Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Frustrating staff member

11 replies

Spidergirl8 · 29/09/2014 19:47

I am in a rather frustrating situation at work. My mat leave cover has been kept on in a temp position, reporting to me. She has been nothing but a pain in the neck. I think she is sour as she wants my job.
She spent first 3 months being moody, not doing things I asked and challenging me. However she made friends with a key person who sings her praises.
I then went on leave and returned to her trying new tactics which are to be extra friendly to all my team, to the point where staff ask me in confidence why she's changed. However she still challenges me and has tried to put me in a situation where she is good cop and I'm bad cop a few times.

I've let my boss know and they are fully backing me up but say that it's just a case of her temp cover ending. However there is a very big chance that the role will become permanent. It will have to be advertised but as she's been in the role not sure how she couldn't get it.
I hate working with her, she causes me stress, accuses me of micro managing (she makes mistakes a lot) and is very passive aggressive. I've tried to point this out to her and she then gets upset saying she can never please me and feels she's always in the wrong. She constantly puts blame on me and won't accept any responsibility. She accuses me of performance managing her and when I ask her why she's so defensive she says she doesn't know what I'm talking about.
How do I get through the next few months without blowing a fuse and more importantly how can I try to prevent this becoming a permanent arrangement!?!

OP posts:
ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties · 29/09/2014 21:16

You need to claw back the power. It seems you've let her get to you despite her being your junior.

You need to practice your dismissive wave and blank look whenever she gets your goat.

Stop giving her any feedback but take her performance failures higher. Gather some evidence and then go to your senior with a concerned face and the proof of her bad work.

Spidergirl8 · 29/09/2014 21:25

Thank you clapyourhands, you are spot on. I will take your advice. I just think I need to gain some of the confidence I had prior to mat leave and not let her silly tactics get to me.
Need to start noting the things she is doing too!

OP posts:
ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties · 29/09/2014 21:37

Good on you! Sometimes it does make us feel a bit weaker...after a baby I mean. But it's only temporary and now you have realised yours has been a bit low, it will return! Flowers

maggiethemagpie · 30/09/2014 20:20

If she is reporting to you, why do you not have a say in the permanent appointment?

Spidergirl8 · 01/10/2014 21:06

I just feel worried that she may claim it's unfair if she's not hired after doing the job and may put in a complaint if she doesn't get it etc.

OP posts:
ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties · 01/10/2014 21:10

that's why you need to gather evidence. Of her performance and other issues. Get them down...in emails or whatever is possible without looking as though you're picking on her.

PumpkinBones · 02/10/2014 17:11

I think it seems to be more and more common for a covering temp NOT to get the permanent job to be honest! Will you have a say in the decision?

Spidergirl8 · 02/10/2014 20:28

I've started a new approach, inspired by your advice. This week I've stopped feedback one to one with her and opening myself up for debate. I'm just pointing out what hasn't been done in a matter of fact way and asking for it to be progressed. If she says it's not possible, I just explain that I need her to make it work and end the conversation.

I've started to get behind in my own work so I need this new approach, I can sense a tension but I'm just sticking to the facts and carrying on with business. I don't think anything I've asked her to do has been unreasonable, it is work that has been covered by the person on mat leave.
I do get a say on whether I hire her but that isn't always enough!

OP posts:
mooth · 02/10/2014 20:40

She can't make any claim about it being unfair if she doesn't get the job if your recruitment procedures are fair, objective, and have been carried in accordance with organisational policy.

If you are finding it difficult to get her to carry out work offer her support (get this in writing, minutes of a meeting etc), give her deadlines, and don't accept any accusations about micro-managing. That is bollocks. Keep a record of everything. Offer up opportunities for training and staff development, thank her for good work done, make her feel valued. Then you can't be criticised. I've been there......

ClapHandsIfYouBelieveInFatties · 02/10/2014 20:47

That sounds excellent Spider and mooths advice is very sound re. getting offers of support in writing and giving deadlines.

Millionairerow · 03/10/2014 21:17

I'm in a slightly similar position..I have a contract worker who seems to have managed to have got herself on a path to be promoted (head of dept did not tell me and told her to create a role for herself despite only having one years experience in our line of work). She reports to me but when she is made permanent she is likely to be promoted to the same level as me or above. Her LM is changing to my boss who is senior to me, presumably so she can be promoted. I'm livid as I want to get to director level and she is nothing special. In fact, I have several examples (about ten or so) where she has been chased up to deliver, I was livid as a folk chased her up while on holiday when she covered for a project for me and didn't deliver the project on time and it was a simple task. I forgive a bit of chasing up but someone emailed to ask her status four times in one week and I had to intervene while I was on holiday! Should I approach this the same way! I sure as he'll don't want her promoted right now

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread