Feeling stitched up.

MidlandsMum

Hi, been away from the site for a while but I know you lot can be very helpful so thought I would just get your opinions, good or bad on my situation.

Week before last I was asked to go on cover to another branch. I know the manager and one of the other girls so I happily went along. I had a great day, really loved it and I know the manager was very pleased with my work. She said how short staffed they were and she was obviously very stressed coping with only 2 staff on site every day. On my return to my office I took my assistant manager aside and explained how stressed the other manager was and how I had enjoyed it and offered to be first asked for any other cover work they may need.

On Monday my manager returned from Holiday and on Wednesday I was asked to go into the office, was told there was a job available at the the other branch on a permanent basis and ~I had to decide that day if I wanted it or they would start the interview process with other candidates. I was a bit shaken by this, especially when the manager said she highly recommended I took the job as there is nowhere for me to progress to in my office and proceeded to shout me down when I explained I had only offered to go on cover saying I had turned down every opportunity they had offered me before (they've never offered me anything that came to any fruition). I manged to collar another manager afterwards and asked him what was going on. He told me the assistant manager had told him I had requested a transfer. A director also told me the same.

Anyway, I felt I had no choice so I accepted on Thursday and was told I start on Monday. (I was off on Friday)

I checked the company intranet before I left and no jobs have even been advertised for this branch so now I feel I've been pushed out, lied to and generally stitched up.

I don't know if I should take this further as the !!!. manager, my old manager and HR are very cliquey. I even contemplated contacting my union...

What do you lot think?

Zazen999

You have fallen into a trap. However, are you sure they aren't just edging you into a job when they can't progress you in your current role?

DVardysShadow

MidlandsMum wrote: »

... On my return to my office I took my assistant manager aside and explained how stressed the other manager was and how I had enjoyed it and offered to be first asked for any other cover work they may need.

... . I manged to collar another manager afterwards and asked him what was going on. He told me the assistant manager had told him I had requested a transfer. A director also told me the same.

Anyway, I felt I had no choice so I accepted on Thursday and was told I start on Monday. (I was off on Friday)

.....

What do you lot think?

I think you were firstly a pushover and secondly being used as a doormat. As blunt as that. Once the 'misunderstanding' [ie misrepresentation] became apparent, you should have stopped it there, corrected the error and stood your ground and taken your own time to consider the offer. Certainly not accepted being rushed into a decision.

The question is what do you want to do now?

Rockporkchop

Very dodgy, although with management like that I think you are probably better off out of your branch and at least you will be working somewhere you are well liked and appreciated.

MidlandsMum

I agree about the doormat/pushover statement but I've had "previous" with this assistant manager where I've been accused of being both a troublemaker and rude when I've called them out on unkept promises. There is rampant favouritism and !!!!!ing which has, in the past made me quite ill, but as I'm a stubborn old cow I've hung in there, doing my job, plodding along, making as much money as poss as my Husband has just started University and we had debts to pay off (which I did).

I went to see a a friend last night who knows the business well but works for a rival company. She had a similar thing done to her a couple of years ago and she thinks it will be the best thing that has happened to me in my 3 and a half years employment with this company. What annoys me is the way it was done with a fake smile and probably more false promises.

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. I'm going to turn up there bright and early tomorrow with a huge grin and a box of muffins and make the most of it.

Zazen999

Just smile back to yourself, and thank them for making the transition so easy for you. Sounds as if they did you a favour.

DVardysShadow

MidlandsMum wrote: »

I agree about the doormat/pushover statement but I've had "previous" with this assistant manager where I've been accused of being both a troublemaker and rude when I've called them out on unkept promises. There is rampant favouritism and !!!!!ing which has, in the past made me quite ill, but as I'm a stubborn old cow I've hung in there, doing my job, plodding along, making as much money as poss as my Husband has just started University and we had debts to pay off (which I did).

Well done you! Probably you have managed to actually get the better of the AM in reality, hence this move.

I went to see a a friend last night who knows the business well but works for a rival company. She had a similar thing done to her a couple of years ago and she thinks it will be the best thing that has happened to me in my 3 and a half years employment with this company. What annoys me is the way it was done with a fake smile and probably more false promises.

If it is a good move, then seize it! I have no idea what kind of company you work for, but if the AM has been getting away with treating staff wrongly for some time, then I would say that they value both you and the AM. Your problem in the long run is that you may not be able to put up with the corporate BS and you might outgrow the organisation in the medium term. Just a guess on my part, but it may be worth thinking about how you would move on in the same medium term - and do it once you come up with a sufficiently worthwhile option. [I am not suggesting a 'get out at any price approach']

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. I'm going to turn up there bright and early tomorrow with a huge grin and a box of muffins and make the most of it.

If it were me and I knew how, I would make fairy cakes with white icing, but make one with brown icing just for the AM. Go on, go on, go on.

DVardysShadow

Mysolicitorisbetter wrote: »

Or maybe the old manager was just quite happy to punt an employee who clearly wasnt happy in that role.

Of course the old manager was happy to do this, she had been called too many times, and any decent person would be unhappy to be put in the position of calling on their manager.

Is this a first from you? A statement of the blandly obvious which is not designed as a wind up?

MidlandsMum

There's no opportunity for me to say goodbye to my old workmates, I was told on Thursday I'm to start at the new place on Monday. The temptation to deliver my *delightful* assistant manager an interesting cake is tempting, but as she is off sick *again* I won't be able to.

I've bought new shoes, going to have a nice long bubblebath tonight and will be at the new place first thing tomorrow with a smile on my face and some treats for my new workmates.

getmore4less

Read your first post you practicly begged to be working in the other place/transfered,

They made it easy for you.

go positive(claim you were poached), ask the new boss if you can pop back to see you old mates at the start/end of a shift in the first week.

MidlandsMum

Hi, quick update.
First day yesterday, all went well and it was great being home by 6pm instead of all the silly shifts I had to work at the other place. This branch is also on the route to my eldest son's school so if I dont fancy getting up early so he can get the bus I won't need to. They've fitted in my few days off next week effortlessly. I'm starting to learn the ropes there in earnest today as my new role actually has a fair bit more responsibility.

So, all in this could be ok. I'm not walking distance to work anymore, but my little car is good with fuel and the extra fiver a week I have to put in may be worth it.

Still can't face the thought of the company Christmas party though. I have visions of myself karate kicking my old assistant manager in the face for being such a nasty bag of washing. Ah well, I suppose I can let karma deal with that one