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Original poster

wwyd? Awkward Work Situation

49 replies

c0nfusedasalways · 05/07/2024 13:19

I recently encountered an issue that has significantly affected my professional relationships at work, and I need advice on how to address it.

An employee from a training provider contacted me on LinkedIn about a funded professional course related to my field. I responded, asking for more information. However, I then received numerous emails from this individual, pressing for a Teams meeting to discuss further details. Finding this behavior a bit strange, I eventually stopped responding.

A few weeks later, my manager confronted me. The training company had contacted our head office, claiming that I (mentioned by name) was interested in their courses. This situation led my manager to believe that I might be looking for another job, which caused considerable embarrassment. I explained that I was merely making an enquiry, but the damage to my professional reputation has already been done.

I am extremely upset about how this has unfolded and want to know how to approach this situation appropriately. I feel the urge to write back to the training provider to express my frustration, but I want to handle this professionally. Is there any law against such behavior? How can I address this issue effectively?

OP posts:
ridingfreely · 05/07/2024 13:29

Blimey! So unprofessional of the training g company and firmly overstepping the mark! I may have responded better on my feet by telling my boss they must have found your name online / hadn't expressed interest

I would go back to them direct but perhaps look for the senior person to communicate with not the person who caused this. I'd put in a complaint

thinkfast · 05/07/2024 13:31

I would take two steps here:

  1. A conversation with your manager to explain that you received a linked in message re training courses that were relevant for your current job. You replied to ask more about it but were then bombarded and harrassed by sales messages, so you blocked and deleted them, which led to them calling your office. You have no desire to look for another job.
  1. Contact the training provider, lodge a complaint and ask them to remove you from their mailing list immediately and confirm to you once this has been done, explaining how their aggressive sales tactics have been construed by your employer, causing you considerable professional embarrassment.

Assuming your employer's number is widely available on the internet, I'm not sure I can see a legal cause of action here, except perhaps harassment (depending on the amount of contact and whether you had previously asked them to stop).

KikiShaLeeBopDeBopBop · 05/07/2024 13:31

What a ridiculous situation.

First, I would absolutely put in a formal complain to the training provider as they behaved totally unprofessionally and their behaviour amounts to harassment.

Secondly, on what planet does 'i want to be better at my job' equate to 'I'm looking for a new job"?

I think this speaks volumes about your employer and it would be a good move to look for a new job now anyway, since they clearly don't value their employees.

Hoppinggreen · 05/07/2024 13:33

Aggressive Sales tactics that give Sales people a bad name BUT as an employer I would be happy you wnated to improve yourself and not be threatened by you doing a course

Mumsgirls · 05/07/2024 13:53

Isn’t this a data protection issue if you did it give permission to contact your boss. Definitely a formal complaint

atticstage · 05/07/2024 17:23

What kind of place are you working in that your manager "confronted" you or that your professional reputation has been damaged by something so inconsequential?

Has your manager never encountered a sales person before?

BrucesTooth · 05/07/2024 17:33

Agree with pp, this is just (annoying and pretty full on) sales tactics.
"the training company had contacted our head office, claiming that I (mentioned by name) was interested in their courses" well you were? You had engaged with them and then ghosted them, so they phoned to try and re-enage. You'd have been better off once they got a bit full on/you changed your mind on just saying, actually no thanks take me off your list. As it is you're still a viable prospect to them. Annoying for sure but that's it. I am amazed you're manager acted in such a way, and that it's been such a massive deal. A quick "oh yeah ,I was looking into them as would like a bit more training on xyz but they seem a bit full on" would suffice surely?

TeenLifeMum · 05/07/2024 17:40

If my boss came to me I’d just say “oh it was a sales pitch in linked in. I wish I’d never clicked on it now.” And my manager would say “oh they’re a nightmare aren’t they,” and that would be that.

HelplessSoul · 05/07/2024 18:06

I'd also be launching a grievance on your manager, who has also tarnished your reputation.

Regardless of whether you are/not looking for a job or not - your manager doesnt own you or your LinkedIn profile.

A manager like that is the one that has burned the goodwill bridge, not you. They demonstrated that they are self serving cunts who see you as their property - and you are NOT.

Noseybookworm · 10/07/2024 19:08

I'd be very unhappy about a manager making the assumption that you're looking for another job in these circumstances. Even if you had shown interest in further training, she's making a leap thinking that. I would also contact the training provider and put in a complaint about them contacting your employer. Please don't feel embarrassed, you have done nothing wrong. Some companies are just incredibly pushy when it comes to selling their product! But they overstepped the mark professionally by contacting your employer.

bonzaitree · 10/07/2024 20:25

As mentioned upthread this is defo a data privacy issue as they have misused your personal data.

You can make a data subject access request to see the personal data that they have about you and request that it is erased.

link on how to do it is here: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/getting-copies-of-your-information-subject-access-request/how-to-make-a-subject-access-request/

don’t let them get away with this poor conduct!

speak to your boss again and explain what’s happened. I wouldn’t think this would ruin your professional career at all. Head up and carry on.

How to make a subject access request

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/getting-copies-of-your-information-subject-access-request/how-to-make-a-subject-access-request

godmum56 · 10/07/2024 20:43

no the training comany should not have done it but what kind of business and company are you in where you boss would over react and your professional reputation would be so badly damaged?

BurntBroccoli · 10/07/2024 20:46

This would be against GDPR regulations. I'd take this further if the training company are UK based.

Changingplace · 10/07/2024 20:49

I think it’s a weird leap to this situation damaging your professional reputation - surely showing an interest in a course aligned to your profession is simply showing initiative in career development, but not specifically that you’re looking for a new job.

Didn’t you just explain what happened to your boss? Why do you think this has caused such damage? Yes the training provider are completely out of order but your manager’s reaction is odd imo.

hari27 · 10/07/2024 20:50

@Changingplace absolutely this. Why on earth would that bother an employer with that explanation given?

Bettedaviseyes111 · 10/07/2024 20:52

Definitely a GDPR breach and I would complain.

However your manager has overreacted.

LinkedIn is tricky…. I’ve had a couple of people follow me on there then find my work email and contact me. I just ignore and delete.

Sillystrumpet · 10/07/2024 20:53

I don’t understand why being interested in training means you are looking for another job, why did your manager think that, and what proffesional damage has been caused a?

justasmalltownmum · 10/07/2024 20:55

Leave them a one star review.

bonzaitree · 10/07/2024 21:20

BurntBroccoli · 10/07/2024 20:46

This would be against GDPR regulations. I'd take this further if the training company are UK based.

GDPR covers all EU member states (including UK, who were a member state when it was implemented)

StockpotSoup · 10/07/2024 21:21

Are you in the US, OP? I notice you’ve used a couple of American spellings. I only ask because it would affect my advice, as I can’t imagine most managers in the UK leaping to the assumption that you were looking for another job, or reacting in such an extreme way. I’d be surprised to hear anyone claiming this was “considerably embarrassing” and had damaged their professional reputation. It sounds like an overreaction on all counts.

I’d be more annoyed with your employer than the training company. How does your boss know this company didn’t just pick your name off LinkedIn and that you’d never even spoken to them? Why does he think he can summon you into the office over this, unless it’s to make sure you’re happy in the job?

I’m amazed the call even reached your boss. In most companies a cold call from a training firm would be screened out long before it reached someone with any power.

Original poster
c0nfusedasalways · 10/07/2024 21:29

I'm in the UK.

I'm not entirely sure how the training company approached my company or what they said exactly. I just know they used my name, and whatever they conveyed gave the impression that I was seeking significant career progression. The course I was inquiring about was an advanced one, and my company won't have any openings for such a role in the near future. As a result, my company has assumed I'm looking to switch jobs.

I am annoyed that they've come to this conclusion, but it's a fairly new job that I started only a few weeks ago. This situation is definitely going to affect how I'm perceived in the future and as my contract comes to an end. I really would like to address this with the training company, although I fear they'll go back to my employer again. Am I overthinking this?

OP posts:
Ilovelifeverymuch · 10/07/2024 21:29

The twianint company was unprofessional and overstepped, your boss is being ridiculous if he is not willing to listen to you and it was training not applying for another job for crying out loud. Is this a small business?

I would have another chat with your boss to clear the air and if he still refuses to listen focus on your work and getting another job.

Original poster
c0nfusedasalways · 10/07/2024 21:34

In hindsight, I wish I had thought more quickly on my feet and defended my position more clearly at the moment. I felt like a school kid being told off and ended up mumbling something about making an enquiry out of curiosity. Thinking back, there was a lot that I could have said and clarified, so I am partly to blame for how I’m coming across. In the moment i was also quite taken aback that someone would go out of their way to hinder someone else’s job prospects just to make a sale.

OP posts:
LeFromage · 10/07/2024 21:40

OP at the bottom of the training providers website somewhere they should have a link to their Privacy Policy - this should give you the info (data protection officer or generic GDPR email address of some sort) on how & who to put in a Data Subject Access request (known as DSAR acronym) to (someone has posted the ICO guidance above) and ensure you ask in that DSAR for the sales system notes of the conversation the sales person had with your employer - be as specific as you are able eg during month of X 2024 - as well as asking for details on all info they hold on you. I would be raging about this absolute fuckwit sales person screwing with your job and use the DSAR response (they have 40 days I think but check the ICO guidance) to escalate / formalise a massive complaint to the training company and to the ICO.

User3456 · 10/07/2024 22:20

This is definitely a data protection breach as the training company mentioned you by name without your consent. You are well within your rights to raise a complaint. Do you have legal cover with your home insurance or your union? A letter off a solicitor should nip it in the bud!