How to Report to HR If Your Manager Is Disrespectful to You at Work. (2024)

Have you ever faced a situation where your manager was disrespectful to you at work? Maybe they yelled at you in front of your colleagues, criticized you unfairly, or ignored your input. How did you feel? How did you react? Did you report it to HR?

If you have experienced or are experiencing disrespect from your manager, you are not alone. According to a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 61% of U.S. workers have witnessed or been subjected to abusive conduct at work, and 63% of the perpetrators were managers.

Disrespect from your manager can have serious consequences for your well-being, performance, and career. It can cause stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, burnout, and turnover. It can also affect your productivity, creativity, collaboration, and engagement.

So what can you do if your manager is disrespectful to you at work? Here are some steps that might help you:

• Document the incidents. The first thing you should do is document the incidents of disrespect that you have experienced or witnessed from your manager. Write down the date, time, location, people involved, what happened, how you felt, and how you responded. Keep any evidence that supports your claims, such as emails, texts, or recordings. Documenting the incidents will help you have a clear and objective record of what happened and when.
• Talk to your manager. The next thing you should do is try to talk to your manager directly and respectfully about the issue. Sometimes managers may not be aware of how their behavior affects others or may have different expectations or communication styles. Talking to your manager can help you clarify the situation, express your feelings and needs, and find a solution together. To prepare for the conversation, you should:
• Choose a private and neutral place and time to talk.
• Use "I" statements to describe the situation and how it made you feel, such as "I felt hurt when you raised your voice at me in the meeting."
• Avoid blaming or accusing your manager or using labels or insults, such as "You are rude" or "You are a bad manager."
• Focus on the behavior and its impact, not the person or their intentions.
• Ask for specific changes that you would like to see in the future, such as "I would appreciate it if you could give me constructive feedback in private."
• Listen to your manager's perspective and try to understand their point of view.
• Be open to feedback and suggestions from your manager as well.
• Thank your manager for their time and willingness to talk.
• Report to HR. If talking to your manager does not resolve the issue or if the disrespect continues or escalates, you should report it to HR. Reporting to HR can help you protect your rights and interests as an employee and prevent further harm or retaliation from your manager. To report to HR, you should:
• Contact your HR representative or department and ask for a meeting.
• Bring your documentation and evidence of the incidents of disrespect.
• Explain the situation clearly and calmly, using facts and examples.
• Express how the disrespect has affected you and your work.
• Ask for HR's support and guidance on how to handle the situation.
• Follow up with HR on the progress and outcome of the case.

Reporting disrespect from your manager can be challenging and stressful, but it is also important and necessary. You deserve to be treated with respect and dignity at work, and you have the right to speak up and seek help when that is not the case. Remember that you are not alone; there are resources and allies that can support you along the way.

Have you ever reported disrespect from your manager to HR? How did it go? What advice would you give to someone who is facing this issue? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below; I would love to hear from you.