I need some work-related advice

[Bernadine]

Tell me how to deal with this.

So, I have a director who is my supervisor.  She's the one who asked gay co-worker if him or his fiancé was going to be the "bride" for their wedding.  Also, our office oversees civil rights.  She's totally over her head in this position.  She has no idea what's going on on a day-to-day basis.  Often when I walk in her office, she's playing Candy Crush on her cell phone.

She's VERY good friends with another person on the staff.  He is very familiar with the policy we deal with, but does very little actual work.  Like, if you asked him to show you what work he's produced since he's been here, I have no idea what he would give you.

Director is a grade above me (federal gov't has grades that determine your pay/responsibility level).

Director is receiving a temporary promotion to the position above hers.  Instead of replacing the Director while she's gone, they are temporarily promoting co-worker to be my team leader.

I'm pissed and hurt and completely stunned.  They have totally passed me over to promote do-nothing co-worker, who I will now have to fucking report to.  

Do I say anything about this?  Do I suck it up?  How do I deal with the pissy, fuck you feelings I'm having?

[Muddled]

They can't give him her job officially without posting it, so apply for the job.

Apply for other jobs, too.

Eventually, it will become clear that he is a jackoff.

Eta- I misread. This whole thing is temporary?Apply to other jobs. Market yourself within your own group and make sure people know what you are doing. This isn't going to change.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:21:48 GMT -5 @booby said:

idk what to do. i hope someone has advice b/c this would suck if the answer was 'do nothing'.

(to be clear, the *do-nothing guy* is going to be the interim director while your candy-crush-director moves up. ('like' if i got that right))

But it's kind of even worse- so, say Director is grade 10, I'm a 9, co-worker is an 8.  Why not temp promote me to the Director?  Or if they're going to have a grade 9 team leader instead of a Director, I'm already a 9.  Why not make me the interim team leader?  I actually have supervisory experience.  They're making co-worker a 9, same as me, and making him the team leader.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:24:18 GMT -5 Muddled said:

They can't give him her job officially without posting it, so apply for the job.

Apply for other jobs, too.

Eventually, it will become clear that he is a jackoff.

Oh, I am applying.  Lol.  I have been.  But there's not much out there (within my agency).  And I'm juuuuust far enough from DC that I'm not interested in applying to any agencies there.

[Deleted]

Are you union?

Because that grade jumping thing would have my union rep lighting fires in the elevators.

[chchchia]

A temp promo is a temp promo, suck it up, sometimes we all have to work for someone we don't like or feel they do nothing. She does 120 days max and she can't do it again for at least a year.
I would work your ass off for the next 60, 90, 120 days and do what you have been doing. They may be planning on rotating the temp promotions, you may be next.

[chchchia]

HHHMMM that does sound weird, the grade jumping thing.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:26:21 GMT -5 @missusbee said:

Are you union?

Because that grade jumping thing would have my union rep lighting fires in the elevators.

Ha, no.  And the grade jumping is allowed for 120 days or less.  But I have a feeling the Director will get the temp position permanently (it was posted, I'm sure she applied).

[ssmjlm]

Jul 18, 2014 9:26:21 GMT -5 @missusbee said:

Are you union?

Because that grade jumping thing would have my union rep lighting fires in the elevators.

This.  When I was a bargaining unit employee (now a supervisor) they were very specific about how the process for things like this are done.  Shit, just determining parking spots was an ordeal with the union.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:27:59 GMT -5 chchchia said:

HHHMMM that does sound weird, the grade jumping thing.

Right?  This is what has me pissed.  They are promoting him to the grade that I already am.  And I do work my ass off.  You can't find anyone who has worked with me, for me, or above me who would complain about my work.

[ClosingTime08]

Jul 18, 2014 9:24:18 GMT -5 Muddled said:

They can't give him her job officially without posting it, so apply for the job.

I work for a Fortune 500 company and had a similar problem and legally they (my company) are allowed to fill a position without posting. It's the most fucked up policy ever.

So yeah, I know how you feel because I did reach out to HR questioning it.

[kristie]

So who is making this decision? It's hard to know how to handle it unless I know who is involved in this fuckery.

[Deleted]

Were you given the opportunity to demonstrate interest in the permanent position? Is there someone in HR you could speak to about whether or not there will be an official opening for the spot he is temporarily filling in? Maybe make it not so much a complaint about him, but rather, making sure you document your interest in moving up?

Other than that, I've got nothing. Working in a similar environment, I have grown cynical that nobody is promoted in gov't based on skill and ability, and there is not a damn thing you can do about it until that person fucks up and either auditors/cable news find out about it.

[candreco]

The grade jumping would NOT fly in my (DoD) office. Who made the decision to put Mr. Do-Nothing in the supervisory role temporarily? I'd want to schedule a meeting with that person, and ask if there's something they think you don't have that caused them to skip you, putting it in terms of wanting to know where to focus in your own professional development. I'm betting that they just asked current supervisor who she thought should do it and she picked her friend. Alternatively, there's probably someone in HR you could ask about the protocol in this kind of situation, what's normal and if there are any guidelines for it.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:32:44 GMT -5 kristie said:

So who is making this decision? It's hard to know how to handle it unless I know who is involved in this fuckery.

I don't know.  I do know that there are some personal relationships and interests at play.

[snipsnsnails]

My guess is the director was able to suggest co-worker for the role and that was a factor, especially since it is temporary. As sucky as it is, there's social politics at play in cultures like this. Once you get to the higher levels, it's all about playing the game-hard work *and* networking/schmoozing.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:38:59 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

My guess is the director was able to suggest co-worker for the role and that was a factor, especially since it is temporary. As sucky as it is, there's social politics at play in cultures like this. Once you get to the higher levels, it's all about playing the game-hard work *and* networking/schmoozing.

Uuuuuugh, I know, and I suck at it.  I'm finally realizing that I really need to find an executive-level mentor, so I guess that's my next step.

[chchchia]

I think I would be letting someone know how pissed off I would be right now. Honey, if you are the 9 and he is the 8, you should have been the one going to the 10. Something stinks to high heaven. Become snoopy. I would be bitching a fit right now.
Although I will tell you this, something like this happened at my last agency and it got me off my ass, resume brushed up and I am now 2 years later in a differnt agency 2 paygrades higher.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:41:54 GMT -5 @booby said:

Jul 18, 2014 9:38:49 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

I don't know.  I do know that there are some personal relationships and interests at play.

do you have HR?  i might take that approach.  ie: talking to someone in HR about 'if they can clarify any policies related to this'.  less about how he is a dickwad, but more about how you were given an opportunity to show interest and your concern that someone in a lower grade level was handed this opportunity. 

I am HR, lol.  I'm very familiar with the policy, and this is completely allowable.

So, the way I'd approach it if I approached my boss, I'd do like candreco said and just question if there's something I should be doing differently, etc.  But she's already mentioned that "they" wanted to give cw an opportunity.  WHAT ABOUT MY OPPORTUNITY?  Lol.

[Muddled]

Jul 18, 2014 9:31:39 GMT -5 ClosingTime08 said:

Jul 18, 2014 9:24:18 GMT -5 Muddled said:

They can't give him her job officially without posting it, so apply for the job.

I work for a Fortune 500 company and had a similar problem and ilegally they (my company) are allowed to fill a position without posting. It's the most fucked up policy ever.

So yeah, I know how you feel because I did reach out to HR questioning it.

I believe she is government and they cannot do that. They can only appoint someone as acting. If this actually is temporary, it won't matter. Or if he is a team lead, it implies reorg. Team lead is not necessarily an actual position, IME.

Regardless, I'd be pissed and I'd be looking for a way out of that group.

[chchchia]

Are you guys under any fiscal restrictions right now? It might have been more beneficial to temp promote him to the 9 instead of you to the ten step whatever, it is the last quarter fiscally. How long did he get it for?

[kristie]

Jul 18, 2014 9:44:46 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Jul 18, 2014 9:41:54 GMT -5 @booby said:

do you have HR?  i might take that approach.  ie: talking to someone in HR about 'if they can clarify any policies related to this'.  less about how he is a dickwad, but more about how you were given an opportunity to show interest and your concern that someone in a lower grade level was handed this opportunity. 

I am HR, lol.  I'm very familiar with the policy, and this is completely allowable.

So, the way I'd approach it if I approached my boss, I'd do like candreco said and just question if there's something I should be doing differently, etc.  But she's already mentioned that "they" wanted to give cw an opportunity.  WHAT ABOUT MY OPPORTUNITY?  Lol.

So here is the other problem, if you are actually good at your job and boss knows she sucks at hers, would she really want you in her position showing how it should be done? She knows her friend is lazy and won't make her look bad. It is most likely a cya thing in her mind

[VeryViolet]

I have seen this shit happen it is a lot of politics and BS especially with the temp placements. I would seethe internally but do my best to ignore it at work. Who will he be reporting to during the interim time? Is it possible that they will see that he is a giant fuck up? I would also probably do my job to the absolute best of my ability but in no way do "his job". Can you apply for a similar job at another agency or even within your agency?

[Muddled]

Jul 18, 2014 10:10:58 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

It's a temp promotion knowing the boss is coming back? I can see why you'd be upset but I think it's very different than temp promoting for an extended period of time. I assume you are both the same grade level right?

They are now.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 9:54:48 GMT -5 VeryViolet said:

I have seen this shit happen it is a lot of politics and BS especially with the temp placements. I would seethe internally but do my best to ignore it at work. Who will he be reporting to during the interim time? Is it possible that they will see that he is a giant fuck up? I would also probably do my job to the absolute best of my ability but in no way do "his job". Can you apply for a similar job at another agency or even within your agency?

He will report to her- current Director.

I am applying, but there hasn't been much.

[Bernadine]

Jul 18, 2014 10:18:32 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Jul 18, 2014 10:15:32 GMT -5 Muddled said:

They are now.

This is what I am confused about.

Say Rak is a GS-12. Boss' job is a GS-13.

Did co worker (say GS-11) get temp promoted to a GS-12?


If this is the case I'm not sure I would get too upset for a couple reasons. If her boss leaves and the 13 opens she already has the time and grade to apply. Correct me if I am wrong but you can't get temp promoted past (6 months?) So it's not like co worker would have the time and grade to apply even if she wanted to. Even if they made an exception and she did have the time and grade it evens the playing field but doesn't count Rak out all together.

Maybe I'm confused?

I get the bigger issue here is a perception that the co worker isn't as strong of an employee. And there is likely office politics at play

This is correct.  This is all happening due to a reorg.  I believe that the current Director will become permanent in her temp position, and that they will do away with the Director position, and instead have a team leader.  So, CW has the time in grade to get a team leader position permanently.

I know it's temp, I may be overreacting but it's the PRINCIPLE of it.  Lol.

[VeryViolet]

Jul 18, 2014 10:20:41 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Jul 18, 2014 9:54:48 GMT -5 VeryViolet said:

I have seen this shit happen it is a lot of politics and BS especially with the temp placements. I would seethe internally but do my best to ignore it at work. Who will he be reporting to during the interim time? Is it possible that they will see that he is a giant fuck up? I would also probably do my job to the absolute best of my ability but in no way do "his job". Can you apply for a similar job at another agency or even within your agency?

He will report to her- current Director.

I am applying, but there hasn't been much.

Oh damn, she is definitely doing this so she doesn't have to face having someone competent in her position. My only advice is do your very best to not be the work horse (because really fuck them) obviously not to the detriment of your work though. I have applied for a few fed positions recently and hearing these stories reminds me that contracting isn't all that bad.  

[chchchia]

He won't have enough TIG to cert for the perm position, I think she is more upset that 1. She IS the higher grade and more importantly 2. feels her work is better than his and she should have been considered before him. RHIP or is supposed to anyway.
The only thing I can think to say is really, put him out of your mind, know after that 120 days is over, it still won't qual him to jump two paygrades and that shitty 25.00 bucks extra he is getting is not worth the fight.

[livinitup]

Jul 18, 2014 9:29:24 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Jul 18, 2014 9:27:59 GMT -5 chchchia said:

HHHMMM that does sound weird, the grade jumping thing.

Right?  This is what has me pissed.  They are promoting him to the grade that I already am.  And I do work my ass off.  You can't find anyone who has worked with me, for me, or above me who would complain about my work.

From the dickwad Director's point of view, it is better to keep you doing great work in your current position - and a do-nothing in their old one. Because the WORK needs to get done. And it is, by YOU. Team leading/director job doesn't need much work done at all, apparently.

That sucks balls for you.

I don't know who you should tell. Except to work contacts and move on.

[miniroller]

I apologize that I don't have the answer regarding to whom you should report/ request a meeting. However, in order to best handle looking interested in how the decision was made/ how you can improve, as opposed to pouty pants who's whining that she got passed over, I'd approach the meeting in full on 'how can I perform better?' mode. I'd straight up question the logistics of the decision (again?), knowing they don't have to provide detailed answers. But if you get that BS response that they want to provide lazy-ass w/ opportunity, question how your obvious desire for said opportunities was ignored!
GAH- I'm super pissed for you, & would definitely not lie down & accept this without seeking more information. Even blatantly stating that you getting passed over makes you question your value to the company & you need to know what improvements you can make.
If they respond with crap, start looking elsewhere. This sucks & I'm sorry