Should I say something about my manager?

[betweenarock]

Sorry this is long. Have NC just in case. I work in a professional services role in a well known firm. Joined from a smaller company almost a year ago and after a few teething problems I now get very good feedback on my work from colleagues and clients.

My line manager manages me and 4 other people, and I have noticed (as have others from my team and other teams in the department) that my manager is favouring me quite a lot. They give me the most interesting/high profile projects and the trickier, less celebrated ones to other members of the team. They said in front of others that they see me as their deputy, when I am in fact at the same level as everyone else.

And the kicker is, I'm really no better at my job than anyone else on the team. Manager is being really quite awful to one member of our team in particular, blaming her for something that was in no way her fault and causing her to be off work with stress. Apparently manager is well known for this and the turnover on the team is historically very high, as people can't cope with manager's attitude.

This member of staff contacted me over Christmas to say the manager had been comparing her unfavourably to me, (why can't you be more proactive like xx, xx would have finished that by now) and I've since been told by others that this happened too. I encouraged her to go to HR, as that seems very unprofessional and borderline bullying to me, but she doesn't want to rock the boat as she's still in her probation period.

I don't know whether I should raise it on her behalf, as she is certainly being unfairly treated, and I'm annoyed that my name is being pulled into it all by the manager.

I guess if the other person doesn't want to go to HR it would be wrong for me to go?

between as always with these dilemmas, it's down to the person concerned to do what their conscience dictates.

In your case, do you really want to stick your head above the parapet, and rock the boat when you potentially don't have all the historic facts about the individuals concerned, nor the character mix between management and staff?

Please remember that you have only been at the company a year yourself, so you don't have full statutory employment rights, and if your manager is as flakey as you describe, what's to stop them from turning on you next? I wouldn't find that environment positive, in fact it sounds bordering on the toxic.

I'd keep your head down and keep working and adding value to your employers but it's up to you to decide.

I have been in your position, I was the best thing since sliced bread (compared to previous assistant), then someone new started and I was so so much better than them. Temporary ego boost. Then the scales seemed to fall from my manager's eyes and suddenly I was the one that was just not good enough. Nearly ended my career. Watch out for the fall from grace, it's not pleasant.

So the manager is pulling the team apart and causing conflict between staff. I would just get on, do your job, if the other member of staff wants to raise a grievance they can and you can offer them support but don't get caught up in the managers behaviour.

Same here - it's happened to 4 of us In our team

I would just keep a note of everything- good and bad, in case situation changes and you get picked on next

Alternative is you ALL complain to HR but I'd have a new job lined up first!