Is it ever worth complaining about a bad manager?

[Sparla]

Has anyone ever successfully complained about a bad manager? Or is it always better to walk away?

Newly hired manager turns out to be rude, aggressive, nitpicking and makes comments re my life/health (disability) I suspect are inappropriate.

All of us are unhappy. Another group have complained. We’re spoken to like naughty school kids. I’m a qualified professional but it’s shattering my confidence. I’ve written a complaint too but am I wasting my energy?

Not in my experience!

It depends if you are confident your boss’s boss knows about their poor behaviour. As a manager or managers I would DEFINITELY want to know about these issues. Especially with a new hire.

Unless your boss’s boss has been present to witness this behaviour never assume they are aware. Toxic people often behave very differently with their boss, peers and other senior colleagues than they do with subordinates (in their view). It can make it very hard to identify and deal with if you’re not present to witness it.

I’ve been forced to complain about two. One went to an internal grievance hearing, they didn’t see in my favour formally but a lot changed. The HR member I also complained about was moved, my manager had clearly been reprimanded as his whole attitude changed, I was suddenly assigned a lot more responsibility (threats of being demoted after mat leave being part of the complaint) and he was more careful about how he spoke to me.

I’ve recently had to raise a grievance about my current manager but I’ve decided to leave. The treatment from her has been appalling and my HR team and the wider company aren’t supportive of staff so I can’t see it working out for me.

I would suggest you start recording every incident with dates and times. If you have emails or other evidence to support you, keep a record of those too. Maybe then just bide your time. If this is happening to you it’s likely happening to others. Then if it gets unbearable you can present all the evidence. I know some in my company are doing just this against my manager for when the time is right to put a complaint in.

How long have they been your manager? Do you know if others feel the same as you?

How long have they been there. Their manager may not yet be prepared to listen.

I don't think there is much that can be done, however there is also not much that can be done about you being assertive and calling stuff out in response.

Sadly the senior person could be part of it. I have intel on what may have said between them. However, this new manager (a few months) is taking it way too far. Senior is better at saying the right thing, never, ever inappropriate comments re health. Gets visibly annoyed but not to the same level of aggression & rudeness.

I have a few options - HR, next manager up or diagonal senior.

Everyone in the team has heard the rudeness. Some would corroborate, only one might not, for political reasons. The manager is fairly careful when senior management are around, but not totally - some challenging & lightly taking the piss.

I don’t see it changing. It’s just who they are. It’s absolutely disgusting. I’ve never had a manager this awful.

I’ve documented occasions but not dates. Some were in front of colleagues. I’m looking at whether to go off with stress it’s that bad.

Yes. He was sacked. Ironically at a later date he applied for work under my purview.

Document everything including dates and other people present, keep everything fact based and objective.

Also know your own value and check out your other options. There is nothing like a better offer to boost your confidence when an inept middle/senior manager is destroying it.

Not one person in my workplace is happy. Morale and mental health are on the floor.
Because of the manager.

I complained to the next manager up a while back, she promised a lot but did little. It's even worse now.

Other teams have complained too.

This is in the CS where in my experience, bad managers don't get the boot.

I'm looking for a new job.

Senior managent don't like to admit they've made a bad hire IME. But...

I didn't exactly complain (didn't need to as manager behaviour got very erratic in all-staff emails etc) but I would 'accidentally'drop comments to senior leaders about how I was waiting of info from manager, how I was waiting clarification on x y and z, wd be able to answer their questions a bit late as my 1-1 had been postponed, so basically in a pass-agg way show them he was being shit.

If its a national charity, a female manager, and a team that works remote with a number as part of the team name, then I'm giving you a wave as this sounds EXACTLY like one of our managers.
Everyone has complained and someone is planning to organise a collective grievance - I just wish they'd go ahead and DO it. Manager is a right cow.

It depends on the culture of the business. If it’s a good culture then it will be taken seriously by senior management and HR will be supportive.

If a toxic culture then the opposite.

I think it really depends, they are a new hire and you could make a collective complaint. It depends how well they do their job from from their managers point of view as well.

I raised a grievance against my manager and he ended up sacked. His comments in my portion of the report were jaw droppingly condescending and frankly, idiotic. His entire team added to the grievance and he didn't seem to understand how serious it all was. It was a relief to see the back of him!

Not a charity but sounds similar otherwise.

Sadly senior will be happy because it gets results, or forces people out - I’ve lasted way longer & delivered more than 3/4 predecessors. It is toxic but I didn’t want to leave too soon for my CV. It is like an abusive relationship and you always hope it will get better. I’m in touch with a few who did leave and they’re all so much happier. All had health issues as a result that got better after leaving.

I know a few who are actively applying for new jobs or leaving - half the team at least. It’s all the bullshit on corporate values and then they treat people this way.

I just don’t know if formal complaints are worth the trouble.