How common is it to throw a colleague under a bus as an arse-covering exercise?

[JockTamsonsBairns]

It's happened to me this week, and I'm a bit taken aback. The details aren't particularly relevant, but I've been working hard on something for months which has required some input from my line manager - I've been asking for this frequently over the past two months, but it's been pushed down his priority list.
I have always had a good working relationship with him, and I fully accept that his workload has been overwhelming lately.
I emailed him on Friday of last week, giving him a final nudge, and saying that if we didn't make some changes then we could be facing a potential complaint against us.
I didn't hear anything over the weekend (fair enough, but we do regularly keep contact out of hours), and so I rang him first thing on Monday morning. Call went straight to voicemail, and I left a message asking him to ring me as soon as he got a chance. He didn't.
Tuesday morning saw the completely predictable complaint. Almost word for word, it lists what I have been asking my line manager to do since November.
On receipt of this complaint, the entire dept springs into action, and starts to implement the measures I've been trying to introduce for three months. Ok, I'm happy that things are finally moving forward.

This morning, I was summoned to my manager's office. He was sitting alongside the top director person, which I hadn't expected, and began a spiel about how we could have done things differently, and what lessons we could learn from this.

The outcome isn't relevant here, but I'm very interested in how common this is? Do people generally fuck over their team members, in order to cover their own arses?

I'm reeling.

@GrumpyHoonMain I really like that approach, thank you. It sums up my way of working perfectly.

Just to add a further bit of context (and apologies if I should have added this at the start) I live and work in the Yorkshire Dales, which narrows my options massively. I have a role in this company, which I've been very happy with over the past two years, and where I'm very keen to stay.
Looking for another job would involve widening my net by, say, fifty miles or so, and I'm very reluctant to introduce that sort of commute and added pressure.
I'm very much feeling like I want to take the path of least resistance, and minimise any disruption to my life. But, that said, I won't accept being treated badly at work.

Definitely forward any emails and proof you have to the director - not your manager, with a short note saying that you agree that things should have been done different and outline precisely what you requested and when. Unacceptable behaviour but sadly not uncommon.

no i agree with what you have done.
just take note of it and remember it, dont forget what has happened.

It depends on the director is like. In my old job (that I talked about above) that CEO was great. He would take on suggestions, I could talk to him anytime....but....he’d only go so far. If he considered a matter closed, then it was done. Bringing it up again would just get him annoyed with you, even if you were right.
If you think D would take more info on this, send your emails. Otherwise, hold tight but don’t trust LM at all.

Show them the email evidence. I was thrown under the bus for a complaint about racism because I was involved in the conversation.

I was completely cleared within one meeting because I showed them the messages where I clearly told them to stop speaking and that it was totally inappropriate.

The complaint was made with a small screen shot of what was said not including me telling them to stop and shut their phone off bc they were drunk and out of order

I would be very upset if this happened to me with someone I had trusted. It’s a huge betrayal. I wouldn’t know what to say to them.

Have you spoken or had any communication with your LM since?

@Serendipity79

Personally I would go back to the director and state that you were a little confused and taken aback by the meeting and by the feedback. Outline that you've been trying to address the issues for a while, demonstrate some of the evidence and could he please clarify where he feels you could personally improve things.

I find feigning absolute confusion whilst handing over hard evidence works in these situations - I've been both the employee and the director!

"disappointed" is a good word in a situation like this (not confused, that's one thing you definitely are not, this manager is an idiot!).

Be direct, don't be "nice" or "show compassion", sod that.

Go back to the director and state "I am disappointed that, despite my numerous prompts, requests and attempts at escalating this matter, as per the attached email trail, action was not taken in a timely manner".

Cold, hard facts.

Choice 2 - I am a big fan of confronting things head on, and whilst it would be good to make your views clear to LM, you have cleared yourself with Director, and for all the reasons you have outlined (want to stay put etc) I would leave it now. I would however be fairly clinical in my dealings with LM from now on without being rude, and it goes without saying, keeping a written audit trail of your interactions. And having no hesitations in taking further concerns to Director if the LM is slacking again.

I'd go with option 2 as well.
LM has had his/her cards well and truly marked now.
You know it as do they.
Director knows that you're on the ball and are capable of spotting potential issues and escalating them.

Good for you for speaking up in the meeting. So many would have fumbled their way through the meeting and only after the fact would have been able to work out what they should have said. You did well!

Given your update, I'd go with option 2 and let it go now but keep the email trail.

I think you're right and the director knows your worth and LM has been highlighted as incompetent. Don't rock the boat further but bide your time.

In a situation I was in where a staff member constantly kept getting out of work and trying to blame others for issues, she was shown up for the incompetent she was eventually. I left with my head held high and I think respected too.

This is why you keep everything in writing. And records of everything.

Extremely common, especially when there is a black or brown person they can pin it on.