Manager trying to make me look incompetent!

[Laura4363]

Hi, I'm having a problem at work with a guy who is my manager's manager.  For some reason he is trying to make me look like I can't do my job properly, in fact he's been doing this on and off for a while.  Since the arrival of my new manager last month it's got much worse. There have been 3 instances that I know of this month alone!  Today I was absolutely stunned when during a telephone conference with one of the company directors (at which I was present), he blamed me for a report being delivered late because "Laura turned up late today" - in fact my boss had given me permission to come in at 9am instead of 8:30 as I had an important appointment, and the information for the report isn't available until 10am anyway. Apparently he had promised the director it would be delivered by 9am without checking if this were possible. I had words with him afterwards and told him I thought what he'd said was unfair, but he just said I shouldn't take it personally and he hadn't really blamed me!  I'm finding it hard to know what to do as I don't want to lose my temper - I'm under a lot of stress in my personal life at the moment and I'm finding it hard to deal with.  Sorry to go on - in fact there's a lot more but I think that's probably enough to be going on with!  Any advice would be very gratefully received!

[andy hughes]

Hi Laura,

Sorry you are having such a rough time, when you least need it! If you are in a large company, approach your Personel Department for some in-confidence advice, and approach your Trade Union as well. If you are not a Union member, join now - you need some proper advice and protection, you do not have to put up with this kind of nonsense.

Approached in the right way, with the proper backing, this situation can be sorted out, so make sure you log any instances of this harrassment - and that is what this is - and inform the aforementioned people who can help you.

Hang in there - you can get this sorted.

Good luck.

[joko]

Hi Laura,

I have had this kind of thing too - you must make sure that explain there and then to whoever he is lying to, the real situation - don't get angry or high-pitched, just say calmly and nicely almost sympathetically something like "oh actually, I can see where the misunderstanding is here (so as not to get his back up by making him look like a deliberate liar) if only you'd checked with me first...' and explain, if you say it like its just an informal chat no-one will see it as defensive or trying to get out of a hole - at least your boss will realise all is not as he claimed.

good luck

eventually the boss may spot a pattern and realise for themself what the other person is doing. don't let this man talk over you and make sure everyone knows the truth - nicely.

[Octavius]

Laura, maybe your personal circumstances are making you seem incompetent because your mind is elsewhere and you are blaming the people around you for your own dilemma.

I would suggest taking a step back and looking at things in perspective.  Start with your personal probs (don't take those to work) sot those out and then start on the HR department as above.

[PinkDD]

Hi Laura, Please do something about this situation, in addition to the advice already given, ask your local Citizeans Advice Beauro for assistance, and via your doctor ask for some councilling - I only suggest this as I too was in a similiar (in fact worse) situation which only ended when I was signed off work for 4 months last year, and it was a complete shock for everyone at my work (and too me) as I didn't know I was suffering from severe stress + depression.  Don't let it go without help believe me, you will get through this If I can you can! after all it's good to talk! and with a trained advisor you can get everything that's tangled up in your head straighten out!  Good Luck! :0) p.s. I got a new boss out of my situation and everythings on the up and up although it's taken 6 - 9 months to sort out.  My old boss was "made redundent". x DDPink