Being pushed out..what to do?

davidcolett5

Morning all,

Im a site manager for a large location that is 24/7 365 days a year and is quite challenging in its setup. Have done a great job with solid positive client feedback for over two years working upto 70 hours some weeks to maintain the smooth running of the site but 2 weeks ago things changed when a new accounts manager was given my site to over see, My two old managers warned me straight away he was known to try and sack site managers so he could bring in his own hand picked managers who bow to his every whim

His first visit wit his "team" was nothing but a exercise to unmotivate my staff, nit pick about every detail ( shade of blue of the gloves we use for example ) and tear apart anything he could find which really wasnt much which i think actually annoyed him! SInce then i have had two weeks of

- No replys to emails, most calls and texts which has affected the running of my site with lack of staff to cover unplanned sickness ( standard procedure for us ) leaving me with a annoyed cliient to deal with

- He has rehired staff i let go without any mention or discussion with myself or my site supervisiors but announced to my staff i had "fu**ed them over" and then argued with them when they tried to explain themselves why he had been let go

- I recently was asked to change my shift from my TUPE flexible no set hours contact to a fixed 42 hours a week shift patten contract which i did as it came with a payrise but less than a week later i was called by one of my staff ( he wont ring me direct to speak to me ) and told me my shift is now mon-fri, my job position has changed even tho i will still be manager its doing other tasks im not contracted for now and that i would be working over the weekend just gone.

- Long list of other issues he tried to make bigger including health and safety paperwork not being correct which it was and was signed off by the HSE not 3 weeks before as correct and just anything else he can make a issue out of

I Tried speaking to him face to face 1 on 1 and arranged a meeting on site for my day off to clear the air and get back on track but he called and said he was stuck 200 miles away and could not make it. Annoyed i had wasted a day off waiting for the meeting i went in anyway to check on the site and he was there already searching every bit of paperwork for training records he belived i didnt have as he could not see them ( i did, they were just locked away as they are important documents ) and this kinda summed up how it now all sits

Basically it seems im being set up to fail. This has led to some issues with my health, i had high blood pressure all ready which is usually kept under control but the sheer stress and negative energy at work now has made it soar leading to chest pains and sickness and for the first time ever i have started having anxiety/panic attacks. Docttor says i need to stay un stressed and maybe take some time off work but that will only make things worse and play into his hands right?

Was tempted to put in a grievance with our HR but not really sure what to say! So thought i would come on here for some advice

Thanks in advance for any replies :beer:

LilElvis

If your user name here is your real name it might be prudent to delete your post and then repost it under a new, non-identifiable, name. If your manager really is searching for ways to undermine/ get rid of you then he is likely to be searching the internet and social media for ammunition.

nicechap

I would start looking for a new job, you sound like you have valuable & transferrable skills and the stress & effort of fighting your new account manager is unlikely to end well which ever way it pans out. Once you've secured your new job, stop doing 70 hour weeks and do the minimum. If you stop before securing a new job you may end up without a job (however unfair) for a period of time.

Les79

I've never really been in that situation so no real experience, but I'd be inclined to document everything which is happening which is undermining your position. Also try and be proactive when he brings up issues (maybe sending an email to request a meeting to discuss specific concerns to see how you can both move forward). Bear in mind though, your direct lead (presumably the accounts manager) tells YOU what to do and you do have to adapt to their style of running things ("bow to his every whim")....

Maybe also approach HR for an informal chat to gain advice? You don't really have to put in a grievance, just sort of put it on their radar a bit.

It all depends on what you want really. You'd probably have to be on your A game so that you have evidence to rebut any attempt to ship you out. It is probably doable, but a massive and unnecessary drain on your time and energy. Seeking a new job may be better.

You also maybe step out of the way and take a less senior role? Who knows, if you sit down and discuss alternative roles which don't impede on his plans then you may well end up in a cushier job on your current wage? Then you can find a more suitable fit.

Carl31

Do you really want to work for someone that treats you like that? Even if you manage to keep hold of your job through using the appropriate channels, its hardly going to be a comfy ride

TBagpuss

Start job hunting.

Meanwhile, document.
Copies of the e-mails you've sent asking for meetings, and those about work-related issues which have been ignored.

Step one:

_repeat the request for meeting. Explain that you are concerned that there are communication issues and ask that he set out how he wants you to deal with specific issues
- e.g. ask him to specify how he wants you to deal with a situation such as staff calling in sick if he doesn't respond. Is he authorising you to get other staff members in (or whatever you would have done in the past)
- request that he communicate with you directly, in relation to things such as your hours
- request that he keep you in the loop about things such as re0hiring staff.

Keep everything very polite, make notes and follow up with an e-mail summarising what has been agreed (and anything that hasn't)

e.g." following on from our meting, I just want to clarify that I;ve correctly understood our discussion. i understand that we greed that

We were not able to resolve [unresolved issues] in the meting and I understand that you will come back to me to let me know how you would like to deal with those issues, in the mean time, I will do xxx " (where xxx is the sensible solution such as calling other staff in to cover unexpected absences, contacting his line manager if he doesn't respond to urgent enquiries etc) If you raise a grievance I would focus on specifics and how they directly affect the business. (e.g. Not just that he doesn't respond to calls or e-mails, but that he doesn't respond to urgent requests when his input is needed to address immediate issues such as staff absences, and that this creates problems for customers) also, although it is difficult try to consider whether there may be any legitimate reason for his actions - for instance, the gloves thing sounds really petty, but having the wrong colour could be symptom of people not following instructions accurately, not using the correct supplier or something of that kind, so while he ought to say so if that's the underlying issue, it's worth considering whether there are other reasons that the obvious for what he says or does.

davidcolett5

Thankd for the replies. Try and answer some and add a little update

If your manager really is searching for ways to undermine/ get rid of you then he is likely to be searching the internet and social media for ammunition.

I dont have social media and im just asking advice here so worst case scenario he sees me here asking adice but advice noted thanks

I would start looking for a new job, you sound like you have valuable & transferrable skills and the stress & effort of fighting your new account manager is unlikely to end well

Applied for 2 over the weekend and had 2 call backs and a phone interview today that has led to a formal inteview booked in for next week which suprised me but gave me a nice boost today!

document everything which is happening which is undermining your position

Thanks. Have been doing this already and its grim reading but at least its then easy to show someone else ( which i hope i wont have to )

Do you really want to work for someone that treats you like that? Even if you manage to keep hold of your job through using the appropriate channels, its hardly going to be a comfy ride

My client loves me, have a decent team of staff who i get on well with and i enjoy my job and the training and rewards it gives me why would i want to just give in and leave because of one guy that dosnt like me for some unknown reason?

**UPDATE**
Requested a meeting for this weds which he has agreed. He has also invited 2 other managers from "his team" to attend...but my goal is a simple one just to explain my worries and ask for some consessions from his side as well as mine so we can work better together which include

- Him not using third non management people to send messages or call me. Will ask him to do it direct

- Keep me informed of changes he wants to make ahead of time so i can plan and adjust my working ways accordingly ( and i can then keep a eye on staff to make sure they are doing as he has requested )

Seems fair right?
Some new issues to arise today was he requested i leave my password protected company laptop with a new start staff member so he can show someone a training video ( thats my job to train all staff ) but it has peoples confidential info on there from adress to sick notes and company emails i would not want my staff to see so i chose not to. He wont like that im sure when he finds out

More worring i had a urge to speak to payroll and double check my change of contracted hours and payrise has been put through and it has BUT seems someone has ticked the box about changing terms and conditions away from my TUPE contract after i signed and sent it down. I requested a copy of it to be sent back to me and its coming to the meeting on weds "to be discussed then"

Cant be changed now it was already agreed and processed right?

Again thanks for the advice helps hearing other opinions and to vent a little!

patman99

Raise a grievance with HR. It appears you have plenty of evidence to back up your complaint.


This guy seems to have the same arrogant 'better than everyone else' mentallity the (most) accountants have. Just remember, he is nothing more than a glorified bean counter.


We had a new manager start back in April. He has hacked-off everyone on the shop floor and ha taken a personna; dislike to me and a couple of others. He looks for faults in everything we do. Our response is the same as it always has been, to cover each other's backs and make sure he cannot catch us out.


Sounds like you need to adopt the same tactics against this idiot.