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

[Lizzie523]

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?

‘But he is not your colleague’ that was meant to say

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.

I can totally see why it would be annoying if he's making lots of errors, but I've had annoying clients in previous jobs (I don't really deal with clients in my current job) and it's just something you have to deal with. Working with different people, and different clients' ways of working is part of your job, annoying as it is.

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.

I agree that this its very frustrating for you to have this grey area over responsibilities. The trouble is, though, that you pushing for clarity on this issue is likely to accelerate them realising that they're paying two people for the same thing (I find it baffling that they rehired you on the same terms after stopping the contract initially - was this some technicality where they couldn't break the contract but could pause it during lockdown?)

Your post is also full of typos

20:55Lizzie523

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.

Reading your last update, you need to go back to the client and get clarification on what is needed and your concerns.

It's 'bear' not 'bare'.

Your post is also full of typos

I don't think that's fair - she posting on MN, not creating content to be published at work. I pride myself on my error-free reports at work but my MN posts are full of typos - I don't work on my phone!

Herein lie the perils of working for an agency. You aren't 'employed' by your client at all - there's no security or guarantee of work and they can pick and choose how and when they work with you.

OTOH you doubtless earn more than him and can pick and choose who you work for!

You sound very unprofessional and frankly quite childish. I hope that’s just the anonymous forum and not how you’re coming across IRL.
If he really is that bad, they will realise. But as it is they’ve made an investment and hired someone, they need to give him a chance. You have to work with him so you have to suck it up. Do as your line manager says and remember you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

I agree with PP, sounds like you work for a marketing agency, digital maybe?! I work in marketing, in house. We will bring in people to take over some agency roles if we think it makes financial sense to do so. It’s not really our problem if the agency doesn't like it, they’re free to not renew the contract when it ends, as are we, but it’s highly unlikely they do.
I think you’re taking this way too personally, yes the new in house person might be trying to get their feet under the desk and excluding you, or it could be their boss has told them your for the chop so he’s not going to bother trying to cultivate a relationship with you. I get that it’s no excuse to be rude but he’s not obligated to do anything for you. You need to remain professional, and get your work jolly’s from another project.

I know they are the client and they can do what they want.

I think I am feeling it more because so much of my life has become about work now. I work from home all the time. I felt valued working for this client and my role there doesnt seem to matter anymore.

Yes they couldn't break the contract then. They could now if they wanted to.

I probably am taking it too personally. I think working from home since March is taking its toll now.

We've been told there are no plans for an office return any time soon either. I miss cultivating the in person relationship with the clients too. It is very hard.

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.

I agree you sound young & inexperienced.

If you were one of my reports and took this approach, I'd be cross by now.

You shouldn't contacting the 'new employee' in this way at all. You escalate this to your manager, who raises the procedural part with the senior manager for the client.

The scope of your services is agreed, and the client will decide what they want you to do, and what they're happy to pay for.

If you do a better job than in-house employee, you can demonstrate this but stop challenging the new employee like this.

Step away from it. Not your problem if the new employee is doing the work. Tell your LM that you cannot be in charge of the content anymore. Concentrate on your new clients where your skills will be appreciated.

... and stop saying "reaching out".

This is a weird complaint. If you were self-employed you might decide to forego the client (and the fee) say “I feel you no longer need me”.

However you are employed, in a job, so do what your boss requests of you- i.e. keep the clients happy. You can’t bring your own ego into this.

I posted before I read this I miss cultivating the in person relationship with the clients too. It is very hard.

That does sound hard & I get it.

Talk further to your own manager about these challenges.

I should add, having been on both the agency and clientside position, if there's lack of clarity over roles and responsibilities then that's a management failure which is frustrating and inefficient, so does need to be sorted out - but with diplomacy!

@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.

Unfortunately your client doesn't need to think about how you feel about things because you are a third party and it's not relevant to them, they do however have a responsibility to their employee.

I know it's a bit crap for you, but I'm afraid that if you want to retain this client you are going to have to get used to the internal person calling the shots

Just sit back and wait. If he is making multiple mistakes already, then this is bound to get back to his management. He may do himself out of the job. Also note if he actually uses your idea for the project.

You need to get your head around, as an employee of the client, you are now working FOR him, not WITH him and work out how you will do this. Realistically, unless they remove him, he his going to be managing their online presence and managing you as a service provider.

Start thinking about other clients you can cultivate.

You keep referring to this one contract as "your job" as if you were an employee of theirs. I've seen this before with contractors who only have one client - they forget they aren't employees and the expectations and obligations can get all mixed up. You don't work for them - you work for your agency and report to your line manager. I'd talk to your LM and ask get assigned to a new account or two to get wider experience to remember that "your job" is not working for this one company, and the guy isn't your colleague - he's "the client", just as much as his boss is also "the client".

Sounds just like they are edging towards not outsourcing it, which is a good business move for them. Unfortunately they can do what they want really.

I agree with the others OP - you really have confused things wrt your role here.

Your client IS the new employee - if there's a mix up of who is doing what, then you need to chat to whoever has scoped the work at your side and agree an aligned approach of how to tackle it (maybe more of an account manager thing, if you're on the technical or marketing side). but this new guy hasn't taken your job or stepped on toes.. he IS your new client from the sound of it, because you're being expected to work with him as the outside party to deliver what the organisation (your client) needs.

You need to understand your role better. And get better support in terms of whoever managers contracts/projects at your side - there must be some sort of agreement in writing/emails/meetings about what YOU are there to support THEM (and HIM) on. This has clearly changed.

But don't make it about you vs. him... you get paid to keep the client happy (which includes him) and by doing good work. The latter alone is not enough.

I don't know if would have posted such an angry thread before lockdown, that is true

I will just stay quiet and either the client will realise he needs me, or they will make it all in house and that will be that. I am always professional, just having a rant on mumanet! I suppose because I have no one else to rant to.

I think I may need to speak to my line manager though as I feel my previous role is a grey area now. I know she isnt happy about the situation but probably just as powerless.