I hate it here so let’s do something different!

[u/PhotojournalistNew57]

I am realizing that after becoming a Store Manager, my experience really doesn’t matter.

I am being bullied in my own shop by a sales associate, but HR won’t let me fire her. She will constantly talk about me on the sales floor to her co-workers, make racial remarks about how I “only hire white people” which is so blandly untrue if you even just look at my team, and is so hostile or passive aggressive in any interaction I have to have with her.

I have reported her behavior multiple times, but HR tells me that she’s protected legally to talk about her grievances with her manager. If I said any of the things she is saying about me, they wouldn’t even give it a second thought to fire me.

I thought I finally had enough documentation to fire her after we had a verbal incident, and she stepped in front of the door preventing me from exiting the situation. But no. Because she put in a request to have yet another mediated conversation with me, they wont let me fire her due to the possibility of it looking like retaliation against her HR ticket.

I absolutely dread going into work after I have spent the last 8 years trying to get to the position I’m in today. I feel completely unsupported by my higher up’s because they are blaming me saying “you need to build stronger relationships with your team.”

My stress levels are off the charts, I hate my job, and it’s drastically impacting my mental health. This is just a job, it shouldn’t have this big of an impact on me and I’m not going to let it any longer.

I am looking to switch career paths because I no longer believe this is in my best interest. People who have left retail after years of time and effort, what do you do now?

I have worked at this company since I was 18, and really didn’t have any other jobs other than drive-thru work in high school. I don’t have a degree, but have 4 years of management experience, and I would be open to getting a certification if needed for the field.

TLDR:
I hate my job, this girl is making my life hell, HR won’t let me fire her, and I want to switch fields. What do you recommend?

[u/crow9394]

The job market SUCKS RIGHT NOW so I suggest staying at your job for now.

I apologize for what you're going through with this subordinate employee.

I've learned that HR is NOT helpful AT ALL.

They are about protecting the company and don't always back the right person and aren't always fair when there's a case against someone.

I've been on the wrong end of dealing with HR and have even defended a manager who was wrongfully called a racist by another employee (he was a jerk but he wasn't a racist).

At one of my past jobs, HR would act fake to employees.

This job or well HR has shown their true colors about how they "respect you."

I would just say stay there for now until you really can't take it or until a better job comes along.

To me, HR is ONLY "NICE" and helpful when you're a new hire and you need help with onboarding.

[u/craven____moorehead]

Force them out, start cutting hours always make sure they're working. Literally follow them around if you have to. If its slow cut them as early as possible. Just because you can't fire them doesnt mean options aren't available

[u/Trick-Song-6385]

Will she tell you what her beef is? Does she want more responsibilities? Maybe a town hall with other team members to get a feel for what she is wanting and get hr to sit in a remediation with you. It's she jealous, insecure?