Fed up with a Micro-Manager

I thought I'd put this here as I believe you all can relate to my issue with this...

I've been put under someone new... I used to be under the Director, a Cancer. Understanding, no hand holding, sensitive, yada yada yada... NOW, my unit is under someone else, a Leo. He is micro-managing to the hilt and it is driving me crazy. It's to the point where my staff is even going WTF? And to top it off, a Scorp, who I thought was my friend, is right on his heels and throwing me under the bus every chance she gets. Not necessarily anything I do myself, but every little thing that APPEARS out of sort. And things that I would normally deal with, she goes directly to the Leo rather than informing me. The last time I'm aware that happened, the Leo looked into it himself rather than forwarding it on to me and I get an email "I want to know what you are you going to do about it?". Huh, if someone told me in the first place, it was a 5 minute fix and it wasn't something out of the ordinary to begin with and wasn't a big deal! And to top it off, while doing MY job, the Leo found an error that he blamed on my staff (which is completely my fault, of course) and another tongue lashing and what am I going to do about it? It was a frickin technical error, nothing my staff did. His response, "oh, figures".

I've been here almost 7 years, and yes, there are certain things that arise regularly, no big deal. No one has EVER butted into my business and questioned my job! Now, with Leo overseeing things, everything is being blown out of proportion and I feel like someone is looking over my shoulder all the damn time. I'm being asked stupid shit like "did you send that email?". "No, just to spite you I didn't! FUCK YOU!!" EVERYTHING under the sun he wants to know. Did you do this? Did you do that? What are you going to do about "it"? I already handled it ya dumb ass!!! Maybe I should inform him when I'm going to take a shit too!! I do my job, and I do it well. Get off my frickin back and let me actually do my job!!!

And the Scorp, she's sneaky (no offense LS), acts like my friend but is a complete backstabber; she's only out for herself and she's become the Leo's crony at this point!

Oh, and something that REALLY, REALLY get's me... the Leo is LOOKING for things to be wrong! With me, with my staff, with everything. I've already told my staff that under the new regime we are in a concentration camp and all non-conformists will be gassed!

AND, he wants ME to micro-manage my staff. I don't micro-manage, I think my staff are better off in a positive, relaxed work environment. Not the rigidity he wants in place. The new mantra it seems is "Rule with an iron fist!" NO! I expect my staff to do their job and I expect them to do it right. I don't do hand holding!!! I give advice for improving their performance and I give praise (usually it's in a joking, twisted kind of manner, but I don't think I have any staff that don't get me), but I'm not up their asses all the damn frickin time and I don't plan to be, it is not how I operate. And, when they screw up, they KNOW they screwed up. I'm pretty lenient, but they pretty much know not to push me, somehow they end up in tears when they do.

Posted by Strider
He is attempting to take all credit for any and all work that gets done and simultaneously blame everyone for errors/incomptence so none of you will be able to challenge his position or compete with him . He managed to find a over ambitious scorpio who he knows he can manipulate and meld(because of her ambition) to his way of thinking .

Sounds spot on! Good summary Strider... I could have just written that instead of my long ass post 🙂

I'm at a Uni. The only higher up that would really matter is the Director of the research center, whom I used to be directly under. The Director has slowly been giving the Leo most of what he has traditionally done as he is getting ready to retire. The Director see's the Leo as simply just taking charge!

And, I know that I'm being presented as being difficult by the Leo to the Director as I do not take to this shit very well. I walk into a room and the Leo sees me and tells the Director (who's back is to me), "We'll talk about that later". When do you ever tell the big boss something like that? So what/who in the world could they be referring to, I wonder— It's not the first time things went hush, hush when I walked in the room either!

I'm VERY stubborn, VERY resistant to change and I don't like people telling me what to do or breathing down my back all the damn time! And ya know what? I'm gonna get fired for it too. I already know this. C'est la vie!

Anyone want to hire a survey researcher/statistician on a contractual basis?

I always thought Caps like to micromanage. Maybe your leo boss has some cap influences 😛

Posted by red_aries
I always thought Caps like to micromanage. Maybe your leo boss has some cap influences 😛

Nah!! We expect you to do your job. We don't have time to hover! I don't think any Cap wants to hold anyone's hand - we expect people to work the way we work! And, we'll just do it ourselves if there is any question that it won't be done right - right being the way we ourselves would do it 🙂

Really? You think I CAN? I cringe at the thought. ewww

It's sickening that he does this shit with a smile too at times *puke*

oops, couldn't contain myself any longer...

And like you... I kiss no one's ass (may fuck 'em in the ass, ram that pole up as deep as I can shove it too when possible, but I no do kiss ass!) 🙂

When Mr. Micro Manager or his Scorpio minion talk to me with a smiley on their face it bothers me!

It's getting real ugly around here. It's been termed a concentration camp, a 19th century tannery and a sweat shop since the Leo has "taken charge".

One of my staff emailed me today "I truly feel sorry for you, that you're having to deal with these maniacs."

I make an executive decision on how to save money (that's their beef these days), I've shown you the graphs, I talked to the director, and we need to sit down an talk about it? What the fuck is there to talk about? We don't need a fricken meeting! Waste of my time! Seriously, this is BS, why are you wasting my time? Always a stupid mtg. And last week, what I think could have been handled in 15 min, took a whole hour and a half. Most of it the Leo and Scorp having a discussion about agreeing with each other on points that didn't need discussing to begin with and me sitting there thinking to myself "well, DUH!"

And I just spent the morning correcting the Scorpio's numbers rather than doing actual work! Of course, they're probably going to see me making the corrections as somehow confrontational.

So, ok, I waited a couple days. BUT, I got a FORMAL letter basically stating I haven't been doing my job. I'm on the chopping block. I've been responsible for what I do and it's been solely on me. No one else has been involved. Suddenly this guy gets all up in my ass and states in a formal document I'm not doing my job— He has no clue!!! The Scorp neither... comes to me this morning, "Did you see ALL the problems that happened yesterday". I looked at her like she had two heads. "There was only one problem, and I have directed my folks how to take care of it (the one who experienced it), and it's not a big deal". REALLY? It's a common issue, and simple solution and the staff member is new.

Anyway, given the letter I was given about what they believe I haven't been doing I am emailing my current staff AND former staff asking them if the felt I didn't do those things (evaluate them, correct them, yadda, yadda, yadda). My staff have always thought the world of me (to the best of my knowledge, lol) and I always have directed them accordingly. Ok, maybe a few that I made cry or fired may differ, but they could never say it's because I didn't evaluate, give them corrective direction or follow through on consequences!!

What else do you suggest for my paper trail—

Oh, and get this, the Leo pulls me into his office as I had responded to an email with (without getting into the details of my job) "I ALWAYS try to keep hours to a minimum, we only call sample that NEEDS to be called". He said that I was yelling at him and it was inappropriate. HELLO, everything going on, I was defending myself and making emphasis where it should be made. My response naturally, it was for emphasis as you don't seem to listen. I'm sure it went into my file. He had it printed out with those two words highlighted in yellow!

Posted by lildol
So, ok, I waited a couple days. BUT, I got a FORMAL letter basically stating I haven't been doing my job. I'm on the chopping block. I've been responsible for what I do and it's been solely on me. No one else has been involved. Suddenly this guy gets all up in my ass and states in a formal document I'm not doing my job— He has no clue!!! The Scorp neither... comes to me this morning, "Did you see ALL the problems that happened yesterday". I looked at her like she had two heads. "There was only one problem, and I have directed my folks how to take care of it (the one who experienced it), and it's not a big deal". REALLY? It's a common issue, and simple solution and the staff member is new.

Wait a sec, the person who had that particular issue, has been put under the Scorp now. My correct response should have been to ask the Scorp (who doesn't have a clue and I'm now responsible for teaching her MY job!!!). *slaps self in head* Then again, when you tell someone who is taking over your job, and your still employed, to figure it out for themselves, it doesn't typically go over very well.

Kinda funny actually, yesterday I was talking to this same staff member and she say's (because the Scorp is supposed to be supervising her position now) "you're here talking to us, you interact with us, you give us direction and feedback, where is the Scorp?".

Yes, I did quote myself (the shit's driving me nuts, I gotta have someone to talk to 😛)

lildol --

I worked for someone who is micro-managing.

She is a Virgo. This one was a peculiar one. Not in a positive way. But I did learn over time that these micro-managers have ONE big problem. They want to be loved.

It's a Freudian thing. Apparently they hold to their shit quite tightly. So it is quite hard to figure how you can love them this way.

Can't help you how to handle him except for suggesting, I hope you start with yourself and not take things personally cuz you don't want that person to affect your health. Pick a mantra and join some meditation class, because you may need time until a bunch of people get together and give him a good portion of lesson.


From what I know about LEO guys, they sound girly but they are extremely annoying when they start writing "User's Manuals". Everything is just set in the line and order they want things.

Can't say anything about the Scorp, not my cup'a tea what he or she is doing. Perhaps she enjoys the beam of light under the Leo. Poor thing!

My condolences...

Leos suck anyway 😄

Micro Managing....
Seen it in the workplace many times, slowly, staff start leaving one by one, the boss gets fired (or moved sideways), and its back to square one, having to hire and train new staff (which is costly).....and so it goes on

I have had positions of managment believe it or not

I hire you to do a job
I lay out the guied lines you need to work within
I give you the support you need
You can ether do the job or not with in the broad guide lines that are laid out
If you can't do the job within those guide lines you need to state your case and tell me why
If I disagree we try to work it out
if we can't your looking for another Job.
Bottom line it is up to you how you get the job done.

periperilicious is a fag.

Thats all I have to say.

Before I had read past the first page, my gut instinct was that this is a set up. The letter you received proves this. Theory is the leo guy has been brought in for whatever reason to see why the department is underperforming or to restructure it. If they are looking to cut costs perhaps your job is the one to cut. If the scorp can make decisions without you then you are not indispensable. You are in a difficult situation and you must be feeling pretty stressed.

You sound very conscientious and I'm sure you do a fantastic job, but if you have been targeted in this way then you need to check your rights and get some legal advice. This is not about astrology but about company strategy and the leo is probably just doing a task set by directors who get him to do the dirty work. Don't blame him, blame whoever is pulling the strings above. Keep a printed record of all correspondence at home if possible. Particularly any confrontational emails which may prove bullying. I'm not sure which country you are based in but rights will depend on employment law where you are.

By the way be very careful what you say to your staff and others in the organisation. They are likely to side with management for fear of losing their own jobs.

Thanks - and, yes, I do see the writing on the wall. As for my staff, although wanting to protect their jobs, do seem to have an allegiance to me. They are working on writing their own performance appraisals of me at my request for my own protection. I get things like this in my email - unsolicited, mind you, as they respond to emails I'm required to be sending them as of late:

"While I have a laundry list of concerns, I'd first like to discuss the politics that you and your superiors are currently playing. As is becoming increasingly evident, the "higher-ups" seem to be using you almost like a patsy or scapegoat, relaying messages and leaving you to do the dirty work when it comes to interacting with employees."

"I would just like to let you know that I ( and I'm sure everyone else) respect you and your ways of doing things over any others."

"I feel personally that you do a great job, we are after all supposed to be happy and smiling as we do the interviews and in my opinion you create a better atmosphere and make it easier to do so, which in turn does produce more surveys."

"The superiors need to step back and seriously consider a few things: We are not children. This is not high school."

"[We] need to be treated with greater respect and given a bit more trust. We cannot trust our superiors if they cannot trust us, and we cannot respect our superiors if we are treated like (for lack of a better term) slaves in a sweatshop. No one should take these comments as a sign of disregard for the rules and expectations in place. I understand and respect the rules, as do many of my fellow employees. The inspiration for all of the thoughts in this email come from the common sentiment that any "lack of productivity" and any apparent interviewer noncompliance are concepts greatly exaggerated. I guarantee that if a less harsh attitude was taken with the interviewers, we would have a far greater respect for our workplace."

One of my staff told me the other day... "I thought this place was fun when I first started, not so much anymore"

They're stressed, I'm stressed, one has already quit because of the BS.

Oh, get this, the Leo sent one of my staff home for opening and closing his cell phone while on the job. Grabbed him by the shoulders and said "It's time for you to go". Cell phones are, after all, prohibited while on the job.

These are 20 yr old kids who sit on the phone for 4 hour shifts and he expects that they will not speak, will not read, will not draw, will not do anything except stare at their computer screen and dial the phone. Then the Leo was laughing about sending the kid home the other day, how boring the job must be and that he couldn't do it. Scorp of course chuckled right along with him.

Shit, my staff are afraid to even get up to go to the bathroom anymore as EVERY single break has to be logged so that it can be tracked - and they're keeping records of who takes breaks, how many breaks and for how long - and anything in excess of 3 minutes is NOT paid. How fricken ridiculous is that.

And, I might have said too much, but this is the response I gave one of my staff:

"you are correct, I agree, and what you are saying is in line with what other interviewers have recently expressed to me as well. I have been put into an uncomfortable position - basically being forced to hold your hand, so to speak, and look over your shoulder while you do your job. In my opinion, and as you eluded, this type of management style leads to resentment, low employee morale and a disregard for the workplace. In addition, I personally do not feel that a cold and rigid work environment is productive, especially given the nature of the job. It is also not my position that we should be actively looking for problems/issues through the lens of a microscope which, in the end, becomes demoralizing.

I have always expected my employees to work without the need for constant supervision and tried to foster a positive, relaxed work environment, and overall employee productivity has never been an issue. But, as you realize, the dynamics and culture have changed since I am no longer in charge. If at times my frustrations come through in my emails, I apologize, it is not a reflection of the job I think any of you are doing.

As I said, my integrity and the job I do has been brought into question as a result of my personal management style . This was indicated in my performance appraisal and is now part of my employee record. It appears that they have an agenda, and I have a pretty good idea what that agenda is. So, I am now in a position where I need to not only defend the job my staff are doing, but I need to defend myself and my job, and set my own agenda. Feedback from my staff is the best way I know how to do this. And, to this end, I appreciate your input as I will be putting together a document with respect to the culture currently being fostered along with performance appraisals from current and former staff regarding the job I??ve have done/been doing."

I'm assuming you are in the US? My understanding of labour laws there is that they are non existent.

If you want to be open then I would advise you not to do it in writing. You're exposing yourself by discussing the situation so openly with your staff via an email. You have for example stated in the email that the stress of the situation is affecting your behaviour towards staff. For all you know emails may be intercepted by your information team. I know you feel at the moment that your staff can be trusted without question, and I am sure that they are behind you 100% , but if this situation gets nastier than it is people may suddenly fall into rank and emails like the one you posted may be used to incriminate you as going against the culture the directors wish to foster (however unpopular that may be).

There are ways of dealing with this using official channels. It really depends on the type of organisation you work for as to what those channels are. There have been a number of high profile cases in the papers about inhuman treatment of call centre workers in the UK.

If I were in your situation I would seriously consider looking for a new job. Unless of course you are able to network and muster support among more influential people in your organisation. There must be some people with integrity working in senior management?

If they would just let me get my work done... I swear, I'm gonna kill myself at this rate!

The Scorp sends out an email, "I was looking into some things and these people need warnings about the number of shifts/hours worked" - these are MY staff mind you, not hers!!!

The Leo, of course, takes her word for it. Must be gospel! So, he told me to send out warnings and let them know 2 more infractions they'll be dismissed.

Good thing I'm a Cap 🙂 I researched in-depth all 20 she indicated needed warnings for the whole month of July - 2 actually were falling behind. ONLY 2 out of the 20! These poor kids would have been floored had I not done my research and sent them warnings!

I had a girl just come back from a month of Leadership training from the guard - so, she did not meet minimums.
I have a girl on vacation - so, she's not meeting minimums.
I have another staff member who since he was going on vacation made up the shift he'd miss the week before - not meeting minimums, not only because he worked fewer shifts in one week (that he made up in another), but that he was away for a week.
I have one who the Scorp was citing for working under a 2 hr minimum standard - he worked his 2 hr shift, but he took a bathroom break, so he was under 2 hrs in the payroll as a result (nothing over a 3 min break is paid).
I have one who had to leave early because she was sick, not meeting minimums.

Mind you, this is over a months time - someone working under 2 hrs because they went to the damn bathroom, someone needing to leave early because they were sick, someone going on vacation. Good God Almighty, God forbid!!!

So, after researching every single one, I wrote something up about each to the effect that they met all minimum standards in July. The Scorp responds with - "oh, I was just looking at 2 weeks... let's sit down and look at the last 2 months of payroll". I HAVE WORK TO DO BITCH! And payroll says nothing to me, it doesn't take into account them as a person, what's going on in their life, emails I've received, vacations, so on and so forth. They are NOT numbers, they ARE people!

MY PEOPLE ARE NOT HER STAFF AND SHE HAS NO RIGHT - but, the asshole Leo loves the fact he has a minion that has nothing better to do than waste her time!

It's all BS, it is ALL FRICKEN BULLSHIT! And I have to research every thing she raises as an issue, everything the Scorp does appears to be trying to undermine me. The numbers I had to spend time correcting last month that she ran, was due to the fact it was a reflection on my job and my staff - AND THEY WERE WRONG!!

It would be one thing if she was right, but she is not. In turn, this makes more work for me and I have to focus on their petty SHIT rather than doing my actual job.

Yes, I know - get a new job! (easier said than done)

I'm in trouble now, I'm sure.

I just told the Scorp off... started with "DO YOU'RE OWN JOB AND LET ME DO MINE!". I think the whole bldg heard me 😢

Ah, so, I've been given an "option" - if I resign, 3 months pay goes with it...

I should have taken him up on the offer - when he put it on the table the Leo told me to think about it. My response, "if I don't take the offer does that mean I'm fired?" He said "No". I should have gotten the offer in writing. Monday I got a letter wherin' I'm basically being told they are going to fire me - the Leo said it is supposed to be motivational. Ummm, I thought positive reinforcement was motivational *scratches head*

Let's see, I can't do xy&z for you at this moment and meet your deadline (internal stuff with no particular rush) because I'm doing ab&c for the client so that we can keep the contract. So, I'm now classified as being insubordinate because I am client focused! I think he has lost focus, the client pays our salaries! Or maybe it's just that he has serious control issues!

Now, my new task for the end of today, while also conducting interviews for new hires, is to write a detailed description of particular aspects of my job written "so that anyone without prior knowledge could follow the instructions".

I still have client stuff I wanted to get done by days end. Isn't going to happen now *smh*

I meet with an attorney in the labor relations office tomorrow.

Appears that the Leo had already spoken to labor relations. The guy I spoke with basically said that I should bend over backwards to appease him until I can find another job. Nice, huh?

I really dislike Leos in high positions. My mothers boss was a Leo and not only did he steal the idea of his company from someone else, but he laughed when the man almost had a heart attack from them screwing him over. They do things sooooo dirty. They just hired someone over a guys positions that has been there for years, then they had the guy, who is getting replaced, train the new hire. He's lost so much weight fooling with this his company. Ugh.


lildol, I hope it gets better.

Thanks Inana!

This guy laughs about things he's asked me to do.... like when he referenced me writing up detailed description of certain aspects of my job, he chuckled - he thinks its funny he was requiring me to do this. So uncool! Anyway, I did write it up the other day as he requested, and I've been asked to redo it now. It's not in simplistic enough terms for him. I was looking it over and am having trouble dumbing it down much more. Someone qualified for my position would have no problem with how I wrote it up. He's either that dumb or just relishing in the fact he has such control - I'm thinking the latter. I know I have a choice here, I can choose not to do it. But, then again, I do need to try to keep my job until I find another. Oh, and the shit he is having me write up, is what I am working on all of next week - so, in reality, by days end, since he'll have the dumbed down instructions I could still be given the boot!

He's such a fucker! Yesterday he asks for a schedule for my beginning of the month data cleanup for a study we run for the CDC, I had to give him a breakdown on which aspect of the cleanup I'd be working on what day. I have been processing these data every month for over 6 years now and he's asking for a schedule— He wants to know what I'm doing on a daily basis now!

Today, he asks me to send him the preliminary output for the data clean up (which I had to stop something else I was in the middle of to set up and run for him as it wasn't on my agenda until this afternoon as it was lowest on the priority list for today). NOW, this afternoon, he sends me an email in response, "Thank you, you can go ahead and proceed" I don't need his fucking permission to proceed!!!! He is such a fucking prick.

So the Leo is patting himself on the back - sends an email today about how he's so happy things are picking up... I responded with "Ironic how it is going as I planned... and as I said it would" (always this way end of summer/beginning of a new semester - Nope, he's crediting himself because he doesn't know how things operate)

I really, really, really HATE dumb asses that don't know shit!

Thanks for asking M! He's still being a prick... this was something from last week that I had posted in someone's thread about working with a Leo:

Posted by lildol
e.g., Mon morning the Leo brought something up (so kindly reminding me that it needed to be done), I told him that it was on my agenda for that morning (and, in-fact, was the next thing I was moving on to). Near the end of the work day he sends an email, copying the director, telling me to do it immediately and that he needed an employee who can be relied on. I'm like, WTF? It was done before lunch. So, I calmly responded (which took a lot of self-control!) that it had been done and he immediately comes into my office, "When did you do it"? Me (looking at him like he has 2 heads): "Uh, this morning like I said. I told you it was on my agenda!" PRICK! HELLO— We've discussed my compartmentalizing my work and doing things sequentially (I get all in a tizzy when he decides he wants something NOW - which is NEVER a priority, just him being a control freak - and it interferes with the flow). He was simply trying to make me look bad in the director's eyes and make himself look like he's the one on top of things.

This week he's been quiet, so far...

My work load has been cut though... not a bad thing really, I have PLENTY to do and get's him off my back some. The Leo divvied up my duties pertaining to my staff to the Scorp and himself (i.e., hiring/firing, scheduling, evaluations, work assignments, and addressing daily issues - which he thought was a product of my failure to manage. HA! No, they are actually every day issues and it is what it is. I so wanted to just say: "Good luck to ya" when he decided they would over take those duties). However, as a result, I have to hold their hands - I can get a little frustrated with this too (Good God, can't you think for yourself? It's not rocket science!) and he in turn will run to the director and tell him I'm being uncooperative. No, being asked to explain the obvious is stupidity and a waste of my time. The bad side to this is that the focus no longer on data quality, but filling seats to "look" productive. On a positive note, the staff miss me and what they considered to be leadership rather than control.

Pfftt! Sure, that's it Strider!!! 😛

Posted by lildol
My work load has been cut though... not a bad thing really, I have PLENTY to do and get's him off my back some. The Leo divvied up my duties pertaining to my staff to the Scorp and himself (i.e., hiring/firing, scheduling, evaluations, work assignments, and addressing daily issues - which he thought was a product of my failure to manage. HA! No, they are actually every day issues and it is what it is. I so wanted to just say: "Good luck to ya" when he decided they would over take those duties). However, as a result, I have to hold their hands - I can get a little frustrated with this too (Good God, can't you think for yourself? It's not rocket science!) and he in turn will run to the director and tell him I'm being uncooperative. No, being asked to explain the obvious is stupidity and a waste of my time. The bad side to this is that the focus no longer on data quality, but filling seats to "look" productive. On a positive note, the staff miss me and what they considered to be leadership rather than control.

lildol be careful because it looks like they are trying to slowly push you out (with less work). I'd start looking for another job, if I were you. In this economy it's cut throat. I swear is everyone going through something these days, I've been working with a psycho myself, thankfully there is an end to it being that it's temporary. I wish you luck dear.

The director emails wanting to see a draft of a project I started last week. Most of what I've been doing is data cleanup, so the document itself is nothing much more than an outline, although it does include an almost completed methodology section as I always start there. No problem, I forward it to the director (cc'ing the Leo) and the director responds that he would like me to send him an update every Fri. Not a big deal.

BEGIN VENT

HOWEVER, the Leo decides he too is going to send me an email reiterating what the director said (Really? Was that actually necessary?), to be sure to email it to him as well as the director at the end of each week, AND on top of it telling me "HOW" to write a report... ummm, let's see, I've been writing these style of reports for something like 15 years now and for 7 years in my current capacity. Yeah, I think I got it down.

I take offense to this! It's condescending in nature and truly was not necessary!!

END VENT