I'm being managed out - help me stay positive

[littlestropofhorrors]

Keeping this deliberately vague. I'm receiving consistently good feedback from clients and stakeholders, and loving my role. It's a short term contract, and theoretically other roles are available - but I'm being managed out. Many things have happened to indicate this. I don't want to get into whether I'm being managed out, and what I might want to do about that - I know that i am, and I know it's pointless trying to fight it. What I would really like advice/other experiences on is how to cope with the heartbreak. I love the team, love the work. I have a role to go to, very fortunately. But it won't be the same. I'm deeply sad and becoming increasingly depressed. Any ideas on how to handle this without losing myself?

Accept and acknowledge it as a successful short term contract and move on when the time comes

Intellectually, I know I need to do that, but emotionally, I'm finding that very hard.

I had a colleague who felt she was being managed out (and I agree with her that she was). She was on the team for many years and was doing perfectly fine, got on decently with the team, no issues.

2 new managers came in, one grade above the other and suddenly her face didnt fit and she was getting pulled up on everything and anything. They just didnt rub with her. I was really disappointed to see those mechanisms taking place, and she did eventually leave, not sure if fully by her own accord.

Those managers were dickheads. Genuinely and have had run ins with other people. I work in a new company and have done for the past 7 years or so now, but I remember being so shocked at how nasty people could push someone out like that so successfully. I was sort of friends with the more junior manager, and would speak to the managed out colleagues, so I had an unusually comprehensive knowledge of the situation, considering it wasn't happening to me.

I tell you all this to remind you that being managed out definitely doesn't mean that the managed out person is in the wrong, and there can be any number of personal or impersonal reasons for this happening. I am really sorry that you are going through this, but you deserve to have the resilience to remember that its not likely to be a reflection of you.

I think you need to ensure you are not over invested emotionally. The fact is you are on a ST contract, you need to remember that management won’t care about individuals. Sorry OP but for your own eke you need to toughen up.

You Can either ask outright in a professional manner and if they say no you’ll have to have an exit plan. If they say yes then ask why. I was contracted out by my company and I hated it as the company I worked for treated me like their pa when id had 30 years experience! It was supposed to last 1 year and got good feedback etc but they had to cut headcount for business reasons. In a last company we had contractors but got rid of them as too expensive! Does sound like you’re too invested in this job as a contractor!

I’ve recently been managed out and went under NDA. Honestly, I’ve always been pretty good at keeping my personal ego separate from my work ego and that’s helped me frame my current situation: the way I left was about my role, it wasn’t about me, it was about the business and what the management had decided it needed for its future direction, it wasn’t a rejection of me as a person and nothing has changed in the liking and respect my actual colleagues, the people I worked alongside and laughed with, have for me.

But being managed out would apply to a permanent role surely, if you're on a short term contract your contract is coming to an end and not being renewed?

We use a lot of contractors in my work and sometimes we're desperate to keep them but just don't have the budget. If there's roles available they may want to prioritise their permanent staff over contractors? We wouldn't offer a role to a contractor if a permie can do it.

i am sorry you feel so down but why do you feel this way when it was always a short term contract? Weren’t you expecting this?

I had just this! It was hard but I moved on and found a really nice workplace.

Someone told me the manager thought I was after her role, hence often extending 4/6 months. I wasn’t after her role at all.

I just had to let it go. A lot of people left in the year or so after due to the atmosphere.

Imagine getting a new job.

Just got through a passed pip and kind of having second thoughts about a second interview. 50/50 retaliation and some of the pip being used as extended training. Typical pass a PIP start smashing job interviews. The mindset was interesting let’s say with this pip over me.

I don’t genuinely know what I would have done if I couldn’t pick up the line I really don’t like.

Been weeks of hell and wanted to give up but turning the corner it has been nearly 6 months of feeling like this though.

Thank you, everyone. I really appreciate the solidarity where people have experienced similar things. And the firm 'Why the drama; you always knew it was a short term contract'. Fair question.
There are other roles going in the team, that I could have a fair crack at. But let's say that all the soft indicators from leadership have been, don't apply. E.g. naming other people in the team whom they hope will apply for those roles. Encouraging me to encourage a peer to apply for one of those roles (yes, you read that right) 'so you can stay in your job' (this peer is due to come back to my role, hence my short term contract). I've discovered that someone else has already been working on the job description of another job with leadership, and they are applying for that role.
Asking very carefully in meetings, 'We need to know all of the solo work you're doing. Yes, but how many meetings are you having with X? Is that the only meeting you're having with Y?'
I've thought of approaching leadership directly and saying, I'm getting very confusing signals from you, what do you really think about my staying in the team?' But of course, they'll just say, you're welcome to apply for those roles, as any other candidate.

Sounds as if you’re coming to the end of your contract and they are not going to renew. I would not wait a moment longer to start applying for external roles. I wasn’t managed out but I had a scenario where I was treated terribly, so much so that they gave me a significant pay rise - it just appeared. It wasn’t enough to keep me and I found a new job within weeks. Take everything you’ve learnt and go into your job search with fire in your belly, is my advice. Good luck.

This scenario happened to me when I was in a year long mat cover contract. I think it’s also easier to blame the short term contract person for any company issues rather than looking closely at themselves as a company. It was upsetting, but the only way to get through it is take the hint and stop asking about your prospects and roles at existing company , work on your handover document and put all your efforts into applying for jobs elsewhere.

Thank you. I have a new job already - I've been very fortunate. It's more the emotional fallout I'm struggling with.

Oh sorry I should have read your OP properly. How much longer have you got ? I would try to emotionally detach, act like you’re a consultant giving them helpful advice. The nice people will survive without you and so will the company. Just try to give it less energy, focus on stuff outside of work. It’s not you - you already have a new role to go to, so you don’t need their management approbation.

This isn't really being "managed out". This is all normal and fairly standard at the end of a short term contract.
I've been both the contractor and on the employer/leadership side using contractors.
It is not personal and you have to try to change your mindset and reframe it as you've successfully completed a contract - and well done on having something else lined up.

From their perspective, you were hired to cover a fixed period of time and now that's coming to an end, of course they are going to ask what work you've been doing and/or meetings you have been having etc - it's a handover period.

On the recruitment side, many, if not most, employers will favour promoting existing permanent staff over external and contract staff. It's good for workforce planning/progression and staff morale - although obviously less nice for the contractor.
(Additionally if the contractor came through an agency, it is more expensive to appoint the contractor because recruitment fees would normally be due to the agency.)

Finish out your current role with pride and look forward to new experiences in your next one.

Thank you. I ought to explain - I've done lots of handovers and I'm just as keen for them to know what I've been up to, so that they can build on it, as they are. It's just that the tone became very strange - as if they thought I was hiding things from them. I definitely need to detach and I appreciate the reminder to do that.

Possibly they are feeling a bit awkward about the fact that you are leaving and now it's imminent, timescale-wise. They're having to detach from you as much as you need to from them.

Contract work is hard in that, you need to be able to quickly fit in really well in order to "hit the ground running" (terrible phrase, sorry), but not get so emotionally invested that it is hard to leave at the end of it. But you wouldn't be human if you felt nothing at the end of a successful contract.

Get something lined up away from work for the day after your last day, like a meal out or a little day outing so that you have something to look forward to as a little personal reward to yourself.

Hope all goes well for your next role.

I think be happy for the contract you have and be grateful you are leaving before situation turns sour which could leave you feeling bitter and resentful, especially if it is not down to performance. It happens all the time and it sounds like you will fall on your feet which will help you move on.

I’m in this position and I am literally hanging on to my sanity by a thread; ever day is a constant feeling of mistrust, questioning everything I do and covering my back
i really love my job until now, I know I can force myself through the PIP but I’m beginning to explore other options
im not sure I can live like this, it’s ruining my life

For those who have suddenly been put on a PIP, if you have relevant documentation that you’re being unfairly picked on and that your work is good can I please recommend that you reach out to an employment lawyer for a chat. They’ll tell you if there’s valid case for settlement (or other options).

Yes, I need to adjust my perspective and to let go. Thank you, everyone. I am too attached. Bittertwisted, your situation sounds awful, I'm so sorry.

Congratulations on your new role - just focus on that now, and 6 months down the line you won’t be giving this current role, which was always a short term one - a second thought. You can always stay in touch with any friends you’ve made there.

you need to somehow make yourslef an essential part of the team even if it means cozzying upto anyone that is essential

Respectfully Op you’re way too invested here. It is pretty clear that you’re doing a mat cover, they think you are Ok in that role (hence may be able to stay on if perm person gets a different job) but they don’t see you in a more senior or even different role. So you aren’t being managed out they just aren’t offering you growth opportunities. And as someone in a short term contract they don’t have to. They simply aren’t doing anything wrong. Sure the ego boost would be nice if they are desperate to keep you but you have a new role so chin up, stay professional and don’t burn any bridges.

If you want to investigate deeper you might want to probe within yourself as to why this is upsetting you. Is it because you’re used to being wanted, are you looking for validation, is this a particularly good organisation/brand where you’d want to stay etc. none of that will change the outcome but may help you in better understanding what motivates you and makes you happy.