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AIBU?

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Original poster

To hate this new employee stepping on my toes at work?

83 replies

Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:21

In my line of work I have clients and work as part of a team. I manage all of one particular client's online presence, that is until lockdown when they could no longer afford us and decided to do it themselves. A new employee came on board 2 months ago at their company doing some of my former duties (but with no training in it). But now that we are back on board this colleague who was doing things themselves has continued managing the online presence. So we are now effectively sharing this responsibility.

Yesterday I introduced myself in a friendly email saying I understood we would be working together (ie trying to make the best of it). I sent him instructions for a project and welcomed his input. He then relayed to my main client, his boss, that he 'didn't like' what I had proposed and was going to do the project himself from scratch! And my client/his boss is allowing this! I feel all my autonomy is being taken away.

All I can imagine is that they are trying to undermine or replace me and show they are indispensable during a difficult economic time. I HATE this new way of working, which I have mentioned to my line manager. She agrees it is annoying and says we will broach it in a future meeting but it will be too late by then. Any advice?

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 29/07/2020 20:26

I think you are going to have to live with it sadly. It’s their employee at their company, with his boss calling the shots. Nothing you can do about that. It is likely to be partly the new employee trying to consolidate his position and the boss thinking he could save money if the employee is good at the job. After all, from the boss’s point of view, why pay twice for the same service when you could bring it in house and only pay once?

Doesn’t stop it being annoying for you and for that you do have my sympathy.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:29

He isnt as good at my job as he thinks. He has made multiple errors over the last week all published and visible, whereas I put in months of effort making everything look polished.

So yes I also resent the attitude that anyone can do it. I feel like - what is the point in me then? And of course part of my job is to retain clients. I really really enjoyed working with this client before, but I feel like all my enthusiasm has gone and I'll be faking it!

OP posts:
OneMoreLight · 29/07/2020 20:32

I'd try to work with him. If the in-house person can do it alone successfully then I think you'll lose the client.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:33

It is also the fact I didnt get a courtesy of a reply when I reached out saying I'm looking forward to working with you. He ignored the email and complained to his boss, which I find rude.

OP posts:
FredaFox · 29/07/2020 20:36

But he is working at your client, they pay your fees do they get to call the shots?
Surely you find a way to work with him and return your business or it will be gone in a few months (wether you are better than him if not)
You aren’t the client you don’t get to choose

TheNewSchmoo · 29/07/2020 20:38

You lost me at "Reaching out".

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:40

The point is that I had an established working relationship with this client. One point he made clear at the start was that he wanted me to have full autonomy with him being hands off. That worked well until lockdown and the new person arrived.

The thing is he has allowed this person to take over the job I enjoyed the most (and am most skilled at). I feel demoralised.

I have reached out to him via email twice and received no reply either time. I asked in to contribute to a plan with me but he has ignored this and kept doing his own thing.

OP posts:
heartsonacake · 29/07/2020 20:40

@FredaFox

But he is working at your client, they pay your fees do they get to call the shots? Surely you find a way to work with him and return your business or it will be gone in a few months (wether you are better than him if not) You aren’t the client you don’t get to choose
This.
EarringsandLipstick · 29/07/2020 20:40

OP, you're going the wrong way about this.

The company is the client, he works for the company so he can decide how to approach it.

You may think it's inadvisable - as your LM said, it can be discussed at a future meeting but it sounds like this aspect of the work will really move in-house - why would the client continue to pay?

Either think of another way to promote your services or work on other clients to take on, if you lose this one.

lockdownalli · 29/07/2020 20:41

Are you 12?

luckylavender · 29/07/2020 20:41

It's difficult but they are clients & ultimately he is senior to you in the relationship as he is directly employed.

EarringsandLipstick · 29/07/2020 20:41

The thing is he has allowed this person to take over the job I enjoyed the most (and am most skilled at). I feel demoralised.

Sorry, but that's not your client's problem.

Discuss it further with your LM, but you're sounding v unprofessional here.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:43

I have lots of new clients coming on board recently thankfully.

But just last week my client was saying he sees the relationship between us as 'long term' and I cant see how it will be? It seems like I'll just need to grit my teeth and bare it then. It has made me enjoy my job less for sure. C'est la vie.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:44

@lockdownalli how is it childish? I have been employed to do a job. Someone else is now doing my job. I have tried to work with this person but been ignored. What do you suggest?

OP posts:
FTMF30 · 29/07/2020 20:45

It sounds like you've had a good run but you're now working with a client you no longer like. It happens. You just have to suck it up and not make a bad situation worse bu complaining about this person.

Hardbackwriter · 29/07/2020 20:46

I'm a bit confused at the situation here - you talk as if this man is your colleague but surely he, and not just his boss, is a client - he's absolutely allowed to say whether or not he likes what you're doing, they pay you?

Longer-term it seems inevitable that they'll terminate the contract with you once this guy is up to speed. If you don't like that, and you have the power with your own employer to do so, you can say you won't work like this, but it's much more likely to get you terminated quicker. They're not going to go back to giving you so much work and therefore autonomy if they've now got someone in-house, it would be utter madness to pay them to do it and your company (and I bet your time works out more expensive than his). Ultimately they'll end the contract or at least strip back your responsibilities and so what they pay for, so the only choice is whether you want (and whether your employer wants) to eke it out for as long as possible or not.

lockdownalli · 29/07/2020 20:46

You are taking all of this way too personally and sound pretty unprofessional.

I am guessing you are very young?

MorningManiacMusic · 29/07/2020 20:48

You had (past tense) a working relationship with the client. Then the client decided to put in someone who works directly for them (presume you work writing copy for a social media type agency?) Now they've asked you back but the other person is still doing the work in-house.
Is that right?
Your post about contacting him and suggesting projects make it sound as though you think you are his boss and your comment about your opinion about his work makes you sound jealous and catty and a little bit up yourself.
Does your line manager answer to them? Who do you ultimately answer to? The company you work for or the client?

If you were as good as you say, you'd have thought you'd have been headhunted for the in-house position really.

purplelila2 · 29/07/2020 20:49

The new employee IS the client .
He is employed directly and thus is able to call the shots with his managers approval.

You sound really unprofessional

Hardbackwriter · 29/07/2020 20:50

@Lizzie523

The point is that I had an established working relationship with this client. One point he made clear at the start was that he wanted me to have full autonomy with him being hands off. That worked well until lockdown and the new person arrived.

The thing is he has allowed this person to take over the job I enjoyed the most (and am most skilled at). I feel demoralised.

I have reached out to him via email twice and received no reply either time. I asked in to contribute to a plan with me but he has ignored this and kept doing his own thing.

You just sound like you don't get the relationship here at all. He's not your boss - he doesn't have any responsibility for you, he isn't supposed to mentor or support you, he doesn't care about your job satisfaction or progression or morale in the way he should for his own employees.
EnjoyingTheSilence · 29/07/2020 20:51

But your not colleagues, he is employed by your client, not your company

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:52

It is not an opinion it is a fact. There are grammatical and spelling errors all over the articles and content. Also things that are simply incorrect are being posted on the platforms. I care about this because it is my job to do so. It is not about being 'catty'.

I ultimately answer to my agency and my line manager. I have been told I remain in charge of the content which is why I am sending on the projects/tasks but still asking the nee employee for input. This is what my line manager advised me to do.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 29/07/2020 20:54

someone else is now doing my job

No. They're not.

They are the client. And this is the way they want to do it. End of story.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 29/07/2020 20:55

The client said at the start they wanted me to take charge of everything so they weren't stepping on my toes. It is usual for an agency to take over all, or almost all, of the running of marketing as part of this kind of relationship.

I feel that has now been taken away and made my previous role unclear. I have tried to make the best of it by contacting the new employee a couple of times. I'm not sure how to love forward without building they relationship.

OP posts:
purplelila2 · 29/07/2020 20:56

Well tough really the new employee is now the client you just to get on with it or move on and work on other clients .

What they require of you has changed and they have every right to bring whatever they choose in house.