Getting revenge on colleague.

[Ihavetoleavemyjob]

Not as sinister as it sounds. A colleague and I were up for a promotion. Both of us fairly equally matched. We get along mostly, but can be a little competitive with each other.

Our job requires a bit of behind the scenes work, stuff that keeps the place going, but will go unnoticed. The other half is stuff that management sees.

We have known one of us was going to be promoted to line manager of the other and both put our best foot forward.

My interview with upper management didn’t go well, I was asked about a few things that went wrong recently. I asked my boss about it and was quietly told my colleague had been blaming me for anything that went wrong (that wasn’t my fault) and sabotaged any attempt at getting promoted.

I can’t work under this person and will start looking for another job. But one part of me just wants to go and let them know why. And another wants to really screw up this persons first few months as a manager. I won’t do anything wrong, but basically be fantastic at the visible part of the job, and ignore the other aspects and let this person fall flat in her face. Basically what this person has done to me. It will also mean I get a better reference. Wwyd?

I asked my boss about it and was quietly told my colleague had been blaming me for anything that went wrong (that wasn’t my fault) and sabotaged any attempt at getting promoted

if that’s true it is very unprofessional. However I suspect it’s your interpretation of it. You were given the chance to put your side.

no one sabotaged you. You had another thread on this and you need to stop being jealous.

Has the promotion been given out yet? Surely its too early to consider revenge, for all you know, her blaming you for everything will cast her in a bad light. Does your boss know the truth? Surely he wouldn't let it stand with the people interviewing you?

Can you approach your boss again and make it clear to him/her that you cannot work under someone who would pass the buck like that and are considering leaving if you are put in that position?

As for revenge, im sure lots on here can come up with some great ideas for that but realistically this isn't sensible. Surely the best revenge is leaving and so making your ex colleague take responsible for everything going forward including the future mistakes that she then can't blame you for!

That sounds extremely unprofessional.

@Ihavetoleavemyjob What should you do? If you really need to do anything I'd ask the colleague what the manager said to her about you.

Because if he's told you about her, it's likely he's done the same to her about you.

The interviewing panel had noticed that things had gone wrong and asked you about it. Presumably things that were part of your role. So, it does look like the promotion was never going to be yours tbf.

This sounds like an awful workplace. I'd just leave quietly. Then mention in an exit interview or to HR that the working culture is awful. They spread rumours and may or may not have attempted to sabotage your chances of promotion.

However it's just a rumour. I wouldnt base my whole opinion of my colleague on this. It may be the one who interviewed you who is making this up or exaggerating.

Either way just leave.

Firstly, what did you say when asked about the things that had gone wrong? Regardless if your colleague blamed you, you had the opportunity to clarify. Were the things that had gone wrong actually your fault? Did you answer with what you’ve put in place to prevent it happening again?

Secondly, your manager is massively unprofessional and it sounds like a toxic workplace.

Revenge is very unprofessional and the fact you’re even thinking this way says you aren’t ready for promotion. Zero emotional intelligence.

I haven’t posted about this before. Yes the other person did get the promotion. It was her first day today. I did clarify, but it not having all the relevant information at the time made it difficult. My boss showed me emails that the other person had sent upper management. Yes it was very unprofessional, but she wanted me to know there wasn’t much point staying here and waiting for another opportunity as it won’t happen.

She showed emails?

Jesus.

She should at least be given a written warning for that. That is so far over the line the line's invisible.

Although it sounds a little bit as though this dreadful and unprofessional manager might be your friend? Wanted you to get the job? Whatever it is, they need their arse handed to them.

I'd be leaving- you've essentially been told there's nothing there for you. But I'd certainly consider an official complaint first. About the manager. I hope the person who was promoted finds out as well.

Then there is someone else on here in the exact same situation right now..

Ohh thanks. I will look for that.

I work in HR and the actions of your manager in showing you emails, not dealing with your colleague’s sabotage and telling you that you have effective been permanently shitlisted off the back of this without due process, or the opportunity to defend yourself against these allegations etc could be see as bullying and constructive dismissal. How on earth could you be expected to continue working there? If you have more than 2 years service I strongly recommend you contact ACAS and seek legal advice based on this. It’s outrageous.

Just move on. What sort of employee would indulge in these childish games? Or if what you're saying is true why haven't you done anything about it ?

Personally I'd do the bare minimum and get another job quickly. You can't say anything as that will drop your boss in it

work to your contract, don't do anything unseen. get a new job.

Management knew about what she was doing and said nothing? Sounds like this manager is stirring and playing you off against each other . I agree with you taking your foot off the pedal . Just do what you have to no more or less .

If what you've said is word for word true, it's time to take out a grievance.

So your colleague has told bare faced lies about you and your boss has shown you emails that prove this.

Sounds like the easiest grievance ever if so.

Who cares if he gets dropped in it? He is complicit.

Complicit in what? The op was given every opportunity to explain her side of it. No decisions were taken until she did this. If she wasn’t to blame she should have been able to articulate what went wrong and what caused the issue.

if the colleague was able to identify the issues that caused the errors and articulate it to management, then this is in her favour. They are not school kids playing tell tale.

if it happened as the op described, the colleague sends emails saying ooh look the op messed up, she’s to blame, and the manager was all here look what she said, yes its unprofessional. But for some reason I doubt it went down like that.

Her boss has acted very unprofessionally.

@Ihavetoleavemyjob references now are usually just job title and dates.

If you can get another job, do. You are going nowhere in that workplace and have been told this (quite inappropriately) by your boss.
Once you are in another job, then submit a data subject access request for those emails your boss showed you.
You'll be able to examine such emails objectively and see if it's worth pursuing eg defamatory whatever. Probably not, but it will make them a bit nervous.
The other route is grievance. And while you seem to have a good case (depending on the actual content and context of those emails) you will probably lose out on a reference in the long term. If your colleague and boss and upper management are all acting unprofessionally now, a grievance won't stop them. They'll just double down. I'd leave now.

Yes because they can get rid of you within two years .

She wasn’t given every opportunity, she was ambushed in a job interview by upper management who had already been led to believe she was at fault.

Her manager sat on the emails. He was aware that her colleague was making allegations of poor work and failed to investigate them or even raise them with OP. I’m assuming she was having regular one to ones where these were not brought to her attention, yet have effectively ended her career progression. It’s completely unacceptable.

I'd report the manager and plan to leave, along with a constructive dismissal case. Forget the revenge, your workplace sounds toxic and unprofessional.

I think you need to gather up evidence, document conversations and make a formal complaint. If you do the quiet sabotage thing it'll come back and bite you, and probably scupper any chance of a good reference.

'M''