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Uncertainty at work
My manager is a decade younger than I am, and she was promoted over me even though I have more experience. Earlier this year, I was furloughed due to covid impact on economy/business for three months. After my furlough ended, I went back to work. I noticed that my manager hasn't returned some of my old tasks to me and kept them to herself. I thought that was a bit odd in spite I did a great job doing those tasks in the past. I wonder if my manager is trying to get me to quit my job due to lack of workload?
Jackie Ruka
ProfessionalHappyologist Thrive in your purpose.
2.07k
09/20/20 at 4:38PM UTC
Uncertainty at work becomes uncertainty with self. You are more than capable. Overthinking is deadly to our confidence and self esteem. Stop overthinking and start writing out your dream position. And begin to attract what you do want not what you don’t want. Hanging on to crumbs leaves you depleted and thinking in scarcity. Start networking, get in LinkedIn and see the opportunities out there. You can change your life for the better, step out of your comfort zone and don’t allow a crumbling , misguided organization determine your destiny. You are bigger than that! Do what makes you happy. Communicate, speak up and in the meantime make moves that work for you while you are employed. It’s easier to get a new job while you have the crappy one you have now. All the best!
KayOllieInnovator, Marketer, adopter of new technology
12
09/18/20 at 3:26PM UTC (Edited)
Though it is easy to see the negative side of a situation, let's flip it. I had a similar experience with a co-worker who wanted the projects I was assigned. When approached by her supervisor I asked to get back to them the following day. Yes, originally I was upset. Then I asked myself "what would I like to do or learn." I returned to the boss with a proposition - "If I can take on some X tasks then I would be happy to give my previous tasks to her." The boss agreed. Now I was going to learn more, become more valuable with this new knowledge, and a better resume. Learning re-energized my work.
Think it through. Is there anything you want to learn now that you may have time?? Then when you go speak with your boss you go with a great attitude to learn even more.
Monica HilgenbergDriver Mentor Coordinator
494
09/18/20 at 2:19PM UTC
It is probably time to schedule a meeting and ask some question. Rather than assume she is less qualified because she is younger maybe get to know her and find out what her vision is for you and your role in the company. If you feel undervalued, underworked, etc then YOU need to speak up. Maybe they can find new projects for you to work on. Also, if they are not backfilling positions then there is no security there. Sounds like they are in cutting costs whereever they can to survive through this. Brush up your resume and see what is out there.
JWFood & Beverage/Business
243
09/19/20 at 12:19AM UTC
I dont think she felt she was less qualified due to age, its just the point of her getting promoted when this person has 10 years with the company. It was someone else involved, but she is feeling like her job is in jeopardy rightly so. She already knows her and talking is probably a waste of time. Your telling her to make nice and brush up her resume in the same paragraph, which I dont think is good advice.
Monica HilgenbergDriver Mentor Coordinator
494
09/21/20 at 12:41PM UTC
Except that it not at all what I said. Never did I say make nice but if you want to see change sometimes you have to make the change. You can't expect to get anywhere by sitting around waiting to be noticed. Secondly, if she is unhappy them move on. Negativity breeds negativity and it will just spread.
Jill SweivenLet's Reach your Greatest Potential Together!
65
09/18/20 at 2:11PM UTC
It sounds like you've been struggling for some time to feel secure in your position. While COVID has really turned things upside down, I would focus on what you can do to add value and work to improve the 1:1 relationship with your Manager. Try to set up a weekly 1:1 where you can ask questions and review both individual assignments and team goals. If you continue to struggle to grow in your position, take time out to start searching for a new position. It's difficult when you have significant years of investment in an organization, but it may be the exact thing for you to move into a more challenging and rewarding position.
JWFood & Beverage/Business
243
09/19/20 at 12:04AM UTC
Trying to talk at this time might just lead to a bad review. I dont think there is any reasoning at this point. Sounds like you see that the writing is on the wall.
Anonymous
09/18/20 at 1:29PM UTC
Having just been laid off, I can't help but feel like the writing is on the wall for you. I would start job hunting so you can exit with a clean plan/well wishes from your remaining coworkers. It sounds like your manager is familiarizing herself with your job tasks to allow her to do them when you are unexpectedly let go. I would be direct and ask why she has taken over XYZ, offer to take them back, and see if that offers any clarity. In the interim, start putting feelings out for new growth opportunities. Sounds like pandemic aside, this isn't a growth opportunity for you anymore. Anytime someone is brought on over you, with less experience, it's a signal to move on if you personally don't want to adjust your own growth/career plans. Thinking of you, these times are hard!
JWFood & Beverage/Business
243
09/18/20 at 1:27PM UTC
I dont believe talking to her, or asking for your work back is going to change the situation. People know what they are doing, its not like she forgot she took a portion of your workload away and forgot to give it back. I would look, while doing what your doing. She wants to have job security, and setting you up to be the next one out. If anything, document it with HR, if there is a safe one that will protect you. A lot of times these things happen on jobs and nothing can be done. If anything, hopefully you can get a better job and boss. A good boss will have a conversation with you, and should be delegating, not taking away, Management 101.
Anonymous
09/20/20 at 2:34PM UTC
That’s exactly what I was thinking . I mean I was the go-to person for those old tasks. My manager knew that so did my other coworkers. When I came back, my coworkers were puzzled that I was no longer doing those things and that my manager had taken them over herself.
B Thompson
122
09/18/20 at 12:39PM UTC
Oh yawn, makes one want to leave all of this behind with Covid19 and find other opportunities. Who needs this stress on top of other stresses.
Motta
133
09/17/20 at 9:02PM UTC
So.... you have same job, less workload, same pay? What's the problem there? xD
Provided you don't get laid off, looks to me like your life just got easier.
Anonymous
09/17/20 at 1:48PM UTC
Thank you so much, everyone, for your insights! You all had great points - it helped me to see things in a positive way. I got to admit it is easy to overthink about things like that especially in the world we live in right now.
Anonymous
09/17/20 at 12:22AM UTC
I am going to be really honest here, and I apologize in advance if I upset you. But - I think that this is a pretty biased post. As someone who is younger than most of the people on my team, and usually the youngest person on the team of any team I've ever been on, I find this disrespectful. I don't think her being younger than you has anything to do with the issues that you are feeling, and I don't think you have given her the opportunity to make things right. Have you had a conversation with your manager to share your feelings? Have you asked proactively for her to give the items back to you? I constantly have to "fight" or work twice as hard as anyone around me to prove that I am a great employee, to be taken seriously, and to be given the opportunity that my peers around me are given. Maybe she doesn't want to overwhelm you? Or maybe she doesn't realize that she is making you feel like she doesn't want to give the work back? I am not sure. But the conversation needs to happen so that you both can work together. I promise if you give her a chance, I'm sure you both can learn how to develop a strong working relationship. I know some of what I said was very blunt, but I am just trying to be honest with you. I really do wish you the best of luck with her. Please keep us posted on how things go!
JWFood & Beverage/Business
243
09/18/20 at 1:38PM UTC
When your not the youngest person on your team is when you will see that age discrimination is very common. The person was promoted to be her boss, and then took her workload away, the direction seems obvious to me. Younger people don't realize that they will be that older employee one day, who has put in their time/work/experience and be replaced in the drop of a hat. Maybe some are outdated, but most likely making more money and know just as much if not more than their boss. Some bosses want young people who don't know as much as they do, so they can feel above and not equal. Sorry if this is blunt too. Its like parenting, you don't really know until you have your own.
Anonymous
09/18/20 at 4:59PM UTC
So it's okay to be biased towards a younger generation because you feel as if they don't realize what commitment, work, and experience is? If you are strictly judging them off of a number, how do you know what they have to offer? I'm very aware of what the "older" people on my team have to offer, and include/collaborate with them, give them credit where it's due, etc. you cannot dismiss younger employees because YOU THINK they do not understand these things, because they do. She needs to have these convos with her manager to create change. If nothing happens as a result, then she should leave a toxic work environment. But to say all young people don't understand is discrimination, which companies can be sued for.... I always try to assume with positive intention. Looking at the glass as if it's half empty certainly never got me anywhere, and I would encourage those who feel like the younger generation is trying to take something away from them, to get to know the younger people. They are just trying to prove themselves to everyone because they are tired of having to fight to be worthy. If everyone collaborated and worked together, what a beautiful team that would be.
larry rogers
12
09/19/20 at 10:06AM UTC
Naive to the corporate mentality much?
JWFood & Beverage/Business
243
09/18/20 at 8:20PM UTC
I didnt say they dont realize what commitment, etc is, some don't care. I'm not generalizing an entire age bracket either, it goes case by case. I also did not say they have nothing to offer, but they haven't put in the time. Also have never heard of someone younger being discriminated against, usually other way around. Make sure you read and understand what is being said, and not changjng the meaning.
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