Undermining me...

[Magick1]

So, ever have one of those situations of long distance managers?

I am in Iowa, my department Manager is in Missouri and her manager is in Iowa, newly appointed over my Manager.

Long story short, I was out on vacation a couple of weeks ago.

All of my staff (I am a team leader, but feel only like a warden or something similar), are contractual employees from Manpower/Palmer, etc.

During my vacation, the requisition came out to hire 4 people permanent from the temp agencies.

GREAT NEWS.

Not only I have not been involved in any of the hiring, which is fine, I am only a team leader, but I have not been told about the hiring process, who's applied or anything remotely similar.

Short of what the actual employees themselves have told me when they ask me if I have heard anything & I advise NO they come forth with "this is what happened so far".

They know more than me.

Is this normal? I feel so much like a "figure head" where I am here to police the team, make sure they show up on time, etc....and that's it. WTF am I supposed to do?

I am an email jockey only, answering the "follow up boxes" in the public folders for the rest of the company with questions, needs, wants, etc. I am not informed about anything, and for some reason, today it's really ticking me off.

Am I just being too emotional about it all?

Unsure, asking your feedback....don't worry, you won't offend me.

(I emailed my manager today & tried to say, in a polite way, hey I haven't heard a thing, any news, but she did not really take the hint at all.)

Long distance kind of stinks.

[theworm[$]]

I think that you're feelings are justified. It sucks.
Is this normal - unfortunately, from my experiences, yes. Is it right? NO

[Magick1]

This makes me feel like dog doo doo.

Today, my boss responded saying "I don't think I kept you out of the loop - no one knew about this, even the team leads in Missouri did not know, HR would not allow us to release any details until offers extended & the affected people respond".

After the way I expressed that team members are asking me & I have no idea and felt stupid & when the big boss also asked me about it, I was again feeling like a total dumb a$$ because I knew nothing. (Sure makes you look good in front of the big boss).

I so wanted to email her back & tell her "liar liar pants on fire" about the not keeping me out of the loop thing & no one in Missouri knowing anything either.

Because, 2 of my team members came to me stating that a St Louis "rep" not manager lead, emailed them congratulations on being hired 2 days ago (Tuesday).

But, I don't do the pointing finger thing saying "well why did so & such do this then", it's not my style. But, it's sure put me in a fowl a$$, negative, depressed mood right now, let me tell ya.

Thanks for responding Wormie...you are always such a sweetie!

[theworm[$]]