt completely unprepared. Despite taking thorough notes, she struggled because she had never actually practiced handling those calls. When she reached out for help, the response was dismissive, stating that the information was already covered in training. Her original supervisor did provide some assistance, but after going on leave, the interim supervisor requested additional training for her, which Rick denied. I even attended a meeting with Rick where he condescended to her, implying she wasn’t worth the investment of additional resources for training and suggested she consider if she truly belongs in the role. Since that meeting, things have only worsened. Although her original supervisor has returned and tries to help, the workload has become overwhelming, and I can hear her crying and having panic attacks from across the room. To make matters worse, her breaks were reduced from 15 minutes to 10, and her performance is being monitored more closely than ever. Recently, she faced a critical issue regarding her eye condition, which requires regular check-ups. She submitted a request for PTO for an upcoming appointment, but Rick denied it, citing staffing concerns. I suggested she go to the appointment anyway and provide HR with a doctor’s note afterward, but she’s terrified that this could lead to her termination. She’s been job hunting, but the offers she’s received are significantly lower than her current salary, leaving her feeling trapped. I’m trying to help her figure out her options, including how to navigate the company hierarchy to find someone above Rick, whether contacting corporate would be effective or lead to retaliation, and if HR might be a viable resource despite their typical role in protecting the company. I’m just heartbroken watching her struggle like this.