New boss seems to have taken a dislike and given me a bad performance review

[WorkIssuesWhatCanIdo]

I would appreciate some words of wisdom. I have worked for the same company in a senior position for several years and have always got on well and had glowing performance reviews. The old boss left a few months ago and a new one was hired. I have not changed the way I work other than trying to make a good impression by helping out the new one.

I had my performance review last week and it felt like a total character assassination. I was told I have a bad attitude, people have to redo my work and I don't deliver anything. I was speechless and am ashamed to say I cried. I asked in writing for examples, which they have not been able to give and so have just come up with more reasons why I'm terrible at my job (I'm not). I have provided written evidence in my defense for each of the points but I just keep getting more and more. What do I do? The only thing I can think of it that I'm part time. New boss has made it clear that they don't like this. It is making me ill. I loved my job until now.

Be very clear and factual - it helps to lay it out point by point. Don't be afraid to use evidence either.

So if the accusation is that you don't finish your work, respond and say that until (date when she started) you have always been able to finish your work on time. Since her start date you have consistently been asked by her to hand over your work early - the most recent examples of this are A&B pieces of work which you were told to hand over on X date, despite you advising that you were happy to retain ownership and complete the task. If any of those interactions have been via email then attach the emails as evidence.

I'd also recommend noting in your rebuttal that if this cannot be resolved then you will approach HR and ask for their involvement.

Are you in a union? If so contact them for advice. And keep a log of everything the new manager has done/ said.
It sounds as though he is trying to make you leave and if you do it could be constructive dismissal.

I had the same thing happen to me. New boss found fault with everything I did despite me being extremely competent and well respected in my job. You need to get a new job. You're not going to win this one.

I ending up being pushed out of my job out... long sorry short I got an employment lawyer to negotiate a financial settlement.

New boss moved in his cronies before the ink was even dry on the settlement.

I'm very sorry that this is happening to you OP, it sounds awful and very stressful.

I would definitely speak to HR about your suspected ADHD, depression and potentially your thyroid problem too if you feel comfortable doing so. You can discuss and agree any reasonable adjustments they can make for you. You don't need a medical diagnosis to be covered by the Equality Act.

www.disabilityrightsuk.org/resources/equality-act-and-disabled-people

adhduk.co.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

It makes me sad that it has happened to so many of you. How can people be so crappy?

You may well need to get a new job but you may be in a position to at least get a pay out for the way you are being treated. If her behaviour pushes you out then it could be constructive dismissal.

At some stage, you may need to raise a grievance, possibly for bullying.

You need to make sure you have everything in writing, as far as possible. Both her (plainly unfair) criticisms and your rebuttals. She has to provide evidence for her criticisms - ask for it in writing. You should provide evidence too.

Also, each time you speak to her, take a note of what was said, directly after each meeting. Date and time the note. If you do take this further, make sure you also provide copies of your previous boss’s praise to show that this is squarely an issue with your current manager.

I’m sorry this is happening to you, OP. Good luck.

Because some people thrive on bullying others . Mine was fucking horrible. With regards to emails, could you print them off ? I did this as I knew that my bulkying boss had, on a previous occasion, got IT to delete a private email folder a colleague had her holiday requests in. It was quite cathartic wapping them all down on the desk in a meeting with her , my union rep and HR.

There are general unions or legal insurance is worth exploring.

Discrimination against part time workers can be discrimination on grounds of sex, as women are more likely to hold part time roles. Otherwise, managing out is a form of bullying and like all bullying it tends yo dissolve when called out. Ask for everything in writing, keep saying that 'this seems very strange when my performance reviews under x were always so positive. Can you tell me what has changed?' Most of all, if you have the courage and the ability to do so stick it out. As a PP has said, find out whether they really have the appetite for disciplinary when they realise you know what they are about.

Remember you can walk at any time, and if the cost of holding on is too high for you personally, then just go. It will always be their loss to have to find and train your replacement. Take pleasure in how soon you'll be regretted once you are gone.

Thank you for this, the list of reasonable adjustments is very helpful.

I had this done to me and I stuck it out, hoping she would see I wasn't a threat and go back to normal.
She didn't. She literally made me miserable. She would criticise me in front of junior staff, she had one staff member she liked and it was like mean girls, nasty looks, giggling when I went past, whispering. It was like being back at school.

The icing on the cake was when one of that staff thought they were sticking up for me when she slagged me off to him, saying I was good at my job and always helped newer or less experienced staff, he then said he was surprised I didn't apply for the job she was doing when it became available.

She found an excuse to sack me. I went off sick, probably down to the stress she put me under, and without my knowledge a directive came down that staff absent at a certain time of year (New Year's/Christmas) would need a GP note or would be seen as bunking off.

So when I was off just after this was put to staff, I had no idea, and went with the company's policy of sick note after a certain amount of days.

She sacked me for gross misconduct for being absent without permission. I tried to fight it but it was in 2008, just as the financial crash happened and effected my industry hugely. I struggled to find work as I had no reference as they refused to give one. She also sacked 3 others for stupid reasons who she saw as "on my side" not hers.

I then found out I was pregnant with DS so had a break anyway. The business itself went under six months after she sacked me. I can't lie, I thought it was karma.

So get out whilst it's on your terms and a reference is available. Or speak to a union if you can.

What an utterly nasty person. I'm sorry that happened to you.

He sounds delightful.....not!

I would speak to HR, but do bear in mind HR are there to protect the company not the employees at the end of the day, but they will have to take your grievance seriously, make sure you complain in the correct way and by the book to have no comeback. But I would also be keeping an eye out for a new role at the same time.

Not sure if this is a good idea or not but if you think you can't bcc emails, then you could go old school and print them out?

There's a union called National Employees Union that's a stand alone union that anyone can join. They seem to have glowing reviews when they've needed to support.

I have been through similar and work for a large company. I kept detailed notes of everything and when it got to the stage if union involvement they tore the company to shreds and I received an apology and compensation.

It's sad you have to cover your arse in this way but I find these kind of managers don't last long.

As others have already said, document everything and confirm everything via email.

It's their own lack of confidence that they're compensating for.

They're still twats tho