Wanted to clarify if this is bullying or internal politics?

31 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 10,2024 at 2:09PM UTC

   It is possibly both. If the other person is faster and an audit approaches, they may choose the quickest way to the end game. Can you ask the other person if you can assist her since you have similar expertise? At least that way, you can keep your skills sharp and may speed up the process. You may even learn a few things from her that can help you to improve your speed in completing the tasks. There's now a new phenomenon of "quiet firing," similar to "quiet quitting," where the company gives you grunt work or tasks they know you won't want to do to get you to quit. This saves them from having to take the hit on their UI insurance if they choose to let you go or lay you off. It's a form of bullying, but it also may be your internal politics.

2. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 1:51PM UTC

   Help me understand how anything about this situation is bullying. Such an overused word, it’s exhausting.

3. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 8:00PM UTC

   Maybe not the right kind of word. But I got told I wasn’t meeting my chargeable hours. I had explained to management my family’s situation and that my Mum was actually quite ill when I came back from leave. No one’s prepared for health issues. My manager told me; that’s for you to deal with, I am just telling you as part of my job. No empathy about it in any way. The lack of understanding felt like bullying at the time. Now it feels more like patronising as I have in fact been demoted in my role. My team members say I do a better job at the administrative tasks then what I am specialised in. Not sure if that’s bullying or tongue-in-cheek way of being snarky? So you tell me.

4. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 9:01PM UTC

   Nope. Not bullying but don't get hung up on the names. You have been demoted and unfortunately there isn't room to move back up.

   So be grateful for a job and start your job search. I'm sorry this has happened.

5. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 11:28PM UTC

   Thank you. I am grateful for it despite the job market at the moment. Just a worrying situation when you are demoted and the risk of being pushed down even lower continues to loom. How do I still demonstrate my skills are ongoing and useful on my resume in this instance?

6. AnonymousNovember 12,2024 at 4:07PM UTC

   I said it is a form of bullying because it is continued and repetitive mistreatment (assigning tasks below the JD or not covered in the JD) and refusing to give tasks that the person was hired to do by someone in a position of power.

7. AnonymousNovember 10,2024 at 6:13PM UTC

   It’s called quiet firing. Get your resume updated and get out as soon as you can. If you had a more senior role then it changed with no explanation they are using this to get you to quit. And if not, they will find a way to let you go. Do the job, the best you can, but apply to other jobs and get out.

8. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 3:21AM UTC

   There is definitely something going on but I wouldn't call it bullying which is a very overused word.

   Instead of trying to categorize the actions I would begin to document the various projects being routed ro the other colleagues. Don't get too stuck on the number of years of experience you have. That's a rabbit hole you don't want to visit and can be a shallow argument. In stead you mention that this other person is "quicker" than you and has offered improvements to process. Perhaps there is something there that gave them a edged. Is there a way to offer improvement and show a your leadership your contribution in improvements?

9. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 7:57PM UTC

   That’s the thing. I had been on a project to improve incoming applications and worked with management on it. They used my ideas and then booted me out of the project when I raised concerns that weren’t being accounted for. When I have tried to provide contributions to other aspects of the system, I’ve been rebooted and it’s been handed over to the said staff member. At the risk of not coming across as desperate, I then let it go.

10. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 8:56PM UTC

    Sounds like they may not want your involvement.

11. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 11:27PM UTC

    I figured…it’s funny though because if the other people raise the same issue as me, it’s accepted from them? So, I am really stumped about what I am failing to convey?

12. AnonymousNovember 12,2024 at 3:14AM UTC

    It's nothing you are or are not doing. They have made the decision you are not on the same level. They no longer see your value.

13. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 1:55PM UTC

    Despite your experience, there’s someone else in the office that is quicker & more efficient at completing work. Your employer is reducing your workload and starting the process to manage you out of the role. They’ve been very clear in communicating that your tenure doesn’t override this colleague’s efficiency & process improvement contributions.

    I’m sorry this is happening but the writing is on the wall. Give yourself a set time to agonize about this and then start to take steps to find another job. It’s unlikely this will improve.

14. GirlBossanova934974November 11,2024 at 2:31PM UTC

    This is just old dirty office politics. Rather plain vanilla dirty office politics at that. This type of nonsense comes in 2 flavors of vanilla. Flavor A is when management takes away all the resources you need to do your job. I have had that happen to me in the last 4 years. Flavor B is when management reassigns your job to other people without notifying you. In either case, they are trying to get rid HOPING HOPING HOPING you will quit or leave so they don't get hit with an unemployment claim which will increase their taxes next year. No need to get upset. You have a great CV and/or resume. I would be interviewing with other companies and be done with these folks. Life is far too short to be bothered with Plain Vanilla Dirty Office Politics. This seems to be a problem more and more. We have had a lot of people promoted into management ranks in the last few years who really ARE NOT MANAGEMENT MATERIAL. A lot of them slid under the door.

15. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 4:24PM UTC

    This happened to me and ironically, after my annual leave. I returned to find a very different situation than I left. Work was reassigned, staff was holding me at arms length and the VP was distant.. I continued to fight for a few months, but eventually was put on a PIP and let go. I made the mistake of thinking that if I worked even harder than I would save my job. Looking back I should’ve used that time to find a new one. They are already, decided their plans. Use this time while you still have a paycheck to brush up your résumé and job search. Wishing you all the best and hope you land in the place where your skills are valued.

16. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 4:55PM UTC

    Don't bring your emotions into the workplace because it is very likely that it is showing and the defeatist attitude of being a victim will show to her. Instead try to take control of the work that you want to do and go reach for it. If you cannot do this and feel truly defeated it's time to find another place to work because this place no longer suits you. If you do decide to make a move then the best idea is to tell prospective employers that the reason you are making a move is there are no new challenges after being there for 7 years, and no upward mobility. Don't bash or badmouth the place you want to leave and don't whine about the lack of interesting work, simply put you have just outgrown it. Good luck.

17. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 9:17PM UTC

    This is old fashioned non-verbal communication. You are being "told" that they want you away from projects and in an admin role. Regardless of all your years experience, the team prefers the other colleague in the project role. These things are never based on years of experience but more of a team dynamic and unfortunately you are not their pick. It has not to do with bullying. It's just the wa6 things work out sometimes.

    I'm very happy that, for now, you still have a job. Just use this time wisely.

18. AnonymousNovember 11,2024 at 11:30PM UTC

    Thank you everyone on here for the support and the blunt and bare truthbombs. I am grateful even if demoted. In order to move on, I kind of just need to understand how to show this on my resume now. Thank you all for your input, truly appreciate it.

19. AnonymousNovember 12,2024 at 8:14PM UTC

    No one knows you were demoted but you. And from what I read, you have not been demoted officially. Truth bombs are bold but we are trying to alert you the sirens are going off and it's time to get out as soon as you can. You have a title that deserves to be recognized by another company and if they ask why you are seeking to leave, you are no longer working at the capacity you have been and know you're capable and the company may possibly have lay offs.

20. Tami L CannizzaroNovember 13,2024 at 2:21PM UTC

    Another way to phrase the "why are you leaving/seeking new employment" question: "I've enjoyed my time at XYZ where I've helped the company do (insert some achievement here); now I'm ready for a change". Period.

21. AnonymousNovember 12,2024 at 4:10AM UTC

    For your resume, you can always cite your achievements under your official title if it is Senior Officer. If you want, you can put in parenthesis a title that more fully explains your capabilities or reverse the two - i.e. Senior Officer (aka Project Manager) or Project Manager (known internally as Senior Officer).

    Be sure to indicate the advantage to a prospective employer of your efforts: i.e. Increased revenue by (give numbers), increased efficiency (by give numbers), Increased customers by (give numbers), etc. It is usually best to start with the lead - the numbers in the bullet.

    To get more ideas, Andy LaCivita has free videos and articles that can give you some good ideas - much better said than the above.

    Wishing you the best in finding a job where you truly can thrive.

22. AnonymousNovember 12,2024 at 1:53PM UTC

    Just leave off the admin duties on your resume and focus on what you achieved prior to leave. But you have to start looking for something else.

23. AnonymousNovember 13,2024 at 1:21PM UTC

    It sounds like they are quiet firing you. I had something similar - my director decided he no longer liked me and started slowly removing things from my plate until the point right before I left, that I had only the most basic responsibilities. This also allowed him to recategorize my position to a lower lever (and lower paycheck).

    As everyone else is mentioning - skip the lower level items on your resume and start looking asap so you aren't screwed later.

    You will probably be told, like I was, that you are overreacting, that it's not what it seems and ever other excuse on the book. But make your plan to leave before you get stuck.

24. AnonymousNovember 13,2024 at 4:40PM UTC

    She’s right, they are quiet firing you. So do you let them break up with you first or do you say goodbye first?

    My 2 cents: find another job then leave. Being employed or in a relationship where you aren’t valued is no good. You deserve better.

    Take the high road.

25. AnonymousNovember 13,2024 at 4:54PM UTC

    I too was quiet fired after 3 years and was told I was overreacting when I pointed out that I noticed a shift in what was coming my way. Four days after my 3 year anniversary celebration, at my one on one with direct report, was met with HR joining our meeting, and I immediately stated I guess I wasn't overreacting. HR took a deep breath and proceeded in telling me what a great person I was but that my work scope could not justify continuing my position as full-time position, offered a generous severance and during the meeting disconnected my access to company and that was the end of my connection with this company. I was glad I saw the signs and was prepared for this. Go with your gut.

26. Deb Shephard MoynihanNovember 13,2024 at 1:53PM UTC

    Be quicker.

    Be more forthcoming.

    You stated that this is the gap between you and the other senior officer. Close it. Meet that other person's standards and than exceed them.

    It's possible they didn't notice a seismic shift during your absence.

    This is a harsh response but you laid out the difference between you and your peer. Excel at what you do and look to be better than your competition.

    The work will come back when you do.

27. Sir John McPoopington XVII JrNovember 13,2024 at 4:22PM UTC

    Yeah! Screw mental health! Just work harder! Are you dying? Just breathe more!

    Honestly this arrogant horse shit disguised as “frank advice” can die in a fire

28. Sir John McPoopington XVII JrNovember 13,2024 at 4:24PM UTC

    Not sure where you live but where I am that’s pretty much a textbook constructive dismissal play. It’s super hard to prove and I’ve worked alongside other managers who’ve literally done this to get people out they don’t want. If you want to stay there, you may want to mention that you feel like you’re on the receiving end of constructive dismissal; most managers will cave to avoid the headache of a tribunal. But to be honest if they’re doing all this and not being transparent with you that’s a red flag to run for your life. If they don’t get you with this it’ll just be something else. Best of luck.

29. AnonymousNovember 14,2024 at 2:34PM UTC

    Sounds to me like it's time to leave

30. AnonymousNovember 14,2024 at 4:51PM UTC

    I see absolutely nothing in your post that indicates bullying. Perhaps they are trying to drive you out, but this is not bullying.

31. KimplanetstlNovember 14,2024 at 7:28PM UTC

    Just my two cents. I've also been working a long time and I'm miles beyond burned out. If they haven't cut your pay, just take the easier workload. Same pay, less work. Good for you.

    But if it really bothers you, like I said I really don't care anymore, look into moving on. No harm in looking. Then if you decide to stay, it's your decision, not theirs.