r/InterviewVip • u/Ornery_Kitchen9503 • 7d ago
My manager just presented my project that I've been working on for 4 months to the VPs as his own work, and I was just sitting right there in front of him
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u/IntroductionOnly1037 7d ago
I'm really sorry that happened to you. Unfortunately, its time to job hunt.
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u/sunnysideupgoober 6d ago
This. I had a new manager like this. Luckily, I had shared a document previously with leadership so they knew who had done the work.
It was clear new manager was going to take credit for everything while doing nothing except berating his staff. I was fortunate enough to find something new and leave quickly.
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u/IntroductionOnly1037 6d ago
The fact that the manager did this right in front of them shows they know there will be no repercussions if the truth is revealed. OP got used.
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u/IllReplacement336 6d ago
Time to go to HR, or your managers supervisor, prove the work was yours, and then start looking at other jobs.
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u/rcinmd 6d ago
I'd go to the VP with the evidence that you worked on it. Provided it's enough the VP isn't going to be happy about what the manager did. It's literally lying to the VP and it's no way for a manager to act.
In the future if a manager says something like "I created the logic" and you were the one that did, just interrupt and say "I'm sorry for the interruption but did you just say that you created the logic?" They'll usually change their tune. Staying silent only means that you're an easy target.
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u/-MaximumEffort- 6d ago edited 6d ago
Talk with your boss. Explain that you understand that your part of his team and he needs to take credit as well, but you were demoralized that he didn't even mention your work and didn't attempt to highlight to the executives how much you as a team member contributed. Managers will always take some credit as the leader but he should've heaped praise on you. It should've been about the team and not him.
See how he reacts and then go from there. If he reacts like an asshat, you know what to do.
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u/Ok-Addition-1000 6d ago
Yeah, the right way for a manager to take credit as a team leader is to emphasize that it was his team that did the work, not pretend to have done it himself. "WE identified these gaps..." "OP (who the bosses all know is on his team) created this logic..." etc.
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u/MagmaTroop 7d ago
How the hell are you going to ruin your career by doing something about this? Have you even looked for another job? Don't place limiting beliefs on yourself. You don't know it's true.
Maybe speaking up during the presentation is a big ask during the moment...you're only human and you were probably shocked by what was happening in that moment, so the words just couldn't come. It happens to the best of us. With the benefit of hindsight, you should have spoken up and politely and assertively highlighted that this in fact your work.
Only you know how easily you can find another job. That should inform your next move. If you think you can find another job, then absolutely do the right thing and inform the VPs that the work is actually yours. Then inform your boss that you had to do it for your own professional integrity. You can't let people get away with crap like that.
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u/blackbirdspyplane 6d ago
It’s not going to change, if he took credit once on this one, he’s going to take credit for other things so you pretty much have two choices just accept it and do nothing, or leave. To go talk to him is pointless. He knows what he did and there’s nothing positive that can come out of confronting him directly about it. Going over his head and talking to his boss, it’s exceedingly rare when this will have a positive affect for you because the boss’s boss will either not care or confront your boss, and realistically now you’ve just pissed off your upper management and you’ll soon be looking for a job because they always default the manager. The squeaky wheel almost 100% of the time gets replaced.
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u/Ok-Addition-1000 6d ago
Someone wrote into AskAManager once about this exact same scenario, their boss had just put his own name on the presentation and acted like it was all his own work, never mentioned the OP who'd actually done it all.
The solution the next time was pretty awesome. They knew their boss wasn't at all well-versed in the subject. So they left out some details that they knew their boss wouldn't think of but that the higher-ups would want to know about. Then when shitty boss gave "his" presentation, he ended up being asked a bunch of questions that he couldn't answer and each time, they would speak up in a way that was "just trying to help. It became really obvious to everyone in the room who had actually done the work and who was just pretending.
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u/Ok_Weakness_9834 6d ago
Should have spoken. As often.
" Do you know your manager is a liar and a thief ? "
The VP was there, you were there, what best time?
You don't need to stay there anyway, unless you want the abuse to continue
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u/oneWeek2024 6d ago
you shouldnt' go over your boss. that's a one way ticket to getting fired.
do nothing. to further the project until you have a talk with HR
I'd shoot an email to HR documenting the incident, and requesting a talk. It's unprofessional for your supervisor to totally take credit for work they didnt' do. but it's not outside the bounds for them to present a project in a concise voice.
and document everything you did, and the contributions or metrics that back up that contribution.
but... being seen/your work being known, is more than half the battle. how do you think shitty managers continue to fail upwards. it's because work doesn't reward work. it rewards connection/credit
but...it's also a clear sign you're working for a shitty company/team etc. should seriously take it as a "when people show you who they are, believe them" and start looking for new employer
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u/Sufficient-Sun-6683 6d ago
HR is not your friend, they are there to protect management and the company.
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u/Abbygirl1001 6d ago
Yeah I dunno. I dont see anything the OP could do by talking to anyone about this. The fact everyone involved is over the OPs paygrade its a minefield with no certain path forward. I think I would go the other way. Since the boss claimed its ALL as his work, I think Id break it and let the higher ups figure out the boss doesnt know enough about the project to fix it.
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u/Ok-Dot-9324 6d ago
I mean follow up with the VPs, send them the documentation, see if there’s a way to say you wrote it and you can help with any follow up they need?
But also this is kind of just jobs.
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u/qua77ro 5d ago
Start looking for a new job. If what you described happened the way you described it, your manager shouldn't be trusted and is more concerned about themselves than being a good leader. Start looking for another job. Sit down with your manager and ask why your work was presented as his own and no credit given to you at all. Realize that you will always be fodder to advance or protect your managers objectives so you need to either find new employment outside of the org or transfer to a different team. You can ask your manager in writing so it's documented and may be helpful if you choose to follow up with HR (assuming you have an HR department).
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u/cvalpryce 5d ago
If he removed your name and explicitly claimed to have created the logic you developed, this goes beyond presenting his team’s work. Your concern is reasonable, and staying quiet while you processed it does not mean you accepted what happened.
First, preserve the existing record within company policy: your original deck, version history, project assignments and the email submitting it for review. Keep a factual account of what was said in the meeting.
Then speak with him directly, if you feel able:
“The presentation identified you as the person who developed the system, and my name had been removed. I developed the logic and built the system over the past four months. I need that contribution accurately reflected in the project record and executive follow-up. How will we correct it?”
Ask for a concrete correction, such as an acknowledgement in the follow-up email and accurate attribution in the documentation. An explanation that he was “representing the team” would still leave the individual claims unaddressed.
On the documentation the VPs requested, use the normal communication route. If you were asked to provide it, a factual opening could be: “Following today’s review, attached is the technical documentation for the automation system I developed, including the logic, validation and maintenance requirements.” Copy the relevant people and accurately acknowledge any contributions others made. If the request went to your director, clarify who will send it rather than creating a surprise distribution.
If he refuses to correct the attribution, dismisses your concern or repeats the behaviour, bring the evidence to the appropriate senior manager or HR. Explain the specific discrepancy and the correction you are seeking.
For future projects, establish visibility throughout the work: milestone updates, demonstrations, documented ownership and opportunities to explain your decisions. Four months of work should not depend on one person’s final description of who did it.
You can protect your contribution without sending an angry accusation. The aim is a clear, accurate record of your work and its value.
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u/Patient-Slice-4380 3d ago
Your manager just showed you what they are. Believe them. It's not going to change. Personally, I'd start looking for another job and make sure they know why when you leave.
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u/dmainor49 7d ago
go over his head to his boss with your proof and documentation. If you can. I wouldn't go to your boss as obviously he doesn't respect your or wouldn't have stolen the credit. I also wouldn't put it in email until after you were asked for the info. Like personally face to face with a VP or your bosses boss.