Boss given promotion to someone else

TBagpuss

Had you spoken to your boss to express an interest in the role long term?
I think that you can approach the boss along those lines - that you were a bit surprised and disappointed that he didn't speak to you about the role, as you'd been covering it for 4 months and had understood that he was happy with your performance in the rile.
Say explicitly that you are interested in progressing and would like to be considered next time a similar opportunity becomes available. 
It may be that if you hadn't said anything, he didn't think that you were interested .

Since you mention that the person who has been hired has been given a managerial role, is it possible that they wanted someone who had that kind of experience and could expand the role to include more management? 

jurgen19

TBagpuss said:

Had you spoken to your boss to express an interest in the role long term?
I think that you can approach the boss along those lines - that you were a bit surprised and disappointed that he didn't speak to you about the role, as you'd been covering it for 4 months and had understood that he was happy with your performance in the rile.
Say explicitly that you are interested in progressing and would like to be considered next time a similar opportunity becomes available. 
It may be that if you hadn't said anything, he didn't think that you were interested .

Since you mention that the person who has been hired has been given a managerial role, is it possible that they wanted someone who had that kind of experience and could expand the role to include more management? 

The role doesn’t really involve any management if I’m honest. It’s the exact same role I was previously doing and nothing has changed. They just gave him this title to make him leave his previous job. He knew of my interest because my line  manager said to me he had approached the boss and put my name in as the ideal candidate for the role as I knew the job inside out. I basically think I’ve been screwed over to give yet another family member a job! That’s 5 in total that work there now, with management roles

TELLIT01

The most obvious problem regarding the OP raising it with him employer, is that the job has been given to the boss's brother-in-law.  That has the potential to change a purely work related issue into one regarding the boss's family.  There is only likely to be one winner in this situation and it isn't the OP.   If the new person wasn't 'family' I would agree with the OP raising his disappointment / annoyance with the employer, as it stands I am more doubtful.  The OP seems to be realising they have been used over the years and maybe a move would be the best result for them.

moneysavinghero

Start dating one of the bosses family members, get married then you become family and will get the next free role. If the management are only interested in employing family members that's all you can do.

Marcon

jurgen19 said:

Hi all, just after a bit of advice really. A work colleague was sacked just before Xmas and his job was up for grabs.

Did you express an interest in taking the job?

jurgen19 said:

I have been at the company for many years and I am now the 2nd longest serving member of staff he has. I feel completely let down and a bit deflated if I’m honest. My boss hasn’t even had the decency to speak with about it. I have my management supervision meeting coming up soon and I really want to mention what has happened but really don’t know how to approach the matter.

That's completely understandable and saying nothing will simply mean your distress just festers. Sure, you could look for another job - but if you enjoy this one and wouldn't have considered moving had this episode not happened, then dealing with this constructively, rather than running away, might be the better bet, especially in today's job climate.

Keep as calm as you can, work out in advance exactly what you're going to say, and raise the point straightforwardly without either criticising your boss's actions or sounding like a whiner. Try something along the lines of you were disappointed not to be considered for the role and you'd like to ensure you are clear about what you need to do to ensure career progression (even if you don't think there is any!).

Emmia

TELLIT01 said:

The most obvious problem regarding the OP raising it with him employer, is that the job has been given to the boss's brother-in-law.  That has the potential to change a purely work related issue into one regarding the boss's family.  There is only likely to be one winner in this situation and it isn't the OP.   If the new person wasn't 'family' I would agree with the OP raising his disappointment / annoyance with the employer, as it stands I am more doubtful.  The OP seems to be realising they have been used over the years and maybe a move would be the best result for them.

unfortunately I agree with this, by expressing your (entirely understandable) disappointment you may in fact be rocking the boat too much, and they could decide to find a way of getting rid of you.

They probably know (in their heart) that nepotism is wrong, and that they're not being fair to you - but having this pointed out by the disgruntled employee (you) is hardly likely to make that person employee of the month.

I'd really start looking for a different job

AskAsk

jurgen19 said:

tealady said:

Sorry but your boss can employ who he wants and pay them what they like.
You could tell your boss you are disappointed you were not considered for the role but I wouldnt get your hopes up that it changes anything.

I get that and I understand that he can employ who he wants and pay them whatever he wants. What I’m after is a way to approach my employer and let them know how I feel about what happened without ruining the good working relationship I have/thought I had with my boss. I’ve been at the company 10 years and feel I have been taken for an absolute mug.

just because you have been able to cover a role temporarily to a satisfactory extent does not mean that you are the best person for the role.  and time with an employer does not equate to your ability to perform certain roles and promotion.  people don't (or shouldn't) get promoted simply based on length of service, as some people are long service employees simply because they can not find a job any where else.

i think your feeling that you "have been taken for an absolute mug" is a bit out of proportion and self deserving.

jurgen19

AskAsk said:

jurgen19 said:

tealady said:

Sorry but your boss can employ who he wants and pay them what they like.
You could tell your boss you are disappointed you were not considered for the role but I wouldnt get your hopes up that it changes anything.

I get that and I understand that he can employ who he wants and pay them whatever he wants. What I’m after is a way to approach my employer and let them know how I feel about what happened without ruining the good working relationship I have/thought I had with my boss. I’ve been at the company 10 years and feel I have been taken for an absolute mug.

just because you have been able to cover a role temporarily to a satisfactory extent does not mean that you are the best person for the role.  and time with an employer does not equate to your ability to perform certain roles and promotion.  people don't (or shouldn't) get promoted simply based on length of service, as some people are long service employees simply because they can not find a job any where else.

i think your feeling that you "have been taken for an absolute mug" is a bit out of proportion and self deserving.

As ive said in one of my previous replies,I don’t feel I am self deserving of the role, I was approached by one of the other managers who said he was going to recommend me for the role as I knew the job inside out and was I interested in the job! I’ve done the job many many times to a more than satisfactory standard and felt I was in for a real shout at getting the role. I understand my boss can employ who he wants, but for someone who has workers for him for 10 years I thought he could have at least explained his decision to me as we have a very good relationship in work

Manxman_in_exile

Unfortunately there's a difference between covering for somebody at relatively short notice (or if they've been sacked) and doing the job permanently.

It's quite possible that your employer/manager has taken the fact of your former colleague being sacked (perhaps a fortunate coincidence?) as an opportunity to review the role in question or get exactly the right person for the job - especially if they had to sack the former incumbent.

It certainly doesn't look good (especially if all new employees are family members) but it is just possible they may be the best person for the job.

Raise it with your manager as non-confrontationally as possible, but be aware that if your employer is becoming a "family firm", you are unlikely to get anywhere if you aren't family.

jurgen19

Manxman_in_exile said:

Unfortunately there's a difference between covering for somebody at relatively short notice (or if they've been sacked) and doing the job permanently.

It's quite possible that your employer/manager has taken the fact of your former colleague being sacked (perhaps a fortunate coincidence?) as an opportunity to review the role in question or get exactly the right person for the job - especially if they had to sack the former incumbent.

It certainly doesn't look good (especially if all new employees are family members) but it is just possible they may be the best person for the job.

Raise it with your manager as non-confrontationally as possible, but be aware that if your employer is becoming a "family firm", you are unlikely to get anywhere if you aren't family.

Think you have probably hit the nail on the head there. Thanks for the reply, I will speak to my manager like you suggest