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Stressful situation unfolding and I'd appreciate your advice. I started a job two months ago and since commencing the role, it's been a toxic environment. While that term is often overused, it's the only way I can describe effective what's transpiring.

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Anonymous

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Stressful situation unfolding and I'd appreciate your advice. I started a job two months ago and since commencing the role, it's been a toxic environment. While that term is often overused, it's the only way I can describe effective what's transpiring.

I've tried repeatedly to make things better and even was able to accomplish a project on my own and received positive feedback from SLT. Anything that requires the director's signoff never gets done. It's permanently stuck in lingo and I've been told this has been the case for the past five years.

I've repeatedly addressed the issue from the stance of how we can make things better instead of complaining and every day more work is piled on me without any budget, support or approval to get it actioned.

My final straw, I'm being scapegoated for projects that he wasn't able to accomplish. He's told SLT that I'm responsible for these huge milestones and events but he refuses to approve or provide a budget to action them.

The other team members don't do their work and rarely show up in the office giving up trying to deal with his requests and whims. I've tried banding the group together to get things accomplished and they don't want to take part even trying to rectify the situation.

Our HR team doesn't handle employment issues so I don't have anyone else to address the problems. I'm scared to leave but more so of what will happen to me if I stay.

If I leave, since it was for such a short period of time, should I remove from my resume and especially since I won't be able to get a reference? I'd appreciate your advice as I'm so overwhelmed and even when I prioritize projects, he changes them daily. All the work has to halt and then the next day, reverts to last week's project that he said to discontinue but nothing is finalized.

While the others throw out each request, I keep them active so I can continue to revert to the past project on his next whim. Can I do anything to save the situation or is it time to cut the cord? Thank you all as my head is spinning!

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  1. Anonymous

    You won't change how this person operates, and by extension, you won't change how the department functions as long as this person is in this role. You have a few options:

    1- Cut your losses, and don't list the position on your resume. (I would exclude anything less than a year that's not contract work.)

    2-Without appearing to trash talk your boss, you could talk to your co-workers and find out how they have been navigating things and follow suit.

    3-It seems like you have access to SLT. Perhaps it is worth meeting with them to express that you're delighted to have these various growth opportunities (read all of the additional responsibilities that your boss has piled on to you) that you require additional resources to execute these functions, and could they provide support in helping you attain them. This is tricky because it might anger your boss, but it seems like he needs a little encouragement to be more productive.

  2. Anonymous

    Danger Will Robinson! You had me at "Our HR team doesn't handle employment issues." That's like saying, "Our Buyer doesn't purchase anything."

    You won't be happy at that place-the team isn't going to magically start working and the manager is not going to change.

    I'd leave this job off if it's under a year- then you don't have to worry about discussing it. If it's 9 months, I might put it on.

    I'd definitely start looking. Your health is going to take a dive if you stay there, sister.

  3. Anonymous

    This is not a good situation to stay in. You could skip level to speak directly to your boss’s boss, if you feel

    that person is fair. But the HR statement is a huge red flag, and I’d immediate reach out to connections to support you looking for a new job. I spoke about my previous experience in an interview from the perspective of continuity and communication as to why I left. I didn’t throw the company or the old supervisor under the bus, but I explained that it was challenging to land how I still successfully navigated it for the time I was there.

  4. Anonymous

    Thank you and I appreciate your advice! I've been debating if I could stay there and fight or if it's a sinking ship? I don't have a strong relationship with his boss and I have a feeling that if I addressed the situation, I would lose my job. The curse of an at-will company and we're consider under probation for another 4 months.

    What makes it difficult is the lack of jobs in this area, especially in my field. I'm disappointed, as I was so excited to start this job but I go home each night and all I want to do is sleep. Due to my work ours, I'll have to find creative ways to interview during lunch as we're not allowed PTO until we've passed probation. Thank you and I appreciated your feedback!

  5. Sheila Phields

    Cut your losses and remove them from your resume. The writing is on the wall.

  6. Anonymous

    I work from home with my kids and a lot of colleagues do as well even newborns so it can be done but although not easy. The part time job sounds like a good options if you’re able to expand it and you can afford the change. Best wishes with the new baby!

  7. Anonymous

    I often suggest that when taking a new role you assess within 90 days if it really was the right fit. This clearly is not. I would look for new positions and when you are asked about why you are leaving after such a short time I would respond with the leadership doesn't support the work I was hired to do and unbeknownst to me that is why I am the Xth person in this role in less than X time. It's not a fit for me as I am a high achiever and this culture doesn't support that.

    Or if you remove it or leave it on you could say it is contract work until you find something better.

    As for staying and trying to improve things if the highest peak in the SLT doesn't support your trying to improve things it is definitely time to move on.

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