Problem manager and head of department

[amy12345]

Hi

I have a few issues with my fairly new (5 months) job and I am not sure what to do.

The first thing is that there is a massive blame culture in the department which comes from the head of department (lets call him Bob, note all names are fictional) and filters down through everyone to the lowest people, rank wise. Bob's focus is on who is to blame whenever something goes wrong. When Bob is to blame it is always someone else's fault. So much energy is focused on this rather than finding a solution and sorting it out. Also Bob does not take overall responsibility for errors as he should given his position. I find this atmosphere very difficult to work in but everyone else just seems to accept it and isn't bothered. Bob will regularly come out of his office and shout at people yet noone ever tells him it is rude etc. Bob didn't quite shout at me but he did do it to me a few weeks ago and I complained to my manager, he hasn't done it to me since but he has done it to others. \the whole situation is just incredibly uncomfortable and I avoid talking to Bob when I can as I hate it. Am I just to accept this situation? How can it be resolved or improved?

The second issue is my manager (lets call her Jane). For a while I did think we got on great as we have a lot in common. However recently she has done a number of things which show me she is definitely not there to be friendly with me and she is not particularly interested in managing me and not in any case how I wish to be managed. For example Jane regularly spends quite a lot of time on the internet at work, to the point of reserving her holidays. A new seating plan was agreed and everyone was happy. But when Jane saw it she said she couldn't sit where planned as Bob would be able to see her screen and she couldn't therefore go on the internet. So Jane rearranged the whole plan, putting me somewhere she knew full well I would not want to sit (near Bob). I think my manager is there to support me and make sure I have what I need to progress etc, so doing that to me is really not helpful.

Separately Jane has recently completed a form for my mid probation which was due 2 months ago. I had some comments on her ratings and comments, which I may not have had if she had discussed her input with me as she was meant to. My comments were dismissed by Jane and she made it very clear she did not like me disagreeing with her. This makes me feel like I can no longer tell her if I am having issues etc. I commented that I hoped the end of my probation would be reviewed on time (rather than also 2 months late) which was met with "why would it not be done on time?". I think Jane had wanted to return the form to HR saying she had just not gotten round to sending it back yet or similar but the fact I had written that shows it was done late.

I mentioned on the form that I had some issues most of which I had already raised and was waiting to see some improvements. I requested that I have a monthly one to one with Jane to discuss this and any improvements or otherwise, and also to get feedback on my work as I receive very little. I was told at my induction that I should have one to ones monthly, and on the probation form it states Jane was meant to set me goals within 2 weeks of me starting and then meet regularly with me to discuss them, none of which has happened. Jane dismissed my request for one to ones, although she later conceded and has put this in the calendar.

I also work for both Jane and another lady (lets call her Sue), who I much prefer and would like to work solely with. The clients I work on with Sue are very busy and really there should be 2 people working on them rather than Sue plus just half of my time. I have asked whether I can work full time either with Jane or Sue but have been told no. I have also asked if there are any plans to bring in someone else to work with Sue and have also been told no. The issue with working for two people is that only one of them is my actual manager and Jane thinks what she says goes. I am given things by both Jane and Sue to do which puts me in a difficult position and it is often unclear what I am meant to be prioritizing because Jane and Sue do not speak to each other and agree this. I have mentioned this to Jane and suggested we have a 5 minute meeting every morning so I and they know what I am doing and what is priority. This suggestion was dismissed by Jane. I said I would be putting it in the calendar myself and did so. Only one of these meetings has taken place so far and it consisted of me telling Jane that I was going to do X and Y that day and was that alright. Sue was not involved. I am not sure this is going to work.

This has led to other issues. The work Jane gives me is often not really of the level I should be doing given my job title (it is too low/basic work). I am much more her assistant rather than there to gain experience and progress. The work I do with Sue is significantly more interesting, involved and of the level I think it should be. When Jane gives me something to do I often ask for a deadline as since I am not as involved in her clients this is often not clear to me. A few weeks ago I was given a large task to do and I asked for the deadline and was told it was in 5 weeks. I did the first draft and sent it back to Jane for review and she came back with some amendments. Since it was still not due for 3 weeks I did other things I had from Sue which were due the next day. Jane then asked me when I was going to do the amendments and I said it wasn't due for a while so I had prioritized other things. Jane said that she wanted Bob to be able to review the amendments on Monday, bringing forward the due date for me by 3 weeks. When I queried this later with her she told me I needed to stop being so rigid. How can I prioritize properly if she amends deadlines she has given me? and by 3 weeks? I am not sure how to bring this up again.

I strongly get the impression that Jane wants someone to do her work for her (she regularly throws things at me to do that she has had for months and that are due the next day) but that she is not interested in being a manager and making sure I am ok. So I am not really happy with my situation. On the one hand I have 4 weeks left of my probation, during which time my notice period is a week, so if I were going to leave this would be a good time. On the other hand I have only just moved to this job, and have only spent 18 months at both of my previous employers in this sector. So I am concerned that leaving would make me look like a quitter etc and give the wrong impression.

Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions on what I should or could do to improve things? Is it worth waiting to see improvements?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 226268]

Looks like you have recently joined a company which is slowly driving towards the edge of disaster.
You will soon become the company scapegoat.
This is a complicated Ego driven situation that you find yourself in, but the answer is extremely simple.

Just hand in your notice today and leave.

.... what I should or could do to improve things?
No one will be interested.

Is it worth waiting to see improvements?
There will not be any.

Start complaining too much, and you will will be pushed out anyway.

 

[prophet01]

As I see it from the information provided you have the following courses of action available:

• Accept working in a poisonous environment as do the others: This will sentence you to a permanent life of misery at work. For me not acceptable.

• Leave of your own accord: Why should you have to give up a perfectly good job because of the selfish and unacceptable behavior of others. For me not acceptable.

• Immediately bring matters to the attention of higher management/HR: This might result in; you being viewed and portrayed as a troublemaker by others unwilling to "rock the boat", you being viewed and portrayed as a troublemaker by higher management depending on how stupid or how wise they are. Will certainly result in you being singled out by Bob and Jane who will attempt to make your life a misery at work. For me not a wise option.

What I would do in your position is to stay quiet for the time being and start to keep an extremely detailed diary record of the negative activities you describe above with a view, if the situation does not improve (highly likely will not improve), to taking the matter some time in the future to higher management/HR armed with detailed evidence. If this is not acted upon and you do get targeted as a result of your complaint keep the diary going.

If it gets to the point that your life is being made such a misery that you can no longer stay with the company you might well be able to sue for constructive dismissal for which your detailed diary record will provide solid evidence.

If you have the finances it would be worth immediately appointing an employment solicitor and pay for an hour or two of their time (around £200/hour) to seek advice and to set out the issues with them which will provide an excellent record for later use.

Coincidentally, I appointed an employment solicitor last week to commence legal action against an organisation for whom I do voluntary work. I'm seeking damages for defamation as a consequence of their deliberate and evidenced breach of the Data Protection Act. I "rocked the boat" by challenging institutionalised bullying by long established co-volunteers, back in May, who are now attempting to get me out assisted, illegally, by lower ranked officers of the organisation. I'm going nowhere.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

It sounds like you want to work in a nice place in fairy land where all things are sweet and nice, just like the old Christmas films

The boss is there to run and push a department to help make as much profit as it can

Your manager is there to help him not to mummy cuddle the staff

The arrangements of the office is probably based upon years of experience by the boss and manager to get the best out of the staff

It sounds like your first job, you need to quickly learn to do your own job and not get involved in running before you have any experience of walking in the job

 

[Don Smith]

The benefit of being an employee is the ability to hand in your notice and leave. What you do have to remember though is you are being paid to be there and the people you are complaining about are your manager and head of department, they are not, and more importantly not meant to be, your friends. That's why it's called "work" and not "play".

To be fair this is a business forum, you'll probably get the replies you want on Mums Net.

 

[Mark T Jones]

TBH there is a hell of a lot of script there, much of it pretty trivial - in fact (admitting I only skimmed over it) - there was nothing that jumped out to me as being a significant problem in its own right

So I guess what we should ask is 'what is the real problem?'

Working in a business team, particularly a fairly large team will inevitably involve differing personalities and different management styles, to a degree you can position yourself to avoid the ones that grate but ultimately the choice is yours to whether you can actually fit in and be comfortable in your career.

The alternative, as said above is to leave.

 

[ADW]

You state everyone else accepts it and isn't bothered. If it was as bad as you say I would expect others to also have issues. People are very forward in having a moan about their bosses so would have thought many others would be agreeing with you if it is as bad as you say. If others aren't moaning and you are and being a new employee, I do think you are going to continue to struggle there. You might be suited to seeking a work environment more suited to how you can succeed. Why would anything change where you are if everyone else is okay with the way things are and you as a new employee are not happy with the way it is run.

 

[ethical PR]

To be fair this is a business forum, you'll probably get the replies you want on Mums Net.

Rather patronising 'Don Smith'.

To the OP. You are clearly uncomfortable working in this company, so I would put your energy into finding another job where the culture is more in line with what you are working for.

However, as someone who sounds like they are starting out on their career, it's important to understand that your work colleagues, particularly your boss, isn't there to be your friend.

It's also not up to you to suggest staffing requirements for one of your managers.

 

[The Byre]

You have just written about 1,500 words, moaning about your work.

Being an employee and a mere production factor, whose only importance is the cost and other obligations involved, sucks. Live with it!

Either that, or employ the energy you used to write that seemingly endless diatribe of wow in finding a better job. You could also use that energy to gain some qualifications that place you in Bob's position.

 

[Jim2k]

A forum full of business owners and directors is probably not the best place for a staff member to moan about their own bosses and expect to get much sympathy! Everyone runs their businesses in different ways but that's the joy of running your own business. You do it your way and if people don't like it (and as long as your way is above board) then they can choose the highway.

 

[Don Smith]

Rather patronising 'Don Smith'.

To the OP. You are clearly uncomfortable working in this company, so I would put your energy into finding another job where the culture is more in line with what you are working for.

However, as someone who sounds like they are starting out on their career, it's important to understand that your work colleagues, particularly your boss, isn't there to be your friend.

It's also not up to you to suggest staffing requirements for one of your managers.

Wasn't meant to patronising but a genuine suggestion as to where they can converse with people who will be more sympathetic to their plight.

 

[Gecko001]

The situation that the OP has described probably is similar to the majority of workplaces as far as I can see. The OP has dealt with a number of problems which has affected her such as the manager shouting at her. I would deal with each problem that you have just in this way.

As has been said the OP is looking for some sort of perfection in the workplace that is difficult to find. Also I find that the OP hints that she looking for friendship with her managers which really is difficult if not possible to have. After all, they might well be in a position to have to fire you or award you promotion (a personal friendship could be difficult in both these situations). I think you need to draw boundaries in the workplace. The people who seem to like working at this place probably do not particularity love it but they probably do know how to draw boundaries around their relationships at work.

 

[tony84]

Nobody seems to have mentioned that even once you have passed your probationary period, your employer can dismiss you within 2 years without any real reason (there are exceptions).

No offence but you are pretty much on the bottom rung of the ladder and you are asking what you can do...you can go in and do your job.

Your manager is not there to manage in a way you think she should manage. Thats not to say she cant improve but realistically thats not going to happen overnight and chances are she will not change the amount you want in your lifetime.

Your options are basically stay and get on with your job or leave.

As someone who has just joined the company, not even been there long enough to have got through probabtionary period to be deciding what managers should and should not be doing and not being happy with a seating plan among other things - I could not deal with that, you sound like a bit of a moaner. Ultimately you have been paid to do a job which includes what your manager wants. If your manager wants you to make the brews all day thats what you do.

 

[Gecko001]

I generally agree with the above. Making the tea all day might be going a bit far but I remember a university lecturer once giving us all a lecture (as you do when you are a lecturer) before we all went on our year- out placement. He said that if we were told to wash the bosses car, you washed the car. I did the equivalent of washing the bosses car a few times and I might have actually done that as well in between getting invaluable experience which I still hold dear today.

 

[amy12345]

thanks to those who offered some advice. for the others I'm not really sure why you bothered to comment if you are such high flying busy people and thought it was such a stupid post.
some details for clarification:
1. this is far from my first job. I have been working for over 20 years.
2. my manager does not like the head of department either and complains about him daily.
3. The seating plan is like all offices based on what the people who shout loudest want.
4. this forum came up when I searched for one with suggestions as to how to resolve issues with your boss. I guess it is the wrong forum. Sorry.
5. I did not say other people did not have issues. Everyone complains about the head of department, however he has only been head of department slightly longer than I have been there so I assume they are waiting for him to change or leave.
6. I did not say I didn't have any qualifications or that I was not currently studying for the same qualification Bob has.
7. I am not looking for friendship with anyone I work with. however when your manager confides in you and wants to discuss her problems outside work with you to the point of crying, you do assume there is a certain respect between you. I will definitely revisit this.

 

[Gecko001]

.
7. I am not looking for friendship with anyone I work with. however when your manager confides in you and wants to discuss her problems outside work with you to the point of crying, you do assume there is a certain respect between you. I will definitely revisit this.

Again my advice is boundaries. Do not confuse respect for just finding someone to talk to. Do they not have friends or family to do that with or seek counselling outside of work. If they are talking to one of the people they are managing about their problems they are having with their own bosses and treating that person as some sort of impartial counsellor they are stepping over boundaries in my view. You cannot be an impartial counsellor to this person. They are not treating you with respect by expecting you to listen to complaints they have with the management of the firm. They should be going to their own boss or to HR. If they are suicidal or it is affecting their mental health then advise them to talk to friends or seek help someone impartial.