Direct supervisor was EXTREMELY TOXIC! - Graduate Assistant Missouri State University Employee Review

I was frequently told that my work was excellent, even that no previous Graduate Assistant had been trusted with as much responsibility. But beneath that surface-level praise was a work environment that often felt tense, belittling, and uncomfortable with my direct supervisor. My direct supervisor regularly acted passively-aggressively toward me and, at times, with my co-worker. It created a constant sense of walking on eggshells. I raised concerns twice — first about inappropriate comments and passive-aggressive behavior, and then again after being publicly scolded in a way that made my coworker leave the room, visibly uncomfortable. Instead of addressing the second issue, I was given a formal "coaching" memo filled with unrelated complaints. It felt like clear retaliation for speaking up, especially since I had consistently received positive feedback about my work. There was consistent dismissive, sarcastic, and frankly unprofessional behavior. This person consistently had to take jabs, to the point where I learned that this is not the type of person you tell anything, especially about your personal life. It was really disappointing. I showed up, worked hard, and tried to maintain professionalism. But voicing real concerns led to punishment, not progress. If you're considering working here, know that the culture does not support accountability. Seniority and age allowed this behavior to continue unchecked. The clear message is that raising concerns would only reflect poorly on you, not on the person in the higher position.