Is this outrageous behaviour or a massive over reaction on my part?

[ElderAve]

I have a fairly senior position in the public sector.

There are some performance management issues with one of the staff members who isn't my line report but I was asked to pick it up because the big boss wanted to be able to distance himself, for perfectly legitimate reasons relating to something else going on in the organisation. We discussed what needed doing, in line with the policy and he asked me if I'd mind being the bad guy on this occasion.

I was happy to step up and take that responsibility.

I had the meeting and did it exactly as we discussed. Staff member has sent big boss a long email of complaint, with some quite personal criticisms of me, which were actually me doing what the boss asked me to do and also in line with policy.

I'm not upset that he's complained, that goes with the territory, but I am outraged that boss has decided that in hindsight it could have been handled differently and he isn't going to back me. IMO, this leaves me with no credibility to deal with other staff who are my line reports.

I don't expect never to be criticised and consider that I'm actually pretty good at taking constructive criticism but in this case, I did exactly as I was asked/instructed and the plan of action was agreed in advance.

Now boss is going to tell difficult and gossipy staff member that I got it all wrong and he would have handled it differently. I also happen to believe that the original action was correct and would be happy to justify my actions even if I had acted without consulting boss and I'd still expect to be backed. Boss is now going for a much softer line which bears no resemblance to the policy.

I'm not often upset by things at work, have a fairly thick skin and am able to let things go but this has really got under my skin.

What @ElloBrian says, you've been massively stitched up

I've written two job applications today! Really big jobs, great opportunities should I be successful, although probably quite a stretch for me. I won't leave for something that isn't better than what I have though.

There’s no way forward here. I would seriously be looking for another job.

the "legitimate reasons" are a very difficult situation

No doubt - but it won't become any less difficult if it involves a manager who behaves like this
Basically you've been done up like a kipper by someone who's turned out to have very little integrity; best, perhaps, to get out of there before he does any more damage

He didn't respond on Friday, only an "I'm sorry you feel that way" response to staff member and that he would talk to me. So I'm hoping that he'll have done some reflecting by the time we're back to work.

Something similar happened to DH. He left the company soon afterwards. It's not on to undermine you like that.

It is impossible to work for someone when you know full well that they may stitch you up when it suits them rather than back you up when you carry out their instructions.

What a sleaze ball.

I'm hoping that he'll have done some reflecting by the time we're back to work

Even an idiot would know you'd be unhappy about this, so if he has, it may well only be about protecting his own position

Good luck with those job applications, OP; you're right not to go for anything less than what you have of course, but IME folk with integrity are usually valued - and if they're not, it won't be a place you'd be happy working anyway

Maybe explicitly put in the email to him that his choice to back out of the strategy you'd agreed together leaves you weakened with the rest of the staff - so he'll have to take any future performance management on himself if this is the path he wants to take? Give HIM a bloody consequence to deal with?

Well that shitty of him but you really shouldn’t carry out any performance management for someone who is not your direct line report. I am surprised your HR Policy allows it. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Good idea DameFanny.
OP your boss should have your back. It reflects badly on him, so I think putting it in writing is a good idea to cover your back.

I would quit to be honest. I have zero tolerance for this kind of shite.

If you dont have contemporaeous notes of your meeting with the boss you should minute his precise instructions and the agreed course of action. I would then write up minutes of your meeting with the member of staff.

You now have the choice whether to make an informal or formal complaint against the boss. As a public sector body they must have a grievance policy and a mechanism for when the grievance is against the big boss. Or a whistleblowing policy. Its up to you but at a minimum I would be making an informal complaint copied to the head of HR. He has undermined mutual trust and confidence.

I think you have been made a scapegoat deliberately. Have you got the discussions and actions that the senior manager gave to you in writing?

He’s well and truly thrown you under the bus!

I would send a polite but firm email to him expressing your disappointment and concern about the impact this has upon your personal and professional credibility. Make it very clear that you feel undermined and let down. Don’t demand action or a resolution. Let him pick his own battle/side. Alienate you or underperforming colleague. The side he picks will tell you all you need to know about where your future career prospects lie.

at a minimum I would be making an informal complaint copied to the head of HR

Except that OP wrote "Boss is the boss, i.e boss of HR too"

TBH I'm not sure that complaints are the way to go either, in the few-are-ever-responsible-for-anything public sector; what may work elsewhere is just as likely to earmark OP as a "grass", however unfair that is

Much better, surely, to move on and demonstrate how it should be done from a better position

Can I suggest that anyone in this situation look at the acas website? They have an amazing course looking at extremely difficult behaviour on the workplace. Really useful, I found it.

It's outrageous (and short-sighted); you're not overreacting.

Why can't Big Boss just say "ElderAve followed my explicit instructions based on company policy and is not at fault. But after further review/more information emerging, I'm re-evaluating my original decision and making a one-time exception to policy?" He doesn't have to explain his detailed logic - he's the boss. He's not just undermining you with his current approach, but creating a precedent for (1) employees questioning ANY manager's directives (2) allowing random exceptions to company policy just because someone made a nuisance appeal. He must realise he's ultimately making more work for himself and damaging productivity/trust.

Also: the situation sounds complicated, but if you and the person you were asked to disciple both report directly to Big Boss, even if you're at a higher level - it's absolutely predictable that the disciplined employee would complain/appeal even with no grounds. Big Boss should have been prepared for that.

I'd be looking for another job, because even if he reconsiders and takes a different course, it's jarring that he did this in the first place. Of course, finding a comparable/better job will take time, so you have to keep the peace and protect yourself at the same time. I'd talk with him face to face and present your case, take notes, and then send him a recap email asking him to get back to you by x time if there's anything you've misstated.

He has behaved poorly but also, not entirely unexpectedly. He asked you to be the bad guy, and you agreed. Now, he's acting as though you were the bad guy but you're upset.

I think you're over-reacting about this impacting all future performance management meetings and it undermining your credibility. It has undermined you in this instance but presumably you have conducted numerous appraisal meetings that haven't led to complaints.

I'd document in writing that you acted in line with his direct instructions and that you realise he has now changed his position. However, you assume it will be noted in your file that you acted in keeping with the policy and with his instructions.

tbh you could have done what he said but still left yourself open to a complaint because of your manner or attitude. I think it is worth considering if that is the case because you don't want to miss an issue with your performance because he's thrown you under the bus. He could have acted badly but you could also have done so.

You've been the fall guy haven't you? The boss has treated you as his patsy, presumably because he knew all too well that it wasn't going to be straightforward, so he's covered his back nicely, thank you.

When you and he agreed on the course of action, did you get any of it in writing?

If your public sector role is anything to do with politics, you should have seen it coming really.

Can't trust that lot any further than you can throw them.

Big Boss has totally stitched you up and probably knows it.

No point making any formal complaint, if he is boss of HR where could it possibly go?

Job hunting sounds smart, good luck. The biggest problem is not this incident (which will eventually blow over) but that you have a boss with zero integrity/loyalty who is prepared to undermine you like this.

If you do decide to stay, all you can do is try not to get suckered again / smooth things over with both of them even though you shouldn’t have to.

Good luck.

Ps it is so so common for senior men to treat women they work with like this.

It looks as though he set you up. Hopefully you have a record of discussing it with him?

If not. And I know this is petty, but do you have any opportunities to sneakily undermine him? point that out. Verbally. And then find something better.