I Got Demoted After My Team Turned Against Me

I’m still trying to process everything, so bear with me. For some context, I’ve been working as the store manager at retail store for a 3 months. I was promoted pretty quickly after the previous manager was fired, but I have previous store manager experience. The job has been stressful, but I’ve been doing my best to handle things—managing sales, trying to improve team morale, and addressing some ongoing issues with team drama.

Here’s the kicker: my team never supported me. There are two employees in particular who have constantly undermined me. They talk badly about me to coworkers and customers, refuse to follow my direction, and create a toxic environment. I tried to address the issues with them directly and even brought everything to my boss and HR. My boss seemed supportive and even told me he was considering letting some people go. I thought things might finally turn around.

But instead, HR came in, interviewed everyone, and the outcome was… I got demoted. I was told I’m “not a leader” and “don’t have the talent they’re looking for in a manager.” That stung. I’ve been stepping up and holding the store together while dealing with people actively sabotaging me, and now I’m being told I’m not good enough.

The team’s feedback is apparently what led to this decision, which hurts even more because I’ve done nothing but try to create a positive environment and support them, even when they’ve been openly hostile.

Now, my boss says they’re hiring a new store manager, and I’ll be moved back to my old position. I’m honestly at a loss. I feel completely humiliated, like all my efforts were for nothing. I’ve been considering leaving the company for a while now because of how toxic it’s been, but this feels like a final nail in the coffin.

I know I’m not perfect, but I really feel like I wasn’t set up to succeed in this role. Between the lack of support and the constant sabotage, I don’t know how I was ever supposed to prove myself. Not to mention I have received 0 negative feedback since my promotion.

Has anyone else been through something like this? How did you move forward after being blindsided like this at work? I’m trying not to take it personally, but it’s hard not to.