Employee Awards Issue

happyandcontented

polgara wrote: »

Do something about it or shut up! Your ‘friend’ doesn’t sound like an employee I’d nominate either - if she’s that good and going on secondment surely the other managers would have nominated her.

Look at it from the line manager’s view - someone who is difficult, always going off to do some other job in other teams, leaving her short and belly aching to others.

If she feels that she’s being picked on etc then lodged a grievance - if she’s so well thought of then I’m sure it will go in her favour?

It is a complex set up. When a problem occurs and my friend is asked to go to sort it out, her LM has to give permission for her to do that, in theory, in practice, her Line Managers own LM leaves her no choice.

It is not down to my friend whether she goes or not. Any issues which arise are not down to my friends choice but to the fact that she is asked for by others because she is an expert in her field. I am also unsure where you got the idea that she belly aches to others, I am the only person she has shared this with.

How could she realistically lodge a grievance about this issue?

I think if she said that she would not work with this manager any more then it would cause ructions and I am of the opinion that the line manager would be moved not my friend, as due to the previous complaints her LM would see this as the final straw and shift her sideways. I don't want to see my friend do this though as it would throw up other problems with the colleague who go t the award.

That is why she is venting to me about it and not acting. I am just supporting her until she can see a way to let it go really.

gettingtheresometime

Would your friend have been happy for one of the new comers to have been given the award?

Personally I value friendships where I'm told what I need to hear rather than what I want to hear and it sounds as if your friend needs to be told that she's taken offence at a slight that isn't there.

I'm just wondering what sort of award (& hence 'prize) could generate this sort of reaction from an adult that, frankly, should know better

happyandcontented

The newcomers are still on probation and in training so they weren't eligible for the award.

Without knowing her LM I am not sure anyone can say definitively that the slight wasn't there or even wasn't intentional. That is the problem. I do know her and even I can't say for sure.

I am telling my friend that it is far more likely that her LM is just giving more evidence of her inability to manage people properly rather than it being a deliberate attempt to wind her up, but actually, I am not sure myself.

I have just spoken to her on the phone and she is mulling over what we have said.

Brynsam

happyandcontented wrote: »

The newcomers are still on probation and in training so they weren't eligible for the award.

Without knowing her LM I am not sure anyone can say definitively that the slight wasn't there or even wasn't intentional. That is the problem. I do know her and even I can't say for sure.

I am telling my friend that it is far more likely that her LM is just giving more evidence of her inability to manage people properly rather than it being a deliberate attempt to wind her up, but actually, I am not sure myself.

I have just spoken to her on the phone and she is mulling over what we have said.

You really are making a meal of this, aren't you? Maybe you need to let go and move on....

happyandcontented

Brynsam wrote: »

You really are making a meal of this, aren't you? Maybe you need to let go and move on....

I am just trying to help someone who is genuinely upset about an issue. It may seem trivial to you and others and perhaps even to me, but it is not trivial to her, and I won't apologise for listening and offering support.

Manxman_in_exile

steampowered wrote: »

Nominating somebody for an award because they have been going through a tough time at home sounds like a very nice thing to do.

If this person has been working hard despite difficult circumstances at home she absolutely does deserve an award for her commitment !!!!

When others get an award, most people just think "well done" and get on with their lives. The award is just supposed to be a nice gesture, nothing more.

It sounds to me like your friend is being nasty and petty.

The suggestion that the LM was somehow motivated to give the award to this person out of jealousy over your friend's home life is ridiculous. It's also really offensive - I hope your friend doesn't make that accusation to the LM.

That's what I thought when I read the OP.

Manxman_in_exile

happyandcontented wrote: »

That hasn't happened. My friend was very quick to congratulate her and very sincerely as she doesn't in any way blame her, why would she?

It isn't that she doesn't think that she deserves an award for doing her job well, it is more that she doesn't believe that any issue other than doing your job well should be a factor.

But the reason you say is given by the LM is a factor related to her job. See my reply above to Steampowered.


BTW what sort of profession is your friend in where her employer has annual employee awards? (Sounds a bit unprofessional to me...)

gettingtheresometime

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

But the reason you say is given by the LM is a factor related to her job. See my reply above to Steampowered.


BTW what sort of profession is your friend in where her employer has annual employee awards? (Sounds a bit unprofessional to me...)

I used to work for a company whereby the LMs of the different departments gave out employee of the month awards.

At the end of the year they then had to put a member of staff forward for the employee of the year award where the winner received about £1500.

Strangely enough the winner was always well thought of and no one disagreed with the choice.

This was a private firm though and was used as a staff recognition tool

ohreally

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

BTW what sort of profession is your friend in where her employer has annual employee awards? (Sounds a bit unprofessional to me...)

When I hear of this type of thing I think McDonalds or the like.

happyandcontented

I know, I think and most employees think, that the awards are outdated but they are alive and well in many sectors, not just McDonalds!

Thank you all for your input, I am seeing my friend this afternoon and will put it to her that even if their working performance is identical then the fact that the other party has managed to maintain that in the face of adversity is related to her job. I think that looking at it that way she will be able to change her perspective.