To find this colleague a bit annoying

[halfacupofjuice]

Hello everyone,

I have been working at a particular company for a number of years and over the years things have changed but mostly have stayed the same. We have recently recruited a new person temporarily, as our previous colleague is off long term sick but will be back soon, but we are all finding her a bit... much...and I don't know if I should discuss this with her ( of course in a diplomatic way). Here are the reasons:

1. She comes across that she doesn't know much about our field, but when you speak to her and talk about certain practices and policies, she knows ALOT but tends to die this down but only brings up her knowledge when I challenge her about her practice. The reason why I'm saying this is because I can tell that she is a keen learner but has been using some of her working days to go on training (to be far- only two) but she has just started with us. Also, she has recently asked the company to pay for a course that she would like to attend, we of course declined as we don't pay for trainings for temporary staff and plus there are a number of us in the office who are very specialist and have worked in the role for many of years with who she can seek advice and support from, so it's not an efficient way of using resources.

1. In our company, we have been doing the same things, pretty much, for many years and then she comes in and has begun to ask us whether she can change some of our practices when working with clients.

3.She has only worked for a company for a month, but already she is speaking to similar companies to try and increase our own resources. This is amazing for our company, but I am finding her a bit much.

What should I do? Some of the colleagues feel that she is a bit much and should just take a seat back. How can I advise my new colleague?

Is your field so static that uni notes will still cover it?

Are you sure she wasn't asking for something more recent?

You don't want her going on courses because she can just ask you experts for advice.

Then, when she asks you for advice, you tell her to go read her uni notes.

🙃

I can see why she would rather go on courses.

This is so laughable I am starting to think it’s not real. Surely someone with such great experience would have much more self awareness as to how they are coming across

It’s not that we don’t understand you OP, it’s just we don’t believe such old fashioned management still exists these days

I said it in a nice way! I was not rude at all. I just said, Oh well take a look at your uni recommendation books and materials and if you have any questions get back to me and we can discuss it together.

Haven't read the full thread but this is very telling. Every company could do something to improve something, none are perfect. There are plenty of ways for people to put forward ideas and for them to be reviewed and potentially adopted depending if they're viable without it being an arduous task. One of the best bits of someone new starting is a fresh pair of eyes, and plenty of ways to professionally and respectfully say no thanks if they're not workable/of benefit. To just dismiss them shows what kind of team it is, no wonder they try and downplay their knowledge.

So you met her absolutely reasonable request with the suggestion that she review the things she has already reviewed as a part of her education, rather than using your "expert" knowledge to signpost her to a more in-depth resource.

Right.

What books have you last read on your field? Why couldn't you recommend one of those?

But she was asking you, based on your experience, which books you would recommend. Then you didn't answer, yet told her she can come back to discuss it with you if she has questions.

If she does, I can imagine you telling her to go check YouTube for a video explaining it.

Longtime lurker, but not a poster. Just wondering AIBU before I make a final decision whether to approach or not.

I am a hybrid worker, did 3 days pw initiallly (2 in office, one at home). I increased to 4 days and now do 3 in office, still 1 at home. I had asked before increasing if I could do 2+2 instead or even full time wfh (my preference), was told ‘no’ as wfh percentage is at capacity. Fair enough.

Here is my AIBU, a colleague who previously left has since come back - and is allowed to wfh full time? Should I not have been given first opportunity having previously asked to do so before she came back? Do I have to leave and get rehired to get same benefit?? We do the exact same job, exact same nbr of days.

Would I be wrong to raise this with the Manager who told me they were “at capacity” for home workers just weeks ago? Do I have any rights over a new start, or am I wasting my time.

I don’t want to leave, but find myself looking for other jobs that offer remote working as I’m not happy.

YABU - you have no special right over somebody essentially new

YANBU - this is most unprofessional and you deserve an explanation

Oh sorry, was meant to be a new post!!

Haa right, we are all experts so you don't need external training...but fuck you I'm not going to bother imparting that knowledge, ffs.

It's not unreasonable to not fund external training, but if she's willing to pay for her own and just go in work time seems a decent deal for the company as long as its relevant to the work she's doing. Even if she's using the time there to get as much training behind her as she can before moving on it doesn't seem like you're bothering to utilise her effectively whilst she's there anyway. It's fine to tell someone to get back in their box, but to be dismissive of their suggestions and enthusiasm because you think everything's fine as it is is a shame and poor management to be honest.

How long ago did she graduate?

Could you have recommended some books but thought you'd keep them to yourself?

What you have described is the ideal employee
*humble not bragging

• keen to learn
• increasing your profits and therefore securing everyone's jobs

You mention noting annoying or offensive or anti social

When I take a dislike to someone I sit on the toilet and have a word with myself - why am I threatened / jealous if this person ??? And then stop hating and start love bombing
And I usually find the person will relax and open up about. Themselves
I was burned during Covid and am now terrified of not being able to support my family again - maybe she had similar experiences?

She's too good for your backwards facing asses.

I am not sure this post went as planned. You have probably the majority of people saying you are in the wrong and to look at how you manage this person, however you still seem to defend your actions as though you are completely in the right. In which case - why did you ask for feedback in the first place if you wasn't planning to learn from the feedback given.

As a manager in todays working environment you need to be open to feedback and working with different styles of learning and behaviour in order to progress both yourself and your team. I would really suggest you look at all the feedback given and try to take some of it on board, not just the (very few) posts that supports your narrative.

Oh my God, you don't get it at all. At all.

How do companies reward and promote managers like this?

Ordinarily I'd say YABU OP. But I think people on MN never bother reading the opening post properly... YANBU, because she's just a temp!
How exactly will the company benefit from sending her on training? What's the pointing of going to all the hassle of implementing changes she won't be around to see?

It looks like she's either gunning for perm, OR using this job as a stepping stone. All the trainings, 'changes' etc will look great on her CV, regardless of their actual benefit.

Btw I'm not a dinosaur. I work in technology. And I'm SO bored of all the people 'innovating' and trying to bring in cool new things as a promotion project. But without considering all the challenges... they then leave in a triumph of glory and leave the poor operations sods to clear up the mess.

No more training, and ideas submitted with a FULL business plan considering the pros and cons after consulting with all stakeholders would be ideal. Maybe pick one change and get her to do the grunt work of consultations etc.

Get your own thread..?

Also to ad nothing against temps - it's been a great way to get your foot in the door.
And maybe you guys are dinosaurs - idk.
But as everyone else is so against you, I'm just putting forth the opposite side.

In truth it's he says she says, so nobody here will ever know which it is.

Why would she want to go on courses to learn things she already knows? Surely the courses might be teaching new thinking on subjects. Or do you think courses are a way for her to dodge work?

• Ordinarily I'd say YABU OP. But I think people on MN never bother reading the opening post properly... YANBU, because she's just a temp! How exactly will the company benefit from sending her on training? What's the pointing of going to all the hassle of implementing changes she won't be around to see? *

I did read and understand the OP. And stand by my comments fully

She probably wants to be permanent ... you know like - security which may explain her behaviour- she feels insecure

This. She sound brilliant. I hope that someone in your company sees her potential and decides to invest in her....though sadly I doubt that will happen, so be prepared to lose her soon.

I was a temp once. Worked hard to prove myself during that time and thankfully had a manager that nurtured that.
16 years later I'm still at the same company having progressed into a very senior position.

She's doing what lots of people do when they get a temp job in a sector where they want to develop their career.

Well not everybody wants to be permanent - some may be using it to try out a career change.
In any case, regardless of the reasons stakeholder management is a key skill. The comments are almost unilaterally going 'omg she's fab', I'm just presenting the opposite side.
I have been a 'temp' - well seconded, that resulted in my current career transition. I have also been responsible for a lot of transformation projects with, ahem, 'dinosaurs'. And on the receiving end of ill-thought out changes.

Before you do shiny new things like change or going on training you have to get people on your side. Listen to them, find out their pain points. Tailor your solutions to those. Create a well thought out business plan., show the value you bring.

Once you have gotten their trust they will be more receptive.

Of course, some places just don't want to change so all of this will be useless.

But we don't have enough info to know what the situation is.

If OP had said yes, she has suggested all these changes, gotten feedback from other colleagues that it would address problems, come up with a plan blah2 then I'd be more inclined to think she actually want to benefit the company.

This!⬆️ With bells on!!