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Original poster

My manager at work always ignores me

28 replies

YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:27

I have recently started working at home for a very large organisation. I have been working properly for around 4 weeks & spent two weeks in training. Since leaving my training and being put into a team every time I message my manager he opens my messages and ignores them.

I have tried multiple times to contact him to ask about getting my ID badge - before getting the job I made my manager aware I wouldn’t have child care care for Mondays ( I work Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm ) as it’s the six week holidays. He told me whilst in training this would be taken care of - the first week of the summer holidays he marked Monday off as an authorised managers leave however for the following weeks he hasn’t marked money as manager leave and it goes down as “ unauthorised or awol”.

I needed to finish an hour earlier the other day due to my dog having an allergic reaction and needing to take him to the vets. He never replied to my message - I have messaged him asking for my online further training details ( no reply)

he completely ignores me, just opens my messages and leaves them on seen - yet he replies back into the group chat joking around with everyone + if theirs a quiz he’ll be sat playing along but ignoring my messages.

i have got to the point now where I will not be bothering messaging him and asking him anything - I am still without my badge & my learning details which is becoming stressful.

i have been into the office and asked about my badge but they tell me I need to speak to my team manger. I’m getting really fed up and I feel kind of disheartened I waited months for this job but I really don’t feel like I’m part of the team

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 09/08/2024 11:29

That sounds really hard
And not right

SilenceInside · 09/08/2024 11:29

Do you have a HR department you can speak to? Do you know who his line manager is?

ByCupidStunt · 09/08/2024 11:30

At least you've got everything in writing so you can prove he's ignoring you.

Sorry, I can't think of anything more helpful to add.

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:31

It’s becoming stressful - especially when I can see him replying to everyone in the team chat + playing along to quizzes and joking around. I feel disregarded and I don’t even know what I am to do because I work from home + I am fairly new to everything.

OP posts:
SilenceInside · 09/08/2024 11:32

Keep a record of every time you have asked for his input and he hasn't responded. Contact HR and discuss it with them.

Investinmyself · 09/08/2024 11:32

Can you ring him? Ask for a catch up meeting. Make sure you document everything. If he isn’t managing you then you will need to escalate to HR or his manager.

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:33

I am not to sure how to contact HR or who to ask but I feel if I do it’ll back fire on me - my team is very very clichey

OP posts:
BluPeony · 09/08/2024 11:34

I would email him for things like that tbh, I think Teams chats are for chatting rather than serious tasks?

SilenceInside · 09/08/2024 11:35

You don't have much choice here though, surely?

Do you have any kind of info pack from when you started that might have contact details for HR? Did you have to send them your bank details and so on? If not then that sort of information might be on an internal website? Or ring the main company number and ask to be put through to HR.

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:36

I haven’t tried to call him as the only contact we have is teams - I do have a team leader he told me that because I’m new if I am ever stuck I can ask him any questions - I had a question that I needed help with - I asked my team leader - next minute my manager posted in the group chat “ CAN WE MAKE SURE WERE CHECKING THE DOCUMENTS GIVEN BEFORE ASKING EACH OTHER FOR QUESTIONS” which I did do - my question was more just to make sure that I was on the right track & what I had done was correct

OP posts:
WheresFluffy · 09/08/2024 11:36

Send him an email, not a teams message, asking for the best way for the two of you to keep in touch.
You could mention concern that teams doesn't seem to work for him, but only if you're confident.

I would also ask for regular catch up/ check in meetings. Again, via email.

You might also say you're concerned that you won't be effective and progress as hoped for, due to lack of training and access.

Good luck.

SilenceInside · 09/08/2024 11:37

Teams chats are for work. I contact my team and manager via it where we pretty much only discuss work related topics. It's almost entirely replaced email for me in that regard.

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:37

BluPeony · 09/08/2024 11:34

I would email him for things like that tbh, I think Teams chats are for chatting rather than serious tasks?

So I am currently working with an agency I'm temp for 6 months - would it be worthwhile contacting them ?

OP posts:
Silverliver · 09/08/2024 11:38

It sounds really poor from him.

I think you need to demonstrate taking further reasonable steps though - phone call and voicemail, book a teams meeting with him, email, attend the office when he is likely to be there. Log it.

MumDoingMyBest · 09/08/2024 11:39

ByCupidStunt · 09/08/2024 11:30

At least you've got everything in writing so you can prove he's ignoring you.

Sorry, I can't think of anything more helpful to add.

Slightly off topic but some companies delete teams chats on a rolling basis. So if you want a record of things then email is better than teams (or take a screenshot of messages if it's something sent to you).

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:39

Thankyou! I almost feel like I’ll be over stepping sending him an email but I will be doing if my messages keep going unread. I am not a very confrontational person & I just know that if I emailed him and did state I have been trying to get into contact he may find offence and post about it in the team chat 😬

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 09/08/2024 11:39

I think worth going via the agency.

Not a manager I'd want to work for. Probably an example of the Peter Principle.

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:42

I’m going to print screen my messages to him on teams & keep them as proof just incase chats end up deleted ( I will save them to my phone aswell as I have a work laptop) - I will also contact the agency I work for on my lunch today and see if any one can help me out. It’s literally just my badge and my training I need - I am still finding some things difficult and I know the extra training will help me + I need my badge for when I go into the office

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 09/08/2024 11:46

I think I'd walk tbh. More red flags than World Cup bunting. Tell him very politely to go fuck himself and walk out.

Original poster
YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:49

I really wish walking out was an option but unfortunately I financially need this job. I was in a very bad depressive state before this job never having any money. The only positive really is it’s weekly pay and the wage is good, a job role has become available for the job I did originally want - I think now is the time for the application to be filled and to say good bye to this job

OP posts:
Easipeelerie · 09/08/2024 11:57

I would take some more reasonable steps to get contact with him. I would also speak to your agency and let them know the issue/let you know if similar position comes up so you can leave.
The problem with making a complaint within an organisation is where you go from there. It’ll end up being you who walks as your situation will become untenable.
Your manager sounds lazy, cocky and only interested in putting hImself out if it suits him.

BluPeony · 09/08/2024 12:00

YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:39

Thankyou! I almost feel like I’ll be over stepping sending him an email but I will be doing if my messages keep going unread. I am not a very confrontational person & I just know that if I emailed him and did state I have been trying to get into contact he may find offence and post about it in the team chat 😬

This isn't a confrontation, though. You're not going to start a fight, you're seeking clarity/needing specific things.

I just saw you're actually agency, not an employee, so there might be the expectation that you "hit the ground running" and need less hand holding.

In your position I would send an email to your manager just saying hi I still need xyz and clarification on ABC.

If he doesn't respond it really depends on what you want how you proceed but definitely take a screenshot of your ignored messages and email them to your personal email and forward the chaser to yourself as well so that you have proof either way.

Abitofalark · 09/08/2024 12:05

You work for an agency? So you are not one of the employees of the large organisation you mentioned. Would that explain why you are not included in the clique and are treated as an outsider or in an offhand or dismissive way by your supposed-to-be manager?

I am shocked by his behaviour and if I understand correctly, you seem to be saying that he is recording you as having been absent unauthorised or without leave. That would be a serious mark on an employee's record in normal employment. It's not clear what is going on there but it is not good. By all means speak to the agency that employs you about the unhappy circumstances in which you find yourself and explore whether you can find a different placement.

Catza · 09/08/2024 12:19

YourTealMaker · 09/08/2024 11:39

Thankyou! I almost feel like I’ll be over stepping sending him an email but I will be doing if my messages keep going unread. I am not a very confrontational person & I just know that if I emailed him and did state I have been trying to get into contact he may find offence and post about it in the team chat 😬

If he does that, then you could contact HR and report misconduct.

Toffolossus · 09/08/2024 12:47

This must be really hard. Unfortunately as a temp, some people do treat them differently and it sucks. Having worked as a temp, I simply put my head down and get on with doing the work set. However, in your case, you need your manager's input and it must be make you feel rejected when he does not respond to your team chats.

I would suggest the following:

  1. Sending him a message, telling him that you can't progress without a response. Can he or someone else help?
  2. Sending a message, acknowledging he is swamped, could he suggest someone else who can help you?
  3. Message saying you have noticed he has read but not responded to your messages - have you done anything to disappoint him or has he given up (this always gets an answer)
  4. Book in a Teams meeting with him for 15 min to discuss and state that if it is not convienant, to suggest an alternative time
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