Manager is too busy

[LondontoItaly2022]

I’m really getting tired of the same excuses always and my other colleagues are too. Our manager is so busy all the time that we aren’t getting any support. She hides in her office and doesn’t reply to 95% of emails. All annual leave has been ignored and the dates are coming up soon, so we’re all left not being able to book any flights or trips away.

All of us are having the same issues with her. As soon as she wants something though it’s a different story. We have to do it urgently even to the point where she takes us away from our job to do other tasks not in our description. She gets me to do a lot of stuff as a favour. This means that my job suffers because I barely have enough time each day to complete my own tasks. She knows this, we’ve had meetings about this after I returned from sick leave. She knows how much we are struggling. I understand she is busy but legally what do we do if this continues longer?

Obviously a lot of us have left or are planning on leaving ASAP. Our boss (her manager) is very intimidating so I can’t go to her and obviously don’t want to because I am trying to give my manager the benefit of doubt and trying to be understanding. I feel like I’m being ignored. I’m left without any support day to day and now it seems like no annual leave despite me putting in my requests way in advance. I’m on email number 4 about this which they’ve all been ignored and my requests are just sitting on the system we use unanswered.

I’ve also spoken to her briefly face to face and asked for a yes or no, as have my other colleagues as we need to book flights. She says she’s been so busy, but it’s always like this. It’s been like this since I can remember since she started here. She’s so chaotic and all over the place I genuinely don’t think she has the skills to be a manager but I suppose that’s none of my business. Just hurts to be the employee and be worked like a dog barely any breaks between us all, and be ignored like we don’t exist. Is she really that busy???

Like I said above most of my emails get ignored and I really only send them if it’s something important like I need her sign off or approval for something. Things aren’t getting done because she hasn't approved the money being spent so the services are being reduced because I don’t have the stuff I need.

I know you said your managers boss is intimidating but I think you need to send an email stating you've not had a reply to the other 4 and that you need to know urgently and CC the boss in. It will highlight what's happening without having to speak directly to her boss.

I feel very uncomfortable doing that. I know it will look like I’m making a complaint about her or dropping her in it. I really just want to leave. Everything has gone downhill since our old manager left. We’re all suffering… one staff member has just given up with asking about her annual leave and another has said she’s booking her flights and taking the time off anyway because she hasn’t had an answer. We’re all sick of it but don’t know what to do. If she’s so busy herself then maybe she needs to highlight that to her boss too.

On the annual leave issue, that one can be solved relatively simply. You send an e-mail that says something along the lines of "I have sent you emails on XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX about my proposed leave dates. Since I have had no response I must assume that my request is approved, and I will therefore be booking my flights..." Then if it goes badly, you have evidence that you did everything in your power to get the approval. In law you would be correct in doing this - whilst it is correct that the employer can dictate leave dates, it is their responsibility to decline leave requests, not to grant them, if you see what I mean. In future, nip it in the bud - " I need to make my booking / arrangements etc so I will be taking leave on XXX and I will asssume this is approved by you unless I hear otherwise from you by YYYY".

Other than that, if you are set upon not saying anything about the lack of support, then there really isn't anything you can do other than cover your own back in writing if you need to.

I know it wouldn't be comfortable complaining to her boss but how else do you think anything will change? Your manager clearly doesn't care and you and your colleagues are letting her carry on.

Is there an HR department?

Reading your posts with comments like
I feel very uncomfortable doing that [contact big boss] I know it will look like I’m making a complaint about her or dropping her in it. Makes me cringe!

Grow a backbone love! Your manager is shit and for your own self worth, get it sorted out by complaining your arse off to anyone who'll listen.

Are you in America? You're acting like you're in America. We have workers rights here in the UK. You can't be sacked for having a shit manager.

I work in the in England for reference. Everyone complains to each other but we rarely speak up. The times we have tried have not gone well in our favour. We ask for support repeatedly but it goes nowhere. If we ask questions it’s seen as making a complaint. We are thrown under the bus, and also things get misunderstood. I’ve been shouted at many times by senior management while trying to raise serious issues. Issues that aren’t going to cause them any bother personally but need to be addressed.

The culture in my workplace very much is that you don’t raise issues, they just don’t like it. When you’ve been through this for years it wears you down. My previous manager was lovely, a bit forgetful but things like annual leave were handled ASAP. I’ve just spoken to my manager and she’s unfortunately had to refuse my leave requests as too many other people will be off on those dates. At least I got my answer finally! It looks to me that other peoples leave was approved first but I put my request in a long time ago as per our policy. It’s not a big deal but at least I know the answer now so I can plan my trip for another month.

I understand she is busy so that’s why I was reluctant to raise any issues BUT it’s not really sustainable. We’re so short staffed, underfunded that this is what happens. I know I need to speak up more believe me I’ve tried over the years, you just feel defeated sometimes after being gaslighted and dismissed by senior managers. The whole system is failing and we are all fighting to be heard. At least that’s what all of my colleagues tell me. I’m planning to leave, should have left years ago but life gets in the way sometimes. I do need to work on being more outspoken but my anxiety then worries me afterwards so I try to avoid if I can.

This is where you all need to work together as a team. Create a spreadsheet/table and all book your leave on it. If there are clashes look at whether it is reasonable for 2 people to be off at the same time. Once you are all happy email to boss and their boss saying we have submitted requests thought this would make it easier, we will assume you are content unless we hear otherwise.

Secondly ask HR for a confidential meeting, book a room that is big enough for you all. All attend the meeting and have a written list of issues e.g . Leave not approved, hand over the list and use it as an agenda to structure the meeting. Do not resort to using critical language about your manager just set out factually between us we have made 16 requests for leave none has been approved etc. Ask HR to arrange mediation with your manager to resolve these issues. if you are TU members have this meeting with your TU rep.

Okay, but in fairness, sending a third email about leave is ridiculous if you know that channel doesn't work. Take a paper with you and knock on her door. Call. Ask what means to use to contact her. Ask if she can have a fixed office hour.

This . You either speak up or just put up or look for another job .