Facing A Big Issue With Management People- HR, DIRECTOR And MANAGER- Please Help

Hello All,

I work in an automation company and recently we had a hike review. After that, I am facing a kind of harassment related to my work assignment from my manager. I have never heard or seen such a situation before, and I am feeling very depressed about this.

Please suggest what I can do to overcome this situation and find a good solution.

Problem:

I joined here in 2012 with 4 years of domain experience. When I joined, I was informed that after 2 years, I would be eligible to change departments and could have good career progression. I got into a department where the work was very simple, and I felt I could do more than what I was doing there.

Similarly, I requested a change of department after 2 years, but there was some reason from my manager. Based on that, I completed one more year, proving myself, and requested the same in the 3rd year. However, that year the manager changed, and I requested the same from him, but he said it would take time. After some months, there was a mid-year review, and I discussed the same with him, but he rejected it. I then went to HR and requested a change as there was no growth in terms of work scope, recognition in terms of promotion, and salary.

HR discussed this with the manager, and he agreed but requested 3 resource replacements. I managed that. By that time, the project I was working on was very critical. Since my manager agreed to the change, he informed the Project Manager, who then requested a 7-month extension and gave me customer exposure and onsite visits. I thought this was a good offer and agreed. However, I discussed the same with the director, stating that I would agree to complete the project but needed promotion and a proper increment to do so. He agreed, but during the review, they cheated me. I stood my ground, expressed my concerns, and as a result, they accused me of having an attitude issue, turning it into a behavioral problem and warning me.

Following that, my manager stopped assigning me work, and I have been sitting idle in the office for 2 months. I have spoken to him several times, asking for other work, but he is not responding and tries to avoid me. I considered speaking to HR or the director, but I am afraid they might ask me to leave the company.

I thought about waiting and trying for another job, but due to the market being down, I am unable to find a good position outside. In this domain, the company is product-based and growing well, while other companies mostly have very few projects and are service-based. I am now scared and facing this big issue, which is making me depressed every day.

Kindly help me sort out this issue.

Dear Shruthi,

Impersonalness is the bane of HR in the IT industry. If the given information is authentic and complete, then it appears that you are a victim of this impersonal work environment that generally prevails in IT companies.

In hindsight, it can be said that you should have left your job after the completion of two years, i.e., when your request to change departments was not obliged. You hung on in the fond hope that your department would be changed.

Now, things have come to such a pass that the other side is waiting for your exit. Not allotting any work is nothing but a ploy to tire you out through boredom. You have held on tenaciously. Nevertheless, this tenacity may not pay off for long. Be prepared for a call from HR for a "discussion". This discussion will be nothing but an attempt to convince you to leave.

Therefore, at this stage, the only option left is to intensively look for a new job. The notice period should not be a problem because you are essentially a persona non grata for your company. You may discuss with your HR Director; however, I doubt whether anything significant will emerge.

Lessons for HR Professionals: After completing four years in a company, the employee not only hesitates but is "scared" to talk to the HR Director! Is this what HR is for? Posts of this kind continue to expose the hollowness of HR interventions like employee engagement, talent management, and so on. This post shows how HR's engagement activities fail to bridge the mental gap between employees and HR. Sooner HR stops wallowing in this jargon and starts listening to the ground, the better!

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Hello Dinesh,

Hope you are doing well. Thank you for the reply. I have already tried applying for other jobs, but due to the current low market in this field, there are very few openings. I received only one interview call, but they have put it on hold while waiting for some projects. Now, I don't see any hope of getting a new opportunity. It's really stressful and depressing every day!

Hi Shruthi,

While appreciating the advice given by Mr. Dinesh Divekar, it is clear that in the present circumstances you are an unwelcome person as far as management is concerned. In most of the SME segments, HR is only a tool in the hands of management. Therefore, you need to understand the situation and try to move out of the company at the earliest. You should also keep your options open as far as the job front is concerned. Since the company's expectations are skyrocketing for the salary they pay, in other words, it is a multitasking job.

You need to analyze your strengths and weaknesses and try to look for employment based on your strengths. The slump in the market is only a temporary phenomenon; it has to improve over a period of time. Also, I suggest you improve your academics and related training programs, which will support you in getting employment.

Do not lose heart since human beings are made of thoughts, feelings, and decisions. If your thoughts are good, accordingly, your decisions will be good. Also, remember that human brains work in three segments: thoughts, imagination, and stronghold. If you strain too much on imagination, it will lead to action certainly, and many times it is counterproductive.

Always think positively and analyze yourself as to where you might have gone wrong at work (instead of blaming others) and take a corrective step in your life that will yield results in the long run. Please understand ups and downs are generally phenomena in anybody's life. Hence, you need not be depressed for the type of situations arising at the workplace.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU

Dear SHRUTI,

There are two ways to look at any problem: external and internal. While we have practically no control over the external sources, i.e., other people such as seniors, HR, or management, we do have significant control over ourselves. Thus, I ask you to look beyond the suggestions you have received and focus inward. Reflect on your communication skills. Was your communication appropriate according to the organization's culture, etc.? The aim is to convey that sometimes the right thing, when communicated aggressively, may result in negative reactions.

Please concentrate on upgrading your skill sets and strive towards this goal. Shift your mindset inward and concentrate on self-improvement, raising the bar in terms of skill sets so that you become a desirable team member for everyone.

Regarding job seeking, it often takes time to find a good one. Therefore, persevere in your search, and in the meantime, give your best effort to whatever tasks are on your plate. Best of luck!

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have been without work for 2 months now. Luckily, I had accumulated many leaves, so I took leave occasionally and visited the office for one or two days a week to stay updated. Currently, no one has questioned me about my non-chargeable bookings. Recently, a small amount of work from a project I was previously working on has been assigned to me again. Initially, this work was given to someone else, but they couldn't handle it properly, leading it to be reassigned to me. However, after completing this task, I find myself with no new work. It is challenging to sit idle like this until I secure a new job. Can anyone offer suggestions on how to manage this situation? Is there a way to address this issue despite all that has happened?

Dear Shruthi,

I have gone through the issue you are facing. I understand that currently you are not getting any new opportunities to prove your skills outside or in your existing company. But I suggest not to lose hope and keep trying. In case you approach the HR of your company or any management, they might give you a written warning or ask you to leave as they may be just waiting for that one mistake from your end. Stick to your efforts to find a new job, and if given work, perform it exceptionally. Once you secure a new job, promptly submit your resignation. I understand that in such an environment, it will be difficult for you to face them and you may feel frustrated. However, if you remain calm and work with determination, it will surely make them realize the value of the resource they are losing.

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I have corrected the spelling and grammar errors in the text and ensured proper paragraph formatting with single line breaks between paragraphs.

If any person leaves the company and then rejoins after 4 months, we will assign them the same PF number.

Thanks a lot for this suggestion. Last week, my HR gave me a call to warn, but I spoke to her clearly asking for a change. Again, she took my personal details of who are there in my family, etc. I didn't understand why she wanted these details. After discussing with me, she talked separately with my manager as well, but after that, I don't know what they concluded. None of them updated me on the conclusion. I am confused now, whether to go back to my HR to ask what the conclusion is or should I wait until they call me again.

Hi Shruthi,

I believe you can walk up to your HR and ask why they have requested all those details. I didn't see the necessity of seeking such information from an employee on a professional level. However, regarding the change in department, I think you should wait a little longer. Just give them 15-20 days after your last discussion to make the final decision.