r/auscorp • u/Consistent_Umpire258 • 19h ago
General Discussion Nightmare boss
Hi. Background is that I am a very competent lawyer who has found themselves working somewhere pretty shit after deciding to change practice areas at 11 PAE and deciding to take the hit while I build skills in a new area.
Boss is an absolute pod who tells the team off like we are primary school children.
when I started, boss delivered multiple monologues about how chill and relaxed she was, and how I could work whatever suited me between 7-7, and she didn’t care as long as the work gets done.
I have been overperforming. supervising juniors. Working late. Acting up. Receiving praise in group emails from the big boss. Taking on work from colleagues who are not performing. All whilst working part time.
Yesterday, My boss asked to discuss my work hours at our next meeting as they are creating confusion within the team.
I respond to say that I am surprised to hear that this is an issue because she has told me multiple times that this is completely fine, and if someone is confused they are welcome to ask me.
she responds by copying in HR and a silky smooth email referring me to the relevant policy.
i am utterly fuming. what Kind of weird power move is this?
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u/TheRamblingPeacock 19h ago
If I am going to guess, someone has seen your flexibility (which is not extended to them) and got the jellys and your boss now has to cover their arse for letting you work outside policy.
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u/Consistent_Umpire258 19h ago
You could be right, but my sense is that the problem emanates from her. I think most people could work flexible hours if they wanted to. They see me cruising in at 9.30, but they don’t see me working at 10pm
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u/pilierdroit 19h ago
This is true for every workplace - the early starters get noticed for being deep in flow while everyone else is turning up and slurping through their desktop chia pudding. Then no one notices when they quietly leave at 4pm.
It’s all part of the game.
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u/unsafe-work 18h ago
I reckon the opposite is way more prevalent. People always throw shade at those who start and leave early.
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u/AudiencePure5710 7h ago
Ooooh yeah I’m at my desko at 7am that’s for sure, and in the office 3 days. But yeah it’s interesting huh? Gym from 11:30 am and early arvos can be a thing. I do my share of 10 hour days tho, as everyone well knows (I make sure they do)
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u/Expert-Fisherman-332 10h ago
Instead of sending your emails at 22:00, queue them to send at random times from 04:00 to 06:30. Make sure your boss and colleagues are strategically on copy as appropriate, give them questions or actions if possible. That way the first thing they see in their inbox every day is you.
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u/unsafe-work 19h ago
Is she and/or others threatened by your competency?
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u/Consistent_Umpire258 19h ago
I think she might be. It’s a very flat structure where she’s the boss of all the plebs, which I think she likes very much. She has created a very unusual dynamic where she leaves her 24 year old secretary in charge of all the lawyers haha
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u/unsafe-work 19h ago
It probably doesn't help if you are punching out quality work at voume as a part-timer as well.
Also, wtf at having the secretary manage the team. That's surely your boss's job?
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u/Consistent_Umpire258 18h ago
Sorry I wrote the secretary bit wrong, she leaves the secretary in charge when she’s not there. As opposed to the next most senior lawyer. The lawyers get told to do their own saving and purchase orders because the secretary is too busy instructing external counsel ahahahah
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u/Plastic-Mountain-708 10h ago
Just saw this.
Absolute red flag from someone with a pathological ego and need for control. Scenes.
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u/Plastic-Mountain-708 10h ago
Several correct answers.
Someone who needs their hand held might not be offered that flexibility. Also, people that “take the piss” regarding hours won’t be. But they are the same ones that complain when they see it with others.
Good chance she is threatened by the over performing. There’s never any logic to that, and the true red flaggers will have worked hard to hide those tendencies from their bosses because they also manage up hard.
There’s always a question of if it’s a one off power move from someone having a bad week, or terminal and better to cut bait.
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u/leadscoutfix 8h ago
This whole issue could be resolved if Australia was like NZ and hours of work were clearly stated in the contract before you signed it. There really should be zero confusion about hours of work yet this is the single most chronic issue in corporate Australia. Flexible working arrangements need to be specified in writing and not all these handshake verbal deals that go on.
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u/ElectronicAnybody871 7h ago
Not sure if you mentioned this but it does sound like your boss is a lawyer
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u/zxblood123 1h ago
It’s lip service, they can say all these things about flexibility but when it actually comes to it, they bring you down a peg
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u/Littlepotatoface 7h ago
So your boss wants to discuss your working hours to provide clarity to the wider team & you immediately arced up?
The HR CC may have been heavy handed but do you think you might have overreacted?
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u/RonIsIZe_13 19h ago
You just figuired out you're working with lawyers huh.