How should I tackle this work situation?
Discussion
Being as the PH is the be all and all end of definitive advice I thought I would pose this question here as well.
Yesterday I had a meeting with my boss to discuss my project deadlines (that are due today). However, throughout the meeting it became apparent that the work was required yesterday hence moving my deadlines on a whim (issue no.1). Standard practice for management.
She then proceeded to pretty much rubbish and dismiss my work as incomplete (to which I explained that only finishing touches were required and that this would have been done by Friday, my original deadline). Not good enough.
My main gripe is with her patronising manner and quite audacious way I was spoken to in full view of the office. Example 1 - 'You were given this in November to complete, it has been evaluated using the wrong forms and it quite frankly rubbish'
However, I uncovered an email from here, stating clearly (use form attached to evaluate) to use this form and that I was handed it on the 5 Jan. Not November.
So today I'm going to present these facts to her, hopefully in professional manner. How? I'm thinking maybe, a tactful but heavily patronising email clearly showing her wrong doings and mentioning her general level of incompetence?
Either that or blinding her with a mug of hot tea, kicking her in the gunt and escaping through the window while shouting awwwwooooooggggggaaaa.
For the avoidance of doubt, I'm a contractor.
Yesterday I had a meeting with my boss to discuss my project deadlines (that are due today). However, throughout the meeting it became apparent that the work was required yesterday hence moving my deadlines on a whim (issue no.1). Standard practice for management.
She then proceeded to pretty much rubbish and dismiss my work as incomplete (to which I explained that only finishing touches were required and that this would have been done by Friday, my original deadline). Not good enough.
My main gripe is with her patronising manner and quite audacious way I was spoken to in full view of the office. Example 1 - 'You were given this in November to complete, it has been evaluated using the wrong forms and it quite frankly rubbish'
However, I uncovered an email from here, stating clearly (use form attached to evaluate) to use this form and that I was handed it on the 5 Jan. Not November.
So today I'm going to present these facts to her, hopefully in professional manner. How? I'm thinking maybe, a tactful but heavily patronising email clearly showing her wrong doings and mentioning her general level of incompetence?
Either that or blinding her with a mug of hot tea, kicking her in the gunt and escaping through the window while shouting awwwwooooooggggggaaaa.
For the avoidance of doubt, I'm a contractor.
calmly show her the e-mail she sent you with details of which forms to use and what the deadline was. i don't think you need reduce yourself to her level by being patronising or sarcastic.
once she's shown the facts, she should feel small enough. i'd leave it at that.
whether you want to work for her again or not should remain your choice. don't kick her in the twinny and make good your escape, as then she's in the driving seat.
once she's shown the facts, she should feel small enough. i'd leave it at that.
whether you want to work for her again or not should remain your choice. don't kick her in the twinny and make good your escape, as then she's in the driving seat.
Patronising her will only make her worse! You can't do that to a woman and expect her to realise her errors and back down, it's not in their nature. She sounds like one that tries her best to keep those beneath her beneath her by undermining them and belittling them in front of others.
Keep evidence of minutes, emails and instructions from her so when she changes her mind quote the evidence to her so she knows you are on the ball and cannot be pushed around.
Which is what Spydienut said first!
Keep evidence of minutes, emails and instructions from her so when she changes her mind quote the evidence to her so she knows you are on the ball and cannot be pushed around.
Which is what Spydienut said first!
Edited by KANEIT on Friday 30th January 08:19
Politely show her the email and the facts and ask her if she would like to reconsider her earlier comments and opinion of your work.
DO NOT LOOSE ANY OF THE EVIDENCE!!
Copy it, take the copies home and keep in a safe place.
If she take disciplinary action against you , you will need to be able to reproduce the evidence to a tribunal.
Is she hot?
DO NOT LOOSE ANY OF THE EVIDENCE!!
Copy it, take the copies home and keep in a safe place.
If she take disciplinary action against you , you will need to be able to reproduce the evidence to a tribunal.
Is she hot?
I wouldn't lower your standards to match hers.
Patronising a patroniser gets nowhere in my experience - Usually misses the target and lands you on a naughty step higher up the stairs....
Be direct and politely make any points that you really feel need making. At the end of it all she will still think that she is right.
Patronising a patroniser gets nowhere in my experience - Usually misses the target and lands you on a naughty step higher up the stairs....
Be direct and politely make any points that you really feel need making. At the end of it all she will still think that she is right.
I'd agree with the majority of posts here. Rise above it (I know I'd be the type to shout back in full view - but dont. It resolves nothing). Show her the email, expain that its due today, it'll be done today and then get on with it. 
+ from now on *keep* all emails, any verbal stuff she asks/changes/requires confirm back to her in an email, I've worked before with people that will happly call you a liar in a meeting/in front of other people when they are wrong.
Also as you are a contractor, HR aint gonna care about you. Milk it for all its worth and then leave.
Good luck with the delivery/shipment today
-FV
+ from now on *keep* all emails, any verbal stuff she asks/changes/requires confirm back to her in an email, I've worked before with people that will happly call you a liar in a meeting/in front of other people when they are wrong.
Also as you are a contractor, HR aint gonna care about you. Milk it for all its worth and then leave.
Good luck with the delivery/shipment today
-FV
THe best way to handle these situation is always to get her in private and tell her you disagree with the way she spoke to her in public.
THat should calm things down before hitting her with the "besides-you were wrong anyway"
If that doesnt work I would force some wasps and fire into her bum.
THat should calm things down before hitting her with the "besides-you were wrong anyway"
If that doesnt work I would force some wasps and fire into her bum.
It appears from the info you have given, that you are dealing with a low-confidence-ego here.
To try to 'explain' to this person their error is most likely to result in an aggressive-defensive reaction in the form of more allegations of your failure etc etc and a grudge
In this situation i reckon a seriously angry response from you is required. Get across the point that she has acted outside her authority and remit, that her behaviour and language towards you has breached not only company rules but your sense of dignity, that her treatment of you has been unprofessional and damaging.
In trut she has abused her position and her authority, she has stepped outside her role in doing so.
To try to 'explain' to this person their error is most likely to result in an aggressive-defensive reaction in the form of more allegations of your failure etc etc and a grudge
In this situation i reckon a seriously angry response from you is required. Get across the point that she has acted outside her authority and remit, that her behaviour and language towards you has breached not only company rules but your sense of dignity, that her treatment of you has been unprofessional and damaging.
In trut she has abused her position and her authority, she has stepped outside her role in doing so.
I expect that its really an issue about salary. If she's a permie then its likely that she is paid less than you, even though you are working for her. By belittling you in an open office she thinks she is scoring some kind of brownie point, whether for real or just in her head.
I'm too old for all this kind of crap now, I've been a contractor/run my own businesses for 15 years now, and whenever I have this kind of incident, I've asked for a private meeting, quietly explained my point of view, and also stated that there is no need for the other person to rant at me in an open office. I then won't work for that client again, there are enough 'nice' people out there that you don't have to work for s
t ones. If I was on contract I would obviously finish by obligations, but I wouldn't renew. Life's too short.
davidy
I'm too old for all this kind of crap now, I've been a contractor/run my own businesses for 15 years now, and whenever I have this kind of incident, I've asked for a private meeting, quietly explained my point of view, and also stated that there is no need for the other person to rant at me in an open office. I then won't work for that client again, there are enough 'nice' people out there that you don't have to work for s
t ones. If I was on contract I would obviously finish by obligations, but I wouldn't renew. Life's too short.davidy
hey, be the bigger man, but close with the killer punch.
go into her office, apologise for the timing on your project as if it is all your fault. then present the mitigating evidence, and suggest if you had been sent the right form, and you were given the task in november you are sure there would be no issues. apologise again.
at this point she will be feeling quite small. she will be nice back, and send you on your way.
just before you leave, deliver somthing along the lines of..
"oh, and by the way, if you want to rubbish my work, please invite me to discuss it somewhere private, like your office. it will make you look a little more professional, and a little less emotional."
then calmly exit....
go into her office, apologise for the timing on your project as if it is all your fault. then present the mitigating evidence, and suggest if you had been sent the right form, and you were given the task in november you are sure there would be no issues. apologise again.
at this point she will be feeling quite small. she will be nice back, and send you on your way.
just before you leave, deliver somthing along the lines of..
"oh, and by the way, if you want to rubbish my work, please invite me to discuss it somewhere private, like your office. it will make you look a little more professional, and a little less emotional."
then calmly exit....
daver777 said:
hey, be the bigger man, but close with the killer punch.
go into her office, apologise for the timing on your project as if it is all your fault. then present the mitigating evidence, and suggest if you had been sent the right form, and you were given the task in november you are sure there would be no issues. apologise again.
at this point she will be feeling quite small. she will be nice back, and send you on your way.
just before you leave, deliver somthing along the lines of..
"oh, and by the way, if you want to rubbish my work, please invite me to discuss it somewhere private, like your office. it will make you look a little more professional, and a little less emotional."
then calmly exit....
go into her office, apologise for the timing on your project as if it is all your fault. then present the mitigating evidence, and suggest if you had been sent the right form, and you were given the task in november you are sure there would be no issues. apologise again.
at this point she will be feeling quite small. she will be nice back, and send you on your way.
just before you leave, deliver somthing along the lines of..
"oh, and by the way, if you want to rubbish my work, please invite me to discuss it somewhere private, like your office. it will make you look a little more professional, and a little less emotional."
then calmly exit....
Do that.
I have had something similar (I am a permie) only recently and she was very dismissive, let your output do your talking. Immediately after a public admonishment for something trivial, I went up to her desk, fixed her with good eye contact and said that a chat in a meeting room was in order.
I made it very clear that I did not consider that professional behaviour and if she wanted to make a point of any issues with my work, this was the kind of forum to do it. Her previous behaviour I considered as the thin end of the wedge of intimidation and bullying.
She hasn't done it since and what's more and more importantly hasn't done it to anyone else.
Also, if the gig is good, don't let this get you down, just keep all your correspondence and also take notes in any meetings.
daver777 said:
hey, be the bigger man, but close with the killer punch.
go into her office, apologise for the timing on your project as if it is all your fault. then present the mitigating evidence, and suggest if you had been sent the right form, and you were given the task in november you are sure there would be no issues. apologise again.
at this point she will be feeling quite small. she will be nice back, and send you on your way.
just before you leave, deliver somthing along the lines of..
"oh, and by the way, if you want to rubbish my work, please invite me to discuss it somewhere private, like your office. it will make you look a little more professional, and a little less emotional."
then bust her back doors in and calmly exit....
EFA and utter satisfactiongo into her office, apologise for the timing on your project as if it is all your fault. then present the mitigating evidence, and suggest if you had been sent the right form, and you were given the task in november you are sure there would be no issues. apologise again.
at this point she will be feeling quite small. she will be nice back, and send you on your way.
just before you leave, deliver somthing along the lines of..
"oh, and by the way, if you want to rubbish my work, please invite me to discuss it somewhere private, like your office. it will make you look a little more professional, and a little less emotional."
then bust her back doors in and calmly exit....
Men working for women is against the natural order of things, and subconsciously they know this. That is why most of them find the situation tense, and are inclined to do the sort of thing you have described. They know it's wrong but they can't help it, they have to assert their authority anyway they can.
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