What is my manager thinking?

Tan81

Hello, posted on my situation previously but wanted feedback on latest developments.
A few months ago was put on an informal performance improvement plan with (in my opinion) very vague targets. Despite my best efforts the plan failed and was invited to a Stage 1 formal performance improvement meeting with Line Manager, HR person, union rep and myself. The upshot was that I was given a formal warning and was going to be given the minimum period to improve or it would be moved to Stage 2. The union rep intervened expressing his surprise about severity (especially given reasonable mitigating circumstances) and the improvement period was extended reluctantly.
I received the new plan today, it is virtually identical to original plan (still very vague) but what I'm struggling to understand is my manager's approach: she literally flung the envelope at me as she was leaving for home and a period of leave and then bolted out the door. Previous correspondence about this process was either emailed to me on a delay when she was working at home or left on my desk at a time when I'm either on leave or have left for the day. I find this approach very cowardly but is there any other possible reason for it?
Interested in your thoughts

Takeaway_Addict

What do you want her to do? Go through each point one by one and ask her what she is looking for? If so, ask her for a meeting regarding this.

Tan81

It's not so much that as the way she's handling it, as if she feels I will get violent or emotional. I know (most of) these things are coming so why is she avoiding (in an extreme way IMO) being around when I receive it, I have no history of getting emotional or creating a scene.

DigForVictory

Sort a face to face meeting, with the union bod if needed. Go over the points steadily & calmly & agree on changes for clarity.
She's behaving like a gutless wimp, but can be managed with care.
All the best!

tomtontom

DigForVictory wrote: »

Sort a face to face meeting, with the union bod if needed. Go over the points steadily & calmly & agree on changes for clarity.
She's behaving like a gutless wimp, but can be managed with care.
All the best!

It's the OP that is being managed - out of a job.

mandragora_2

Tan81 wrote: »

It's not so much that as the way she's handling it, as if she feels I will get violent or emotional. I know (most of) these things are coming so why is she avoiding (in an extreme way IMO) being around when I receive it, I have no history of getting emotional or creating a scene.

Presumably because the situation makes her feel very uncomfortable, and she doesn't have the skills/confidence/experience to deal with it any other way. Perhaps no-one above her's thought to check out that she is equipped with these things and/or she's hiding her skills deficit from her bosses if they have checked whether or not she needs support as she, in principle at least guides you through this time and does her best to support and manage you.

I'm not saying any of these things make her behaviour ok, but it's my bet that this is what it's about. For yourself, think about what the impact is on you - does it bother you? Is it worth raising as an issue? Or is it something that is a minor niggle, and you can simply make a note of/log or forget about and deal with the other issues you have to deal with right now?

Only you will know the answer to this, but it may help to have a think about what you need right now in order to be able to move forward and give yourself the best chance of success at a very tricky time.

stevemLS

Take it the compromise agreement did not come off.

Your account of your boss's behaviour is entirely inconsistent with your earlier one https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5221548

What do you think has changed?