Was my Co Worker U?

[Fuzzyduck0]

Today I sat in as note taker in a fellow manager's PPR with one of her employees. The man is fairly new, 3 and a half months I think and the role involves some lone working. It wasn't quite the experience I thought it would be when I agreed and it's made me see my co worker in a new light (manager, not her employee).

The man seemed genuinely shocked/upset when she mentioned a few issues/her opinions on him. He pointed out that they had had 3 other meetings and she had told him everything was great and there was nothing her could do to improve. She said that's what she thought at the time. He pointed out that she had told him that she had said if she ever had an issue, she would address it immediately at the time and now she is springing this on him. She said she's been hearing a few murmerings from his colleagues.

By the end of the review I really felt for the guy. It was a sure fire way to demotivate a new staff member and to be honest, seems like his manager failed him. He obviously needs support, like anyone new, and left the room professional but affected/confidence shaken.

AIBU thinking that was bad management? Its not how I do it with my staff. What experiences have you all had on either side?

Sounds like manager passing the buck ie ‘other people tell me’ etc.
No excuse for coshing someone like that.

It was a really bizarre experience!

Hmm, OK, you were there so you know what it looked like. But what I'm reading is that a manager has had negative feedback about an employee from his peers and is communicating this to him. For all we know this is the earliest opportunity to address these issues, it's not springing things on him. If he's already had 3 other meetings with him then she's not neglecting her management duties and it's entirely possible these issues have only been brought to her attention very recently.

SparklyLeprechaun, as I said in my OP she hadn't said a thing to him. That's what was so unfair IMO. His main crime is he is too friendly to customers and colleagues alike (in a friendly not pervert way). In the other 2 meetings she has told him he's doing great and no other feedback, I read her notes. If one of my team has an issue, I speak to them about it, I don't listen to hearsay