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Original poster

My manager won't let me go, please help

102 replies

badmanager201 · 20/08/2021 11:34

I’ve started a new job back in may but I don’t drive and it’s just too far from home. I spent a lot of money on transport, I’ve asked to be transferred to their branch that is closer to me, my manager emailed them and they were happy to accept me. My last day at my current job was 1 august, but was asked to stay another 4 weeks because someone quit. I agreed and was happy to help out. It was agreed I would then leave at 1 September, the manager at the other branch want me to start 6 September. I spoke to their manager and he said he’s just waiting to get the transfer form from my current manager and then I’d would ready to start.

Went and spoke to my manager last week, and asked him when he can send the transfer form? He then tells me they’re not ready to let me go yet, I might not be able to start there at 6 September bla bla.

Honestly I’m just tired of it, I told him I’ve helped you guys out and stayed 4 weeks, he lost it and said “don’t think you did us a favour, I don’t have to transfer you”

I don’t know what to do now. I’ve been advised by some of my colleagues to just quit and then apply as a new person at their other branch instead of being transferred? Problem is him and the other manager are good friends, and im scared that when I do quit, he’s just going to tell the other manager not to hire me? What do you think?

OP posts:
WestendVBroadway · 20/08/2021 11:53

Surely if the manager at the new branch wants you ASAP, he could have some sway with current boss.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 20/08/2021 11:57

I would explain very calmly that you can't maintain this arrangement so if you can't transfer you'll have to put in your notice. If they want to keep you in the organisation they will have to transfer you. Is there a union?

emmathedilemma · 20/08/2021 11:57

Why did you take a job that's too far away in the first place? Or did you do it in the hope of a transfer to a closer branch?
I can see the Manager's point of view, it takes a lot of time and money to hire people so he's right to be cheesed off that you want to transfer to another branch so quickly.

millymollymoomoo · 20/08/2021 12:01

Sorry but this is your problem not theirs
You accepted a job that’s too far
If they can’t accommodate your request you’ll need to decide what to do

MaMelon · 20/08/2021 12:02

Do you have an HR dept who can advise? There may be a policy on transfers you could refer to.
On the face of it it’s ridiculous - there’s no problem with your work, the company will be retaining your skills and there’s no issue with your transfer, just one manager who sounds like he cba to go through another recruitment process.

Cherrysoup · 20/08/2021 12:04

Speak to HR. Pretty sure there’s a verbal contract. Can you talk to the other manager?

Flowerlane · 20/08/2021 12:05

Is your current manager annoyed maybe because you have only just started and then put in for a transfer straight away?

Did you not consider the travelling to begin with when you took the job?

phishy · 20/08/2021 12:05

@millymollymoomoo

Sorry but this is your problem not theirs You accepted a job that’s too far If they can’t accommodate your request you’ll need to decide what to do
Have you actually bothered to read the OP?

OP’s current brand agreed to transfer her and the new branch are happy to have her.

OP, speak to the new branch manager and tell him you agreed to 1 month extension at old brand but now they are demanding another month and that you expect to start on 1 Sep.

phishy · 20/08/2021 12:06

@Flowerlane

Is your current manager annoyed maybe because you have only just started and then put in for a transfer straight away?

Did you not consider the travelling to begin with when you took the job?

Irrelevant! This has all been agreed by old brand and new branch, they can’t back track now.
RightYesButNo · 20/08/2021 12:07

He’s obviously found no replacement for you or the person who quit so he’s panicking. Sounds like a terrible manager. How much of this is “spoken” and how much is written, which means you have proof? You need to get it in writing. Send an email: “Old Manager, Can you confirm that you refuse to give me the transfer form so that I can move to new manager’s location by the Sept 6 date requested by new manager?” Either he’ll repeat what he said to you, then you send it to new manager or HR (if you have more than one location, you should have HR and transfers shouldn’t just be handshakes between managers), or he won’t want it in writing and he’ll just give you the transfer form.

And never agree to “help out” unless you’re in some kind of upper management position and they’re offering you extra pay for the inconvenience. They’re never grateful, and if the situation were reversed and they needed you for four less weeks, they’d get rid of you right quick.

IntermittentParps · 20/08/2021 12:09

Irrelevant! This has all been agreed by old brand and new branch, they can’t back track now.

Agree.

Do you have HR? Speak to them. Or if not, speak to your new/pending manager and say that the transfer process seems to have hit a hitch and you're not sure what to do.

arethereanyleftatall · 20/08/2021 12:10

You're not really 'helping out', simply continuing to do the job you applied for and are getting paid for.
It's nice of them to try and transfer you, but it's your choice now

  • wait or hand in your notice.
RightYesButNo · 20/08/2021 12:11

And yes, he’s probably angry with you for starting in May and then wanting to transfer after just a few months, so he’s not inclined to help you (I’m not saying that’s right on his part, simply saying what it is).

phishy · 20/08/2021 12:12

@arethereanyleftatall

You're not really 'helping out', simply continuing to do the job you applied for and are getting paid for. It's nice of them to try and transfer you, but it's your choice now
  • wait or hand in your notice.
Of course she’s doing them a favour. They agreed her transfer!

Seriously, what is wrong with people here?!

phishy · 20/08/2021 12:12

@RightYesButNo

And yes, he’s probably angry with you for starting in May and then wanting to transfer after just a few months, so he’s not inclined to help you (I’m not saying that’s right on his part, simply saying what it is).
HE HAS ALREADY AGREED TO THE TRANSFER.

I hope none of you work in HR!

phishy · 20/08/2021 12:13

@IntermittentParps

Irrelevant! This has all been agreed by old brand and new branch, they can’t back track now.

Agree.

Do you have HR? Speak to them. Or if not, speak to your new/pending manager and say that the transfer process seems to have hit a hitch and you're not sure what to do.

💯 agreed
WestendVBroadway · 20/08/2021 12:13

@arethereanyleftatall

You're not really 'helping out', simply continuing to do the job you applied for and are getting paid for. It's nice of them to try and transfer you, but it's your choice now
  • wait or hand in your notice.
I think she has worked her notice, but current boss is not helping with the transfer to new branch.
Flowerlane · 20/08/2021 12:15

@phishy I said he sounds annoyed which is understandable when you take someone on you don’t expect them to want to transfer so quickly because the travelling.
Also telling a manager that she basically did them a favour by staying 4 weeks didn’t help the situation. As a employer myself that would get my back up after giving someone a job.
Poster has also said that branch managers are friends so her conduct will probably be discussed between them.

Even though both managers agreed to the transfer at the time, I do think there is a better way to handle the situation then how the op is currently handling it.

Original poster
badmanager201 · 20/08/2021 12:15

No that's the thing, when I first brought it up with him, he was understanding and even agreed that it's best to transfer to a branch closer to home because it's not fair on my colleagues if I'm late because of transport problems, these were his words. It's just now that people are quitting, he's backtracking and wants me to stay for longer.

I agree, it is my fault tbh I should never have taken a job that is this far from home. But I was just desperate and finally happy to have a job. I never thought of transferring, it was actually one of my colleagues who suggested that because the other branch is 15 mins from my home.

OP posts:
Original poster
badmanager201 · 20/08/2021 12:20

This is what it says in my contract regarding transfers:

However, the company reserves the right to transfer you to an alternative employment site within a reasonable distance of your base, in which circumstances any appropriate excess travel expenses will be reimbursed.

OP posts:
Sparkletastic · 20/08/2021 12:20

Contact your new manager to see what their thoughts are. I would also mention feeling obliged to hand in notice if goes on too long. You weren't to know how unreliable the public transport would end up being.

girlmom21 · 20/08/2021 12:24

Unfortunately this is often the case with internal moves. Until the official paperwork is done there are no guarantees.

3luckystars · 20/08/2021 12:27

Grab a microphone and sing “pleeease release me, let me go...’ in a really annoying voice until he can’t stand it any more.

Don’t quit your job. That would be mad. Just ask when are you going, can he give you a date please.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 20/08/2021 12:27

You took a job that you knew full well was too far to travel for you, and then you wanted to move the minute you joined. You have a verbal agreement for the transfer, but it doesn't sound as though you have anything in writing, and your contract hasn't yet changed.

Your manager is right. You're not doing them a favour, and they don't have to transfer you. Your contract presumably says that you are located at your current branch.

They've actually been really accommodating, as they presumably hired you to fill a business need at the first branch. You need to work constructively with them if you want this transfer to be confirmed and your contract changed. It may not be as quick as you'd like, but they were under no obligation to even consider it in the first place.

I wouldn't quit over this - with a track record of demanding changes to your contract the minute you join, and then quitting when things don't go your way as fast as you'd like, the other manager would not be keen to rehire you if you leave.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 20/08/2021 12:27

@girlmom21

Unfortunately this is often the case with internal moves. Until the official paperwork is done there are no guarantees.
Precisely!