Dear Prudence,
I have been at my job for less than a year. I got my foot in the door of a new industry through a personal connection after being laid off due to COVID. My boss regularly says things like they’re watching us and that we’re all on probation, and otherwise throws around their authority to create a fearful environment. Everyone on my team is doing at least three jobs. Sometimes we vent to one another after having awful interactions with our boss. One coworker has repeatedly said things indicating fighting with the boss physically. I have tried telling them to stop, but they treat me like their emotional dumping ground. They also not-so-subtly put me down while trying to make themselves sound better.
I transferred positions and have a new boss and coworkers, but I still work with the old team. So many people have left that we have maybe 15 percent of the staff remaining from when I started last year. I’ve lodged complaints to HR when necessary about my old boss before leaving that role, but my former colleague once again mentioned fighting the boss in front of me and two others recently. I reported the conversation to HR. The other two witnesses denied it happened. Do I look for another job? I have a series of short employment periods on my résumé due to part-time or contract work. If I stick it out until the one-year mark, will it look better? I really want to stay in this industry but have so little experience. I’m anxious at work as a result of this person’s behavior. I’ve talked to my new boss, and they’re supportive, and I also decided to go to therapy to help cope with the stress.
—Ongoing Hostilities