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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Problems at work

36 replies

honeycookies · 15/06/2023 06:14

I have been promoted. I am moving offices within the same company, transferring across as an internal candidate.

My manager has been acting up in a temporary capacity to be my manager for 2 months, and I have been promoted to a permanent senior position which I believe has pissed him off.

He knew I applied for this role. When I told him I was successful, he agreed I could leave within 1-2 weeks by request of my new manager. a day later changed his mind and requested I stay for 5 weeks before starting my new role.

He has also said I can’t take annual leave in these 5 weeks. This isn’t in guidance, he’s made this up. Guidance states I can take AL as normal.

He also wants me to remain as a point of contact for things in the office. He wants my name to still be attached to certain pieces of work. This will inevitably lead to emails being sent my way about my old role, whilst I’m in my new role. I don’t think this is appropriate. I would be the equivalent of his manager in my new role so I shouldn’t be spending time doing secretarial work for my old office.

aibu to think he’s being difficult here?

OP posts:
cartagenagina · 15/06/2023 06:19

Can you not respond saying it would be inappropriate for your name to be the contact point?

Wrt the transfer period, I would probably see if new manager could intervene.

The holiday thing is annoying, but unless you had anything booked, I think you will have to suck that up unfortunately.

youveturnedupwelldone · 15/06/2023 06:20

Speak to your new manager and seek assurance that you will still be transferring on the original date, and I'm sure they won't want you bringing work with you anyway.

missfliss · 15/06/2023 06:20

No YADNBU.

I think you should push back and ask your new Manager or Director of your new team to try and deal with it. 5 months is far longer than most notice periods - what is your contractual notice period? It doesn't necessarily apply for internal moves but should act as a good benchmark.

MollysBrolly · 15/06/2023 06:22

HR?
when I moved jobs within same company I had 2 weeks in old job because my new boss demanded I be moved - they wanted a week. But now I've got another internal role they been dragging heels and not offering a release date. It's all bollocks.

Aprilx · 15/06/2023 06:22

missfliss · 15/06/2023 06:20

No YADNBU.

I think you should push back and ask your new Manager or Director of your new team to try and deal with it. 5 months is far longer than most notice periods - what is your contractual notice period? It doesn't necessarily apply for internal moves but should act as a good benchmark.

Five weeks not months.

Aprilx · 15/06/2023 06:24

I think keeping your name down as contact person after you have moved on is inappropriate. But on the rest, I think it is his prerogative. Five weeks notice when moving within a company sounds within the bounds of reasonable and it is up to your manager to approve or not approve leave.

Original poster
honeycookies · 15/06/2023 06:30

I can’t see how he can refuse to allow me to take annual leave in those 5 weeks, if those days are free for others to book. Why am I being treated differently because I’m leaving? I have asked for 3 days.

OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 15/06/2023 06:49

I agree that not being able to take annual leave is unfair and would speak to HR.

As you're going into a more senior position than your current manager, just tell him you're not being responsible for any of his work moving forward. Start as you mean to go on.

MRex · 15/06/2023 06:56

Ask your new manager if you will be retaining responsibility for those items as part of your new role. When they confirm you won't, let old manager know "Sorry, that isn't part of my new role, so you'll need to reassign this within your team." I've always written detailed handover documents; this is particularly important internally where people can time-waste by keep asking for help. A clear document explaining what to do and who owns it all is fine. If manager doesn't assign anyone just put "ManagerName to assign owner".

Whatyoutalkingabouteh · 15/06/2023 07:04

I’d ask your new manager to contact your current manager to negotiate a start date.
nit allowing you to take annual leave seems unfair- I’d question that. Would you be able to take it if you weren’t leaving?!

Oblomov23 · 15/06/2023 07:07

Why have you not escalated this, to your new manager, to your managers manager, and to HR?

hattyhathat · 15/06/2023 07:09

Speak to your new manager and HR

Original poster
honeycookies · 15/06/2023 07:15

Yes I would be able to take the leave if I wasn’t leaving. Or, if he let me leave sooner my new manager would allow me to take those days in my new job. Just feels like he’s pointlessly forcing me to be in the office as some sort of power play by extending the time I’m there and also blocking me only from taking leave.

OP posts:
hattyhathat · 15/06/2023 07:17

It sounds like he wants to go on holiday and needs you to cover to me! I'd clarify in an email to HR and ask if this is company policy.

GoodChat · 15/06/2023 07:17

Lol take the work with you then delegate it to him

Plasticplantpot · 15/06/2023 07:27

Don’t partake in the madness!

Speak to new manager about leaving date being brought forward.

Speak to new manager about leave.

Grey rock about the work that he still wants you to do. He can’t do that. He’s no longer your manager in the new role!

Sounds like he’s petty and jealous that you’re now more senior than him. But with that comes the responsibility to stick up for yourself and draw some boundaries.

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 15/06/2023 07:36

I’d speak to HR about the leave. I’d be non commital to everything else and then when moved to new role, if a piece of work comes your way, send an email reply to your old boss saying it needs to be dealt with by a member of his team and cc your new LM in- if your new LM says “can you keep doing it” say something along the lines “that you can but this would be at the detriment of the job they are employing and paying you for”!

justanothermanicmonday1 · 15/06/2023 07:43

His behaviour overall, OP is unprofessional. End of story. He's crossing major lines by not allowing you to take AL and asking to keep your name attached to things. I'd personally go to HR for guidance.

Congratulations on the new role!

TimesRwo · 15/06/2023 07:50

Keeping your name on things isn’t on but no annual leave and keeping you longer isn’t that unreasonable when someone is leaving a job tbh.

Original poster
honeycookies · 15/06/2023 08:08

but no annual leave …isn’t that unreasonable when someone is leaving a job tbh.

@TimesRwo what’s the thought process behind this?

OP posts:
TimesRwo · 15/06/2023 08:13

honeycookies · 15/06/2023 08:08

but no annual leave …isn’t that unreasonable when someone is leaving a job tbh.

@TimesRwo what’s the thought process behind this?

You need to wrap up your role, hand over, etc. Taking time off will affect that.

A day or two here or there is fine IMO, but a week or two gets in the way of you wrapping things up before you leave. It’s very much a situation specific issue and depends on your role, what needs to be done, etc

Elvis1956 · 15/06/2023 08:18

In management you need to realise that you are a manager. They work for you. Tell him no. You don't even have to explain. It will be nice to do so but tell him you are now expected to deal with different work and cannot deal with the work of his department. That your replacement is responsible for it. Not you.
Remember you are the manager not a mate. It took me 2 years to grasp that.

Re hols simply tell him that you are taking holiday. Don't accept his view tell him you are entitled to holiday, that there is no policy of not allowing holiday in the circumstances.

In 5 weeks he works for you.

No it's not a good attitude to have but sadly with some people it's the only way

AlisonDonut · 15/06/2023 08:32

Will you be his actual manager in the new role in his acting up capacity, or in his non acting up capacity?

If this were me, I'd be onto my new manager to resolve this as I'm sure they want you to start the new role, and once in post I'd delegate any tasks he had 'given' me back to him.

I'd look to reduce his time in this acting up role and either re-recruit to fill this role or call him back into his non acting up role [depending on what role you would be his manager of].

He is poking the wasps nest and I'd not be hesitant in getting him out of my hair in the new role as soon as I could.

GoodChat · 15/06/2023 08:32

honeycookies · 15/06/2023 08:08

but no annual leave …isn’t that unreasonable when someone is leaving a job tbh.

@TimesRwo what’s the thought process behind this?

Because they've asked you to stay longer as they need your expertise. If they didn't need you they would just let you go.

GeekyThings · 15/06/2023 09:18

Speak to your new manager, they may be able to help get your date moved forward again. Been in the same situation before, much as your current manager may be annoyed you've got another, better role, that doesn't mean they can just flout the rules and put you at a disadvantage to all the other employees.

If the date can't be moved and your current manager refuses you leave then you would need to go to HR. I really hate bosses who put employees into this position, but usually a decent HR department can nip it in the bud on your behalf - you shouldn't have to argue your case, he doesn't have one! So let HR deal with it at that point.

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