Facing Workplace Harassment: Can I Take Legal Action Against My Former HR Manager?

Request for Assistance

I need valuable help from anybody. I was working with a multinational company in Ahmedabad as an Executive HR, also handling administration. One day, one of the HR managers asked me to arrange a vehicle for a manager in the accounts department for the next day. I spoke with the company pool car driver, and the driver had a conversation with the HR manager and also with the accounts manager. The next day, the driver was unable to reach the office and pick up the accounts manager. When I arrived in the morning, the HR manager shouted and sacked me. I spoke with the accounts manager, and there was no complaint from his side. He told me that there was no complaint.

The HR manager again shouted and threatened to throw me from the building, etc. While he was shouting, one of the senior managers was present and advised me to write a letter to the MD about his behavior. Accordingly, I wrote a letter and circulated it to the MD, CEO, and Supply Chain Head, but there was no response. Eventually, they asked me to resign, and I was transferred to Delhi.

In this regard, I filed a written complaint with the Gujarat Defense Minister and other authorities in Delhi, but to date, there has been no response. After the incident, the HR manager resigned and joined another company. Now, I have learned that the HR manager has returned to the company as a VP - HR. Can I file an FIR against him? All the correspondence I had with the MD is with me.

Awaiting your quick response.

There are some inconsistencies in the narration. If you were in charge of admin and asked a carpool driver to pick up the manager, why did he need to talk to the HR manager? Could he not reach the office to pick up the manager? Were you not there in the office? Did the accounts manager not tell you the driver was not there? Picking up from the office does not need elaborate scheduling or arrangements.

The HR head sacked you (obviously, someone who can't even arrange for a pickup, what will he be good for, etc.). There is some other matter you are not telling. Was there some critical meeting the manager missed because of you? If he sacked you, how were you still in the company?

You have a complaint against the HR head; you circulated that to all the HODs? I understand CEO and MD. What does the supply chain have to do with it? Etc. means you sent it to many others. I am not surprised someone wanted you out of the company. The MD didn't respond, which is expected.

They asked you to resign and transferred you to Delhi. Which was it? Did they ask you to resign? In that case, where is the question of a Delhi transfer? If the MD wants your resignation, they will get it. Transfer would not be an option.

You took an internal matter and complained to the Gujarat defense minister (didn't know Gujarat was a separate country) and other "sources" in Delhi. Which means politicians. Which company will want you in their office? I don't know how long this has been going on, but I am surprised you have retained your job for so long.

Incidentally, what is the basis of your FIR? Some manager shouted at me and said he will remove (throw out) from the office. That too because I failed in one of my basic duties, which was to arrange for a vehicle for a visiting manager. Is it a crime for a manager to get angry at a useless employee? Did he use any derogatory words or something that is actually a crime (as compared to misconduct of using swear words)?

This matter has caught my curiosity. Please give feedback on the above. I would like to know what actually happened.

"Incidentally, what is the basis of your FIR?"

Threatening language and a threat of physical harm by throwing you from the building.

And as you say, there are several inconsistencies, gaps, and unwanted overreactions by the poster.

As other viewers have informed, there are shortcomings in your version and some ambiguities in it. However, please note that filing an FIR against a serving HR does not serve any purpose, as the management will stand beside him/her.

Therefore, please speak to the concerned HR and properly present your viewpoint in a calm and polite manner. I hope there could be some way out. Legal proceedings will take some time, and it is not certain they will be in your favor. Hence, compromise is the best way to resolve the issues.

I still don't understand how it helps.

Envisaging the Conversation

OP: I want to file an FIR.
Police: Okay, what is the crime?
OP: My HR manager threatened to throw me from the building. He also used threatening and unparliamentary language.
Police (confused): Did he actually say he would physically throw you from the top floor of the office building?
OP: No, no, he said he would remove me from the building with the help of security and not let me come back.
Police (more confused): Why is that a crime for which filing an FIR is needed? Anyway, when did this happen? What did he do after threatening?
OP: That was 6 months (or maybe 2 years) ago. After saying that, he walked off and hasn't taken any action. I am not able to sleep, waiting for him to throw me.