Facing Retaliation from My Manager After a Miscommunication – How Should I Handle This?

Issue with Reporting Manager and Communication Breakdown

I am working in a Japanese MNC. I joined the organization on the 1st of June, 2015. My reporting is directly to the Finance Head (CFO) of the company. A few days back, the Director of the company emailed me to provide the attendance sheet of all employees on a monthly basis. Without any discussion with my RM, I emailed the file to the Director monthly-wise. The Director replied to me that the designation of my RM is not CFO; the correct designation is Assistant General Manager - Finance & Accounts. I replied to the email along with a scan of proof "that from my date of joining, he told me his designation is CFO of the company and even in other documents (like my appointment letter, Confirmation Letter, etc.), his designation is written as CFO".

Now, my point is that after this email to the Director, he had a word with my RM (I don't know what he said to him) but my RM stopped directly communicating with me (he only communicates via email) and even deducted my amount from the Diwali Bonus. He asked me to submit reports of the work I do in the office every single moment along with their time.

It's really impossible for me to provide details of each and every moment to him.

Please suggest what to do and what not to do.

Regards

Hi Sanchi,

You have dug your own grave. What to do? Of course, follow your boss's instructions. In fact, be a transparent glass in front of your CFO/AGM as he has a spice of doubt in your intention. Since you have been a reason for his being rebuked by his boss.

What not to do? Always get your boss involved in all matters since you are reporting to him, even if it comes from the CEO or whoever. Your loyalty will always be the yardstick for your career and growth.

Good luck.

Hello Ukmitra and Sandy,

Please advise me on whether I should inform my RM about sharing the attendance sheet with the director and also express my concerns about his designation. If so, kindly suggest a polite way to communicate this information to him so that neither he is offended nor my work situation is affected.

Thank you.

Dear Sanchi,

Sometimes, employees try to be smart and jump into the numbers game. Your Director asked for a report, and you did not bother to have suggestions from your reporting manager. It was your duty to discuss and share the report with your reporting manager so that if there were any discrepancies, they could sort them out. Secondly, there is a matter of designation miscommunication where your manager is at fault. He might have used this designation to gain some benefits.

Now, try to sit with the boss and resolve the matter. I know he won't stretch the matter too much because somehow he has also made a mistake. But in case he still shows attitude, then you can mold yourself according to the way he is reacting. If he is playing an email game, then it's good; just keep your work updated and revert only to emails. You know I love emails more than words because I know my work is up to the mark, so it doesn't worry me when I receive emails from my boss or any senior.

Best of luck!

Dear Lavika,

Thank you very much for providing your valuable time!

I will do my best to share the matter with RM as soon as possible and ensure that this type of mistake does not happen in the future.

Regards,
Sanchi
Executive-HR

If your CFO/AGM is communicating with you only through emails, play along, as Lavika mentioned, and respond through emails. In a way, it's beneficial for you that communication is happening through emails for now until he normalizes. Whatever you respond has a written record that can't be refuted later, so there are fewer communication gaps. The only thing you need to bear in mind is to be extra careful while replying. What's good for you can also be turned against you if you are not careful.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Hello Sanchi,

Since the communication is happening only through emails between you and your reporting manager, it is still a cold war situation, and the ice needs to be broken to normalize the environment at the earliest. The initiative should be from you, but do it tactfully after the cooling-off period is over. Sending minute-by-minute reports of your work is silly, and the piling emails may irritate him further, leading to more nitpicking.

B. Saikumar

Dear Sanchi,

I agree with UK MITRA and SANDI. If your boss is ignoring you, it doesn't mean that you should ignore him as well. Try to communicate with him regardless of whether he wants to talk to you or not. Confess your mistake and convince him that since the demand was from the Director, you were supposed to act accordingly.

In the end, your boss will have to trust you. Be very sincere with your boss. Remember, the boss is always right.

All the very best.

Thank you all for your reviews and suggestions. It has helped me a lot in resolving the issue. The problem has been resolved almost 80%. I have sent an email to my RM to schedule a meeting, as all previous communication was only through email. During the meeting, the queries and issues we were facing were resolved smoothly without any negative impact on each other. Thanks to all.

Understanding the Dynamics of Organizational Hierarchy

Always remember that the No. 2 person (your CFO) in any organization can be more influential than the No. 1 person (your MD). For example, if the No. 2 person repeatedly tells the No. 1 person that you are not performing well, the No. 1 person may form an adverse opinion about you without even being in direct contact with you.

Maintaining a Positive Relationship with Your CFO

Therefore, never sideline the No. 2 person (CFO) since they are your direct boss. Always consult with them, show respect, take suggestions, and act accordingly if you want to maintain peace. After all, we see each other every day and do not want a confrontational attitude.

Approach and Apology Strategy

You may approach them, apologize for any direct communication, and assure them that you will not repeat such actions. If you are still unhappy, you may consider looking for greener pastures.

Regards,
A S Bhat

Dear Sanchi,

In the professional world, it is beneficial to empower your supervisor by keeping them well-informed. This, in turn, will strengthen your position. In your case, you should acknowledge your mistake of bypassing your RM in person and take responsibility. It may take some time for this incident to settle. All the best.