To be a bit miffed I was passed over for promotion?

Sometimes things that should happen fairly just don’t, I have no idea if you are good enough for the role, but if you are it could unfortunately be as simple as she has got her feet under the table and charmed them.

Let me tell you about an interview I had for a teaching assistant job, probably 15 years ago now, I had a degree and was working in a supermarket, which I went back to and never tried again after my confidence took such a huge blow.

I travelled by train, I got to my destination very early, earlier than I needed, but didn’t want to run the risk of being late. Walking out the station I saw a pigeon get killed by a car, that was a bad omen. I walked around the local area to kill time, it was cold so eventually went to wait in the school, signed in. Suddenly a door opened and one of the interviewers looked at me and and in a despairing tone said “well we may as well see you NOW, as your so early and here before who SHOULD be next!”.

The interview went horribly as I was completely off stride and couldn’t manage to say anything right, nothing I’d rehearsed would come out. The interview I think was cut short. When I went to sign out, there was a handsome guy who was meant to go in when I had done, he was flirting away with the receptionist, who was hanging on his every word, I meekly asked if I could sign out, the receptionist clearly irritated, pushed the book over without breaking eye contact with this guy, off I went absolutely crushed.

I know this is different to your problem OP, but what I’m saying is, I knew I could have done a really good job in that position, but nothing went right, I didn’t make the right noises, or charm anyone and I sure as hell wasn’t liked by anyone there, someone has to be the loser in any given situation. Somehow she has made herself noticed and liked to your superiors, it’s not fair, you should have been considered, but not everything is in your control all the time.

You could think that actually at least you can do your job and she will have all the worry that goes with a higher role, or you can go find another position, where they will notice you, see your worth and like you, if that’s what you want and are able to find that.

They should have advertised it. It’s an awful feeling not knowing if there is a reason you were overlooked. But think about if you do actually want to become a supervisor, or are you just disappointed you weren’t asked. Because if you do want to, look for another job in the role you want. You know you can do the job, you have the experience. No point waiting around for someone to leave.

Have you queried this with HR or equivalent, asking what the protocol is for filling vacant posts?

You are right to be annoyed. The way they've handled it is disrespectful and I wouldn't be keen to help out covering shifts anymore. I too would be looking for other positions.

For those criticising OP for saying she has suspicions about time off, why isn't she allowed to say that if she has good reason? Yes people can take time off work legitimately but some people do abuse this as well!

You are right to be annoyed. The position should have been advertised internally and there should have been a proper interview process.

Agreed with this.

come on its 2024. Do better.

This is a really good response OP. Sometimes it takes a bit of a shift in circumstance to make us realise how we are feeling more deeply about something. I would definitely use it as a spur to better things. Wishing you luck!

Assuming no cronyism at play, you'd get promoted only of you openly communicated that you want that job and demonstrated that you can do it (ie taking on additional responsibilities on your current role).

If you covered for the role but made it evident that it was hard for you and not genuinely interested on doing that full time, then it's fair of your boss to think you weren't up for it.

And they don't owe you anything for being there for longer, including informing you on their intentions. In most jobs long term service does not equal constant promotions, if anything it can signal that you are content with where you are.

this. Tbh it sounds like you don’t really like Barbara and you’re just annoyed she got the role.

Well perhaps Barbara already has previous experience in a supervisory type role.

Perhaps she used her initiative and sent an email enquiring about the vacancy.

Perhaps you have poor people skills and don't come across well as a leader.

Does Barbara have an allotment that she spends too much time at but doesn't actually own - is that what your suspicion are?

Potentially a few reasons. They include:

1. Harder to replace you in your current role because you're so good at it.
2. They think you're great at your current level but don't have the skills or interest in a leadership position.
3. Barbara has been identified as having leadership skills/previous experience and in her time there has impressed management with her ideas and enthusiasm.

Regardless, it should have been advertised. If you do want promotion you need to tell them and start doing work that will help you take the next step such as showing initiative or taking on higher profile/trickier work.

A. You didn’t want the job so your being unreasonable to miffed
B. Maybe they do think Barbara was more suitable for the role
C. Why would they come to you first to let you know someone is getting a promotion just because you’ve worked there longer than the rest of the team

Agree job should've been advertised internally, especially if there is a financial benefit (as not advertised wondering if it's one of those tinpot "prestige" deputy roles?).

But, Barbara's absence is irrelevant to her competency for deputy status.

Length of service is NO reason for advance notice of change.

I think they should have invited expressions of interest from everyone in the team, and then held an interview/selection process. That's certainly what I would have done.

Still, if their minds were already made up to give it to Barbara, I guess they've saved you the hassle of going through a pointless process.

I would be inclined to query how it was decided and to make it known that you would have been interested in having the opportunity to be considered. It might be that you should put in a grievance about the process.

I wouldn't mention Barbara's sickness absence though. It's irrelevant and it's OK for your employer to think that she's a better fit for the role regardless of her attendance. The process should be fair and transparent though.

I’d be asking them why you weren’t given the chance to apply.

The job should have been advertised internally to all staff. I think it’s a legal requirement. Is it a family run business OP? They are often a law unto themselves.

You have every right to be pissed off.
Good enough to work extra and carry her, but not to be considered.

I would be rethinking the job, looking around and no longer doing anything extra.

I don't blame you for being annoyed. They should have at least considered you, a long standing, hard working employee over somebody who has been there 5 mins and had a lot of time off sick!

At least you know where their loyalties lie. I'd be looking for something else tbh.

Employers don't offer you promotions to say thanks

Are you in a nursery? It can be tricky to navigate but we’ve been in that position before and always let everyone know a position is open in case they want to apply.

@GCAcademic What sort of tinpot organisation is this? Surely when a role becomes vacant it should be advertised and a proper process should take place? I would hate to work somewhere that simply announced a replacement without any sort of process. I'd be looking for a job elsewhere.

I wondered about that too, but I've worked places where there have been proper processes and still at the end people have said: "Oh I didn't realise that role was up for grabs" when they've been sent emails about it, invited to express interest, etc. I agree that if it's all been done behind the scenes then that's wrong, but I have definitely seen situations where people feel things have been done to them but actually they haven't engaged with the procedure and then feel hard done by.

huge amounts of time off (some beyond her control, though I have my suspicions)

If this attitude comes across in the office I'm not overly surprised they don't think you're suitable for a manager position.