I resent my boss who is no longer up to the job and shirks work. What can I do?
My line manager is clearly no longer up to the job. As his deputy I am taking on an increasing number of his duties as he finds excuse after excuse to dodge the tasks that go with his position. We work at a publishing company and anything to do with technology, in particular, seems to confuse him.
Part of me is pleased to be taking on the extra responsibility – I think it will help with my career development. But I am growing increasingly resentful that he earns so much more than me and does so much less work. He is in his early 60s (I’m in my 30s) and a few years ago I could have simply waited until he retired and then applied for his job. But, as I understand it, he can go on for ever under current employment laws.
I have tried talking to him about our working relationship, but got little response. Should I go above his head? Can anyone is senior management make him take early retirement? I really don’t want to look for another job.
Jeremy says
So much of the unhappiness and frustration experienced by people such as you is the result of management, knowingly, refusing to face up to situations that they are paid, quite explicitly, to deal with. Your line manager must have a direct reporting line to someone in management and it’s inconceivable that they’ve failed to notice the decline in his performance.
It’s not as if such deterioration is unusual. It varies, hugely, of course, but many people in their 60s, particularly when unfamiliar technology begins to invade their working lives, start to lose their confidence. It’s rare for them to face up to this fact and plan for retirement. Instead, and perhaps understandably, they become a little more stubborn and defensive. After 30-plus years of routine, the thought of a life without a job to go to is so dispiriting they try to put it out of their minds altogether.
None of this is of much comfort to you, but it should help you determine how you go about improving your situation. It’s not exactly his fault that your line manager is standing in your way; he’s not doing it maliciously. You’ll gain little if anything from talking to him, and you’ll be seen in a poor light if you’re overtly critical to management.
Instead, I suggest you redirect your resentment to senior management (or HR, if you have such a department) whose clear failure to do their jobs is the real cause of your discontent. With your line manager’s knowledge (and I mean knowledge rather than agreement) you should write a brief, factual account of your increased responsibilities and the pleasure you get from them. Even by inference, avoid saying anything critical about your manager. Say you believe you have now shown your ability to take on, and be rewarded for, a more senior role – and ask for a meeting. They won’t want to lose you, and this should certainly make them begin to face up to a worsening situation they’ve been cravenly ignoring for far too long.
Readers say
• There are few, if any, options other than to continue to do your job, or look for a new one. If you try to go over his head and complain to senior management, you might be surprised to learn that many of those who you might complain to also do not understand technology. Doing so would be an excellent way to make the kind of enemies you definitely do not want. bcarey
• It sounds like he’s setting you up to take over when he retires by handing over responsibility piece by piece so you don’t screw up by taking on too much too soon. I think you’re on to a good thing. Quit whinging about it. StevoKingoftheNewts
• When I am managing, I aim to make it look easy. That is a key thing for me. My job is to lead, direct and strategise etc, and create networks and manage senior contacts. It is not to run processes and systems. I facilitate that and occasionally drop in ideas. But I leave it to others to do it … and they do it. Just as you do for your boss. oommph
I want to move out of the public sector but worry that I am unemployable
Since graduating three years ago, I have worked at a large public sector organisation. I have become frustrated with the lack of opportunity to gain on-the-job experience and the absence of responsibility. I feel staying will hamper my career progression.
I want to work in an analytical role in the private sector. My current role is a mixture of administrative and analytical tasks, which involve working with commercial customers, and my degree is business focused (knowledge and skills I haven’t used in my career so far). I am worried employers will dismiss me due to my lack of commercial experience, and will give preference to recent graduates. What can I do to improve my employability for the private sector?
Jeremy says
I think you should be asking yourself a rather different question. If the private sector is looking for previous private sector experience in all its applicants, there is little you can do in concrete terms to make up for that seeming deficiency. But I refuse to believe that, over the three years you’ve worked for this large public sector organisation, you’ve acquired absolutely no skills or experience that a commercial company would find of immediate value and interest.
In fact, I’d go further: there is always some overlap between public and private, and the likelihood must be that, depending on the type of business the private company conducted, you’d be able to introduce some valuable insights and fresh perspectives from day one.
I suggest you identify the five (say) private sector companies you’d most like to work for. Research each one exhaustively, list the relevant insights from your career to date that could specifically be applicable to each, and write tailor-made applications to each of them – being sure to include (as you have to me) your frustration at your lack of opportunity to gain on-the-job experience and the absence of responsibility.
I’m fairly certain this combination of unusual-but-related experience and your determination to be responsible for making things happen in a commercial world would at the very least earn you an interview or two.
Readers say
• Building up knowledge of the public sector is critical, as many private sector companies have business interests within the public sector and are often keen to employ ex-public sector workers with the right experience. lansing
• Do you have any evidence that private sector employers will dismiss you? Have you been repeatedly turned down for private sector jobs, or have recruitment agencies told you there is no demand for ex-public sector employees? If not, then stop letting imagined rejection stand in your way and just apply for jobs you think you can do. cyeng
• Loads of public sector employees make the switch. You should see your current status as a bonus not a negative – you have inner knowledge of exactly how government deals with a particular set of issues, which is useful for any private company wanting to sell stuff to the public sector or follow government rules. You’ll almost certainly be much better paid, but less secure and with possibly worse hours. therebythegrace
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
