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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About this work colleague?

55 replies

Angel1983 · 18/02/2015 16:42

I am a member of a five person team who are all on the same pay grade. The most recently recruited member of the team joined about a year ago.

Work is allocated according to who has the most capacity but this newest colleague seems to expect the best quality work to be given to him on the basis that he is more senior than me (but not the other members of our team).

A really interesting case has come into our work allocation system and I asked if it could be allocated to me, as I haven't had any experience in that area (that's not to say I'm not capable of doing the work - it is fairly standard). All my other colleagues have dealt with a similar matter this year. I am the only one who hasn't had this opportunity.

My boss has now pulled me to one side and said that newest colleague is not happy and would I consider offering this job to him to keep the peace.

I am not happy about this and I am minded to say no but I worry about the team spirit and atmosphere in the office. AIBU?

OP posts:
TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 18/02/2015 18:21

You are the only person in the whole team who hasn't done this work before [so the new chap has]. Feck him I say. It's probably listed on last years appraisal as a skill /personal development whatsit that you needed to acquire this year. I'd point that out to your line manager and that Mr.FullofHimself seems to think he is above the more routine elements of the team work.

pluCaChange · 18/02/2015 18:26

It won't benefit the team if he gets the work: if this newbie leaves (and he's bucking for something, why not another jump into another company where he can be on a grade above "people like you"? He must be gutted to be where he is) that project experience leaves with him!

Optimist1 · 18/02/2015 18:54

Plenty of good advice above, OP. If your boss seems reluctant to let you keep the case, you must make it clear to him that he won't be "keeping the peace" because he'll still have a member of the team who's dissatisfied (i.e. YOU!). Do keep us updated.

DoJo · 18/02/2015 19:16

You could ask how much foot stamping and tantrum throwing you would need to do to keep the work. Because at the moment, it sounds as though your manager is expecting you to sacrifice your career goals and enthusiasm so that he/she doesn't have to manage his/her team properly.

Original poster
Angel1983 · 19/02/2015 08:22

Thank you all for your advice. I came into work early this morning to tell my boss very firmly that I wanted to keep the case. This news wasn't received with great enthusiasm but at least it is now accepted that I will keep the case.

OP posts:
Smellyfeet123 · 19/02/2015 08:46

Good for you angel- I hate it when people try and get their own way without any regard to others. Hopefully now this new bloke will know he can't just stamp his feet was get what he wants all the time x

Optimist1 · 19/02/2015 08:59

Oh, well done! As Smellyfeet says, your boss and your new colleague now know that you're no doormat. I hope your work on the case is fulfilling. Flowers

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 19/02/2015 09:01

Glad you did that. It would have been a mistake to give in to him about this I feel as it would have encouraged him.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 19/02/2015 09:37

Good for you - I'd keep an eye on that colleague, he certainly isn't going to let the grass lie under their feet and if you are the least experienced of the team he clearly marked you out as someone to exploit to their own advantage. [Or maybe they just had a bad unreasonable day and they'll accept it with good grace].

I would try to take some time to set out your goals and objectives quite clearly in writing and make some time with your boss to discuss them so there is no hope of he/she claiming a "misunderstanding" later.

Best of luck - I hope the case goes well.

pluCaChange · 19/02/2015 11:23

Good work. If your colleagues are targeted next, they might need it pointed out that they could be next, with such a poor team player.

pluCaChange · 19/02/2015 11:24

Targeted next to pressure you, I meant.

Andro · 19/02/2015 11:41

Good for you op!

I'm astonished that your boss would have even considered approaching you in this manner, very weak leadership shown there.

WhereYouLeftIt · 19/02/2015 12:22

"He is more qualified ( in terms of years since qualification)."
Some people have ten years' experience. Some have one year's experience, ten times over.

" this newest colleague seems to expect the best quality work to be given to him on the basis that he is more senior than me (but not the other members of our team)."
I'd raise this with your boss too. If he is the type who priotitises keeping the peace over actually managing, you can use that.

redexpat · 19/02/2015 12:34

Well done op! Just to be on the safe side i would write it down somewhere, just in case this isnt the last you hear from this new colleague.

Chertsey · 19/02/2015 12:39

I agree with WhereYouLeftIt. Having worked in the same grade for a long time doesn't make him more senior, it likely makes him either unambitious (which is fine, if it suits him, but doesn't sound like it) or unpromotable because he's not actually very good and hasn't gained anything from all his experience.

And yes, don't let him get his way because he's difficult - be a bit difficult yourself if need be, just pick your battles.

FryOneFatManic · 19/02/2015 12:41

This chap wants the best work, so he can improve his CV and leave for what he considers a better job, IMO. I doubt he's a team player at all.

And regardless of any prior experience, if he's on the same wage he not senior to you, because if course, that would be reflected in a wage difference.

pluCaChange · 19/02/2015 13:40

He might be quite good, but have taken the lower-grade job because that was all he could find after redundancy. However, that is not your problem; it will be the whole team's problem if he is allowed to use this as a springboard (who wants to be compressed under a springboard?).

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 19/02/2015 13:43

If he continues to make a fuss I would just say to your boss "he seems to think he heads up the team, he'll be after your job next..." Say it with a smile so its clearly a flippant comment. I bet it will get your boss thinking.

HazleNutt · 19/02/2015 13:45

"My boss has now pulled me to one side and said that newest colleague is not happy " - "yes, but if I give the case to him, I won't be happy."

RabidFairy · 19/02/2015 13:47

Good for you OP!

WineIsMyMainVice · 19/02/2015 13:53

Does your manager not have a back bone? They should be the one telling him that this work has been allocated to you, and that maybe next time a similar opportunity comes up it will be his!

ineedabodytransplant · 19/02/2015 13:57

I work as part of a team of three. All doing the same job. We are part of a larger team within a very large division. Although the industry in the UK is huge, our team are a new venture for the larger group. It's going very well, better than expected but there are frictions.

Myself and one of the two others have been in the industry the team works within for 25+ years with relevant experience before that (so old dinosaurs basically) whereas the other team member has been in the industry as long as the team has existed so two years now. No previous experience at all. Got the job through family connections.

He spends so much time sucking up to the higher-ups that he gets very little work done but still expects the cherry-picking

Bastard whinges whenever us two refuse to step back and let him have the nice, not necessarily easier, projects.

Step back once and you'll be doing it forever

Floggingmolly · 19/02/2015 13:58

Your colleague is not more senior. You're all the same grade... Confused. If he's choosing to work at a level below what his qualifications would allow him to; tough shit!

Why allow him to lord it over the rest of you? And your boss needs shooting re training himself.

HermioneWeasley · 19/02/2015 14:01

Well done OP. Your colleague, and your boss, are twats.

Let me guess, they are both men and you're a woman?

sooperdooper · 19/02/2015 14:03

Well done you :) Remove the thought from your mind that this colleague is more senior than you, he isn't, you're on the same grade and his previous experience right now is irrelevant, you're employed to do the same job right now