Dear Evil HR Lady,
I’ve been with my extremely large organization for 12 years. This last year has been really tough in terms of morale, finances, etc. The future is going to get worse. Due to this, an “important” person took offense to an email and I was put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) (with no other offenses in my records). I decided to take this as constructive criticism, and put it behind me. In the meantime, a position came available in Corporate and I applied for it, specifically asking that my current boss not be contacted.
There were no complaints nor discussions during the 90 days and finally after 4 more weeks after it was due to be finalized, my final PIP was scheduled. The day before my final PIP, my boss was told I applied for the job (don’t know by who); now I’m being asked to work 17 miles further (already at 50 miles from home) and my PIP is no longer “final.” She told her boss that that there were a few things that she needed to address (wouldn’t do it the day we talked) but hadn’t had the time.
We met twice out of 12 scheduled meetings and all she said was, “I have nothing.” Her boss wants me fired, she wants to send me to another facility where we will have very little contact, with the PIP still in effect. She also says that the PIP won’t affect the move to another facility nor the position I am applying for but now I don’t believe anything! Should I tell the person hiring (whom I know very well) about the PIP? He likes my boss so I can’t say anything bad or how she is handling the situation, but I am afraid I won’t get it without trying to do something to save face. I’m so stuck!
Any thoughts or advice would be totally appreciated!
To read the answer click here: Can my manager stop my job transfer?
The big organization I work for does not allow supervisors to block transfers, and other managers cannot see the Personnel file And people on PIP’s can apply for and get internal positions. And HR advisors (like myself) would definitely not ride in on white horses to save the user.
Op would still need to worry about a bad reference though.
I guess things are different everywhere.
You wouldn’t come in and talk to the manager about following the terms of the PIP? PIPs are worthless if they aren’t followed.
I would talk to the manager and suggest that he develop a better PIP for the employee, and then stick to it, but I would hardly call that riding a white horse to the rescue. And the employee would never know I had spoken to the manager.
I’m concerned because I could be in a similar position. I have butted heads with my immediate supervisor in the past year due to differing philosophies about how to be efficient. I’m more task orientated and she’s more people orientated. I’m also not the showy “look at how much I do when people are on me to do something” type. I get things done because certain tasks have to be done. She got a promotion in the past year for a position that IMO she seems overwhelmed doing. I finally got frustrated enough that I reported her to the corporate hotline being too chatty with family members who aren’t in shopping. I know it seems petty, but it sets a bad example for those of us who actually have to work while on the clock.
The location I work at is also under more corporate scrutiny due to higher than regional average shortage numbers and customer complaints. In my opinion, both could be addressed by increasing hours for on the floor associates, but my opinion isn’t welcome because I’m a stupid sales associate, not someone who is in management or in the corporate offices. I’ve also been the victim of two complaints, both by older women who felt I was condescending towards them. My store manager came across as very patronizing towards me when he spoke to me about. It took every ounce of self control I had not to walk out because of how he spoke to me. It’s not my fault that no matter how hard you try to make sure everyone has a good experience, you’re going to get the ones who aren’t satisfied with a straightforward explanation and honesty. Apparently, I came across as too blunt to them and they think that younger people treat all older people as stupid. I don’t agree with that assessment – I think people of all ages appreciate a straightforward and honest answer stripped of all the corporate BS. I also don’t being talked down to and being treated by both customers and management as dumb, when I probably have a more realistic point of view about what actually goes on than management does. I also don’t like being told that I need to be more feminine and less aggressive and confrontational in my interactions. I don’t think that he would have told a man or older woman that.
anon, you are not in a similar position. The OP has a legitimate problem with his employer. You on the other hand have a problem with your boss, her boss, and your customers. You “have butted heads with” your “immediate supervisor in the past year due to differing philosophies about how to be efficient.” Guess what? When you have a job, the supervisor is in charge. If she says “do it this way”, then you do it this way. If you don’t like it, you can suggest changes, but “butting heads” is not the way to go about it.
Second, you “finally got frustrated enough that” you “reported her to the corporate hotline being too chatty with family members who aren’t in shopping. You “know it seems petty, but it sets a bad example for those of” you “who actually have to work while on the clock.” Are you kidding me? If I were your manager and I found out that you had the audacity to do such a thing, I would have fired you on the spot. She is a sales person and your boss. You’ve already said you are Task oriented where she is People oriented. Then you said she just got a promotion while you are considered a “stupid sales associate”. Maybe you need to learn from your boss and interact with customers on the sales floor. Being related to someone does not preclude them from making purchases, it is actually a great way to rack up more sales. As in “hi Mary! How is Julie? Oh that’s great news, she’s pregnant? Well we just got in a fabulous line of maternity wear” and then while Mary may not buy anything today, Julie may come in later and buy a whole new wardrobe. You don’t know. That is why you are not in management. You don’t even know that you don’t know anything!
Third, you have “also been the victim of two complaints, both by older women who felt I was condescending towards them. My store manager came across as very patronizing towards me when he spoke to me about.” You go on to say you “also don’t being talked down to and being treated by both customers and management as dumb, when I probably have a more realistic point of view about what actually goes on than management does. I also don’t like being told that I need to be more feminine and less aggressive and confrontational in my interactions.” Girl, you need to get a handle on things. First of all, customers are totally allowed to talk to you like you are a dumb little girl without a bit of sense. They are customers and you are supposed to suck it up and take it. Management probably treats you like a dumb little girl because you are acting like one. Your place is to do what your supervisor and her manager tell you what to do, not tell them that you know better how to do their jobs. If you do know better, then show it. Work hard, go above and beyond. Being mouthy and oppositional is totally unprofessional. When you are offered criticism, take it and learn from it. Don’t be offended by it. It sounds like you have a very unrealistic view of how the world works and you are going to wake up very angry, unemployed, and confused as to why one day.