Manager cut me out of a significant meeting… do you agree this is fundamentally wrong?

[Rattlle]

There is some background to this which I am happy to share but also don’t want to post a huge essay that nobody will want to read! In essence I’ve had a tricky time over the last few months with my manager and I did wonder if I was being a bit paranoid. But now I am starting to think I’m not.

I was due to attend a huge client meeting in May which I have been involved in preparation wise for a few months. Last week I had two days of leave and returned on Friday to an email from the manager relating to the matter generally, then at the bottom simply stating that I wouldn’t be attending this meeting anymore as it was cheaper for a junior male colleague to do it instead.

I have not responded to that point as I wanted the weekend to think about it but I can’t help but feel this is pretty shit treatment. Just interested really in others’ thoughts as I know sometimes at work you can end up failing to look at things objectively when it’s happening to you.

Objectively it’s not much on the face of it - however it depends, why is it cheaper for this colleague to go? Is this your client that you do a lot for? Does this colleague have a better client relationship? Is the money a big issue for the business?

As long as you give absolutely nothing to the other colleague and stop working in it immediately...I'd let them crash and burn.

What bis it cheaper for the younger colleague to attend?

@festivemouse they are slightly more junior than me so would charge less per hour to be there. But equally it’s very easy to just cut or amend a rate for that day if needed.

If your manager's given reason - keeping down costs - is genuine, then no, I don't think it's fundamentally wrong. I am not surprised it's bothering you, though, as you have invested time in the preparations. What's your relationship with your manager like? You need a chat with them to say you are disappointed and want to understand better the reason for the decision. Any reasonable manager would tell you.

Edited for typo

Your presence must surely have a purpose, either for the client/organisation or in line with agreed personal development.

He’s not treated me well (in my opinion) for a few months and this feels like the final straw to me.

Other than the prep work that you have done, why would it be better for you to go than the colleague?

Would you? I feel for your colleagues!

legal

If I'd done all the work, prep and I was dropped. Obviously my contributions aren't needed 🤷‍♀️

@Enjoytherush not sure what you mean?

I totally understand the temptation but I know I'd resist giving in to it so I could look back and know I'd behaved well.

That's really poor people management. How to make your team feel unappreciated and disengaged. Even if there's a business need for it (which it doesn't sound like there is) he's gone about it incredibly badly.

The client hasn’t raised this. The difference in rate between us is minimal

How do you know the client hasn’t raised fees?

And surely givens it in May, almost two months away, there will be a lot of work and prep between now and then anyway