to make an exit plan (secondment disaster)

[NotLovinIt]

I’m 4 months into a 12 month external secondment (different organisation). Plan was to gain new skills (related field) and go back.

I’m hating it. The team dynamic is not for me. I’m used to being trusted to manage myself and my work. Here I am being micro-managed (alongside everyone else). It’s like being at school, I feel I never know where I stand. I find it irritating and totally unnecessary. Other colleagues feel the same. One colleague has totally shut themselves off from the team. There is no forum for discussing operational stuff, just emails ‘do [insert minor pointless task to prove you are working] - no excuses’. We cannot work smartly because we cannot be trusted so organise appointments later so seen to arrive at office first. Yet the manager swans in about mysteriously and leaves early to work from home while mistrusting us intently and being inconsistent. I was so busy one day last week but the manager upset a colleague so badly it took an hour of my time to be vaguely supportive of my colleague. There was a bullying issue recently against me which the manager left lingering while away - left me feeling terrible.
I went above in managers absence and it’s now sorted. Manager now back and has ramped up the micro-managing. For everyone. Seems extra insecure/mistrustful for some reason.

My MH is suffering now, I actually considered going to GP this weekend for anti-depressants. That is awful.

The thing is, there is no clause in the secondment contract for me to pull the plug. They can only get rid of me (pleeease). Silly me. I just didn’t think it would be like this!

Am desperately hoping they let me go at my probationary review. I know they won’t, what then? I don’t actually give a rats arse what my manager says at my probationary review. I only want a review because I want out! Or to figure out how to stick the bloody thing out.

If I could walk away I could get work in my old organisation elsewhere until going back to substantive post. There are eight long months left.

If I was on a contract I would walk with a week’s notice or a month, tops.

Wise MN’tters please how do I play this!

Where are you seconded from? Surely your original employer will have a view/some leverage? Speak to someone there?

I have savings and could afford a month or two off. Could go back to old organisation and brush up on old skills. Could be easily negotiated.

Last week I spent every night dreaming about work. Every. Night. Am exhausted and depressed. Life is too short for this, please help me make a plan.

Thank you. Am seconded from NHS. I could ask.

Why can't you walk away?

It sounds like hell, I’ve recently escaped from a micro managing manager, who you’ve described to a tee here....
Even though it’s not in your contract there must be some kind of notice period, you can’t be forced to stay there. If you’re sure you want to pull the plug I would ask them what your notice period is.

Can you just ring your old boss

I think you should speak to your old boss and explain how you’re feeling.

Good luck OP. Sounds like a miserable place to work

Thanks, guys. My secondment is to cover may leave. The person on mat leave is known to not be coming back (wonder why!) but I guess she may not hand in her notice until March. So that leaves this organisation’s clients in the lurch.

But the place is so insane maybe that’s their problem not mine.

I think I should sound out my old boss first.....?

It’s such a shame. There are nice people and the organisation is trying to do something very worthwhile.

I believe in it and the clients immensely. But I just can’t do it.

Yep. If you're on secondment they're not really your old boss, they're still your ultimate manager? Not sure how things work in NHS secondments but I've got a team member out on secondment at the moment and we very much have her back and would want to know if she was having any problems.

Thank you. But this sort of issue isn’t really quantifiable unless I dress it up. I suppose I just get my employer to say ‘the role is not working out’ when can she come back?

The new organisation would say why haven’t you raised it with us?

I think there are a couple of ways to approach this. I’d contact your old manager and explain that it isn’t working out, either because of the working environment or because you are not learning the skills that were the reason for the secondment. Ask for their advice and if it is possible to end the secondment early. If possible, get them on your side and essentially let them fight your battle for you.

Alternatively, the more nuclear option, tell them you want to leave the secondment and you intend to resign as per the notice in your nhs contract (the secondment contract is ‘under’ the NHS contract). They will almost certainly try to keep you within the NHS and facilitate your way out of the secondment. Of course, this option works only when you are actually willing to resign.

Thanks, I do not wish to resign from my NHS post and know there is plenty of scope for me to work in various areas in my NHS department if I leave the secondment prematurely. Ultimately I want to return to my substantive post. That was always the plan.

I think I might speak to the Head of my NHS department and see if they will write to the new organisation.

If I do it now the new organisation has time to take steps to get someone in on secondment for six months with a view to a permanent role of the previous person doesn’t return from mat leave.

I think I need to meet my NHS head of dept this week if I can.

I think you’re right, Uncreative

Shouls my old manager not be that supportive (she is super busy and overloaded as all NHS managers are) if I say I might resign that should focus her attention. From what she has said previously I like to think it would (purely that she allowed me on secondment in the first place, not everyone gets to go, good people have been refused in the past) except that nobody is indispensable are they. Gulp.

Shameless bump. Anyone else had a similar experience? I’ve only slept a few hours. Decided to get the ball rolling somehow this week.

No advice as the circs were very different but I really feel for you. I did a secondment that I hated. It was shorter so I just gritted my teeth and got on with it. I couldn't have done it for a year.

Resign seems extremely over the top.

I did a five month secondment. Hated it. I rode it out. But because I knew it was five months and I could cope. Just - although I got quite ill with stress.

In your case i would ask:
1, for a review meeting with HR in your substantive organisation (not the seconded one). Set out concerns and steps for return
2, HR to speak to the seconded HR to get a return

Just keep it professional and between whoever organised the secondment.

If that fails speak to your manager and ask them to do the above.

If that fails job hunt and resign etc.

A plan will make it more bearable

No direct experience but I am currently on secondment within the NHS although not internal. Can you speak to your HR at your substantive role? Find out what your options are? Is there a 6 month internal secondment you could do there?

I'm a long way from the UK, but in my govt dept, people are almost always rescued from their secondments. Our team is lovely and it shows! Our ED seems to find new projects and positions that the substantive is able to explain is a 'once in a career opportunity' that they must return for. Hope your manager can assist in the same way.

There is plenty of work in old dept, teal no need to sort out a new secondment. In fact I’ll never do another secondment thank you - fingers burnt now!

Ask your old boss/HR what the procedure for terminating a secondment early is.

Thanks, Mach5

I just wasn't sure of the logistics, if they have someone covering you temporarily. If there is plenty of work that's great!