Is this an issue?

[SeekingBalance]

Back story: New manager, first managerial role, taking the micro managing approach...I totally appreciate the need to find a style which suits them and the team.
However, the style over substance is becoming a bit much. For example, I have big deadlines, I was being badgered to stick name labels on my desk (the same desk, the desk of two, which everyone knows is mine) my filing cabinet has been re organised and yesterday I found out my laptop was out, on and emails accessed. Obviously I have nothing to hide, and the same approach is being used with all staff so thankfully not just me.

I just feel so patronised, I'm higher qualified, much more experienced and definitely not after a managerial role. Up until now, I've had job satisfaction with the work life balance. I really, really don't need nor do I cope with this style of management.

When I casually mentioned it to my husband last night, he said he would of been fuming if that had happened at his work.

Is this an issue, would you find it an issue? I have great working hours so I don't want to rock the boat but equally I want to be respected as a member of the team, something that seems to be drowning.

Any advice?

@Spudina

The accessing your laptop thing is a massive issue. You have a responsibility to keep it secure so writing it down and leaving it in a shared area is terrible practice (grounds for dismissal in my job.) Does everyone so that?? Her accessing it is wrong also, but the point is, she shouldn’t have been able to. She sounds like nightmare. Keep a record of everything.

This ^^ in spades.

Both of you would be given a very stern warning in my workplace OP.

In some spaces, depending on the data you store on your laptop. It could be a sackable offence to do as she’s done.

I would definitely take this further, her style of management isn’t working clearly.

That would also be a massive security breach where I work and is a sackable offence.

Would be a massive breach where I work, I can’t believe she thought that was ok!

Just to clarify I didn't write down nor store my password. Someone above me did.

I want to believe they were being "helpful" but clearly missed how inappropriate their actions were.

I’m sorry I still don’t get it. How does anyone even know your password?? They are supposed to be secret. Your place of work has massive issues.

@SeekingBalance

Just to clarify I didn't write down nor store my password. Someone above me did.

You need to change your password.

No-one above you, not even the IT department should know it.

Anything she does while logged on as you will be attributed to you.

I will give you an example. Years ago, my colleague tried to say that I had made a huge error. But because she had signed in on her login, it was proven that it absolutely couldn’t have been me, and was in fact her. In your situation, I couldn’t have proved that. You are leaving yourself wide open. Anyway I’ve made my point!

What size of company is this? Is there an IT dept, HR dept?

I would lose my shit of my boss accessed my email. In fact, my shit would be so lost, I’d be banging on the door of my boss’ boss threatening to resign.

Fuck that.

Before you approach HR, please realise they are only there to make sure the management obey employment law. They are not there to help or advise employees. IME.
Raising a grievance against your manager may very well be justified, but the whistleblower usually comes off worse. IME.
If it's that bad, you have my sympathy, and my best advice which is to seek another job. Sorry. Managers win, usually.

@Bluetrews25

Before you approach HR, please realise they are only there to make sure the management obey employment law. They are not there to help or advise employees. IME. Raising a grievance against your manager may very well be justified, but the whistleblower usually comes off worse. IME. If it's that bad, you have my sympathy, and my best advice which is to seek another job. Sorry. Managers win, usually.

Sadly I agree with you. I would never go in there raising merry hell for this reason. Again, thank you all for your comments.

I used to work at a recruitment agency about 10 years ago and everyone had to tell their team their password so we could access each other's emails whenever on leave or off sick. We had to write it down and store it in the team locker!

Everywhere else I've worked has been very strict about not sharing passwords, locking your screen when not in use and not letting others access your computer. We have to take our laptops home every night in case we need to work from home the next day if trains are cancelled/we have to self isolate etc.

I wouldn't be happy if someone else was logging on to my laptop - if they don't like you all they need to do is send an abusive email/look up porn/do something dodgy and you'd have a job proving it wasn't you who did it...

change your password for starters.
Tell manager that they should either tell you that something is so urgent it can't wait, or they should wait for you to give them information instead of rootling round your laptop.

Reorganise your filing cabinets back.

Sharing passwords means instant dismissal in my industry. Sounds like you've both fucked up here.

@Bluetrews25
100% agree with you on that!

@HundredMilesAnHour

Sharing passwords means instant dismissal in my industry. Sounds like you've both fucked up here.

Mine too.

Change your password, say nothing, but if she asks, refuse to give it to her. She sounds like a nightmare.