Job share power struggles

[WillYouDoTheDamnFanjo]

Since coming back from maternity leave, my job share colleague has made me feel quite unwelcome. She undermines and dismisses my input, cherry-picks projects for herself and rejects any involvement from me. She often publicly undermines me in meetings, picking fault, pointing out any contradictions in what I say.

Generally she paints the worst possible picture of me to management. She is very difficult to work with, our shared files are badly organised and hard to follow.

I have worked really hard at the relationship but basically she does not want me there on her turf.

I've just returned from a key meeting which for various reasons I ended up going to alone. I really flourished and it's brought hone to me that, had she been with me, I would have been too nervous to speak up. Whilst there I received an email from her stating that she dies not want me to join on a piece of work that is crucial to our job descriptions but "may attend from time to time."

I think it's time to take this to our line manager. Been trying to avoid this for nearly 3 years now, but I'm sick to death of having to ask permission to be involved in my own job and of feeling nervous of any mistakes in case she sneers publicly at me.

We are both hard-working mums and I really wanted to foster a relationship of solidarity and mutual support, not fight an adversary for every agenda item.

Rant over!

Does she want to do the job herself as a full time role and is now trying to cut you out?

Is she worried that you are doing the job better than her and she feels threatened?

Definitely speak to your line manager about this.

Was she covering your mat leave? It must be hard to readjust to sharing the job again. But then it sounds like it was like this before as well? I've no suggestions I;m afraid, but this type of scenario has always made me wary of job shares. I'd definitely take it to your line manager if I were you. Perhaps at your next appraisal if you don't want to be too direct?

I found my job share never worked as my partner had previously done the job full time and had recruited me herself, so she always saw herself as the boss. She even got paid more than me even though we did exactly the same job, same job title etc.

It all fell apart when I went on maternity leave, we got a new boss while I was away who did not like jobshares, and he decided he wanted the other one to take over the whole job as she was the one on the spot when he joined.

So I agree job shares can be very tricky to make a success of as there is often one partner who sees themselves as being in charge.

I wouldn't do another job share myself.

I think it can only really work in a job where you can split it by area, say, and take entirely different caseloads. But there's still the problem of representation in meetings, forward planning, etc.

Wow I wasn't expecting replies at this time of night! Thanks guys.

Yes it's always been this way. For the first 6 months I put it down to being new in post. Then for 8 months put it down to being pregnant (erred on the side of me being perhaps over-sensitive & her feeling pressured about flying solo).

Was told when I first started that she had been complaining at lunch that I was too good at the job. I know that she is often tearful and anxious about her performance, which is another reason I've held off. She is also very effective in the role and although we have very different working styles, I try to find ways that we can both use our strengths to mutual benefit.

If I see that she's made an error that has little consequence, I just correct it and don't bother to mention - we all make mistakes. If I make an error, she practically puts a red ring around it and draws everyone's attention to it (e.g. an email goes out saying "I've done this because WYDTDF has forgotten" and I'm not copied in).

I really thrive on a productive

... Oops... A productive working relationship and I love standing back to let someone else shine, while trusting that they will do the same for me.

Like everyone else in our sector, job future is looking uncertain. If I was paranoid I'd say that I am being set up for a knife in the back when audit time rolls round.

Perhaps I need to just grow a pair.

Be very careful, WYDTDF, there is nothing more dangerous than a colleague who feels inadequate in their job (whether or not it is true) and feels threatened by you.

Also, in an atmosphere of job cuts she may feel that your joint role may be cut in two and only offered to one of you, and she is trying to manouvre you out. She may or may not be justified in this belief.

Either way, this relationship has not worked from the start and i would be looking for another role if I were you.

For now, definitely speak to your line manager about the way she is behaving, while emphasising that you fel she is actually very good at her job. The problem is more about her own insecurity.

I would be surprised if they are not very aware of what she is trying to do to you, as she is not being very clever about it.

By the way, you are not being paranoid. She is gunning for you.

Look out for yourself, but don't stoop to her tactics as it sounds as if she is making herself look very silly.

Maybe you should ask for the job to be two part time jobs rather than job share.

The rather pedantic difference is that in a job share, you both do everything, which is sounds like you aren't. In part time jobs, you both have your own duties.

Defo worth bringing up with your line manager, but make sure you have examples.

I agree that the situation sounds awful, and I would certainly be looking for another job in this situation. You should speak to your line manager, but realistically, if the woman is this bad, she's unlikely to do a total U turn and start being the sort of person you want to jobshare with.

I would be wary of trying to turn the job into 2 part time jobs though. I believe that would give you less security. A job share is still considered to be one post, whereas 2 part time jobs would mean a fundamental change of working conditions.

I'm also a little confused as to why you seem to attend meetings etc with her? Surely the idea of a jobshare is that you work separate hours, which combine to make one full time role?