My director is creating a toxic work environment.

My director is creating a toxic work environment. She’s unprofessional, micromanages when we don’t me her lacking expectations and she expect us to do all the things and refuses to put processes in place bc she doesn’t want to enable people to pass the hot potato.

I’m a workforce business analyst. One I agreed with, the second I really felt the girl just needed some good training and communication along with the directors expectations. Why do I know or care? Because she told me all the details about these individuals who were my peers. Since she’s fired the second person and I gave me all of her work. Is the number of businesses I own too many? Not necessarily, but she expects us to manage and own things that triple our work efforts. She’s not supporting the automated changes the company has paid handsomely for. And what that looks like is we’re missing deadlines and then she’s upset with us over it. We should have had xyz done. Or this needs to be updated as in two days before her meeting with her leadership. Not realistic. Aside from that I tracked my time to quantify how long it takes the do all the work her way. She says it sucks, but she wants it done this way. Her boss seems to believe her bs bc I have had a skip step with him to try and build the relationship. I don’t want to outright be like she’s a problem. She snaps at people in a team setting when she needs something last minute, everyone on the team is looking for other jobs and now she’s telling my boss she’s going to write her up and she’s been fishing with me and others to find flaws in my boss. My boss uses the automation technology and not the non standard files the director built. I’ve always been told you need to follow your leaders expectations even if they’re wrong, but her expectations are unrealistic and she wants everything done while she bashes technology. I don’t know how to proceed. I don’t want to watch her term my boss. She’s brilliant and has been in the senior planning analyst role for the last 10 years. She moved to management 2 years ago. Everything was fine until our old vp got a promotion. Ever since the director has been off her rocker.

I’m sorry this has been so long. Do I post out? Do I talk to someone else? I want to love my job, but this environment is too much.

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2 Comments

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  1. Claire McCabe

    This sounds absolutely horrible! I'd recommend one of two strategies (perhaps at the same time).

    1. job hunt like your colleagues
    2. with micromanagers, I've found that you need to stay a step ahead of them, and micromanage back. What I mean by this is give her 5 updates for every one she requests, proactively. Copy her on every email. Meet with her more than humanly possible. If she wants it done x way, do it x way. Most of all, diffuse. People like this need to be neutralized, like pouring water over a hot set of coals. If you walk away from the fire, it starts up again.
  2. Anonymous

    This sounds like the 2 leaders are battling with each other and the trickle down to you is becoming unbearable. If you think this is the case and it cannot be fixed your choices are limited.

    Look for work, talk to HR and see if they can provide some relief. If you do talk to HR let them know the information you are getting to get your work done is becoming unclear because you are getting mixed information from 2 different leaders.

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