Line Manager Isses

[Jayne-123]

I recently had an argument with my line manager after I came to work to find out she had totally re-organised my desk, moved my computer and threw out things she shouldn't. She told her manager I had sworn and shouted at her which is totally untrue and I have a witness to support this. My question is should I take out a grievance against her with HR as I feel my integrity and professionalism has been contravened.

[woofgang]

What has happened after the argument?

[ukbod2015]

Yes especially if you can prove you didn't swear her whole argument falls apart.

[Jayne-123]

My line manager's manager looks unsure how to resolve our differences so is going to HR for advice, but I feel I need to get independent advice.

[bednobs]

well in all honesty, it's not very professional of you to have an argument with her is it? If the desk and contents belong to your employer, they have every right to re-arrange them how they see fit!

[Jayne-123]

The contents and desk do NOT belong to my employer, I work for a large company

[ladyalex]

They may have a right to do these things, bednobs, though I am not totally sure about this....employees also have some rights to privacy in their workplace....but a reasonable person does not go into someone's desk , throw things out and rearrange things while they are away.
If rearrangements etc are thought to be necessary a reasonable manager would do it with the person or ask them to do it themselves under supervision if necessary.

[bednobs]

you take your own desk in?? you take your own stationery in??

[Jayne-123]

Or should I say do not belong to my Line Manager

[meglet]

Had she previously made you aware that she was unhappy with personal items on your desk and asked you to remove them?

[Jayne-123]

No, I feel she could have had the courtesy to say she would re-arrange things (it was perfectly tidy) throw important stuff away, move computer, sorry I just find this very rude without discussing this with me, after all who works at the desk, her or me?

[woofgang]

in the NHS, the desk belongs to the organisation and the line manager has the right to access it at any time, however it would be considered bad management to do so without a good reason. The manager may not own the desk and contents but they would certainly be responsible for ensuring that the desk and contents met any company policies regarding tidiness and health and safety. This is usually done by discussion with the employee but if this has failed then it would be up to them to take action.
The important stuff she threw away, was it important to you or to the company?

[Jayne-123]

The book she threw away which I found in the bin before it was emptied was important, she should have asked me before chucking it, she has only been in the company since April. The desk was re-organised not to satisfy tidiness issues or H&S issued but how she felt it should look without asking me and the waiting until I went home before she did the job. How would anyone like this?

[Jayne-123]

Meglet: there wasn't any personal items on my desk.

[ladyalex]

I think the issue is that it was done apparently without discussion rather than what was thrown out or what belongs to whom.
It is poor management practice to go through someone's desk in their absence. and anyone who does this should expect the individual concerned to be very angry.
Only really very serious concerns about an employee would be a good enough reason for rifling through their desk......theft for example or breach of confidentiality....and even then it would be far better to do any searching or whatever in their presence rather than their absence.

[Jayne-123]

Thank you, you are right, just plain rude to move everything without prior discussion or any kind of consultation.

[ladyalex]

If it were me that this had happened to, I would try to stay calm (at least in the office) and make a formal complaint.

[meglet]

I would be really miffed too. She should have discussed it with you first, she doesn't appear to have very good management skills.

If you can get passed it, let it go. But if not, write out your grievance in very unemotional and factual terms. The point is to stay calm or it might be assumed you are just being petty.

[Hypognosis]

Your boss may be threatened by your current liklihood of progressing up the ranks and their only line of defence is to ensure you gain the complainer/ troublemaker tag by tricking you into launching formal complaint procedures over an issue which is sufficiently annoying to motivate you to do so yet, ultimately, something trivial.

Things on the same level as race discrimination, sexual harrassment and so on need proper resolution and will not mark you down as one who complains unjustifiably.

If your work efficiency has been harmed (the book was reference material you need in order to perform your functions, say) then I think that justifies a complaint. *

If your work efficiency is unchanged then your case would be weaker, metely one of intrusion on "personal space" and, frankly, the company would regard it as their property, run under their rules. Get these clarified before you start anything which might show you up as ignorant of these rules.

If your work efficiency is improved, because the book was completely unrelated to work and other rearrangements also helped then, obviously, do not go ahead with the complaint: the boss will be getting 'brownie points' out of the situation.


* Showing up your boss, particularly a bad case of being so under-worked that they have time to tidy a desk - a task which could easily be ordered (delegated) later - will, naturally, have permanent and mildly corrosive effects on the team dynamic. If this harms the company's bottom line, ultimately it harms the prospects for you and your colleagues.

I am over-thinking, here, so you don't have to. Simply strike a healthy balance between being a doormat and asserting yourself but not so much so that you damage your employer's profit margin.

[ladyalex]

I think the corrosion has already set in, Hypognosis.

[Hypognosis]

@ladyalex

Yes. We will know that the recession is over when people feel the confidence to quit hateful work situations, in favour of a better life elsewhere.