Tricky work one

[The Green Triangle]

So started a new job around 6 months ago. I enjoy the job, but there is a lot of politics. I'll list the main ones out:

1.My line manager has been signed off with stress, pretty much since I started. I met her twice. She has a grevience on the head of dept. I don't know what it is.

2. I am managing the head of's daugher.

3. The previous person that did my role failed the probation period. The probation period is 3 months. I have been told by more than one source that the bosses daughter made his life hell and set him to fail. She is a nasty piece of work.

Ok so where to start. Since joining the company I have had a lot of difficulty managing the daughter. She has pretty much ignored me, shown me the absolute bear minimum and basically just shown total resentment. I have tried different techniques to get her to come round but all have failed. I know she is feeding back negative info. (False or manipulated) to her father as at a recent probation review he openly shared a doc which said I should be able to cover xyz...well that's because she has failed to show me or been very reluctant/shown the bear minimum. She has a face like a wet fish and barely acknowledges a good morning/good buy and then has the cheek to say that I do not communicate with her?! She shows no respect for me whatsoever. So goes when she pleases etc.

At my probation review, my temp. Line manager (head of dept) said that although he hadnt seen specific issues with my performance he was aware of issues (fed from his daughter no doubt). So I was extended for a month. But I've heard nothing back since...

Today something happened which really annoyed me and spurred me to write this post. In the last week, a new person has been brought in to take the place of my original line manager (who is on sick). I've never met her before, but in this meeting the head of dept. unfairly blamed me for some incorrect info quite directly in one of the reports more than once. I was completely taken off guard.

Afterwards in a separate meeting 1:1 with my new line manager described it as "being thrown under the bus". Not the greatest first impression you want your new manager to be left with. The wrong info is not actually from me and the integrity issues go back before I joined the company. My grievance is the way this was handled. I was humiliated in front of everyone unfairly (including his daughter) I feel and worst of all in front of my new boss. This was totally unexpected and I had never been spoken to about this particular issue. Since joining the company I have tried my utmost best and believed that actions will speak louder than words and to a point they have, but feel really miffed with what happened today....I'm feeling pretty low right now.

Do I:

1. Contact HR and explain the issue. That there is a conflict of interest (daughter daddy) in my dept. And underlying issues with people going on stress, failing their job because of this setup. HR are pretty useless tho.

2. Have it out with the head of tomorrow stating I am not happy with the way he humiliated me like that and demand an apology.

3. Send an email to him and everyone that was in the room including new boss and daughter stating that I do not appreciate being treated like this.

4. Do nothing...i'm just whining...

Any other suggestions??

Thank you Pistonheads

[Yipper]

You're caught in a classic pincer-movement between a jealous lower-down and an incompetent higher-up.

They are very difficult, arguably impossible, to solve at such a late stage.

Best to start looking for another job in another department or company.

[CaptainSlow]

It's a shame you've been there less than 2 years. Go your GP and get a stress note and take some time off from work. Mention constructive dismissal to HR and see what happens.

eta
and obviously start looking for a new job.

[The Green Triangle]

Wasn't expecting the 'terminal issue' here. But I guess it is what it is. Thanks for the advice.

Be interested if there were any other thoughts...could I hold out for more time...I don't know. If I wanted to move within the company I would have to stay at least another 6 months due to internal rule about moving

Really a shame as it's good money, local to me etc. But I don't want to continue working under this pressure which I feel I have little power to improve position.

[redandwhite]

I would be tempted to speak to the head tomorrow and let your feelings be known.

Once done I would speak directly to your new line manager and give them a full detailed lie of the land. Including the fact you spoke to the head.

You may have an ally with the new boss if you catch it quick.

[happychap]

The Green Triangle said:

Wasn't expecting the 'terminal issue' here. But I guess it is what it is. Thanks for the advice.

Be interested if there were any other thoughts...could I hold out for more time...I don't know. If I wanted to move within the company I would have to stay at least another 6 months due to internal rule about moving

Really a shame as it's good money, local to me etc. But I don't want to continue working under this pressure which I feel I have little power to improve position.

It depends on what outcome you want and what you’re prepared to do to achieve it. Look for another job if that’s what you feel you need to do, however, treat like for like and adopt a similar attitude that you are experiencing. Start to be blunt with them lose some of the filters and say what you think, what’s the worsed that could happen.

[bucksmanuk]

Family “run” companies can be the best places to work or the worst, it’s usually the latter.
You have only been there 6 months, and you have an almost impossible task in managing a nasty piece of work who just happens to be the boss’s daughter. Did you know this before you started?

My first place of work had all the board's sons working there, 6 in total. One was so bone idle, the lads in the design office took turns and timed him one day to see how much work he did – 23 seconds worth…. I am sorely tempted to put his name down ……

[The Green Triangle]

redandwhite said:

I would be tempted to speak to the head tomorrow and let your feelings be known.

Once done I would speak directly to your new line manager and give them a full detailed lie of the land. Including the fact you spoke to the head.

You may have an ally with the new boss if you catch it quick.

I think this is worth a shot in the short term. I will give it a go tomorrow with the head of dept. and I'm seeing new boss on Thursday. Doesn't help that my new boss is not based at my location. But will give it a go, what's the worst that can happen...

[The Green Triangle]

bucksmanuk said:

Family “run” companies can be the best places to work or the worst, it’s usually the latter.
You have only been there 6 months, and you have an almost impossible task in managing a nasty piece of work who just happens to be the boss’s daughter. Did you know this before you started?

No I did not know this. Had I have done I would have been weary... There were lots of odd questions like, how would you communicate with your direct reports, which I thought odd at the time. But now it adds up.

It's not a family company either. Just a family dept...

So no one thinks HR would be any use? Not even for an informal confidential chat? Or am I being naive?

[Gargamel]

I would speak to HR, but you need to be specific.

Don't generally moan about the situation, have specifics, Has the Daughter done things you have told her, has she left early repeatedly, is her work correct etc. Be specific.

Then ask HR how this situation has come about, and why the last line manager is off on stress etc. There are clearly things here you don't know. So listen first.

Secondly go to the Dad, ask him what he wants to achieve with you ? or what effect he thinks it will have attempting to undermine your credibility ?

Either he must back you to run the team, or the position is untenable, I would have the same conversation with your new line manager.

Poor situation and unusual in a non family company. Additionally as her line manager I would ask for the Daughters Salary info, what she joined on, how much her increases have been and when, plus how well is she paid against other comparable jobs in the organisation,

Might give you some info you are missing....

[Du1point8]

You have mentioned many things the daughter has done that I would have brought her up on diciplinary on.

Im assuming you have proof of:

1) Ignoring requests from her line manager?
2) Shown total resentment of you?
3) Her doing the bare minimum.
4) Bad time management?

Get an action plan with HR going and nip that in the bid asap, if you are having issues, bloody well make it be known if its her doing and dont give a crap that her father is a senior boss.

If you can prove it all then get it done, if not and you are too scared to do anything and have just let her walk all over you, then can you blame them for giving you another months probabtion as you cant even control your staff.

[Jefferson Steelflex]

Du1point8 said:

You have mentioned many things the daughter has done that I would have brought her up on diciplinary on.

Im assuming you have proof of:

1) Ignoring requests from her line manager?
2) Shown total resentment of you?
3) Her doing the bare minimum.
4) Bad time management?

Get an action plan with HR going and nip that in the bid asap, if you are having issues, bloody well make it be known if its her doing and dont give a crap that her father is a senior boss.

If you can prove it all then get it done, if not and you are too scared to do anything and have just let her walk all over you, then can you blame them for giving you another months probabtion as you cant even control your staff.

Pretty much what I was going to say. You need to be assertive and manage your staff properly - this means when performance is not good enough deal with it. Speak to HR, document everything and start the process.

I would then call the girl in for a meeting, lay out the attitude thing and inform her that you expect her to keep to x times, or ask permission if she needs to leave early, like you would with every other employee. Give her specific tasks and tell her to report to you.

Long story short though, it is a complete conflict of interest to have the daughter in the same chain of command as the parent, even indirectly, and this needs to be resolved.

Oh, and never send an email to people airing your grievances.

[Steve Campbell]

Agree with the above. You need to treat your staff member like you would any other. Do your job as a boss properly, treat her fairly but very firmly. Doesn't matter who her family is.

On the other matter....go and talk to the boss about how you feel.....and what you expect....but don't demand anything.

If all the above fails, go to HR

[The Green Triangle]

Well I confronted the head of today about what happened and got an apology, albeit behind closed doors. He did say he will speak to my new line manager about what happened. I still don't trust him or this setup with his daughter.

TBH, I think the gloves are coming off. To the chap above who said remove filters. That's what I did and it seemed to work. Now need to get this direct report to work for me or start looking. Time has been bought but ultimately this is a stty situ. I will try to get her promoted off my plate asap I think...if that don't work hold my breath and hopefully a new door/window will open! Cheers

[Du1point8]

The Green Triangle said:

Well I confronted the head of today about what happened and got an apology, albeit behind closed doors. He did say he will speak to my new line manager about what happened. I still don't trust him or this setup with his daughter.

TBH, I think the gloves are coming off. To the chap above who said remove filters. That's what I did and it seemed to work. Now need to get this direct report to work for me or start looking. Time has been bought but ultimately this is a stty situ. I will try to get her promoted off my plate asap I think...if that don't work hold my breath and hopefully a new door/window will open! Cheers

Not being rude, but that is still not solving the problem, you are moving the problem to someone else by promoted because she is causing you a problem and advertising you are promoting a bad worker as they are the senior bosses daughter and not because they are actually a good worker and a benefit to the company.

I think personally if you cant even manage this as you would any other bad employee, then why are you a manager and the problem is still yourself and moving to another company will not solve it.

At least have the balls to treat her like an employee and get action plans/disciplinary going and move forward from there, but dont just promote them to someone elses problem (she will be your boss soon doing that) or run away and hide without at least doing something about it first.

[happychap]

The Green Triangle said:

Well I confronted the head of today about what happened and got an apology, albeit behind closed doors. He did say he will speak to my new line manager about what happened. I still don't trust him or this setup with his daughter.

TBH, I think the gloves are coming off. To the chap above who said remove filters. That's what I did and it seemed to work. Now need to get this direct report to work for me or start looking. Time has been bought but ultimately this is a stty situ. I will try to get her promoted off my plate asap I think...if that don't work hold my breath and hopefully a new door/window will open! Cheers

What was it like being more gogruent, it sounds like it changed the dynamic for both of you. I’d be interested to see what happens if you Continued with this strategy.

[ReverendCounter]

[quote=happychap]What was it like being more gogruent/quote]

gogruent? Google would like a word!

[The Green Triangle]

Du1point8 said:

Not being rude, but that is still not solving the problem, you are moving the problem to someone else by promoted because she is causing you a problem and advertising you are promoting a bad worker as they are the senior bosses daughter and not because they are actually a good worker and a benefit to the company.

I think personally if you cant even manage this as you would any other bad employee, then why are you a manager and the problem is still yourself and moving to another company will not solve it.

At least have the balls to treat her like an employee and get action plans/disciplinary going and move forward from there, but dont just promote them to someone elses problem (she will be your boss soon doing that) or run away and hide without at least doing something about it first.

It was said with tongue in cheek. But it is still a viable strategy. Ethically it's wrong but could be the easier option. Personally if turns out into all out war I don't think it will happen. It will end for one of us most likely me.

Being a manager is one thing, but under these circumstances, believe me it is quite another.

[The Green Triangle]

happychap said:

What was it like being more gogruent, it sounds like it changed the dynamic for both of you. I’d be interested to see what happens if you Continued with this strategy.

I'm not going to push it. If I need to adopt a tougher stance I am prepared to do so. Just don't like the surprise of being caught off guard...

[hyphen]

The Green Triangle said:

Ok so where to start. Since joining the company I have had a lot of difficulty managing the daughter. She has pretty much ignored me, shown me the absolute bear minimum and basically just shown total resentment.

Just playing hard to get