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Original poster

Manager I manage refusing to manage someone

62 replies

MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 13:42

I line-manage a manager who has raised serious allegations—including refusal to follow instructions—about an employee (A). An investigation concluded with A receiving a written warning rather than dismissal. The manager disagrees with the outcome and emailed me and my manager, stating they don’t want to manage A and believe they will re-offend (they had previously talked to me about this, prior to the hearing) . I'm unhappy that:

  1. they bypassed me by copying in my manager, and
  2. I suspect my manager may suggest I take over managing A.

How would you approach this situation?

OP posts:
Original poster
MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 14:08

It wouldn't work me managing them due to how we work ( it wouldn't make sense in the structure).

OP posts:
Specialityblueberries · 27/02/2026 14:08

MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 14:02

Tell them what though - they're aware of the background. What would you want the outcome to be if you were in this situation.

Show quote history

That you do not wish to manage this person. And why.

Personally, I am surprised you remotely think it’s appropriate for a manager who made a serious allegation about a member of their team and disagrees with the outcome of the investigation should continue to manage this person, and I think your manager will be of the same view.

Original poster
MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 14:02

Specialityblueberries · 27/02/2026 13:59

Speak to your manager and tell them what you have said on this thread

Show quote history

Tell them what though - they're aware of the background. What would you want the outcome to be if you were in this situation.

OP posts:
Specialityblueberries · 27/02/2026 13:59

MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 13:58

The question is what would you do next - not a judgement of what has been done, there aren't enough facts for anyone in this thread to be able to know what should / shouldn't have happened other than the deliberately high level information provided.

Speak to your manager and tell them what you have said on this thread

Original poster
MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 13:58

The question is what would you do next - not a judgement of what has been done, there aren't enough facts for anyone in this thread to be able to know what should / shouldn't have happened other than the deliberately high level information provided.

OP posts:
Original poster
MumofCandR · 27/02/2026 13:56

There was a formal investigation and, HR was involved. My point is exactly that they can't pick and choose who they manage, the outcome is what it is and clearly not deemed sufficient for a formal dismissal. I have supported them AND was also a complainant in the process... The more serious allegations were from a third party neither myself nor their manager were directly involved or witness to those allegations. There are some very large assumptions being made here on support - they have been well supported through this by myself and HR.

OP posts:
Bearbookagainandagain · 27/02/2026 13:51

They didn't bypass you, they escalated the issue.

If there was a formal investigation and, I assume, HR was involved, then it's the end of it. They can't pick and choose who they manage. Your job is to support them though, e.g. by joining their 1-1.

Brefugee · 27/02/2026 13:50

So why don't you want to manage this person? What support has been put in place for this person's manager for the eventuality that this person may fuck up again? How much blame will be placed on the manager for "not managing" someone they clearly think is unmanageable?

Why are you not supporting the manager and moving the employee elsewhere?

takealettermsjones · 27/02/2026 13:49

I mean really tall hierarchies are often a pain in the bum so it might be better that you manage A 🤣

Depends on the details here, but if the initial issues were interpersonal then the relationship may well have broken down between A and their manager, and so you would need to move A to another manager, irrespective of the investigation's outcome.

Specialityblueberries · 27/02/2026 13:49
  1. *they bypassed me by copying in my manager, *

”bypassing” would be not directing the email to yourself .

Are you the DM re who this person manages? Or is your manager… they one copied in?

Specialityblueberries · 27/02/2026 13:48

It would be very odd for the manager who made serious allegations about a report to remain their manager.

adlitem · 27/02/2026 13:44

They didn't by pass you, they talked to you about it? What was your reaction?

Do you also not want to manage A?

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