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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Employee feels micromanaged if I give her tasks with deadlines

638 replies

calmama · 08/12/2023 09:11

I manage a person who is generally difficult. She objects to… well everything and undermines me at every chance she gets.

When she first started working for me we sat down together and established a work plan to get our job done and keep us on track to meet deadlines. We agreed I would assign daily tasks and we would meet weekly to discuss progress on projects along with anything new we had to take on, along with any business changes, leave, etc.

Weeks down the line she exploded at me for colour coding priorities, saying the urgent (red) tasks were ‘very unfriendly and freaking her out’. I took the red out.

A few weeks later she exploded at me for ‘micromanaging and bullying her’ by sending her daily priorities, despite this being agreed upon from the very start. I asked for an alternative way of progressing projects. She had none.

Today she exploded at me for setting deadlines because they ‘stress her out’. Again, I asked her for an alternative way of doing things and she had none.

I’m at a loss. She’s doing honestly the bare minimum and can’t seem to cope. I’m having to pick up her slack because otherwise my team looks bad, yet I’m still copping the brunt of her rage and there’s no end in sight.

AIBU to throw my hands in the air and take a long vacation?

OP posts:
Ourlittletalks · 13/12/2023 19:46

I think you are micromanaging her. Presumably, when she was hired, it was assumed she would be able to competently do her job. Send a weekly email with what needs to be done, including deadlines, and let her come up with her own list of priorities daily and such. You’re creating more work for both of you with the way you’re managing now, and I have to assume you’re new to a managerial role because of that.

Anisette · 14/12/2023 09:41

Ourlittletalks · 13/12/2023 19:46

I think you are micromanaging her. Presumably, when she was hired, it was assumed she would be able to competently do her job. Send a weekly email with what needs to be done, including deadlines, and let her come up with her own list of priorities daily and such. You’re creating more work for both of you with the way you’re managing now, and I have to assume you’re new to a managerial role because of that.

The point is that OP has tried several strategies, but this person just doesn't do the work. There were two weeks when OP started in the job when she was completely left to to organise herself, and she did nothing. How long does OP have to spend reinventing ways for this individual to ignore her?

Rosscameasdoody · 14/12/2023 09:44

Ourlittletalks · 13/12/2023 19:46

I think you are micromanaging her. Presumably, when she was hired, it was assumed she would be able to competently do her job. Send a weekly email with what needs to be done, including deadlines, and let her come up with her own list of priorities daily and such. You’re creating more work for both of you with the way you’re managing now, and I have to assume you’re new to a managerial role because of that.

If you click on see all on the original post you can read all of the OPs replies and you can see why this won’t work. She’s aware of what needs to be done and aware of deadlines and clearly not capable of deciding what is priority and what isn’t if those deadlines are continually being missed. And everything triggers her, so OP is virtually unable to give instruction or check on anything without her blowing up and going off sick. And you think the problem lies with the OP’s management skills ?

ondaytwothousand · 14/12/2023 10:09

@Rosscameasdoody of course it's the management skills. Underperformers need development or to be put on performance improvement plans which may or may not result in their time in the business being brought to an end. Either way; management action. Not micromanagement or asking advice on the internet.

I only use the MN App so cannot view all the OPs posts - hopefully a PIP is already in place, and the OP is receiving support with this.

Carzo · 14/12/2023 11:31

Omg sounds like a narcissist.

NonPlayerCharacter · 14/12/2023 11:35

Carzo · 14/12/2023 11:31

Omg sounds like a narcissist.

I wish people would stop diagnosing personality disorders in people who just aren't very nice. There isn't even a full consensus that this one actually exists and if it does, it's not defined as "lazy and difficult at work".

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 13:03

I wish people would stop diagnosing personality disorders in people who just aren't very nice.

I agree. It is as if having a label entitles someone to behave badly without any consequences.

Carzo · 14/12/2023 16:10

Wow, well I wish people didn't personally attack other people commenting on Mumsnet, but there you go.

NonPlayerCharacter · 14/12/2023 16:30

Carzo · 14/12/2023 16:10

Wow, well I wish people didn't personally attack other people commenting on Mumsnet, but there you go.

Personal attack? In what way did I insult you?

SoundTheSirens · 14/12/2023 18:02

Carzo · 14/12/2023 16:10

Wow, well I wish people didn't personally attack other people commenting on Mumsnet, but there you go.

Nothing whatsoever in that poster’s response was a personal attack.

RampantIvy · 14/12/2023 18:07

@calmama have you managed to resolve the issue?

stomachameleon · 14/12/2023 18:30

@Carzo that wasn't personal and they are right.

JGRAN · 18/12/2023 14:39

calmama · 08/12/2023 09:22

@Aprilx She isn’t privy to the information I am so I have no choice but to communicate tasks to her. She can’t get on with her job even with tasks so without them it would be hopeless.

Say I set her three tasks for the day: 1. Do an urgent social media post about x (no research or anything required, just a simple but timely post), 2. Contact a venue re potentially holding an event there next year, and 3. Look into caterers at said venue for a quote. Does this seem like something you could get done in a week?

I would have already left this job. Maybe I'm missing something. Had an MD once who told me exactly what he wanted and changed his mind every week (sometimes less). I am a developer (computer), he insisted I don't talk to the end users (recipe for disaster). Tell me what you want and when you need it and I do the job, from me you would get both positive and negative feedback. Daily tasks, maybe for a teenager. If she is really that useless then just get rid of her.

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