Quick note: I feel like we could use a "vent" flair.
For context, I'm a team of one, so everything is on me and I have nobody here to commiserate with.
First: employee cleared to return from FMLA didn't return. Texted his boss with "I'm still injured, here's a list of what I think I can do." They have not returned their certification with all the required info (literally only a return date) nor followed any of my instructions, despite confirming receipt and understanding. They are actively trying to scam us, which isn't the first time they've tried, and they're gonna love getting fired for attendance violations in a few days after they continue to pretend like their willful ignorance would be accommodated.
Second: interview no-showed, big surprise. I'm sure they'll have some pathetic as an excuse like everyone else and that the hiring manager will insist on rescheduling, which they will again not show up to.
Third: We're so fucking late on our open enrollment planning because we can't afford to keep our current plan but also will likely lose employees if we water it down any more to fit our budget. We are desperately pulling at straws to find a comparable option and our broker is amazing, but being a small company in this insurance market is brutal.
Fourth: manager of FMLA employee above has apparently started their own competitive business and mentioned nothing of it to us. Also had apparently never heard of a conflict of interest. Has surprised Pikachu face when I explained this business 101-level topic. Also thought I would accept the aforementioned employee's self-assessment of restrictions and gladly welcome him back 🤦🏼♀️
It's just all the things, so many more than listed. Every day is a test of how much I can tolerate before letting the world burn. I am in tears hiding in my office almost daily because of how fucked we most certainly are. I really wish the generalist track wasn't what I fell into, because with the job market now, I'll never find anything different. And then I read posts here like "I just sit around all day and have nothing to do, is this really HR?" Like, I haven't been able to come up for air in years, how is your fucking company able to operate without you doing things?!?!
Ok, thank you for tolerating my emotional rant. Back to being the example of stoicism.