to confront my manager about this?

[Leverkusen]

I have been working abroad for the past year. It's been ahrd work but I have really enjoyed it. My boss is a bit of a prat and is always mega critical.

On Friday we had a day out, some people from work were invited and I invited a friend of mine. My boss told my friend that I was not hardworking, that I have a bad attitude and that I am the worst person they have employed for my role. He kept telling people that I can't speak German (which I can!), but he told people I can't understand or speak a work of it.

I just felt humiliated, but I didn't want to argue in front of everyone. The things he has said about me are just not true, and all the other colleagues are very pleased with the work I have done this year. I think it's safe to say my boss actually has no idea what I do at work. He also asked in front of everyone 'what do you even get paid for?'

I think that if he had had a problem with the way I work, that he should have told me already, and not bitched about me to a friend of mine.

I am going to go in today and speak to him about it, but I really don't want to cry, and I think I might.

Any tips?

Was alcohol involved and was he perhaps thinking he was being funny and just winding you up?

I think you should definitely bring it up, but not with him. Go to his superior and explain it to them.

Alcohol was involved, but he didnt say it to me, he took my friend off and did a bit of a lowered voice 'to be honest I do really like leverkusen but actually...' blah blah blah

Before you confront him, have you got any 'complimentary' emails from people you've worked with or for (e.g. thanks for your help with this etc) that bolster your position. Also do you have annual and mid-year performance reviews that accurately reflect your work and performance?

I think you'r right to challenge him but you will need to be objective and dispassionate and steely about it and having some evidence with you to contradict his view would be very helpful.

He sounds a twat BTW but there are many many crap managers in this world and getting on with your career often involves getting round or past people like this. Get your evidence together first and then ask him why.

His comments are also bullying (public humiliation etc.) so I would check out your company's anti-bullying/harassment policy too. Before you arrange to meet with him it may be a good idea to have an anonymous word with HR about how to tackle his behaviour.

My boss did this, told me when he'd had a few that I wasn't doing my best... I confronted him Monday morning and reminded him how hard I bloody worked(overtime unpaid, doing jobs that I didn't have to, and doing things that were his job...) He was quite upset and said he was sorry. I left shortly after.

Well I forgot to mention I am leaving the job soon anyway, butr still I am sick of his bullying.

I do have some emails theyknow, thanks for the idea. I also have to have forms filled in by all clients on my performance, and they have all been positive.

Talking about you in this way/ to your friend/ in a social setting is totally unacceptable.

As a manager I would expect your boss to be jointly responsible for helping you to carry out your role fully and well - how you do your job reflects on HIM.

Go in prepared with ammunition. Are you carrying out your role as described on your job description? Do you have an examples of work that you have done; staff report or emails of positive feedback?

I would keep it simple and ask for feedback on your performance. I would say that you would prefer to keep two-way feedback on a formal basis in future.

Is there a HR department that can mediate? He sounds like an unprofessional bully.