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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Your opinions please (sorry if long)

14 replies

cauliflowertears · 05/07/2014 10:53

NC for this. Its taken me 3 years to get my confidence back after changing my job. I had worked my way up to be a senior manager (gained a professional qualification etc). I worked really hard and enjoyed the job (although at times struggled with politics and egos). I inherited a team member as my team expanded. On day one she said she did not want to work with me as she had been told by her ex manager I was inflexible (backstory, said manager I later found out had been promised the role that I got but I was not aware of this at the time). I said well we have to work together so lets make the best of it and regarding flexibility (childcare issues) please talk to me and we will try and work around things.

Over time a number of things occurred that now leave me questioning WTF regarding this team member who I will call Jane.

Jane would frequently tell me I was not a people person, I should make more of an effort with my appearance.

Jane organised a team building day facilitated by her ex manager for the team and excluded me. I was called in at the end and told that they had profiled me and I was x type of team member. I was also presented with a list of things that I needed to change (eg I had a pair of shoes in one of my cupboards and this was deemed "unprofessional".

Jane told me Sarah (another team member) was unhappy with her job title as it implied that Jane was senior to her. When asked Sarah said she was not concerned.

Jane told me regularly that she had more experience than me, had earned more than she did now and didn't need her job. My response was that her previous job had been in London and she now had the flexibility to leave every day to pick up her children so it was swings and roundabouts.

Jane complained that she didn't get exposure to new areas of work, so I organised this for her - she then said she couldn't do it because of childcare.

She wanted to apply for a bigger role, I encouraged her to go for it. She then discovered (after an informal chat with the recruiter) that it would involve some evening work. She came back and cried saying I had made her feel worthless because she couldn't do it because of childcare (I did not know it involved evenings).

Jane told me Sarah was upset and scared of me, and this was going to ruin her holiday and she was considering not going (her bf was going to propose on this hol and we knew - Sarah didn't). Jane said her husband was furious with me as I was a bully and he wanted to come in and have it out with me.

Jane told me she thought it was great that I was happy with the way I looked considering my size, her husband had a phobia of fat women. Also that it must be like sleeping with your dad (my dh is 18 years older than me).

I asked a specialist for advice on an area I had not worked on before, showing them what I thought I should do. They corrected a couple of points, Jane remarked I told you I was right, yep said that etc etc.

Finally Jane decided I was depressed (I was not, I was pissed off) so brough the Occ Health Nurse to talk me into seeing a Dr (the nurse was her friend). Jane told me "people" were concerned about me. But when asked would not/could not say who these people were. I was put under subtle pressure by Jane and the Nurse to seek MH help. I was not fucking depressed!!!!

Appreciate any MN's perspective on this.

OP posts:
drinkyourmilk · 05/07/2014 10:58

Are you in a senior role to Jane?

ClashCityRocker · 05/07/2014 10:59

You need to go above her.

Keep a record of every inappropriate thing she says - it is not appropriate to comment on your appearance, weight, relationship, mental health, your personal life or others personal lives.

In the meantime, I would have a stock response in place along the lines of 'I do not wish to discuss xyz' and use it every time she starts.

She sounds like a piece of work, and very envious of your position.

Finola1step · 05/07/2014 11:02

Who is in the more senior role?

cauliflowertears · 05/07/2014 11:10

Hi thanks for the replies, I was senior. I should also say I have since left the job - Jane's ex manager then took the post (she wanted it all along). I was asked if this bothered me but it didn't as I didn't want it anymore. Sorry this is historic but trying to resolve it in my head.

OP posts:
DaddyBeer · 05/07/2014 11:16

Jane sounds borderline sociopathic. Ideally, you need to get shot of her.

Clash is right, you need to go above her, and start keeping records. And probably best not to keep those records at work, not even in a locked drawer.

Be careful OP. Be sure whoever you speak to is sufficiently trustworthy, on your side (ie, likes you) and is also perceptive enough to believe you.

DaddyBeer · 05/07/2014 11:20

X-post. That's actually a relief. What I didn't want to say is that you may have to leave your job to resolve the problem. So I'm glad that you have and aren't too bothered. V difficult to resolve workplace bullying issues, unfortunately.

forumdonkey · 05/07/2014 11:22

IMO, it sounds like shes trying to get at you and it's working. Work is a huge part of our lives and I can understand the upset it is causing you. If you can take a step back and look at the bigger picture she is pulling your chains and she can only do that if you allow her (get to you) If I was you I would try to let her comments go above your head and keep in mind shes saying everything she is to upset you for her own amusement, but I also think its time HR got involved too as her comments are personal and unprofessional.

cauliflowertears · 05/07/2014 11:29

Hi forum thankfully this is historical but I was the HR Manager!

OP posts:
Finola1step · 05/07/2014 11:46

This is one where you chalk it up to experience.

You sound like a nice, decent, trusting kind of person. Too trusting perhaps?

I had a very difficult experience implode at work a couple of years ago. The ensuing investigation found in my favour. I remained in post. I lost my naivety. Since then, all difficult conversation (or potentially difficult, confusing etc) are logged in a notebook that only I have access to. My back is covered. Lesson learnt.

Anniegetyourgun · 05/07/2014 12:19

This, this is the book you want to read which describes Jane to a T. The author also has a website here with articles and helpful advice on dealing with underhand people. I wish I'd read it when I was being shuffled out of my job a few years ago.

Shakespeare had it nailed. "One may smile, and smile, and be a villain."

georgeousgeorge · 05/07/2014 12:50

This struck a little bit of a chord.....

without going into a too long winded explanation you have to understand JANE IS LYING. She is doing this to basically stir up trouble, for you and others.

I think the first time it happens you are a little naive and confused (as I was when it happened to me) then next time you spot it a mile off!

Quitelikely · 05/07/2014 12:55

Omg. There is no way on earth I would have took this attitude. As HR manager surely you knew what she was doing was wrong. This is the sort of behaviour you should be tackling! God she must have been wreaking havoc on the whole team. She needed to be taken down a peg or two as far as I'm concerned!

ROUNDandROUNDINCIRCILESMORETHA · 05/07/2014 15:37

Omg what a nightmare woman! Go to HR with what you have written here as a letter of complaint. It sounds like she wanted your position and is making life very hard for you because of it!!

cauliflowertears · 05/07/2014 15:57

Thank you for your replies, you have confirmed my thoughts and yes it was a nightmare and made me question my sanity at times. quite I totally agree with you, but it is easy in HR to tell others what to do but when it is happening to you it is a lot harder. Plus this was done over a period of time so I would question if I was being over sensitive. This was made more difficult by the many times she told me I was not a supportive manager or had not recognised all of the hard work she put in. I was a first time manager who had no support or guidance from my seniors so was unsure if it was me. 3 years down the line I can see her for the manipulating jealous person that she is. I also can see that she was clearly a very unhappy woman who quite likely had a miserable home life (husband told her after children, he didn't expect her to "let herself go", and she seemed to want perfection in all aspects of her life which must have been terribly exhausting). I think maybe there was some jealousy as I couldn't give a stuff what people think about how my life looks to others.

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