"Poachers"

I've worked for well over a year to land a major account for my company. I'm successful but as I'm implementing the contract, I end up with a new boss. Then this new boss goes and hires some friends from his former firm and they end up poaching into the account. When I catch them, this boss says they're just trying to help. I think he's trying to get rid of me and position his friends to reap the rewards of my work. The only good news - the people I deal with in the account have been telling me what these guys have been doing behind my back. How should I handle this?

Author Unknown

Dear Reader,

You are facing one of the most difficult situations an employee can encounter. If your boss is favouring other employees and is unwilling to acknowledge that fact, there is little that you can do.

The first step to consider is a direct approach to your boss. Lay down the facts as you understand them. Have documentation or witnesses available. Be open to hearing that you have incomplete information, or that you have misunderstood the way accounts will be treated. But be firm in putting forward your read of the situation.

If that meeting is unproductive or if you don't feel it would be useful to even attempt it, there are two other options. If your firm has a human resources department you can approach them to seek help in clarifying roles and responsibilities in your department. Human Resources professionals should know the corporation's standard operating procedures and should support you in ensuring that they are followed. They also can play a helpful role in mediating conflicts within departments.

Another possibility that occurs to me is to go up the ladder if your boss is not responding to your concerns. It is quite proper to approach his or her supervisor for help in sorting through the issue.

If going over your boss's head is not a possibility, or if it is unsuccessful, I'd recommend that you look for other work. If you stay where you are when your boss is trying to squeeze you out and the organization is not supporting you, you are only asking for grief.

Good luck in a difficult situation.

Dr. John

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