Difficult Work Supervisor who acts like a Magdalene Sister

cars14

My Work Supervisor is very difficult to deal with. Everyone in the workplace acknowledges that I am good at my job. My work is even described as excellent. Yet my Supervisor gave me a fail grade on all aspects of my performance appraisal.

She wanted me to write on my Performance Appraisal that I think I need to do a Communications Course. This would get me fired as it would be like me saying that I think I can't communicate.

This woman has no friends or life outside work and has worked in the same Department for 30 years and only got one promotion. I don't go for lunch with her and I think this annoys her.

She is a poor verbal communicator herself and her advice in my Performance Appraisal is odd. She asked me to say please and thanks in all my emails despite not doing so herself. She asked me to use the 'Burger Method' of Communication in my emails despite there no such thing.

What do I do?

notharrypotter

cars14 wrote: »

My Work Supervisor is very difficult to deal with. Everyone in the workplace acknowledges that I am good at my job. My work is even described as excellent. Yet my Supervisor gave me a fail grade on all aspects of my performance appraisal.

She wanted me to write on my Performance Appraisal that I think I need to do a Communications Course. This would get me fired as it would be like me saying that I think I can't communicate.

This woman has no friends or life outside work and has worked in the same Department for 30 years and only got one promotion. I don't go for lunch with her and I think this annoys her.

She is a poor verbal communicator herself and her advice in my Performance Appraisal is odd. She asked me to say please and thanks in all my emails despite not doing so herself. She asked me to use the 'Burger Method' of Communication in my emails despite there no such thing.

What do I do?

Google "hamburger technique" of essay writing.

cars14

I am not writing an essay. Most emails being sent involve 'yes' and 'no' answers and don't require 3 paragraphs.

TheQuietFella

That's what happens when companies try to be stylish!!!

cars14

She does not like me as I don't go to lunch with her or socialise with her. I don't go to lunch with her as I think she is too boring and weird. I wouldn't tell her this though. Now, she has given me a fail grade on my Performance Appraisal.

Hannibal_Smith

If your supervisor is saying your communications skills are not adequate and you are saying your emails involve 'yes or 'no' , there is a clear difference of opinion on how you are communicating. You have no certainty that she has taken a dislike to you because you don't go to lunch with her. Don't you have a feedback procedure for when an employee believes a review is unfair?

I don't believe responding to an email with 'yes' or 'no' is the right thing to do. But then again, different work environments have different standards on these things. But If This is a work issue, why not fix it?

cars14

Most of my emails are responses to basic questions such as 'Do you want to go for breakfast now?' . If I was writing a report I would communicate differently. She even said my work was unsatisfactory then allocated me all her work as well as my regular work. The funny thing about this is that I think she is a poor communicator. Also, since I have been allocated all her work as well as my own I haven't time for long emails to simple questions.

fritzelly

Sounds like a "he said, she said". Even your post title shows some disdain for her on top of what you are saying about her.
Just from you posting history something doesn't add up here

cars14

I totally agree it is a "he said, she said" situation. The problem is that I got a Poor Performance Appraisal result on this basis. My work was never mentioned.

fritzelly

cars14 wrote: »

I totally agree it is a "he said, she said" situation. The problem is that I got a Poor Performance Appraisal result on this basis. My work was never mentioned.

With the attitude you are showing to your supervisor on this thread I am inclined to side with her.
Whilst you may think you are doing a great job and your friends in work are saying how great you are it does not equate to actually doing your job well.

Maybe you need a few more years working to realise how life is.

p.s. I don't think I've ever replied to an email with just yes or no in my life even when that is the only response needed - you say it was just emails between friends so why would your supervisor be pulling you up on it

The sum of the parts doesn't tally here I'm afraid

cars14

The emails that I send are basic as the concepts involved are basic. I am communicating in my emails with people that I also go for breakfast with. Why would I want to be very formal in emails to people I know well?

She has allocated all her work to me. If she has no confidence in my ability to do my job why did she allocate all her work to me while I am still expected to do my own work. Where am I supposed to get the time for all this?

fritzelly

cars14 wrote: »

The emails that I send are basic as the concepts involved are basic. I am communicating in my emails with people that I also go for breakfast with. Why would I want to be very formal in emails to people I know well?

Because if these are business emails they should be treated with such courtesy
Familiarity breeds contempt I think would be an appropriate saying here - if you do it with people you know you will likely do it with everyone.

cars14

Most emails I get from co-workers are also short and to the point. Why should my emails be any different?

fritzelly

cars14 wrote: »

Most emails I get from co-workers are also short and to the point. Why should my emails be any different?

Maybe you should go to the HR department and ask why she is picking on you
You have shown scant regard for anyone that suffered under the laundries, it's obvious you don't like her and then come on to a forum to have a tirade about how sad a life she leads even tho you know nothing about her personal life.

cars14

Actually, a family member was in a Magdalene Laundry so I find it offensive you say I have scant regard for anyone who suffered in a Magdalene Laundry. This woman tells us all about her personal life and it is boring. This woman was previously head of HR but was removed.

fritzelly

cars14 wrote: »

Actually, a family member was in a Magdalene Laundry so I find it offensive you say I have scant regard for anyone who suffered in a Magdalene Laundry. This woman tells us all about her personal life and it is boring. This woman was previously head of HR but was removed.

So as I inferred no experience but equating some poor woman to some thing you have no experience of.

the_pen_turner

why dont you try upping the comunicating levels and see what happens. explain everything , give loads of details.

cars14

Actually, I grew up hearing loads about the nuns in Magdalene Laundries and this woman just reminded me of those stories. I think I should make my emails more detailed, explaining everything in great depth. I should start spending more time at my emails and less at my work.

Jamiekelly

If I were you i'd go straight to HR and let them know. If she has been removed from being the head of HR then that can only mean she has trouble with dealing with people herself which should at least give you a leg to stand on in making a complaint. If your emails are short and have nothing to do with work or anything work related then it is not really necessary to be formal but if they contain anything even vaguely work related, regardless of length, then it's best to be formal as it's technically a written record related to your companies performance.

fritzelly wrote: »

So as I inferred no experience but equating some poor woman to some thing you have no experience of.

Do you really have nothing better to be doing than posting this kind of nonsense? Stop trying to pick a fight and be difficult just for the sake of it.

cars14

Thanks for that.

the_pen_turner

Jamiekelly wrote: »

If I were you i'd go straight to HR and let them know. If she has been removed from being the head of HR then that can only mean she has trouble with dealing with people herself which should at least give you a leg to stand on in making a complaint. If your emails are short and have nothing to do with work or anything work related then it is not really necessary to be formal but if they contain anything even vaguely work related, regardless of length, then it's best to be formal as it's technically a written record related to your companies performance.



Do you really have nothing better to be doing than posting this kind of nonsense? Stop trying to pick a fight and be difficult just for the sake of it.

whats the best way to formally respond to a colege asking do you want to go for breakfast.

dear mary .
i would like to accept you kind invitation to partake in breakfast in our canteen.
i will be there at 10. 05 am.
yours sencerily
your collegue car14.

fritzelly

the_pen_turner wrote: »

whats the best way to formally respond to a colege asking do you want to go for breakfast.

dear mary .
i would like to accept you kind invitation to partake in breakfast in our canteen.
i will be there at 10. 05 am.
yours sencerily
your collegue car14.

Ohh I don't know, maybe the supervisor doesn't like the employees spending all their time at work organising their social life. But I highly doubt that is what she is pulling him up on. Lead manager in department sends email have you done such and such yet, OP responds "yeah". Normal people in business environment say Hi John, sure yeah that's been done now any problems just let me know...

Jamiekelly wrote: »

Do you really have nothing better to be doing than posting this kind of nonsense? Stop trying to pick a fight and be difficult just for the sake of it.

Yes I do, but take exception to someone equating a boss they don't like to people who abused children

the_pen_turner

i agree its wierd to email about breakfast.
just go on the time . why ask anyone else about it

Hannibal_Smith

cars14 wrote: »

Most of my emails are responses to basic questions such as 'Do you want to go for breakfast now?' . If I was writing a report I would communicate differently. She even said my work was unsatisfactory then allocated me all her work as well as my regular work. The funny thing about this is that I think she is a poor communicator. Also, since I have been allocated all her work as well as my own I haven't time for long emails to simple questions.

Again, do you not have a procedure for this in work? If some one is passing all their work on to you, it's 2018, you can go to her manager, no?

Why are you getting emails asking if you're going for breakfast? Is it only those emails that get a one word response from you?

cars14 wrote: »

I totally agree it is a "he said, she said" situation. The problem is that I got a Poor Performance Appraisal result on this basis. My work was never mentioned.

How can you have a work appraisal that doesn't mention your work?

The supervisor is there 30 years, think about that all though you here all sorts of stories if she really was rubbish at her job she would be not be there 30 years. The Magdalen sisters allusion is also very dramatic and silly.

The way to solve this is by being professional.

jimmycrackcorm

mariaalice wrote:

The supervisor is there 30 years, think about that all though you here all sorts of stories if she really was rubbish at her job she would be not be there 30 years.

Perhaps the op works in the civil service. Also the supervisor has apparently only been promoted once in thirty years.