Suspended – what to do?

Nookie5

So is the verbal warning official or off the record smalltalk? I would kick up a fuss if it's a formal verbal warning since you're just going by your contract.


And by got his way I'm guessing your job role has now changed, you was forced to give out your login details or they stopped using this supplier?

jobbingmusician

Pretty good outcome. Shame about the verbal warning, but this should expire quickly - and thank flip you are working to your own manager again

Smodlet

Yeah, well done Mr. Old Manager, ain't too many like him in the world ime.

Paul_DNAP

That's a great outcome, it is tough to be used as a pawn in the power struggles of a small minded middle manager. I hope the supplier appreciates that you were battling hard for them, but if you do recount the story to them, make sure they understand it's completely off the record.

Elinore

I thought I would update as its been a while.

To a certain extent, I lost the battle but won the war, kind of.

A petty campaign of ‘harmless pranks’ began happening. Salt in my sugar, locked in the loo’s ‘by mistake’ tape over my mouse light, tape over the receiver tab so you would pick the phone to answer and it kept ringing…….. Less funny was the messing with my lunch box, hiding my handbag and moving my items about all over the office. My manager kept receiving complaints, all trivial all bogus and everyone higher up were getting fed up with the situation but seemed to be focusing on me as the crux of the issue which felt very unfair.

‘CU’s team thought it was hilarious - but I refused to rise to it, which seemed to drive them a bit mad. Things then stepped up from pranks to being dangerous. Culminating in pulling my chair as I was sitting down which resulted in me having stitches (it was played to the management as a genuinely unfortunate misunderstanding that Mr X needed the chair and had not realised I was about to sit). Getting away with such a blatant act with no consequences was as if they had been given a green light - things really started to get out of hand.

The tipping point came when the team minutes, normally kept internal to the team was attached to another email as a reminder for an upcoming corporate event – however they forgot they had made some jokes about this part of their team meeting being dedicated to a collective brainstorming on what we can do to Elinore next.

I was then swiftly moved 'while the matter was investigated'. I think HR meant to another site, but they were not clear leaving 'CU' leeway to make changes but still be able to justify things.

Late afternoon on a horrible rainy day I was walked by the ‘CU’ manager, looking all smug, from one end of the site to another. To a two storey 1960’s flat roofed old office unit which was a defunct motor pool and maintenance store. It was sad, grey cold and damp looking. I was shown up stairs of the empty building to my desk. I voiced a number of concerns such as lone working but was advised all in hand I just needed to check in and out with security. They left me there.

I was so upset that as soon as the PC and phone were up and running I drafted my notice.

My wonderful 'supplier' team had a huge release date coming up so I decided once that had passed I would hand it in but I would start looking for something else immediately.

The first day at my new location I sulked and shivered through the day - but I had so much work to do I just put my head down and got on with it.

The second day was a wonderfully warm sunny day. Oh my what a difference that made. It was like a revelation. The office suddenly looked much better, in fact way better.

I started exploring and found several large offices, what looked like a old staff room which reminded me off a teachers lounge at school for some reason. There’s a kitchenette with an ancient but working kettle and fridge as well as a remarkably clean bathroom.

Within a week I decamped into the large end office and with some cleaning tiding and elbow grease - I have a fantastic work space. The ’60 furniture looks retro cool (if you use your imagination a bit) and everything that did not suit has been moved into the old side offices.

The room is bright as there are huge windows on nearly all aspects. I realised I can have the windows and blinds wide open as there was no one to complain about hay fever or screen glare. Suddenly it was like a revelation – this was all mine lol

I have the radio or audio book on as I work. I have rearranged the furniture so I have loads of space and even a sofa and chair - now it has all been aired out and cleaned the damp smell has gone. I have a fire escape door and stairs that go down to an old garden area (where I think they used to smoke) with a very dilapidated picnic table. The grounds dude, seeing the place is now being used mowed the grass and I can sit out in the sun to have my break and lunch.

I finally am able to relax, get my work done in peace. Which was all I ever wanted as I actually really enjoy my job. Being a team of one means no one needs to contact me from the main site and as long as all my workload reviews come back fine, which they do my manager is happy.

Realising I am now on to a winner here – I have made sure to keep the main area where I was dumped the first day looking dire so I can look sad and lonely if they drop by (from my vantage point I can see anyone coming to the site a mile off). At least every few weeks I make sure to complain in earshot of the ‘cu’ manager when I have to go over for my 121 or similar - so he thinks I am suffering.

I think in the winter it might give me some trouble heating wise but at the moment I absolutely loving it.