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My manager is a micro manager and I’ve no idea how to deal

73 replies

MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 21:51

Please help or give me your advice.

I joined a firm 10 months ago which pays very well and above average. To put it into context the average role (outer London) pays £28k, where as I’m on £36.5k. So £8,500 above average.

There is me, my colleague (same level as me) and my manager who permanently work remote from home. Everyone else is hybrid working.

Anyway! To the point. My manage is a micro manager and it’s driving me insane. She’s checking our every move(me and my colleague), checking how many emails I’m answering, checking how many accounts I’m actioning & it’s all getting a bit much. My colleague is newer than me, and she comes down on him like a ton of bricks when he makes mistakes (albeit minor but I understand). I find when he is on annual leave, I get the brunt of her micro managing. I work 9-5, I logged in early today (8am) as it’s the school holidays as i wanted to get ahead for the day and make up for any interruptions (my son was home with me today, he is in year 6), yet I got bombarded with 11 calls throughout the day to ask me pointless questions. I feel it was to check on me. I’ve told her previously (in a nice way) to stop calling all the time as it interrupts the flow of things, and she promised she would stop it. She hasn’t. Today was the worst because my collegiate was off so it seems the emphasis was on me. She called me at 1.45 PM today to ask me what I was doing, and that I was taking ages to compete a task? I explained to her I had not long came back from lunch, as to which she replied “well you haven’t sent an email since 11am”, I explained I had been doing other things and how would she know what I’m doing? She told me she does a check on how many tasks I’ve done at 11am, followed by another check. I instantly said “micro management” and she flipped! She said how I must be away from my laptop all the time etcetc. I explained that was not true. Anyway, what on earth can I do about this ? She has pushed so many people out of this job, I think I’m the fourth person to do it since she became manager over a two year period , and she’s already told me it’s unlikely my colleague will pass his probation. I’m so fed up! But like the money. When either me or my colleague make an error, or I tell her I’ve got too much work, or I keep logging in 30 mins to an hour early to keep on top of my work load her response is “well your paid well so get on with it. I’m busy too”. Honestly, she does nothing but check on my and my colleague. She cannot be doing much herself surely calling me 11 times between 9-5? Should I confide in her manager?

OP posts:
MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 21:53

Sorry just to add, her manager is lovely and doesn’t check on her at all.

OP posts:
cornflakedreams · 13/04/2022 22:03

How did it come about that the three of you are the only ones to be fully remote?

She clearly doesn't trust remote employees, so I'm curious how she came to be in such a position.

Yika · 13/04/2022 22:08

This is really appalling management. Yes I would take it up with the higher level manager.

Beekindbeehumble · 13/04/2022 22:11

Why not log every check over a week and ask for a meeting with her manager with that information.

MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 22:12

Her boss is remote too with only occasional travel to the office. The business used to be part of a huge company in London , but we got bought out so a lot of the team were made permanently remote, she moved and stayed remote, then the team she recruited (me and my colleague) are remote too. It’s all above board. She’s just a nightmare. Any tips on how not to go crazy would be appreciated.

OP posts:
SugarAndSpiceIsNice · 13/04/2022 22:13

I would start by keeping a log of all the times she calls you and what she says in those calls. Once you have a log of about a week, I would take it up with her manager and say that you find it difficult to concentrate with constant interference and would also say that you have raised it with her but the behaviour hasn't changed.

MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 22:14

Thank you for your comments. I was logging every call, with a reason and time. But I stopped because it calmed down, and she seemed to be pestering my colleague more, today was the worst day (because he was off), and I didn’t take down any times or reasons. Feeling very fed up this evening.

OP posts:
PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn · 13/04/2022 22:15

@SugarAndSpiceIsNice

I would start by keeping a log of all the times she calls you and what she says in those calls. Once you have a log of about a week, I would take it up with her manager and say that you find it difficult to concentrate with constant interference and would also say that you have raised it with her but the behaviour hasn't changed.
Absolutely this. You'll need evidence and it must be dealt with.
MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 22:17

I break up tomorrow for over a week. The last time I was off on leave, she called me on my mobile and told me to login to check something that she had full capability of doing. I stupidly did it (it was February half term for goodness sake and I was with my children). It was 9am in the morning and took me 20 mins. After I did this, I told her I wouldn’t be doing anything on leave again as what she had asked me to do was unnecessary and I would be muting her mobile number.

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CandyLeBonBon · 13/04/2022 22:30

I worked for someone like this last year op. I handed in my notice after 3 months as I couldn't stand it! It's utterly demoralising so if I were you I'd start looking around!

MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 22:34

@CandyLeBonBon she has scared off a few people, made one person cry after a few weeks but just tells her boss the company is fast paced and only a certain amount of people will be up to the job. It’s ridiculous. I am ranting and moaning right now because I’m fed up, and I watched my old colleague go through the same thing

OP posts:
PantsandBoots · 13/04/2022 22:34

I would also keep a personal daily record of work completed eg x tasks completed, x no of emails sent, mtg with x, reviewed x report etc.

So that you can account for your work and time if challenged.

WakeMeUpWhenTheyHaveGone · 13/04/2022 22:41

I had a micro Manager like this, but they were not this bad. I left as I was planning on having a break before my next move. Bad decisions had made by Senior Management which had also made the job difficult, so I didn’t see the point in complaining to their Manager as I was leaving anyway.

If you’d like to stay and/or cannot just leave just yet, keep a log and take it up with her Manager. I know it’s difficult, but try not to engage too much via phone. Ensure your exchanges are documented in writing via emails.

There’s no way she’s getting any work done micromanaging you and your colleague like that. Managers that do this, do it as an attempt to justify the need for their own jobs.

My current Manager tried it for a bit when they first joined the team, but I quickly shut her down via emails explaining everything I had done/was doing for the day/week including timings, deadlines and her constant interruptions. I also told her that so left my last job because of a micromanager. I told her, I know what I need to do, I do it and even more, including outside of my working hours, so please leave me alone to do it.

Sorry you’re going through this. It can be really stressful if it’s happening almost every working day. Good luck.

Iamnotamermaid · 13/04/2022 22:42

Keep a personnel record and also join forces with your other colleague(s). If there are two of you, there is a stronger case. Document it and if possible raise a complaint with HR. HR may be aware there is an issue (if they have to keep recruiting for the same position) and just need some input to take it further. Has she been a manager for long?

I had a similar boss but she was clever at choosing moments when we were alone and isolated from other colleagues. One day she made a mistake and there were witnesses.

MadHatter36 · 13/04/2022 22:48

She acts all nice in team meetings when everyone else is there, but just constantly interrupts all day.

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Wheresmywoolyjumpers · 13/04/2022 22:50

Do you do regular reviews? If so, I would want this recorded in the notes. And I could consider making a grievance if she is behaving inappropriately. I would also feed it up the line if there is no response. I had a terrible manager at one point, he was famously bad and lots of people would not work with him. People would even joke about who was in his sights at which time. When I left I insisted on having an exit interview with his boss, who was totally clueless about how bad he was and his behaviour. He got demoted and then let go soon after.

ItsYabbaDabbaDoTime · 14/04/2022 01:18

Sorry OP start looking for a new job.
She will never change because she doesn’t know how.
Her manager clearly isn't bothered, as she’s doing nothing to address the extremely high staff turnover.

Nat6999 · 14/04/2022 01:29

It sounds like she is a new manager & is wanting to make her mark. Just answer all her calls & when she asks why your work rate has dropped list how long each day you are wasting dealing with her instead of doing your work.

SoItWas · 14/04/2022 01:30

I wouldn't be able to resist exclaiming "it's amazing how you manage to get your own work done, and find the time to keep us right" every single time she interrupted.

I agree you and your colleague need to keep a log of all her interruptions, then take it to her boss, explaining you find that her approach is actually holding you back, instead of increasing productivity.

DSGR · 14/04/2022 01:41

Absolutely keep a log and take it up with her manager. Day you can’t work like this and you’ll need to look for another job if you can’t be left to get on with the one you have. Give evidence of how you’ve done everything asked of you and on time. You have nothing to lose and her manager will most likely listen

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 14/04/2022 02:03

I agree with the poster above. You and your colleague both need to keep a log. Why should you leave a good job because of her? Keep a log and then both of you go to her manager. Highlight that her constant phone calls are having an impact on your productivity and causing stress and bad feeling in the team. I would also be tempted to bring it up in team meetings every single time and quote the number of times she has been phoning you. Call her out on it in front of other colleagues and it will show how ridiculous she’s being. If your boss’s manager doesn’t listen or do anything about it then find another job but make sure you cite her as being the reason you are leaving.

Wren44 · 14/04/2022 05:40

What a shit manager. How do these kind of people get and keep their jobs?

MadHatter36 · 14/04/2022 15:56

She acts busy but she isn’t at all. She’s a joke. She hasn’t bothered me today as much, she’s asked me to do so much stuff. I will document from when I’m back. She’s only called me twice, in comparison tonthe 11 times yesterday.

OP posts:
violetbunny · 14/04/2022 19:04

I do forces with your colleague and both keep a log - it will carry more weight if there is a consistent theme that she's doing it to both of you.
Document also the feedback you've given, make it clear you've explained how her actions impact your ability to get the job done, and what the outcome was. Then I'd be taking that to her manager.

2022booklover · 14/04/2022 19:13

Screenshot the 11 calls - that’s so far beyond normal.
Sounds to me like she’s got nothing to do - and is in fear of her own job - so tries to “make busywork” by hassling you.

I’d speak to your colleague and approach her manager together. No sane person will think this is ok.