AIBU to be unhappy with my boss?

[Geekymeeky]

Although we have had our moments, my relationship with my boss is generally alright. I do well in my job and my boss makes that clear at my performance reviews. He knows that I am able to operate at the next level and we have both acknowledged that thinking about moving up is a natural should be on my agenda. BTW, I have been in my current post for 2 years and 2 months. Promotional opportunities are currently very thin within the organisation but things might change in the next 4-6 months because of likely changes to how the organisation operates.

A few days ago, my boss forwarded me a job advert for a job outside of the organisation. It is a step upwards and definitely in an area that I am strong in (or at least everyone perceives me to be strong in that area). AIBU to be a bit upset that he did this and to think that he isn't/wouldn't actively seek to keep me within the organisation? I feel rather saddened by it all.

I welcome your thoughts. Thanks.

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

Oh FGS, I give up!!

You get the gist hopefully....

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

Bah - confused myself! The last Level 3 XY should be a Level 2 ZZ

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

I don't know TBH - I have team members saying to me "I want to be Level 2 XY rather than a Level 3 ZZ" and have to explain to them that my team is a team of level 3 ZZ's and will always be - if they want to be a Level 2 XY they'll have to apply for a Level 3 XY role in a team that has one or apply externally.

I can't just "make up" a role in my team because someone wants to advance unfortunately, and I can't give large pay rises that'd take them out of the peer group.

It's really restrictive but it's life, in our company at least.

[Geekymeeky]

He does not have unilateral power to increase salary but he could make a case to the higher ups.

More money and promotional opportunities are what I would like of I stayed on longer.

I am probably being unreasonable and should take him at face value?

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

It is true that he does not have the power to increase my salary or make decisions about promotional opportunities.

But you said that's what you were hoping he would offer you?

What do you want from him/the company (that is achievable)?

[Geekymeeky]

Muffmuff, thankfully my job is safe even if we had changes. More likely to be positive opportunities.

It is true that he does not have the power to increase my salary or make decisions about promotional opportunities.

[MuffMuffTweetAndDave]

Are you sure your job will be safe in this reorganisation? If you and him are friendly and there's change afoot, I might wonder if he knows something you don't. It could also be because you'd be competition of course. And sometimes if an organisation is teetering, management are relieved when people leave because it means less redundancy if the place goes tits up, even if the person who goes is valuable. I have seen this happen with an old colleague: the company was in trouble, she was really good, but they were just glad she was going to be one less wage to pay. Went into administration a few weeks later.

[SpringTown46]

My OH would do this. He considers it part of his mentoring role, and thinks in terms of colleagues' best interests for development, rather than being a 'company man' through and through.

[whois]

He probably has no power to offer you anything to keep you. But obviously thinks you're ready to move on up. I'd take it as a compliment and apply!

[ahbollocks]

Maybe he cant offer you a pay rise /promotion without leverage?

[IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou]

I was planning to moan that I can't see much opportunities so will be looking around. I imagined that he would advocate for a salary increase or something to keep me in the organisation

A good boss doesn't have to wait for you to moan - he'll know already that you're not content. If your company is anything like ours, then advancement is limited & it's not possible to just give people out of sync pay rises.

Realistically he'd rather show you the other options than have you start to degrade in your current role....

[Geekymeeky]

I will try to ask him at some point today. He is off on holiday tomorrow so it needs to be today otherwise the moment would have passed.

What he has done is a good thing but it's his motives that I wonder about.

[workadurka]

I would just say to him, in the right situation of course, "thanks for sending me that job ad" and then go quiet, and see what he says. I bet he'll explain without you asking.

[Teabagbeforemilk]

I think it's entirely professional. A supervisor should have their staffs best interests at heart. If he knows he can not give you a pay rise (which he probably ant if promotions a few and far between) he knows you want one and has seen something that will be better for you, it's good that he sent you this.

If I had a great staff member that wanted to progress but I was able to help with that, I would in fact help them find a role somewhere that can facilitate that.

As pp said people rarely work at one organisation anymore. People are more mobile.

[daisychain01]

There is no such thing as a job for life any more. People are much more mobile and should hop from job to job in order to go up the ladder, in a focused way that is, making calculated moves each time. Waiting for the type of succession/promotion that used to exist hardly happens now. It can mean you lose several years waiting g for things to happen.

nowadays managers will not feel hesitation in letting you know of new opportunities inside and outside your organisation. They often realise they can't prevent you from leaving especially in your case you have given clear signs you want to move upwards.

If I were you I wouldn't start quizzing him about why he sent you the advert. Don't rock the boat. In a way it doesn't really matter, both he and you are just employees in the same company and that's as far as it goes. I'd try for that role if it is something you like the look of, or else keep looking for your own opportunities.

[SorchaN]

Maybe it depends on the field... I know some PP have said they think it's unprofessional, but in many fields (especially those with flat structures) it's a very positive thing to alert younger colleagues to opportunities for development within the industry but outside the organisation. In my field it wouldn't have any negative connotations at all.

[BuildYourOwnSnowman]

Maybe he's looking externally - saw the role and thought it would suit you perfectly. No reason to be suspicious!

I had a conversation with my boss where I told him he should think about looking elsewhere as he could do so much better. Wouldn't be great for me though!

[Geekymeeky]

HeyDuggee he is my boss just not much water between us. Indeed he would be in trouble if I complained but clearly he trusts that I wouldn't. Maybe he expects me to see it positively?

[HeyDuggee]

Ah ok- sorry I thought he was your supervisor. Thing is, if you marched into HR saying you're being bullied/threatened/etc by him with a printout of his email, he would be in deep doodoo and any explanation he'd provide would make his actions pretty unprofessional. Thats why I don't understand why he'd send you something like this without any explanation... You obviously don't have that close of a relationship, as you wouldn't be posting. Not really sure of his motivations now.

[Geekymeeky]

Moonlight, I know it is not that I am not good enough for the company. Not being big headed but I have successfully delivered some very important projects, been visibly commended for them, and I continue to have several key projects within my portfolio. Yet old feelings of distrust have risen up again and I can't help be think he is up to no good. Quite what it is, I don't know. I thought he would have bigger fish to fry as someone he was level pegging with is now his boss (the person got promoted in the latter part of 2014).

[Geekymeeky]

I wouldn't be surprised if he too is looking around for other opportunities. Runswithscissors your theory is an interesting one, not unlikely but I doubt it. More likely to use this info in a way that benefits him and not me.

HeyDuggee, we both are in senior positions (he is one level higher than me but there isn't clear water between us). The deadline for the job application was almost up so he wouldn't have had a chance to see me face to face.

I guess I will need to ask him. Just how without making him think I have been rattled by the whole thing.

[MoonlightandMusic]

Well, to turn a negative into a positive - it might be he feels that you're too good (i.e. a threat to him), rather than not good enough (for the company), hence the 'have you seen this door over here?' implication sending the advert's created.

[HeyDuggee]

I'm really surprised at all these positives. I think it's horridly unprofessional of your boss to send you a job advert even if you had a good working relationship. I disagree he is there to mentor you, unless you are an intern. As you describe your work relationship as "had your moments" - I completely disagree this is flattering and positive.

If he had chatted with you offsite after work hours and mentioned this advert - that would be positive and flattering.

Sending a job advert on a work email to someone I supervise? What the fuck.