Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think this total snub at work is unfair

52 replies

littlepieces · 30/07/2021 22:41

On Monday I return to my usual team after being on secondment for six months, working on a one off project.

Just before I went on the secondment, there was talk of a new senior role in my team being created, and me and my manager discussed that it would be an ideal opportunity for me specifically to progress. I've basically been doing the work of this senior role since the start of the pandemic and have had nothing but praise. Manager said they would make sure I was put forward for it, despite me going on secondment, as the new role probably wouldn't materialise until the autumn.

Surprise surprise.. it was announced this week that someone else in our wider department has been promoted to this new role. I knew nothing about the new role being open, neither did anyone else. After some probing, turns out my manager did not suggest me for it at all.

I'm shocked, upset and livid all at once. Do I have reason to be? Obviously I'm looking for a new job now. Not sure how to approach this at work in the meantime?

OP posts:

Chocoqueen · 31/07/2021 08:20

@memberofthewedding

I would give the new incumbent the least co-operation you can reasonably get away with. Or possibly feed them some misinformation so they look incompetent. Why make life easy for them?

So basically become a bully? Great advice 🙄. As crap as it is for the OP (and it is) it's not the new appointees fault that management have done this...

Bluntness100 · 31/07/2021 08:24

@memberofthewedding

I would give the new incumbent the least co-operation you can reasonably get away with. Or possibly feed them some misinformation so they look incompetent. Why make life easy for them?

Wow. It’s not their fault.

Sunflowergirl1 · 31/07/2021 08:27

I'm afraid @Chipsandchesses is probably correct rather than a reflection on you. I was that person who was a flight risk..had high levels of experience and the company didn't want to lose me so was promoted and given a thumping pay rise over someone in the team who was very good but "time-served" rather than moving employers to enhance their role and pay. Sad as it is, it is life.

Sunflowergirl1 · 31/07/2021 08:29

@littlepieces "I work in public sector btw. I'm going to chat to my union rep next week although I assume there's basically nothing I can do."

Do t waste your time with "the union". They are usually an utter waste of space with staffed by disgruntled employees who couldn't progress themselves. That is unless you are in a professional type high level role

Catlover77 · 31/07/2021 08:31

Submit a formal grievance, the role should have been open for all internal candidates to apply for

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 31/07/2021 08:34

@memberofthewedding

I would give the new incumbent the least co-operation you can reasonably get away with. Or possibly feed them some misinformation so they look incompetent. Why make life easy for them?

What an utterly shitty thing to suggest! They may be completely unaware of the OP's situation, I'm glad I don't work with you.

LagunaBubbles · 31/07/2021 08:37

would give the new incumbent the least co-operation you can reasonably get away with. Or possibly feed them some misinformation so they look incompetent. Why make life easy for them

Thats awful! It won't be their fault OP was overlooked.

MiaRoma · 31/07/2021 08:44

I agree about submitting the formal grievance. Make some noise. Kick off. It won't get you the job and if I were you I'd leave anyway.... but noise can't hurt

Also - can you go over your bosses head to chat to the bigger boss? As your boss has ignored your email.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 31/07/2021 08:44

YABU

When you were 'offered' the role six months ago, you werent worried about it not being open to anyone else then; you were happy to take it.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 31/07/2021 08:46

OP was told she'd be put forward for it, not that it was automatically hers.

Catlover77 · 31/07/2021 10:10

It may get you the job. I have seen it happen when the correct process wasn’t followed.

Original poster

littlepieces · 31/07/2021 10:36

To be clear, I wasn't told the job was mine at all. I was told I would be put forward for it and told about the vacancy when it came up, despite being on secondment. But nobody told me, it wasn't advertised, and my manager appears to have conveniently forgotten about me existing. This is despite me being in regular contact with this boss in my seconded role.

OP posts:

newnortherner111 · 31/07/2021 10:41

Speak to your manager first and make it clear that you are applying for a new job and why. Then consider a formal grievance as an undertaking has been made which was not carried out. The person who has been appointed has done nothing wrong though and please be courteous and supportive to them.

If both you and the person who has been appointed had been through some form of selection process and you had been unsuccessful, you'd have had nothing to complain about.

ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 31/07/2021 11:27

Not sure you’re allowed to apply in public sector when in eecondment?? Also make as much noise as you like. It won’t make the slightest bit of difference. 20+ yrs public sector. You will be viewed as a trouble maker. The union are worse than useless. I wouldn’t waste my time with them. You were never going to get that job or they would have made sure you applied for it. It’s just a massive boys club with rampant nepotism. It will NEVER change.

Sunflowergirl1 · 01/08/2021 08:32

@littlepieces "But nobody told me, it wasn't advertised, and my manager appears to have conveniently forgotten about me existing. "

If public sector...it would have to be advertise at least internally and even in deck dent you are allowed to apply. I suspect it was with a short response time and you just never knew.

LawnFever · 01/08/2021 08:39

I’d raise this with your union & HR on the basis the role wasn’t advertised for applicants, that’s against rules in public sector.

They can’t just promote someone, especially to a newly created more senior role, without a formal application process.

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 01/08/2021 10:09

I'd contact HR direct and query why the role wasn't advertised. I'd also ask about the grievance process. Copy in your union.

Intherightplace · 01/08/2021 10:16

Have you spoken to the person who originally suggested you might get the role? What's their explanation? That's where you should start.

There's no legal requirement to advertise roles like this internally, but it is something that's best practice and would usually be required by internal procedures in the public sector, to demonstrate everyone has equal opportunity. I'd certainly be asking them to explain why process wasn't followed.

Ultimately though, if they did follow the process, but wanted this other person in the role, you wouldn't have been successful.

Groovee · 01/08/2021 10:17

In my public sector organisation. They can advertise roles on the intranet. In my role, I'm rarely on a laptop to access the intranet.

You only know about the job if you know where to look. It's how they get round not having to advertise so many roles.

AnnaBellaCruella · 01/08/2021 10:21

That’s appalling op, something similar happened to me many years ago when I was in my 20’s. I was so upset at the time, I was also very naive as I believed as a graduate, hard work and experience would get me career progression. Of course it’s nothing to do with how good you are at your job, it’s everything to do with internal politics and who’s face fits in the best in your team / department.

FunMcCool · 01/08/2021 10:47

Ignore it and look for a new job.

Original poster

littlepieces · 09/08/2021 00:27

Thanks everyone. I asked the manager who told me I'd be put forward for the role why I wasn't, and they apologised and unsympathetically told me there was a breakdown in communication (basically I was forgotten about) but there could be other opportunities later in the year. But I've now got three interviews lined up in the next two weeks .

OP posts:

SnarkyBag · 09/08/2021 00:37

Good for you let us know when you share the news with your manager that a new opportunity has come up at a different company!

notangelinajolie · 09/08/2021 00:54

This happened to me many years ago. Someone else was was given an opportunity that I should have been given too. Only I had just come back from maternity leave and was 'missed' off the list.
Unlike you I didn't work for a company big enough for another 3 job interviews to fall my way so for me it was clear cut - they wanted me to leave.

I handed in my notice and went to work for a company that did want me
Good luck with the interviews but be aware that they may not want you to progress further. Do you really want to remain working for a company that chose to overlook you?

Original poster

littlepieces · 09/08/2021 11:20

@notangelinajolie The three interviews are all at other companies. There's no way I'm staying.

Glad it worked out for you in the end

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3