To want to punch my maternity cover in his egotistical face?!

[McFox]

I come off work in 11 weeks - yipee! However the boss has thrown me a massive project before I go off, so I've had very little time to go through the whole advertising and interview process to find a replacement. We were offered someone from a sister organisation with the same background to me, albeit from a completely different industry (I work in a very specialised part of the healthcare industry) and so we hired him and brought him in early to take over the more routine bits of my job while I concentrate on directing the major project.

So far so sensible, but he is really ambitious, a total climber. When I've asked him to do something over the past 2 weeks (that's how long he's been here) comments I've had back include "I don't understand the context so I can't give you an opinion on whether that's the right thing to do or not" and "I'm not sure that you're coming at this from the right angle, I would suggest..." - I want to scream. I wasn’t asking for opinions, I was asking for it to be done!

He has also: kept ideas to himself until we're in external meetings with clients where he makes the suggestion, putting me in an awkward position; been telling my staff to make changes to things without discussing it with me first; telling me that I should be considering doing x/y/z. This is all driving me mad – partly because I’m a control freak and have built and been successfully running this department for 3 ½ years, and partly because I have a horrible feeling that the minute I leave he is going to dismantle lots of my hard work to show what he’s achieved while he’s been in the post.

He’s on a fixed term contract, I’ll only be off for 9 months, and will be working a couple of days a month from December onwards, so he knows that I’m not walking away entirely (and I don’t think that he’s happy with that, but tough, my CEO is very happy with that plan).

So, what do I do – he has an awful lot to learn about this industry and is going to cause problems if he carries on being so opinionated. Several colleagues have commented that he rubs people up the wrong way/thinks a lot of himself, so should I keep schtum and let him hang himself so to speak, or speak to my boss and raise these concerns? I am so nervous about leaving at a critical time in the growth of the business anyway, and my boss knows this, that I don’t want to come across paranoid, but neither do I want him messing things up!

What happened, OP?

Oh FFS.

Slopes back in...

Sorry for the silence, I've been ill, working 10 hour days and generally not had a minute to myself. The update is that he is still a total cunt!!

We talked - he nodded, smiled, said all the right things, then has been an absolute arsehole all week. In the past 2 days we've had a meeting with the big bosses in which he proclaimed that he'd been doing everything and talked over the top of me, and today I've had a job spec through for someone that he wants to bring in when I am away which directly contradicts what was agreed, and would involve them doing something that I categorically stated that I didn't want to see happening.

I had a meeting with my boss again yesterday and he asked how it was going, and noted that the guy was very keen to point out what he'd been doing, and not to worry, that everyone knows how hard I'm working. He also said that if he thinks that he can do it all, throw it all at him and see if he sinks or swims. I've done that today (I took the day off to avoid punching him) and he's not impressed me with what he's been up to.

So, I've emailed my boss and said that I don't want to keep banging on about this but its not working for me, and I need him to step in now and ensure that the guy understands the custodial nature of the role. I also pointed out that he is - with examples - agreeing to something to my face, and doing the complete opposite behind my back, and that this worries me and could pose a reputational threat to the company (which is clear from the job spec he's written, which my boss has).

Either way, I'm starting my mat leave sooner - I love my job, but this is making me hate it, so I've only got 8 weeks to go.

Wish me luck...

So, what would he have to do to get fired?!

Oh no, you shouldn't be forced to start mat leave early. I used to work with someone (thank god, not for) like this and he's part of the reason I didn't go back. Can you tell your boss how serious this is? That the stress of him being there means you'll be leaving sooner than planned?

I'm hoping that because I won't be there as a buffer, he'll soon mess this up in the bosses line of sight, and I won't have to deal with him when I get back.

He's due to finish up just before I return, so hopefully there won't need to be any overlap, and if he carries on the way he's going, pissing people off left right and centre, they won't even consider keeping him on.

Would it be really terrible, or impossible, for you to write an arse-covering memo recommending he not pass his probation? You said "We hired..." so have you retained any control, other than the line-management oversight that he's successfully fliuting at the moment? Disciplinary, for making the company look bad in external meetings (presumably he can't offer any costs to clients, other than what he's pulled out of his arse, so could be exposing the company to loss-making prices or the reputational damage of withdrawing his offers)?

Oh McFox you poor thing . It grinds you down doesn't it?

It would be so, so easy to just give him a week's notice and send him home for that time period. Then you wouldn't have to worry about what he was fucking up while you were away.

Your bosses will not care as much or be as close as you to find him out. And while you're away he's free to slag off all your hard work and plans.

I could, but my boss is essentially his boss now, so I want to give him the control here. Then, no matter what happens, it's not on my head. It's do flipping complicated, I hate all this game playing at work.

Well he sounds an arse, any controllable arse, running around doing arsish things everywhere...

Your boss sounds a bit err, relaxed about the whole thing, any chance he will fire the arses arse? (as it were?!)

I don't think that my boss will fire him, mainly because our industry is so niche, and it would likely take ages to find a replacement and there's way too much going on to leave a gap. My assistant is also pregnant and finishes up 3 weeks after me, so most of the department knowledge walks out the door at the same time.

The best thing I can think to do is hand control to the boss and he can deal with the consequences.

I see - this is sounding good. You are in a pretty powerful position given what you said in your last post. You and your colleague possess pretty much the whole department's knowledge?! Well, your boss needs to keep the pair of you sweet then, doesn't he? And if that includes sacking fuckwit man, so be it

Yes I think I am, so I just wanted to calmly hand it over to the boss to deal with - otherwise I'll end up flipping out and that won't help my cause at all. Fingers crossed it works!

I think you are handling things perfectly and 8 weeks isn't that long in the grand scheme of things. Just keep on doing what your doing and good luck. Thanks for coming back - am sure you can see you have a fan club here.

Thank you

Just had an email from the boss which says "..he is going to redo the job spec tonight, so let's see what happens. We can discuss the wider aspects when you are back. Don't worry - we can sort all of this out."

I shall now try to relax for the night!

Your boss sounds great!

My maternity cover was a total smug twat. I helped interview him and was v surprised that the others on the panel liked him as he was a name dropping PITA. I feel your pain.

I'm sorry but in your shoes, I would seriously consider being back at work at 6 months so you have the legal protection of returning to your old job.

Bear in mind that potentially you could work flexitime (half days/3 days a week/from home half days only) for the 6-9 month period and then go full-time. Technically you would be protected but still getting some time off to enjoy your baby. It also gives them a chance to adjust into new childcare so you don't get terrible separation anxiety which happens around 9 months anyway.

thanks for updating, OP!

As far as I was aware there's no 6 month legal limit around returning to my original job?

I'm going back 2/3 days per month from December so that I am there for 2015 strategic planning. I will also continue to create content throughout my leave, so I'm not stepping away entirely. I hope that will help.

Hi OP

If I were you I would minute all meetings with him so there is a record of what you agreed and you can then demonstrate he is going behind your back.

I would also come back before 6 months is up. You only have the right to return to your exact same job at or before 26 weeks of leave. If you come back after that you don't automatically have the right to your old role - your employer would have to offer you a "suitable role" with the same pay and conditions, but you could be shunted sideways and lose the role you have now. It's perfectly possible your cover might think he can get his feet under the table in your job so you get shunted into something else.

2/3 days a month - those will be KIT days presumably and will give you no protection from the scenario FairPhyllis has outlined. Been there and seen the movie unfortunately.

You do know that you can be made redundant/put at risk on maternity leave don't you? Just checking as so many people believe that you can't.

YOU may have every intention to return in 9 months, however in practice many people don't and your boss can't hold you to anything so he will be covering his ass in case you decide the life of a SAHM is for you. Which would be fine. However, if you are very sure that you will be returning I think you need to be pretty hardnosed abotu the fact that your cover is a snake in the grass and if he will pull this sort of shit before you leave, god knows what he will do when you are up to your eyes in baby puke.

I am seriously not trying to stress you out but you need to wise up.
Minute meetings, including those with your boss (email him confirming the salient points). I would also document your current concerns and meet with HR to record them formally. Let them be in no doubt that you will be trouble if it turns into a shitstorm. HR will also (if they are any good - do you have a good relationship with anyone there?) start to monitor the Snake.

Send those emails to your personal account so you have a record later if you are put "at risk" while still on leave. Your current boss might not be there when you return for one.
Update your CV and linkedin profile before you leave and take copies of recent appraisals (in case of the worst happening - you won't remember the good stuff in a sleep deprived state). Do not link your LinkedIn profile to your work email address so that recruiters get an out of office message telling them you are on maternity leave.

Take a look at the Return to Work/legal boards to see how common this is. Your boss might be a great chap and your company a great place to work but an awful lot can change in 9 months. If your boss gets promoted in 3 months time - will you be his natural successor?

Last thing - which is a bit more positive. If it's applicable to your role. Block out your diary a few hours a day for your last few weeks to go around the building and network with key people. Reinforce in peoples heads that you will be back before they know it, that you'll be popping in for KIT days to do business strategy/budget sessions or whatever and that your maternity cover will be moving on. Keep an eye on your blackberry - do not disappear into a cloud of talcum powder and Johnson's baby lotion.

OP, I'm not saying this to worry you unnecessarily - BUT - women can and do get burned in situations like this through trusting their boss to give them their old position back. They find themselves pushed into "equivalent" roles that don't give them the same career/promotion/responsibility opportunities that their old roles had and sidelined within the organisation because they are now perceived as mummies rather than people.

A lot can change within organisations in 9 months. Your boss might not be there in 9 months. Or he might not give you your exact role back. If your cover has been a busy enough beaver for the 9 months and can make it look like he has achieved lots and charms the boss sufficiently, your boss - however well you think you get on with him - may well turn around and decide to keep him in post rather than have you come back and spend lots of time undoing what he has done.

Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour. You already know that this guy is trying to undermine you. Think very seriously before you give him an opportunity to possibly take your job.

In this situation, I would only risk this if I was so completely indispensable to the organisation that they could not possibly cope without me, or if my skills and experience meant I could walk into another good job very quickly.

Arrgh you are worrying me though.

HR will be no use here - the Head of HR is the one who facilitated this hire. She has her favorites anyway, and I'm not one of them, she won't help me unless it is formalised.

I certainly won't be disappearing, so I'll document the catch up I have with my boss next week and speak to my husband about going back to work early. I should be able to go back on payroll at the start of December and then take my remaining holidays to ensure that I don't have to go back until the start of January. Even if I go back for 2 days a week I suppose that's something.