So, my husband and I purchased an established business in a small town like 20 years ago. It came with some longtime employees that had been there longer than I had been alive. Did I mention small town?
My tattooed, heathen Goth self, in retrospect, freaked them out quite a bit more than I realized. I somehow thought being fair and kind and good at the job would cut it. Nope! I was A Big City Heathen. Emphasis on the heathen.
They were pretty sure I probably punt Baby Jesus in my spare time or sacrifice chickens to Satan or some shit. I definitely didn't attend church!
I also hired my mom to work one day a week. She loves the business, she is good with people, it seemed like a good idea when I was 22 or whatever. (Spoiler- it was not.)
So. Turns out the employees were having weekly potlucks where they discussed what a devil worshipping heathen ho I am. And how much they hated me. My mom made friends with these people- she is super nice, and lacks any ability to be judgmental- before she knew this. A year or so down the line they invited her.
And of course it was a hate potluck and they spent most of it bashing me in a really horrifying way. Hardcore. In front of her, over casseroles. She, being non confrontational to a fault, just kinda smiled and nodded and stayed the whole time.
Her closest friend in that group was actually kind of horrified she didn't, at minimum, leave the room and finally told me the details. I might not have believed it except my mom totally confirmed it and didn't quite understand why I was hurt and pissed AF.
Like I didn't care what anyone else in that group thought about me, but I'd like to think my mom wouldn't smile and nod while I was viciously slandered.
It sounds kind of cute and I would totally own it in most circumstances but they'd nicknamed me and another girl* The Witch Sisters, and we had all sorts of weird orgies and stuff.
Upshot was in the next 6 months I fired all the old guard, gently retired my mom and it's been much smoother since I have done the hiring in the last 20 years.
*She was the only one who stuck by me and she is still my BFF lo these many years later. She still has pink hair. No orgies tho.