Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I’m in a bit of a muddle at work and feel as though I am being used as a pawn in a personal battle between my manager and the company director. I work within a sales team of six for a not-for-profit organisation and I sell the courses we run. There has been a major shift in direction of the organisation following the appointment of a new director.
After originally being employed for maternity cover, I was confirmed in a permanent job in November. My manager, who seems to assert his authority at any given chance, said that it was he who decided to give me the permanent job against the wishes of the director, and assured me that he would make sure I received all the training I needed. I later found out that the opposite was true: that it was the director who gave me the job against my manager’s wishes! On top of that, I have since received no extra training.
The job has also changed from single easy course bookings to adding complex in-house events. As the promised training has been non-existent I took it upon myself to attend courses and take on the training I feel I need. The director seems very happy with this and with my approach to work. My manager however now seems to have once again taken the opposite view to the director. He says I need to be working harder day-to-day.
I feel stuck in the middle and totally confused. I am the most junior member of our team in every way and feel like a pawn in what now appears to be a very personal battle between manager and director.
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.
.jpg?w=600)
