Boss back from maternity leave, who is being unreasonable?

[florafaunaandotherthings1]

Hi. I'm struggling to see who is being unreasonable here. My boss went on maternity leave for 6 months and has now returned. I stepped into her role while she was away and have now returned to my old role. It's an admin/ co-ordination role without going into too much detail. While she was away I made some changes which made everything run more smoothly. She has now returned and after trying the changes for a while she is returning to how she did it before. I am finding it very frustrating as I know the other way was better. I approached our boss but he just said that I'd done a good job and my colleague would keep any changes if they were worth keeping. Hes not really been any help. I'm so frustrated but I don't know what to do!

Because a good boss listens to feedback and allows changes to be made and tested

A good boss should know whether procedure changes are likely to work before they’re implemented. And if he didn’t he could have asked other managers at OP’s bosses level first. It’s slack to allow an acting manager to make changes that had no hope of working which have to be undone on actual manager’s return.

Or maybe, just maybe... the boss has had to clear up the mess on her return? It's is possible isn't it?

It’s possible, but not according of the OP and her team. Apif we are not going to to believe her version of events then we may as well pack up as an advice forum.

just find some of the comments unsupportive of the returning mat leave

This thread is not about you, your ML or the boss’s ML. Is it really that hard to leave your own experiences and insecurities over ML out of this? To read the OP objectively rather than read in your own life?

If you need ML support then start your own thread.

OP I think anyone who hasn't worked in the civil service may not grasp how frustrating and inefficient work practices there can be. I can completely see where you are coming from and have been in a similar position in the past. However unfortunately there is nothing that you can do now, you will just have to suck it up and look out for other posts.

Sorry OP but you are being unreasonable. I have been in your position and also in the position of your manager, and from both perspectives you haven’t behaved very professionally. Nothing wrong with making changes whilst your covering the role, your manager showed you respect by trying these to be honest - she didn’t have to and I know not all would! Stirring people up behind her back because you’re put out at stepping back down is unkind and unprofessional. If you believe you can do her job better, which I know can happen quite often, maybe look for another role elsewhere or a better role where you are now? Though you need to stop bad mouthing your manager to other co-workers if you want to progress - you might call these people your friends but I have seen this end badly (the bad mouther who thought she was the best thing since sliced bread, constantly slagged our manager off to her ‘friends’ who told their ‘friends’ and word got back to our department head - she ultimately got shunted sideways into a much less pleasant role, as she was seen as a trouble maker and eventually left as she hated it.)

*This thread is not about you, your ML or the boss’s ML. Is it really that hard to leave your own experiences and insecurities over ML out of this? To read the OP objectively rather than read in your own life?"

WTAF? I have zero insecurities, thanks. I own a business so the comparisons you think I am doing don't exist.

Sounds like you may be slightly over-invested in this thread for such personal attacks....

You’re taking it far more personally than it was meant. It was a reply to you but it was directed as much to all the other posters who have wittered on about maternity leave on the thread, of which you are only one.

OP, you weren't unreasonable at all to make some changes while she was away. You were doing the job, you had every right to do it your way.

However, it's unreasonable to expect her not to do the same - to do the job HER way, as you did it your way.

And you were extremely unreasonable to complain to your boss about it. That was rude, and I'm afraid makes you look a bit foolish.

If you feel like you want more control over your work, maybe it's time to look for promotion?