How to tackle this (work related)

[Homebaby]

I'll try to be as brief as possible. I am self employed but do a lot of work for one particular organisation. Love the work and prior to this also got on with everyone, it's pretty much my dream work and location etc is ideal.
A few months back someone was taken on in a management role, they are connected to the person I work very closely with and who all of my work arrangements are made through. Shortly after that a situation unfolded where both lied to me which caused my week to be far far harder than it needed to be, the lie was to facilitate them getting what they wanted. By saying making my week harder I'm not being wet, what I ended up doing was ridiculous. When tackled they both denied it despite me having proof. Since then it's been like an opening of the floodgates, whereas previously arrangements were made which were fair to us both I'm now absolutely at their mercy or I don't get the work. Just to add this work can involve long days and unsociable hours, I seem to now be doing the majority of those. My suspicion is that new manager is a bully, other behaviour has pointed towards that being the case.
I have taken it higher but support has been limited, we are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss everything but does anyone have any advice as to how I should go about things in that meeting? Honestly if the work didn't suit me so well in the past I'd just walk and I (and they) are aware I can do that. I just don't want to!

What’s the objective of tomorrow’s meeting? Whats your objective and what do you think their objective is?

The back end of this week I stated in no uncertain terms that this couldn't go on so this meeting was arranged. Previously easy person said they would like to find a way through and move forward. My concern is that with manager also in the meeting they will take over. My objective is to sort it out and carry on as we were, I also want to find out why they thought it was acceptable to lie. They think the lie is still between the 3 of us, they don't realise I have sought support from higher up, that higher person also happens to be the person who they lied about. They won't be present at the meeting.

Can you have a chaperone or representative with you? Will the meeting be minuted?

Id start off with recapping the recent incident and getting an apology really matters to you (honestly this isn’t the hill I’d die on but it’s up to you). Making it up briefly (factually and reasonably) recap the facts -
Mary and Tom didn’t fully brief Homebaby on the project: the result being homebaby needed to work 22hours to correct for this. Homebaby would (like an apology and) for the way projects are drafted to be improved to blah blah blah. This will benefit the whole team etc etc

Then move onto what’s happened since and why that’s not good for the company or for you - More recently homebabys work assignments have materially changed in a way that significantly deviates from prior arrangements. This means that her output is on topics she’s less familiar with, a schedule she cannot commit to, etc etc. We’ve had v good long term working arrangements but if this isn’t addressed then homebaby isn’t happy to continue as a contractor or will only accept abc projects. Obviously it’s a shame that recent changes in the organization jeopardise this long term relationship as they have caused changes to contractual terms and impact etc.

Any complaints etc will be more rooted in a contractual dispute as a self employed person, so keeping to facts is critical. No one likes or respects personal / behavioural critiques so keep referring back to the facts, effect on the business or contract output.

After the meeting be prepared to summarise the discussion and maybe send a copy to the higher up person? That said Id be mindful that higher up person might think you’re right but this might not be the cause they go out to bat for, and the new manager might be on guarantees/ driving xyz/ shagging the boss… so look out for yourself. Unless it’s a clear whistleblowing / disciplinary thing it’s unlikely a firm would back a contractor over staff IMO.

@AbzMoz thank you so much for this, some great points and phrases that I can use.
An apology isn't my primary objective, if I'm honest part of my frustration comes from the fact that they thought I was too stupid to realise they were lying and too weak to check it out with the other person, I'm still quite impressed with myself that I did that haha. On the flip side it gives me a little more confidence for the meeting that they know that I know and I'm not as stupid as they thought!
Agree completely re employed staff v contractor, and that the other person may not want to tackle it with them. That's part of my concern for my own position.
I will do my best to be factual and to the point tomorrow, what will be will be.
Again thank you for taking the time to respond with such in depth and great advice 😊

This is very difficult, OP, as you’re self employed and there reliant upon them to continue to use you. You need to balance your natural anger with the need to keep them sweet.

what are the terms of your contract? Do you have a clear statement of work, deliverables, timelines, etc?

@AbzMoz also to add, I will have someone else in there who I get on really well with. They are a great listener and advisor but doesn't really ever get involved in disputes. Think they're maybe just in there in case of a full blown row haha.

By the way - I’m not sure I full agree with @AbzMoz‘s approach - it’s very finger pointing.

Whilst this may be accurate, it doesn’t work in your situation, as you are (presumably?) a discretionary hire, who they could choose not to use? I hire consultants in my role - if they came at me with this type of framing, it would get my hackles up.

I’d go more for a ‘how can we ensure everything is smoother in future’ approach and position it as collaborative and solution-focused.

Mention that you have taken it up with the person they lied about (hopefully that will prevent them from continuing the lie). Explain that you wish to continue with your excellent working relationship with the easier colleague and that you hope new manager recognises the benefits of this to the organisation. Don't show anger; don't be defensive. New manager will likely be hostile and defensive, but don't engage. Good luck! Read up on ACAS guidelines for self-employed / contractor rights.

I think the approach you take needs to be tempered by the supply and demand situation. Do you need them more than they need you, or vice versa?

Either way, I would frame it for their best interests: “The last couple of times we’ve worked together have been harder than previously. I want to keep doing my best work for you, so how can we work together to safeguard that? Previous arrangements worked well for me, so can you help me to understand what wasn’t working for you, and perhaps we can find a better way forward together.”

I agree with poster that says keep it factual. Try and keep emotions out of it. I'd state that I'd worked on contracts with the company for X amount of years with no issues arising on either side before. You are trying to understand why these problems have suddenly started occurring (eventhough its obvious). Say that the problems need to be ironed out now, any 'misunderstanding' regarding the project must never happen again. You would like to get back to previous ways of working. Does anyone need any 'refresher' training? Does all communication need to be recorded so there's no 'misunderstanding'?

3 points

New manager involved so it is unlikely things will return to how they used to be. You will need to get your head around this sooner rather than later

They both lied to you, when previously there was a good working relationship - this is odd to my mind and therefore...

Start looking for new contracts: you are comfortable where you are and there is a breed of managers who do not like this in either an employee or a contractor.

I think the best advice I've seen here is to consider whether you need them more than they need you and work from there.

Thank you to everyone for the replies. To respond to a few points...... this organisation provides me with the bulk of my work but I do have other clients to tide me over if it does all go south. I'd just have to seriously scrimp until I found other work. They need me, without being too outing this isn't a job just anyone can or wants to do. That being said everyone is replaceable as far as work goes and I'm not convinced manager may not have someone else in mind and is trying to force me to quit to make room for them.
The poster who said it will never be the same now, unfortunately I agree. It's worth mentioning that previous manager didn't have anything to do with the organising, new one has just taken it over for no good reason. My only chance is that it could revert back to who it was but doubt I'd be that lucky!
I will try my best to be factual in the meeting, I will find it hard though. I'm beyond disappointed at how I'm being treated especially by the person I'd previously worked well with. A timely reminder that you never really know people.

Missed this post earlier @KnewYearKnewMe, apologies.
I have no formal contract /expectations. I heard they were short of people to do the job, turned up for a chat and it's grown from there. Never had any complaints about my work, it can be a pretty high pressure job on occasion and I've always dealt with any issues as they arise.
That's exactly it, I need to get my points across in a calm way and not put a bomb under it. That's the hard bit!