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My boss wants to fire me! (long one)
This is likely going to be a long one, but I'll try to summarize as much as possible.
I have a cushy government job that I love. It pays well, has amazing benefits, I love my co-workers and the actual work I do is great. I've been here for almost 4 years now and a couple years in I thought I'd be here for the long haul. BUT, about a year ago my previous manager retired. The new manager is, well, not good on so many levels. And there are two main issues:
- she is mean. She makes very snarky
comments, insults me in front of other people (in a very back handed way
though, so nothing that is very obvious to others). She's cold and
aggressive.
- she is now trying to fire me. Since she has
started, things with my actual performance have been fairly normal. I've
always done a great job and never had any performance issues (with this
job or any others). There have been a few projects here and there that
she's commented on saying they needed work, but normally things are
good. (Sidebar: I'm a writer and because writing is very subjective and
often personal, it's very much open to interpretation and personal
tastes than other jobs.) But then a couple weeks ago she sat me down for
a meeting saying if my work doesn't improve, she'll have to "rethink my
staying in this role". Obviously it's very upsetting and I'm quite
dumbfounded. There were a couple of projects she noted as poor (again,
writing being subjective, it's her opinion). Since this meeting, she has
followed up with emails saying the same thing (basically a paper trail
for her to prove she's given me warnings). Since then, she has started
critiquing everything I do
to death. Nothing I do right now is good enough for her. I obviously
don't agree with her and after the second email about my "horrible
performance" (two emails in just over a week) I finally emailed her back
and gave her all of my feedback on the specific projects she has talked
about, as well as her overall issues and my interpretations. The email
was very positive and not offensive in any way, but it was my own paper
trail (as recommended to me by a former boss). She has yet to respond to
that email, but she did critique another project of mine in the
meantime.
But really, I think she just wants me out for
whatever reason (either she has someone in mind to replace me, she wants
to hire someone new who she can hire herself, she doesn't like me
personally or... who knows). But it seems very obvious she wants me out.
The thing is, as I've government, we are unionized and to have someone fired for performance issues, the process is a long one (a year). I don't think my boss knows this as she's new to unions and our director (her boss) is a horrible witch who things that the rules don't apply to her. So likely my manager is getting advice from hers and doing things in the completely wrong way. But really, she can't fire me easily. Even her emails are not considered valid warnings by the union, although she may think otherwise.
So while she can't fire me easily and I know my job is somewhat secure for now, things are obviously toxic and driving me insane. So I figure I have a few options:
-
file a formal complaint against her relating to the aggressive/bullying
attitude (this is something I've been noting for some time now, not
just since these so-called performance issues came up). On one hand, I
don't want this to become a tit-for-tat kind of thing where she thinks
I'm complaining because she is saying my work sucks, but at the same
time, it could make her back off. And I do have some legit complaints.
- find a new job and leave (basically giving her what she wants, but for my mental/emotional health, it may be the best).
- continue along and just see what happens. I hate going in to work every day now, when before I loved it.
As I honestly don't believe this is a performance issues and there really is no way to improve to her liking, I don't know what else I can do. (Honestly, one of the so-called badly done items was a newspaper ad announcing changes to our child car seat laws - she said it wasn't "on message" even though the message is obviously very clear - the law is changing - and I based the copy on already approved copy!) Oh, and I had my previous manager review one of the pieces she said was bad and she said she wouldn't have changed a thing.
Hence why I think this is just a personal vendetta.
But, obviously I'm at a crossroads - either something has to change or I get another job. The trouble is, I'm going to have a hard time finding another job that is just as good benefit and pay-wise. Plus I actually love what I do and I don't want to give her the satisfaction of me leaving and her getting what she wants.
Sorry for being so long. I could get into even more detail! I would love some unbiased advice on what to do.
Re: My boss wants to fire me! (long one)
I would file a complaint. If you liked your job until this wench came along there is no reason not to. How do you know others don't feel the same way?
I had a problem with the manager we had for almost a year. I actively was searching for a new job. I spoke with my boss (the dentist who owns the practice) and after some investigation on his part, he fired her!!
If your happy I wouldn't consider quitting until you know if her behavior is going to be tolerated or not.
I agree with PP - I would fight for a job I love. File the formal complaint and see where it goes from there, it's quite possible you will see some alleviation of the bad boss behavior if she gets reprimanded.
I hope it all works out for you!
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You are in a tough spot no matter what you do.
I've worked for over 40 years (yes,true). I've had great bosses and ones I really didn't mesh with. Sometimes it's a personality thing, sometimes it's just understanding each other. But, the bottom line is you loved this job until she showed up and now while you still love it, you don't want to go into work.
She is new, you are not. You understand the workplace culture and union involvement, she may not. If you have a separate HR function outside calling in the union, I'd check on that. If not, I'd talk to a union rep for some advice before going the full "complaint" route. Also, I'm assuming you are not a department of one, how does she interact/manage your coworkers? Is there talk around the water cooler about her by others? This is important to know because either it's her and everyone, or her and just you.
My son had a wicked, wicked but brilliant boss in his prior job with a non-profit in DC. He was her 3rd or 4th "assistant" in as many years. He lasted less than a year. She was the one with the seniority and brilliance, and she is able to rule the roost in her own way and they continuously turn over this job in the office because of her brilliance. Upper management allows it to happen simply because she is who she is. In your case, you have a prior job performance with no issues, and the "issues" didn't arise until she arrived. But it is important to get as much background info as you can before making anything "formal". It's not gossip if you are actively seeking counsel from coworkers or the union rep. I wouldn't tip my hand when I ask the question, I'd simply ask if anyone is having any problems with her. I understand the "subjective" issue about writing. I've edited my boss's and son's papers for years for spelling, grammar and content.
If it were me, I'd probably pursue another option in another department on any job search websites available to you within the organization. Presumably you keep your seniority if you transfer to a different department. While you have the "righteous" upper hand, sometimes it doesn't pay to burn the bridges and force the union to interact on your behalf. You start the "troublemaker" timeline which never is good. I've gone toe to toe on similar situations, and simply found other jobs within the organization when it seemed like the wise choice. Yes, it sucks to "give in", but in the end the important thing is you know what you did was the best for your future.
All I can say is "good luck".
If your boss wants you out, fair or not, she's going to find a way to make that happen. Even if you are unionized & you fight to keep your job, the harder you fight the more you will look like a "problem" employee to your superiors. It doesn't matter if you are technically "right" you have now become a pain in someone else's tail & they have to have investigations & meetings & all sorts of other distractions which take away from the job & make you look like you are more trouble then you are worth.
Unless your big bosses are solidly on your side -- which I doubt just because in my experience government employees are loathe to stick their necks out for anybody -- this isn't going to end well for your reputation.
For your own mental health, start looking for a new job.
Fight this.
A government job, and one that you live is a tough thing to come by. Stick to your guns, do your best work and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
Contact someone on union side and ask for guidance.
Good luck!