To talk to my managers manager about how I really feel?

[Dilemaofwork]

My manager lets call her Jane is quite frankly awful. Janes manager Anne, is lovely.

Anne sent an email to the whole team about an unrelated matter and at the bottom of her email was a note saying to just let her know if we wanted a moan/chest. This is because staff morale in the whole team is bad.

Im feeling really mentally unwell at work now. Partly because of the way Jane treats me. For example my son has a heart defect and we have an appointment with the heart specialist next month so I need to take a days annual leave. Jane said no even though I told her what it’s for.

My colleague and I are the same level. We recently lost 2 junior members of staff. Jane now has me covering their work and my work but my colleagues covers nothing. It’s so unfair.

If I do ring Anne for a moan what if she tells Jane and Jane makes my life more miserable?

I am applying for other jobs but I am just so miserable and part of me thinks Anne should know how awful Jane is.

I’d want to know as a manager / owner.
I wonder if Anna suspects and is hoping people will open up and speak to her about Jane

100% speak to Anne. Jane sounds awful and I’d have no qualms about taking it further when she’s denying you the time off to take your child to a medical appointment. Just speak calmly and factually - I suspect Anne is hoping people will come forward so she can find out what the real issue is. Good luck!

I would definitely tell Anne what is going on and she will hopefully sort it all out for you.
I would also be saying to Jane that you’ve noticed that you are covering for two junior members of staff but your colleague doesn’t cover at all.
I think you need to speak up to Jane and regarding the appointment, if Jane doesn’t allow a holiday, just be sick on that day.

100% speak to Anne - take a bit of time before you do to note down the issues you want to raise. This is not having a moan!

If you want to complain - and by the sounds of it you have good cause - do it properly.

Arrange a meeting, plan the content and don't go off on a generic whinge. Stick to the facts as you know them.

Be prepared to not achieve very much and that there may be fallout.

Jane emailed me yesterday saying I will be doing the work our junior colleague used to do before she left, as well as my own work. My colleague, same seniority, hasn’t been asked but will continue working from home whilst I do my job and answer the phone, sit on a reception desk etc

Why does my colleague not get asked to help cover?

Agree. Not 'for a moan' but with documented examples and real, thought-out points.

Anne possibly already knows how awful Jane is. Good cop, bad cop nonsense.

At any rate management will always at least outwardly support middle managers..... Because they chose them, so they have to pretend that their choice was good. They will cover up for them, even if they are horrible. Get another job.

I suspect Anne has an inkling all is not right in the department & is putting out feelers to see if anyone will help her understand the issue.

100% speak to Anne but just state you expect the conversation to be kept confidential between you.

keep looking for another job, just in case.

Perhaps you could comment that there may be circumstances you are unaware of that explains why your colleague works from home but without breaching confidentiality it would be helpful if you knew the reasons that the workload balance has become unfair... sorry about the lack of grammar there!!
This will demonstrate your willingness to be supportive but your unwillingness to be put upon..
If you are applying for other posts you have nothing to lose! And you might get the outcome you hope for!!

I would also be asking how your pay will be adjusted covering 2 roles. Absolutely talk to anne she very well may speak with your manager- she needs to in order to resolve it. If she's a decent human I'm sure she will be mortified you've been refused a days leave for something so serious