New Job but Consultant Boss is Furious that sis got it

Hannaho

My sis got a job from a HSE Panel - it is a specialist post - she had to have a masters for it, which she has and five years experience, which she has. Very few actually applied for the jobs on the panel, so they had to advertise the posts again saying they didn't need a masters, but had to agree to do one in the post.

Anyway, the Consultant who will ultimately be over my sister is furious and doesn't want her there as she didn't come from the particular specialist panel that she wanted her to come from - she cam from a community panel - but has more qualifications and 10 years more experience than the other candidates, and has loads of expertise in the area which the Consultant is looking for.

However, her new manager rang her today, saying the consultant was furious about my sis's appointment and wanted to meet her before she started. The Consultant provided the manager with two slots next week for my sis to meet with her. My sis explained that next week was her last week in her present post, and that she had loads of work to discuss and handover with her current manager, and it would be very difficult to get any time off to meet her new Consultant. So basically the new manager is not happy as he wants to ensure the Consultant is happy. My sis' old manager is adamant that she can't have time off to meet the new Consultant boss as there is so much work to finish in her old job before the end of the week.

My sis was left with the impression that although she has been appointed to the post and more than met all the criteria, that the Consultant could ultimately get her deployed elsewhere. My sis can't understand the issue since she has more experience and qualifications than the other candidates. What does anyone think is going on here?

My sis has already been really obliging by taking a half days holidays to out and meet the new staff she will be working with and to pick up policies etc.

Also, my sis has holidays booked for Mid-Term and Xmas, and now there is a query whether the new job will let her have them.

She is thinking now of staying in her old job. Any comments/advice really welcome - as my sister is supposed to change jobs in 10 days.

Stheno

Sounds like your sister is between a rock and a hard place tbh, and that it's caused by the HSE not having this consultant on the panel that interviewed

Rather than going into a job where my immediate superior has a dislike for me even before I'd start, I'd stay in an existing job.

Hannaho

Hi! Stheno, thanks for your reply. Can sis actually stay in her own job now that she has signed a contract for the new job. She doesn't want to go now to the new job - she's actually dreading it - and is getting all anxious about it. We are really worried about her, as she's hardly slept the last few nights. Should she just go and tell her new job she is staying - they would be delighted. The salary is about 10k less, but I don't think that would bother her at this stage.

Stheno

Hannaho wrote: »

Hi! Stheno, thanks for your reply. Can sis actually stay in her own job now that she has signed a contract for the new job. She doesn't want to go now to the new job - she's actually dreading it - and is getting all anxious about it. We are really worried about her, as she's hardly slept the last few nights. Should she just go and tell her new job she is staying - they would be delighted. The salary is about 10k less, but I don't think that would bother her at this stage.

She should talk to her current manager about withdrawing her notice, they don't have to accept it, but can.

mathepac

I take it this move is intra-HSE? or should I say inter HSEs now that they have re-morphed themselves into the old Heath Boards.

The politics of power and persona bulldozing organisational requirements and procedures.

No wonder the place is a mess, failing to provide care, meet customer expectations or budgetary constraints. It bleeds talented people of enthusiasm and ambition.

Hannaho

Hi! Mathpac,

Yes, it's inter HSE - it's a truly horrible environment to work in, but my sis doesn't have a choice at the moment.

What would your advice be - for my sanity, we are advising my sis to go back to her much lower paid job in which she is happy in, though perhaps a little bored. Do you think we're right in advising her to go down this path - I don't know if it's possible given the fact that she is starting her new job on the 30th.

Thanks again for your comment - it is so true about the HSE - I work there myself also

SCOOP 64

i think the advice you are giving you sister is right, she hasn't even started and she is already worried about the person she will be working with, if she takes the job and is unhappy with the treatment she may get, she may regret it and her old job would be gone, i would write a latter to the the HSE saying she is turning down the role and why, cant believe she was told, "the consultant was furious" by the manager,what a thing to say to someone who will be working with them, no,tell her to stay were she is ,i know it is less money and boring ,but at least she will be able sleep at night.
something else will come up because she sounds like a smart girl.

mathepac

Hannaho wrote: »

... What would your advice be - for my sanity, we are advising my sis to go back to her much lower paid job in which she is happy in, though perhaps a little bored. ...

I'd find it difficult to offer her any advice. Only she can assess for herself the pain of unfulfilled ambition and financially unrewarded talent by staying where she is (if that's possible) and the daily stress of an unpleasant atmosphere if she takes the new job.

Ask your sister to tell her new manager to have the consultant put his/her pre-appointment requirements in writing stating the reasons for them at this late stage and to write back saying they are new. If she decides not to take the new job she will have to give reasons and a telephone (?) conversation with a 3rd party won't stand up. This is bullying and needs to recognised as such. She needs to speak with her union rep if she has one.

Sorry to hear of her dilemma. I too worked in an old Health Board and the "new" HSE and I can empathise. Sorry to hear nothing that much has changed.

Hannaho

Hi! All

Thanks for replies/advice.

My sis emailed the Director of Nursing - above the manager - as she has the ultimate call - but now the manager's nose will probably be out of joint! She said she had been told that the Consultant was very annoyed that she had been given the job off a different panel and had asked for a meeting with her prior to starting, but that my sis was unable to do this because of her own work schedule.

She just suggested that if there was an issue re the panel she was picked from, that she could ask her old job if it was possible to return to withdraw her notice, and that would leave the new job free to pick someone else from the panel that the Consultant wanted them picked. She asked her to let her know by Monday. My sis, I think in her head, has just decided to go back to her old job - she's also on her own with two children, so doesn't need the hassle. But what a waste of 15 years experience and two masters degrees!

Atlantis50

My advice would be that your sister should absolutely not withdraw from this new job based solely on a manager saying her new boss was "furious" with the appointment.

Your sister is thinking far too negatively.

Why not assume that the consultant's "fury" at a perceived slight by the appointments panel (not your sister whom she hasn't even met) will pass and the two could get along just fine, especially if your sister is as experienced and qualified as you say?

Hannaho

More smoke and mirrors from my sis' new job in HSE!

My sis got an email from Director of Nursing saying the Consultant was out of order, and she, the DON, was responsible for hiring and managing nurses. She welcome my sis to the team, and said the would give my sis a call this am to follow up after she had tried to investigate everything - no call at time of writing.

My sis had emailed the Consultant who was demanding to meet her, and questioning her appoint - my sis emailed her on Friday night outlining her qualifications, experience etc - but no reply from Consultant at time of writing.

My sis texted the ADON who said the Consultant was furious at my sister's appointment, on Friday, but has had no reply from him at time of writing - Monday tea-time.

The old job is willing to have my sis back - but my sis's career aspirations will be down the tube - she is mid forties. My sis like's her old job, but the money is 10k better in new one.

HR suggested my sis ask for a deferral of her starting date in new job, just to get issues sorted out and meet with everyone - she emailed DON re same today, but no reply. Apparently it is only the DON of the new job, and not HR, that can give a deferral.

It's all smoke and mirrors, as usual! Would really welcome some advice for her on what this is now about, and where to go - I'm still telling her to go back to her old job - she can always do an extra day or night a month to make up the salary that she would have lost. Caring professions!!!!

Mrs OBumble

OP, I can't help but wonder if it would be better for you to back off a bit , stop telling your sister what to do, and instead support her to make her own decision: It's a tough decision that she has to make, but ultimately she has to make it not you. Sometimes it's more helpful to listen than to give advice. And it's possible that the whole problem has been caused by someone talking out of turn.