work issue - who was wrong

[Chouette123]

Who is U?

2 managers, same small team, let's call them Jill and Sandra.
Jill's report Bob has issues with performance. Despite interventions, this does not improve. It has been decided that Bob will be let go.

While this has been discussed, Bob has gone to HR to make a complaint about Jill. They cannot work together, Jill is too controlling and always critical of Bob's work even though his performance is fine, Bob doesn't like the communication style and finds it very rude and so on. HR, Jill and Bob discuss the matter and HR does not find Bob's accusations hold water.

Jill tells Sandra that Bob is about to be let go. Sandra now tells Jill that Bob had also approached Sandra some time ago (before he went to HR) to complain about Jill. Sandra had told Bob that if Bob had addressed those issues to Jill and they didn't find a solution, he could talk to either HR, or Jill's manager.

Jill feels betrayed and that she no longer trusts her colleague. She feels she needed to know this info to protect herself against accusations from Bob. She feels Sandra could have at least given her heads up that Bob might be up to something. Sandra feels that as she was told about the concerns in confidence.

Who is U, Jill or Sandra?

Jill is wrong. Sandra was the right thing supporting Bob. What is the complaints had been fair?

Unless Sandra is alro the manager of Jill then Jill is bu. If an employee complains about 1 manager to another, it has to go up to hr, an employee making a complaint has to have confidentiality as much as possible. If Sandra is Jill's manager then she could speak to her in general terms about her management style.

Jill is wrong. Sandra did the correct thing in pointing Bob towards HR.

Jill should not be telling colleagues that someone else is about to be let go. That sort of thing undermines her denial of having been controlling and rude!

Jill is wrong.

Jill is being overly defensive

By 'that sort of thing' I mean gossiping/ sharing confidential info/ enjoying someone else's bad fortune.

Jill is unreasonable.

Jill is entitled to her feelings but Sandra did the professional thing.

To clarify, Sandra is not Jill's manager. They both report to the same manager.

Sandra acted reasonably.

You're clearly Jill and Sandra did nothing wrong.

Sandra had told Bob that if Bob had addressed those issues to Jill and they didn't find a solution, he could talk to either HR, or Jill's manager.

So Sandra did the right thing by Bob; this is professional.

Jill thinks Sandra should also have had a quick chat with her along the lines of ‘Bob seems unhappy, did you know?’

Sandra acted appropriately.

If accusations were true then tipping Jill off would have given Jill time to make excuses/cover tracks and therefore Sandra was remaining impartial and acting professionally

We all agree Jill is wrong, so the only question is which one are you in this scenario OP :-)

Yep Sandra was right Bob options were HR/Jill’s Manager or both anything else would be unprofessional

Another vote for Jill being wrong.

Jill is wrong. Sandra, as a manager should advise staff correctly. Bob is entitled to make a representation to HR and for this to be heard.

Jill is in the wrong.

Sandra acted appropriately.

Who are you OP, Jill or Sandra?

Jill is wrong

You OK Jill?

Sandra did exactly what she should. Told Bill to go to Jill and basically stop trying to involve her

Jill is wrong.
Sandra acted correctly.

Jill is wrong. Sandra did the right thing.

Jill is being unreasonable, but so is Sandra by telling Jill what Bob said.

Why did she do this?