'I gave your job to someone else': Employee returns from sick leave and discovers manager promoted coworker instead of her

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Feb 26, 2024 7:00 AM EST

If being an employee is a challenge, being a manager to several employees is no picnic either. Having to answer to all of their requests, being the person they turn to whenever they have any problem, and yes, even being the person they blame when things go wrong, are all difficult tasks that can really drive a person up the wall. Though the title can be tempting, you have to remember that with great power, comes great responsibility.

This person who wrote this Reddit piece is just starting to realize the responsibility of being a manager. She was offered a promotion and had the opportunity to give her own job to one of her employees. After she offered it to one - Belle, it was quickly becoming clear that Belle was not up to the task, as she went on illness leave for almost two months. The manager decided to offer the job to another employee instead, but that didn't bode well with Belle, who was mad when she learned her position was offered to someone else.

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  • 01
    "I gave your job to someone else"
    via Canva
  • 02
    Replaced my co-worker while she was on illness leave and now she's mad.
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 03
    I'm (31f) a manager at my job. I have two go-to people, Belle (35f) and Erin (24f). Belle has worked for me for 6 years and Erin for 4.
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 04
    I recently got a promotion (started 2 months after being told about it). When I found out, I asked Belle if she wanted my job, and she originally said no. I
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 05
    told her I was going to ask Erin and then Belle said she would take it if option two is Erin. We work in hospitality with Christmas being busy season
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 06
    and I always go on vacation at Christmas, Belle usually covers me during this time. Belle has been on a workers compensation claim for a year, she is still able to work but
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 07
    unable to do the full scope of the job. The day after offering Belle my position, she comes in with a doctors note and workers compensation claim that she will be off indefinitely and
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 08
    unable to work. This messed up my vacation, I had to cut it short and change my flights and sort out work last minute. Because I was leaving on vacation, and Belle was gone, I
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 09
    had to ask Erin to cover me. Belle never messaged me about the position in the 2 months she was off. I reached out, and she would say sorry she can't come back to work yet (I wasn't asking
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 10
    her that, just wanted to see how she was). Erin did a fantastic job managing things while I was away. When I got back from my Christmas vacation my bosses
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 11
    asked me to move positions sooner than later. At this point Belles claim said she may never be able to return to regular duties. She is allowed to work 3 days a week for 3 hours on
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 12
    sedentary duties (our job is physical). We changed Belle's position to an office one for this time. I asked Erin to take my job so I could take the promotion and
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 13
    she was so excited and said she wants the responsibility. I let Belle know. Erin has been doing a great job. I think she's doing even better than Belle would when she was able to do full duties.
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 14
    Now Belle is back, still on light duties on limited days and hours. We still don't know when/if she will be able to return to regular duties. Today, she lost it on me. Saying she
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 15
    doesn't want to work under Erin. That it isn't fair. That I should have asked her if she still wanted it. That I should have waited until she's ready to come back. Or that I should now demote Erin so she can take it.
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 16
    What is the right thing to do! I feel terrible. But at the same time, why should I have to wait until she's better when I have a good offer? A manager doesn't leave everyone hanging at busy
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 17
    time and not reach out at all to see how things are going. Erin was here, involved, interested and showed initiative. What could I have done differently and how to smooth this over?
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 18
    alicat777777 11 hr. ago Belle is being ridiculous. She hadn't been there and no way of knowing if she will ever be up to it. Remind her that you are her manager and you make
    via u/alicat777777
  • 19
    the decisions. At this point, you hope she is insulted and quits. She isn't very useful to you. However, don't outright say that she was skipped over due to her illness or disability. That could get you into trouble. Just point out that you made the decision and stick by it.
    via u/alicat777777
  • 20
    AmaltheaPrime - 11 hr. ago She didn't want the job UNTIL you mentioned who you would be asking to take it. Belle never wanted the position. She might never
    via u/AmaltheaPrime
  • 21
    say it but I can almost guarantee the reason she's making a fuss is BECAUSE Erin is 11 years younger than her. Do not revoke the promotion because Belle is having a hissy fit over the fact someone else got the promotion.
    via u/AmaltheaPrime
  • 22
    You even state that you don't know if she'll ever be able to do the role to full. It would be wildly unfair to revoke the promotion from someone who is capable and has shown they can do
    via u/AmaltheaPrime
  • 23
    the job in it's entirety from someone who did not even want the promotion until they learned someone younger was going to be offered it.
    via u/AmaltheaPrime
  • 24
    grenouilledunorth OP. 10 hr. ago She even said that when she lost it on me today. She said she's been here longer and Erin is 24 and she doesn't want to work under her.
    via u/grenouilledunorth
  • 25
    Sempereternity . 9 hr. ago I mean, just tell her "End of discussion, I will absolutely not speak with you about another employee's promotion. We can schedule a meeting with HR if you would like to bring up
    via u/Sempereternity
  • 26
    your personal issues regarding Belle and why it caused you to scream at me in our workplace." and then refuse to engage her attempts to bring it up.
    via u/Sempereternity
  • 27
    kaion 10 hr. ago "Erin demonstrated her ability to fulfill the role when the company had a need for it. She earned the position she now occupies. End of discussion."
    via u/kaion
  • 28
    MxLiss 11 hr. ago Ask in r/askhr. If Belle was on protected leave, failure to accommodate may have liability exposure.
    via u/MxLiss
  • 29
    grenouilledunorth OP 10 hr. ago I considered this too. Though it wasn't a formal offer, and she never started training for it, no paperwork was done. It was really a conversation, "yes I'd take it", to being off for 2.5 months and me offering it to someone else. Thanks I might post there too.
    via u/grenouilledunorth

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promotion boss worker employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace work coworkers reddit story workplace entitled Reddit rude entitled employee
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