What to do?

radioactiveman

Hi,
Had a bit of a bad experience at work today, after months of working on a project I was told in an email that my work was a complete mess and that somebody else should start a new project to fix what I had done.

I had to avoid responding to the email for about 3 hours to stop myself from lashing out in a response (then I sent a good professional response I have had to bring work home for ages and I've been really tired from trying to finish it (like working until 11 at night).

This is a project that was originally sidelined deliberately for a year because of the difficulty of it. Today it was one of the two people that sidelined it that was criticising. I was assigned the work without knowing the extent of it.

What is the best way to deal with this? I don't want to seem whingy by making a complaint but I think I need to do something about this. The work is not being shared equally.

I just feel so humiliated at work.. I work in a team of about 30 people, I'm the only one at a lower pay grade, apart from 4 or 5 people who just started last month (I'm on the same level as they are after 7 years).

I work incredibly hard but nobody is interested in what I do, interesting and actually easier projects are given to senior staff so it's hard to "get a chance" if you know what I mean..

I am just completely overworked with responsibility after responsibility being heaped on me - but for my manager it's just a joke, like he has figured out that I'm not happy there, but just that he has to have a contigency plan if I leave... apart from that he couldn't care less.

How should I deal with this? I would love to move but can't due to family commitments?:(

Taltos

If you have already responded there is not much more I can advise here.

Big thing first is to CYA.
Talk to the project sponsor - get their feedback.
Talk to your manager - ask for their feedback as well on the project. Also talk to your manager about the mail - see how they would have responded - this way when you get another - and I am certain you will you can respond in a way they will be happy with.
Finally - go talk to the guy that sent the mail - not aggressively - just ask them face to face what is going on....

Whatever else you are doing - make sure that you keep sending regular updates on the progress of the project to the plan - including risks, issues etc. Sometimes just keeping a steady flow of focussed communication can head these things off. The only thing I would caution is do talk to these groups soon - as what might be happening here is someone elsewhere may be aware of changes to what is needed that has not been communicated clearly to you as you are so tied up in the project; OR this person might just want to flag how great they are and take credit for the work you have done...
Also - be sure that you document calls for extra resources - it is OK to ask for help.

This might just be a simple case of jealousy...
Just one thing - stay professional - keep smiling even if inside you are feeling anything but happy.

radioactiveman

Hi,
Sorted it out. Just sent an email in the end stating the facts because it just wasn't good enough on their part.. Was anxious to make sure that the true version of events was put forward because otherwise it might have looked like I was being sloppy which wasn't accurate at all.

danslevent

The advice above is really good OP.

In respect to how you feel at work, maybe try asking yur managers what they think you should be doing to improve your work at work. Just ask them what they think you are doing wrong and how you can improve. Having a job in this economic climate is a blessing and you don't want to have to leave, either forced by your own discomfort or by firing.