I made a post here recently complaining and asking for help about my work and you guys as usual, have not disappointed. Thanks to everyone who commented. Here's an update on how it played out and would love to hear your thoughts on my possible moves.
Short summary on what happened:
I have a manager and a team lead. Team lead has been here longer than the manager, but he wasn't promoted to manager for a reason - he's a social retard. Manager assigned me some new projects, which team lead did a small portion, then left it pending. I finished said project and made it much better. Team lead is upset about it and has been actively sabotaging me by finding faults (coming to work late), undermining my work and giving my other projects very poor reviews. He also lied and wrote to HR that I made inappropriate jokes and played games during working hours (no evidence and I don't play video games). Manager told me to let this slide and so I ignored the letter that's been cc'd to me and manager.
My actions:
- I have been trying to look for another job - but there's no better option so far, considering salary and travel distance.
- I have distanced myself from the office with the exception of some guys I considered nice enough. They told me team lead and his clique is mad at me for getting promoted and got a raise, which they havent. They gossiped about me a lot. Great, I know who to look out for now. Keeping my head low at the moment.
- I have showed up at work on time, even earlier than required (I live very near). So there's zero reason for me to get disciplined again.
- Laser-focused on my job. Went above and beyond when I worked with other departments and they loved it. Finished a project for the CEO with a very tight schedule, by working over the weekend and delivered before schedule. Have not heard feedback but Im confident it was good.
Update on what happened afterwards:
- I talked with the manager to apologize about violating company rules - he said it's not a problem. Just take the disciplinary measures and we forget about it. Cool
- Told him about how I think team lead is sabotaging my KPI by leaving bad quality reviews in hope of of getting me fired. Manager said he'll look into it. No further comment, but last month, I saw team lead's comment on our task tracker (benzino - KPI not met). I thought I should keep quiet about this and see how it plays out. Later on, it was deleted and I met my KPI, so it seems the manager stepped in and told him to fuck off.
- Manager has put me on another division where I work with other departments and they have nothing but praises for my performance. Nice. However, about 50% of my work is still under the team lead's supervision, and he has been going out of his way to nitpick. It seems his goal is to make me miss KPI for 3 months in a row - which is ground for termination. When he can't find faults in quality, he'd say I took too long to finish it. (I don't, but he said I'm a senior so the standard is different for me - both in speed and quality - what a dick). Last month, Team lead even chimed in on the work I did with the other departments and told manager that I was lying about task tracking, and the work could have been done faster. The thing is I sat right next to the manager and he could see what I was doing the whole time. I knew team lead was going to make shit up so I kept manager very updated on what I was doing and when I could finish the project. I never missed a deadline throughout all this time.
What's bugging me:
- Manager said he's got my back but he's been keeping his distance from me ever since we talked. I did tell him that I thought what team lead did violated my contract and the labor code, and companies have been sued over this (changing quality criteria without consulting team members, putting bad performance review and tried to reduce my pay even though the project has been approved and put on sale). He changed body language and got into a defensive position (arms crossed, frowned). I noticed and told him that's the reason I'm talking to him privately and hope we can solve this issue quickly - I just want to work and get my check. I also did not want to be a complaining Chris so I did not press him on the issue and just focus on whatever project he assigned to me. Still, he moved his desk and now sits alone in the corner. We also talk much less than we used to. He only gave the briefest comments for work and nothing else. Did I do too much?
- Like many users here have said, team lead is just a retard and I shouldn't pay him much attention. So I let the whole situation slide and focused on my work. He doesn't think the same, though, and has been actively and maliciously focusing on me, with the possible goal of getting me fired. He also encouraged his clique to isolate me so I'm not on speaking terms with a handful of youngsters in the office (not all of them though). What can I do here to protect myself other than doing my job well? Maybe build more connections outside the office?
whytehorse2021 1mo ago
This is classic behaviour in the military. There's these beta guys that have a fat Karen wife at home and the only time they get to be in charge is when they're at work. They make horrible bosses. Very insecure, overbearing, and your success is shining a spotlight on their failures.
Treat them like the little bitches that they are. Set boundaries and enforce them. The next time you get a bogus KPI review call them out. Be prepared to quit. They need you more than you need them. This is exactly how we treat women. YOU are the prize.
Rollo coined the term "sneaky fucker game" and that's what your lead is doing. Going around talking behind your back. That's divisive and that guy has no business leading people if that's his style. I would go straight to your manager and let him know what's going on and that you're prepared to quit. Just be open and honest and say what you think about the guy. Let it be known the company will be losing good quality people because some asshat playing politics in the office. This is how you flip the script. Get him fired, fuck that sneaky fucker.
benzino 1mo ago
Thanks whytehorse, just what I needed to hear.
I heard from my source (lol), that team lead doesn't like manager either and manager is aware of this.
More info on the guy: He worked at this company for about 2-3 years until I came in, when he was already team lead and also does the job of a de-facto manager. Half a year later, manager was hired because team lead isn't fit for the position.
The way I see it: I'm not the only one this guy is mad at. He's also mad at the manager for "stealing" his position but isn't bold enough to do anything about it. So he does these passive aggressive things and takes it out on me - manager's highest performing employee, even though I stayed out of politics in the beginning.
So like I said to another brother who commented - If he wants to bring the ball to me, I'll play. The most I have to lose is this job, so I won't be bullied like a little bitch. I still get paid in the mean time so I'll switch my goal to getting the team lead position and will play all the politics game necessary to make this guy miserable. Team lead is playing the role of the drama maker who is obviously targeting a single employee, so I'll play the role of the model employee who does everything well and never turns down difficult projects. We'll see if he's smart enough to realize this and back off, or shoot himself in the foot
whytehorse2021 1mo ago
Yeah it's unfortunate that the corporate world rewards conformance and not performance. I became a private contractor for that reason and ultimately a business owner. I then tied worker bonuses to sales revenue and got nothing but the best out of them and they went home with fat checks.
coolsocks00 1 1mo ago
Get new job offers. Meanwhile, game the youngsters and get them on your side. It's easy to get stuck on the defensive in such a situation. Try to muster up more amused mastery and only take an active stance towards team lead once/if he pushes too far outside of his position (document that).
If you can become a clearly better suited team lead then things might change fast, especially in such a work environment where job security seems low. In that case, that may start to favor you over him.
First-light 1mo ago
Sorry to hear that. Sounds like team lead is being an arse and its wise not to dismiss the idea he may be working to find grounds to dismiss you. He may also let it all go when he has got his arse covered and can dismiss you -it could just be insurance on his part- but that is no comfort.
I would actively work on your relationship with the manager, particularly socially if you can, not talking about this issue and keep working hard. Do not be drawn into any hard words with team lead or back chat him, get on with him as well as possible, socialise with him if you can.
Log all the times he is an arse with evidence. So you have something to go on to say you are being targeted unfairly if push comes to shove.
Find out all you local dismissal legislation. Know what they must do and with what procedure. Make it as hard as possible for them to go through this procedure.
Networking beyond the office might well bring in another job too.
benzino 1mo ago
Thank you. Most of what you said is what I have in mind too.
Actually I've been trying to talk with him less and focus on work mostly. Manager is new and is aware that team lead has leadership issues, told me there are reasons why the CEO scouted him and got him here to manage. Though I think he only assumed team lead was a social retard and did not expect this kind of malicious behavior. There's a clique of about 5 or 6 in the office (about 10 in total) and since team lead doesn't like me, his clique now assumes I lie at my job and get higher salaries than them for doing nothing.
Since the manager is new, I think he would want to avoid causing drama or making it seem like I'm his favorite. That's why I also keep my distance from him. I don't want him to become their gossiping target too.
Nevertheless, If I was the manager, I would have fired the team lead or at least remove him from team lead position. He doesn't have the maturity for the position and it creates a precedent where team leads can bully/ harass employees into quitting.
Everything else I have already done/ am looking into. But I don't plan to play on the defensive and show team lead I'm not a threat. I don't like this guy and how he targeted me with no fault on my part. I'm planning to enroll in skill courses paid by the company to show upper management that I'm more valuable than the team lead and I can take his position if needed. I also try to build connection outside the office to get recommendation for promotion. Managers in other departments are my friends from way back, I have more connections than team lead, and team lead is known for not being able to work well with other departments.
I came to the company being nice to everyone and willing to help/ co-operate if needed. Just wanted the pay check and did not try to steal anybody's position. But since he put me on the spot, I will go on the offensive. If I'm going to get fired anyway, might as well go out fighting
Overkill_Engine 2 1mo ago
As long as you have sufficient documentation, you can build a case for a hostile work environment.
benzino 1mo ago
I've heard about that but it's virtually unknown of, where I live. Legal protection for employees are not well-developed here. Unions aren't much help and it's mostly for the namesake. I can sue the company if they wrongfully terminate me (not without a long legal battle), but anything else, you just have to deal with it.
I thought about bringing this to HR, how team lead unilaterally changed KPI measurement criteria without consulting anyone, even manager, but was advised against it because I would be seen as a troublemaker for the company. And so far, manager has the final decision in approving KPI and he hasn't failed mine (yet)
wswZtyqNGQ 1mo ago
Manager is lying to you. Judge his actions, not his words.
In this case, yes.
Find another job and prevent this situation from happening again.
In the corporate world the one and only power you have is to quit. And your only responsibility is to keep your options open. You have not met this responsibility. It's time to step up for yourself and start searching for another job. And even if you don't take a new job then at least you have the option and will be under far less stress than you're putting yourself through now.
Your loyalty is due to yourself first and foremost. You have been betraying that loyalty. Time to man up.
benzino 1mo ago
Sound advice, same with women. I actually have been doing this and it's why I also keep my distance, too. Team lead tried to fail my KPI last month (I saw that on the task tracking app), but then a few days later that was removed and I received full pay. So I guess the manager stepped in but he didn't say anything. Overall, Im 50/50 on this guy.
Yes I have been searching for another job and it takes time. Trust me that if there's a better offer I'll take it in a heartbeat, but the job market/ economy in my country sucks now and I'm just trying my best.
What would you advice to prevent this happening at another job?
wswZtyqNGQ 1mo ago
Total Compensation isn't just pay but also includes the amount of stress you have to deal with. Lower pay for zero stress is a good deal (unless your kid has cancer or something absurd like that). Consider what else you can be doing with your time.
Joining a team means that you are adopting the history of the power structure in place. It's your job to be adaptable. You did something to upset the balance here. Now whether or not this is just, or even if it's good for business, is not important. What is important is that you are not getting a fair deal for the work you do. So learn from this and the next time that you join a team start putting a lot of effort at the beginning to understand the power structure in place.
You said that you had originally judged that the Team Lead person was socially awkward but not harmful. You were wrong since he is also harmful. Learn from that mistake, improve your judgement and don't be caught unprepared next time.
benzino 1mo ago
That's good advice and I'll keep that in mind when/ if I join a new place. Thank you. I read The Prince, and 48 laws too, but putting it in practice is more difficult than reading.
For this case, it looks like I'll be stuck here for a while at least. But the thing is, I'm quite fed up with this (keeping the balance, not threatening anyone), and from experience, I dont think this would be avoidable with the team lead. He has a history of getting new enployees fired just because he didn't like them, so it was only a matter of time. He fired a new intern under his guidance who listened to him all the time - I could not find out why, other than the fact the intern was popular with the girls - which was out of his control.
I want to go on the offensive this time. On paper, I'm much more qualified than him - more diverse skillset, able to work with other teams and foreign customers, he can't work with foreigners, while my English is on a native level. Of course, I'll keep my head low while I'm doing this but that's my goal for now - get this fired/ make him quit or at least get the same position so he can't do shit to me.
I'm faced with either quitting or be stuck at this job and work with stress, so why not make the most of it? All or nothing? What would be your advice in this case?
wswZtyqNGQ 1mo ago
You have a level head here. No advice needed, just work on your part. Do what you do.