Last week, my boss humiliated me in front of everyone during a meeting. I tried to stay calm, but when I couldn't take it anymore, I expressed my opinion, and I think my voice might have gotten a bit loud. Now, the atmosphere is very tense, and my colleagues' attitudes have changed. Is it reasonable to switch jobs, or should I apologize and swallow my pride? I'm feeling very indecisive.
I experienced something similar last year. During a meeting, my manager scolded everyone in front of me, and I was also targeted. I couldn't sleep at night the first week, and I didn't want to go to work in the morning. But then I calmly wrote an email and requested a one-on-one meeting, which made them apologize. Talking face-to-face really makes a difference; I recommend it.
There’s nothing worse than a tense atmosphere in the office... I once had a disagreement with my manager, and my teammates literally wouldn’t look me in the eye that day. But it’s not our job to fix that tension either. The thought of changing jobs is really scary, but sometimes it’s the only way out.
But I think you should think about it a bit; shouting or raising your voice in front of everyone is not a real solution. No matter how angry you get, we have to remain professional. Yes, your boss is at fault, but your reaction has clearly escalated the situation.
If communication in the workplace is managed at such an authoritarian level, you should question the dynamics instead of feeling guilty. The change in secondary roles after a discussion (like the attitude of your friends) makes the work structure chaotic. A sincere conversation with the HR department might be a reasonable idea.
Thank you all for the comments, they were very enlightening. Let me add this: when I said I raised my voice, I didn't mean shouting, I just didn't remain indifferent in a tone higher than usual. I can't help but think that if I had reacted a little more gently, things might have been different.
The boss has no right to belittle you. No one can lead by diminishing others. Yet our society has become accustomed to seeing this as quite legitimate. Even raising your voice is, in fact, a reaction, and I understand why you shouldn't suppress that. I would say assess how much value the work environment places on you.
It's a terrible event, you know? I'm still a student, but I feel more and more reluctant about places like that as I hear about them. I think it makes sense to be understanding depending on the situation, but the boss is already at fault. You shouldn't have to apologize here.
Look, my daughter, a workplace is about hierarchy, and being a boss is important. But if everyone looks down on you, that means respect has ended here. If you're going to bring that unrest home, a job change should really be considered. The environment comes after family because 😬
