Am I being too sensitive

[Angelbunny]

I have recently gone through a 12 month training programme resulting in a promotion. The structure of the company I work for is that there are quite a few locations across the UK and the same 2 managers are the heads across all locations. At each location there are again 2 managers and then 5 levels below them. Completing the training programme you are promoted to level 5 and are expected to be the top performers for the business.

So I was promoted to level 5, along with one other person from each location. This was a few months ago and since then been performing well and meeting all my targets. Last week, the 2 big bosses organised a get together for all the level 5s for 2 of the company's locations. We did activities, games, had food and then at the end they gave out gifts. In total there were 10 of us. We all got small gifts and one employee from both locations was given an award for being employee of the year. Then the other person who did the training programme with me was given an extra gift and was said this was for completing the training programme. Absolutely no mention at all of me completing it or any recognition. I have honestly never felt as awkward and embarrassed as I did then. Afterwards a few people asked why I didn't receive the extra gift. I honestly have no idea, I have always felt that all the managers think I'm good at my job and have no reason to think otherwise. I'm really not bothered about not getting the gift but it's the fact there was no recognition to me completing the training too.

Before they started giving the gifts out I did hear one of the bosses say to the other she had made a mistake and they went off whispering so I'm wondering if they realised late that I had been missed? But then I think if that's the case why did they not just address it to me? I also think if it was deliberate then they should have added something extra to why she had the extra gift, for example she was exceeding targets or similar? The exact wording was 'and this is for Joanne for completing the training course'.

It made me feel very small and I really dont know whether I'm being too sensitive about it. My colleagues from my location have all said they want to tell our immediate manager but I really don't know, I don't want to feel more embarrassed if the big bosses turn round and say it was deliberate.

i totally understand why you’re upset but I’d say it was just an oversight rather than any reflection on your performance. Try and shake it off. If stuff like this keeps happening then it’s an issue but as a one off I’d be inclined to see it as an oversight. Don’t overthink or dramatise it.

Once I'd take as an oversight, twice, it's a thing. Try not to dwell unless it happens again.

Surely the promotion was the reward for completing the training, not sure why an extra gift would be necessary. Did your colleague have any difficulties attending or completing the course? Does she have physical/mobility issues that made it harder for her and they were sort of acknowledging she'd overcome these? If it was an even playing field then that's super awkward. If they'd realised they'd only got one gift prior to presenting it then they should have done it discretely, not in front of you.

I am really trying not to dwell on it. Thing is I can understand an oversight but I saw these bosses twice a month for a year and they personally trained us, I just dont understand it. I was sat next to the other employee when she was given the gift. There's just no way they didn't realise. I will just put it aside now but hard not to take it personally.

I don't know of any personal circumstances that could have made the promotion challenging for her but obviously there could have been. It's really not about the extra gift just the fact I wasn't even mentioned. If she had just said a congratulations and recognised I would have been fine.