Promotion at work, current line manager wants to block it

[Tohaveandtohold]

Basically, I’ve been in the same grade at work for 4 years. In Aug, I got so fed up of my current role and there not being any opportunities for progression so applied for another role ( in the same grade), I got the job and started in September.
My employer always ‘advice’ to stay in a role for one year to experience the full cycle of a role but I’ve only been in this role for 3 months.

A job of a higher grade came up, I applied and was told yesterday that I got the job. I told my current line manager and he said he’s not happy for me to leave and will speak to his superiors, etc as they’ll have to employ someone else to fill my current role and he needs approval.

Ultimately, he has to agree for me to leave but I don’t know where I stand if he does not agree.

This new role will make such a big difference career progression wise and pay. Does anyone know where I stand if he does not change his mind or what I can do really.

Line manager is v likely to be overruled by his peers / seniors.

Sounds like you work for a big organisation so would follow the grievance procedure if told you can’t have the job.

If he blocks you from this promotion, it’s not really going to encourage you to stick around is it? He’s lost you whether he approves the move or not, so he might as well support you. I would be having words about not wanting to work somewhere that didn’t support your ambitions. Perhaps compromise and stay in your role for the recruitment period (if the start date can be delayed). Good luck OP.

Thank you so much.
Yes you’re right, it’s a really big organisation with branches in different countries too.
They are always saying how they want us to progress and getting an interview for a promotion has always been hard due to lots of people applying for the same few roles let alone get the job.
I’ve been so sad since I spoke to him but you all have given me such a boost.

Where I work, (government agency) its quite standard for you to be held for 12 weeks before being released to your new role to allow for contingencies, recruitment etc. If they have not sorted that by the 12 week point though they cannot hold you any longer.

Years ago I worked for a multi national company and each department was a law unto themselves and controlled their own staff even interpreting company rules differently

If someone went for a job in another department his or her manager would often block the move or put in a 'notice' period of say 6 months particularly if one manager did not like another manager - very frustrating!

At a government agency were told to notify our line manager before we apply for a new role/promotion and get their approval. Is that how it works in your organisation?

@CrushedPistachios, not it’s not. On the job board, it says we don’t need to tell our line manager when applying for a new role.
They also instruct the line manager that if they are told, they need to provide support to the employee like training, time off , etc if they request it for the internal job interview.
I don’t have any probationary period in my current role because it’s still the same grade, I just need to give 4 weeks notice if I’m leaving.
The interesting thing is that they recruited 3 people temporarily for 3 months as we’re always busy around Christmas time. Their contract will be up in January and i’m sure they all want a permanent role from talking to them. If the LM does not want to be difficult, they can easily employ one of them.
I’ve not heard anything from him today anyway.

Reminds me of this scenario in a previous large company that I worked for. My colleague was put forward for, and got offered, two roles at the same grade. She wanted one, but the company wanted her to do the other (it was not a very exciting role and they would struggle to recruit for it). They withdrew the offer she was interested in, and then were surprised when she resigned rather then be manipulated into doing a job she didn’t want to do (didn’t apply for or interview for, it was offered off the back of an ‘informal chat’ to find out more which she did agree to). Very short sighted of them. (I’d already resigned by this point, strange place to work!)

Perhaps the recruiting manager can lead on agreeing your move date with the current one?

Thank you all for your help. Just an update to say that the line manager’s boss has said I take up the new role in January. They’ve now agreed a start date, it’s more than the 4 weeks notice I’m meant to give but I’m happy there’s light at the end of the tunnel.