Need to rant before I break down or punch a wall. I’m a local mid-level executive working in a MNC here. Performance reviews have always been solid, meeting KPIs, no drama. But late last year, we got a new Director from [Country X] (won’t name specifically, but you can guess). Since then, my life has become a living hell.
At first, I thought okay, maybe he just has a very direct management style. But now it’s crystal clear what the game plan is. This guy is actively micromanaging me to death and setting me up to fail. Every single email I send, he will find one small typo or question my formatting in front of the whole department group chat. He gives me impossible, contradictory deadlines—like asking for a massive data breakdown at 5:30 PM and expecting it by 9:00 AM the next day, then passive-aggressively CC-ing HR when I ask for clarification.
The worst part? Two months ago, he brought in a “consultant” from his own home country on a temporary basis. Guess who is being forced to train this guy? Me. I’m literally writing down my own SOPs and teaching this fellow everything about our local infrastructure and regional portfolio. And guess what? This consultant’s English is half-past-six, he makes major errors, but my boss just laughs it off as a “learning curve.” Meanwhile, if I make a minor oversight, it’s treated like a national crisis.
It’s so bloody obvious he’s trying to squeeze me out so he can convert his kakis into a permanent head count. The toxic vibes are immaculate. He has already started sidelining me from major project meetings, and during the rare times I get to speak, he just cuts me off or ignores my input entirely.
Honestly, my mental health is completely down the drain. Wake up every day with anxiety, heartbeat fast fast, stomach tied in knots. I love my actual job and the local team, but this kind of toxic, targeted gaslighting is really next level.
To my fellow sinkies who survived this kind of corporate colonization—what’s the move here? Do I bother flags this to HR, or is HR just there to protect the management anyway? Should I just quiet quit, take my sweet time, and spam job applications on LinkedIn?
Give me some advice please, else I really think I will give up and go sign on grab driver.