Following a recent re-structure, my title was altered from Business Consultant to Project Manager however I received no letter advising me of the change, no pay rise and no letter advising me who my new manager was to be. I found the information via the online company phone-book. I was subsequently told that my new boss is temporary and they were looking externally to fill the role (the role has not been advertised on the Intranet).

My new boss has not met with me to review any of my tasks and only communicates via eamil as he is too busy. He also sent out an email stating that a few of us were inadvertently left off the org chart when the re-structure occured.


Doe his obvious disregard for others consititue harrassement?

Northwind_Dagas

Harassment? No I don't think so, for that would be more personal, and I believe you just happen to be in the middle of a restructuring. Are you the only one (or in a very small group) of people having to deal with these changes? I have yet to see a restructure that was 100% smooth without any confusion, problems, or mistakes. If you boss is deliberately trying to give you grief, that's one thing. But if he's busy as you said, that's just the fact of the matter and is not harassment.

Furthermore, you said promotion, yet you admit you don't know where you fall on the org chart. It might very easily have been a lateral move and not a promotion without pay.

RubyPitbull

No. It constitutes a restructuring of an organization. You may be annoyed, but what you are describing is hardly harrassment. Restructuring usually means job cuts and a lot of people out on the street. You are lucky. You still have a job.

They obviously are trying to work out the kinks. When a restructure happens there are a lot of decisions to made. It can take weeks, usually months. Stuff like this doesn't get resolved overnight. Your new boss knows that he is temporary in that spot. What are his responsibilties? Maybe too much has been thrown into his lap and he is spread too thin, trying to juggle it all until they find someone permanent to be your boss.

If you are unhappy and are uncomfortable with what is happening, dust off your resume and start looking for a new job. But, that is the only legal recourse you have at the moment.

Fr_Chuck

no it is not harrassment, it may show a very poorly managed company, it may show a new boss that was also not told what he was over.

and it is commom to "give titles" but even leave duties the same and to give the titles instead of rases.

Now if the only people they left out of the loop were all black, or if they were all some protected minority while every other person changed was not that minority, that may be a discrimination.

Now if they called you up and laughed at you about no raise that could be harrassment

I guess I have to ask why you even thought it was, are you looking for something to try and sue your company for ? I guess when stupid things happen at my work, the last thing I think of is harrassment or discrimination.

ScottGem

You've gotten good answers, but I too, have to wonder just why you even thought this might be harassment. I suspect something else is going on.

gwalker

The re-structure affects a large number of people (approx 150) however only a small number (approx 10) were left off org chart. For those of us that were left off the org chart, a small org chart was drawn up to show who we report but the orginal chart was not updated.

The feeling at the moment is one of uncertainty and fear. And management are unapproachable. My only recourse is avoidance and keeping low profile. Although I am a permanent in the organinsation, the management stye is management by fear and no questions get asked. The company is very big on negative feedback and criticism.

Northwind_Dagas

Unless you have reason to believe you were intentionally left off the org chart, I still don't think it is harassment. And the style of management also does not necessarily constitute harassment. There are plenty of crappy places to work that are not harassing their employees. If it is not a good atmosphere for you, take RubyPitbull's advice and dust off your resume.

RubyPitbull

I used to work at a company like that years ago. No one should have to live in fear and uncertainty. I hated it. It frustrated me terribly. I chose to leave.

I don't know if avoidance and keeping a low profile will serve you well here. You may be right and there is some underlying reason why you and others were left off the chart. If you want to keep your job, you need to try to ignore this restructuring and leave no doubt in anyone's mind that you are doing your job. If you can manage to plow through, the end result may be something that works to your benefit. If you just can't take it, you really do need to start looking around now. The last thing you want is to find yourself out of work. You are more marketable with a job.

gwalker

I dusted my resume and was offered another role which I accepted. The role is paying more money however my reason for leaving was the crappy management. I have always mananged for find new roles (I received 3 offers on the one day which is not unusual for me) but I suppose I was wanting to settle down and not move on. I get tired of packing my bags and moving onto the next company.

Perhaps in the IT industry, the word 'permanent' has lost its meaning. I have aqcuired a lot of skills over time which are in demand and I always get pay rises when I move on. Who knows ,maybe this be my final move and I will spend many happy years with the new company. Thank you all for your advice.

Northwind_Dagas

IT--why didn't you say so! You will ALWAYS be paid more at a new position than you will expect to get from raises. It's kind of funny how companies will pay to hire talented people, but don't pay to keep their current staff who have increased their skillsets.

I'm in IT as well, and with only one exception, my biggest raises have come from changing companies. Nature of the beast.

Congrats on the new position though.