Probation extended but exceeded every objective

[daimbar]

Line manager has decided to extend my 6 month probation for 3 months.

His reasoning is 'I was given an impossible task' as every other team member left within weeks of me starting and I was 'fire fighting' to cover off their work.

Despite this I have exceeded every objective I was given.

Should I challenge this with HR? Or just keep my head down and focus on impressing him in the next 3 months.

It's been a big blow to my confidence as I thought I was doing really well.

[ElinoristhenewEnid]

Yuck it seems like he is just stringing you along! It's a power game to him.
How do you make someone feel confident - he can just keep saying for months - 'not confident enough yet'
Almost like an abusive relationship where you are treading on eggshells trying to please someone when you don't know how to please them!
He seems really creepy to me.

[SocksRock]

Does the company have an appraisal document? It should set out how objectives are to be set. At the minimum they need to be measurable and achievable.

[kittybiscuits]

I would write it up and email him asking him to confirm that you've understood correctly as you want to be clear what you need to address. No specific objectives or areas for improvement. It's about how he needs to feel about you. Surely HR are already aware of him?

[CanarySong]

I'd write it all up as meeting minutes, and mail it to him, copying in HR, including...

"during our meeting I asked several times for some measurable targets.

You confirmed that there are no measurable targets or objectives that I can meet/exceed and you stated that I need to "make you feel confident" in my performance.

However you were unable to identify or explain exactly how that is measurable or what I have to do to achieve that".

Then I'd make an appointment with HR and raise a grievance against him, whilst job hunting in the meantime.

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

What a twunt.

It's all about the 'feelz' for him.

[KickAssAngel]

Does he know that you're friends with the CEO's secretary? Is he the kind of tosser who would pay attention to that? I wouldn't normally suggest this, but could your friend just happen to swing by your desk and make it clear how very much you're appreciated in the organization?

[FetchezLaVache]

I asked if we could make my probation targets measurable but he said no ... he doesn't want me to just go away and do whatever needs to be done to pass probation

But by the same token, if you don't have measurables then you can go on acing your job and he can just say he still has grave misgivings about your added value (which, by definition, is fucking well measurable!!).

I can't see him being allowed to continue with this approach once HR is involved...

[daimbar]

Oh Gawd I am torn between doing exactly as Canary suggests and getting him in trouble or just majorly sucking up to him until he eventually has to concede and make me permanent.

Another added complication is I was planning to start trying for DC2 in the next year. Am late 30s, have a toddler... if I left and got a new job I would have to wait a decent amount of time before getting pregnant.

There's a brilliant maternity package at my current place which is one of many reasons I'd like to stay.

[CanarySong]

I asked if we could make my probation targets measurable but he said no ... he doesn't want me to just go away and do whatever needs to be done to pass probation

I'd include that, word for word, on those meeting minutes.

[daimbar]

kickass we have a 'star of the month' thing where employees nominate one another so I could suggest my pal nominates me. Good idea!

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

Is he trying to get rid of you because he's biased against women of childbearing age? Maybe he doesn't want the hassle of dealing with mat leave.

I wouldn't trust him to treat you fairly if you did stay and had a baby.

[CanarySong]

Why would you think that sucking up to him means he'd concede and make you permanent?

If you get pregnant, do you think he'd treat you fairly and properly whilst you're pregnant, on mat leave, or possibly requesting different hours/working pattern on your return to work? Do you thing "sucking up" to him would help then?

I'd suggest if you don't plan on spending your whole time with him as your line manager majorly sucking up to him, you need to make sure he does things properly and by the book from now onwards. Duck his 'feelz'.

If not you might as well just leave now anyway.

[daimbar]

He could be unexpected but he knew I was starting this role after maternity leave and I spoke about having a child in my interview so its not like it's new information.

[BitchyInnerMonologue]

Document EVERYTHING to HR. If it makes his life uncomfortable - so be it; no one can "pass" anything if there is nothing to pass, as he can keep shifting the goalposts. It will make your life a nightmare if you don't.

And, if the roles were reversed, I'd put money on him being the first one involving HR and complaining. Protect yourself!

[pinkcardi]

I'm in HR, and I can guarantee that if this were someone in my firm we would be all over this chap.

Absolutely get them involved if they aren't already. Finding your job online would be enough for us to drag this guy over the coals, never mind all the subsequent nonsense and the meeting today.

I hope you find them as supportive as I think they will be. He might well have had his day in the company. He probably would at ours. Ask them for a meeting and document all that happened today on email, and cc them in even if you don't send it to them directly.

[daimbar]

Wow pinkcardi your post just made my day. Obviously HR don't give anything away to me but it's pleasing to know they will be investigating him behind the scenes.

I never received a reply back from the HR woman today but I will try and catch up with her Thursday and update her.

Thanks so much everyone.

[YorkshireTree]

When talking to HR you could request SMART targets. Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely. There is probably something like that on the appraisal policy.

[Atenco]

It definitely sounds like your boss feels that you are better than him and thus stand as a threat. I've seen a few bosses like that, anything better than mediocre gets fired.

[girlelephant]

Hmmmm all very dodgy! Seems like he knows anything SMART you may be capable of!

[daimbar]

The problem is he doesn't really understand my job (wouldn't expect him to, that's why he employed me) so when I ask for clarity he just says a lot of disjointed terms related to my speciality.

For example, if I was employed as a data analyst he would say 'you need to do more v lookups and pivot tables' without any rationality of why or what for.

[3luckystars]

No amount of doing the right thing is going to keep you your job, he has already advertised it ffs!

He is planning to get rid of you, especially now that you have ruined his holiday and have made him feel awkward!
I knew a woman like your boss, she got rid of so many staff before one finally stood up to her and she was knocked off her perch then.

But there were many that went off thinking they had done something wrong and it did affect them. Stand up to him, it's easy for me to say that because I am just typing that, whereas you are living it, but I think you need to protect yourself and your job and want to wish you luck X

Do everything recommended above and keep a diary. Write down everything that was said while it's stilI fresh in your mind.

[Thingvellir]

Daim just wanted to add another voice urging you to minute yesterday's meeting on email with HR in copy as suggested. If you are really with this company/manager for the long haul (and good mat leave benefits is a strong reason to stay indeed!) then you have to start as you mean to go on in terms of protecting yourself from this useless and manipulative manager.

Sucking up to him is not the solution, keeping him behaving legally and professionally is key so you need to be uber professional. There's excellent advice on this thread.

[daimbar]

Thanks 3 and Thing - I have access to his calendar and can see he has a recruitment agency coming in tomorrow (idiot tried to make the appointment private but didn't do it properly)

As I know nothing about this meeting I can only assume he is still actively looking to replace me.

I have taken a screen shot of the calendar. I have also written up the notes from yesterday and will speak to HR Thursday. I agree there has been some excellent advice on this thread and I am so grateful.

Do I also have a case for him tarnishing my reputation? I'm in a specialist field in a small city and if he is recruiting for my role using agencies it makes it difficult for me to convince the same agencies I am a worthy candidate for similar roles.

[Atenco]

If HR have your back in this, daimmar the job is worth keeping, if they don't, just write it down to experience. You could be leaving the job for any number of reasons, like having an arsehole as a boss, I doubt it would tarnish your reputation.

[daisychain01]

Daimbar don't be concerned about agencies, they are worldly wise to the reality of business that if someone is seeking new employment, somehow their present employer isn't meeting their needs. That's why they are in business!

If you do decide to engage with a recruitment agency, focus on your great skills and the fact you are seeking new employment to further your career, and regrettably your present employer doesn't match your future career aspirations, so you've decided 2017 is your year to make a difference elsewhere.

Let's face it, if everyone was perfectly happy in their job, employment agencies would go out of business.