Teen Forums - Teen Chat, Teen Help, Teen Advice & Support

Oh my God. I don't even know where to begin on this one.

Okay, so all you know that I lost my supervisor position right? Well, I'm going to go a bit deeper into it and why I am even angrier now than I was.

The full story is that I was told that I was temporary, but it was a certainty that I would get the full position back if all went well because I was the most qualified for the position and because of my performance and years of experience doing this job.

Well, it was ripped out from under me by my store's HR dept. They gave my boss absolutely NO say in the decision, even though it's HIS dept. HR decided to use me and not tell me anything until this new guy started. However, my boss was told, so of course, he told me.

I spoke with our HR manager last night because she approached me and wanted to know why I seemed angry. I told her that I didn't want to talk and she wanted to anyways. I figured that it couldn't hurt because I wanted to know why she took this position away from me.

As you guys know, I suffer from depression and anxiety and although it gets bad sometimes, it rarely affects my job performance. Well, the HR manager name it sound like I was some mentally unstable person that couldn't handle a leadership position.

Question 1: I asked her why this guy from outside the store over me or any of the other prospects.

Her Answer: Well, you're certainly more than qualified to do the job and you do a great job at it, but we feel that this guy's traits are better for the position. Truth is, we're always scared that you're going to have some sort of breakdown on the front when you're doing that job. I'm not saying that you're not great, because I like you as a person, but you have to look at the bigger picture here. I think with your traits and the way that you care so much about everything that you could do something else, even if it's not at Target.

WTF?

Question 2: I have 2 1/2 years experience in 4 different stores, and I've been with the company for 4 years. Doesn't that count for something?

Her answer: Well, your experience does count for something. We did consider you. However, you seem to think that time with the company equals a better employee, which is simply not the case. It doesn't automatically make you more deserving of a position nor does it make you the best fit for the job.

Again, WTF? She doesn't know me very well, obviously. She's only been there for 4 months, so she can't very well judge my performance for the whole 4 years that I've been there. I told her this. I have done my job and done very well at it. Obviously. If I hadn't, do you guys think that I would have been doing this position at 4 different stores? I think not. They must have thought that I did well enough at it to put me back in the position at every store I've been at.

Question 3: Well, if you had all intentions of hiring someone else, then why did you allow me to keep doing the position thinking that I was going to get it back?

Her answer: You weren't the only one that wanted the position.

I told her that she didn't answer my question and I wanted an answer. She tells me that I wasn't the only one filling in for them and that I was only doing it twice a week. That is absolute bullshit. For the past few months, I've been supervising 4-5 days a week. I have been the only one filling in, except for the occasional shift when I wasn't there. They only had someone else fill in when I or nobody else could do it. She told me that that couldn't be true because they were only scheduling people in the position 2 days a week to keep from having to pay someone to do the position while they found someone else. Apparently, they can avoid paying people for higher positions if they are scheduled less than half their time in the higher position, in which I wasn't. So basically, I was being used.

I was quite annoyed by then, but I continued.

Question 4: Are there going to be any promotional opportunities for me here at Target?

Her answer: Well, a promotion comes with status and higher pay. You're going to have to choose between status and working for a company that truly cares for you. Cause trust me, Target cares about you and will PAY YOU MORE. If you go to another company, they won't care about you and you will be put in a higher position making less than what you're making here.

Cue once again, WTF? I was pretty upset by this point and it seemed to annoy the hell out of her. She started texting someone on her phone while I was talking to her. However, I wanted more answers. I explained to her why I was so upset. She didn't even try to say that she understood.

She then tells me that it was MY FAULT that I was so upset about this and made it sound like it was bad for me to be upset. I got angry then and told her that in the four years that I have been there, I have been turned down for multiple positions and that it does hurt a little more each time that I get turned down because I work hard and I know that I am more than qualified.

Her answer: Well, you set yourself up for disappointment. Once again, it's your fault. You would think that by the fourth or so time that you've been turned down that you would learn something from it and take something away from the experience.

Question 5: What exactly is that supposed to mean?

Her answer: It seems to me that you go into every situation the same way without even trying to improve.

Okay. Let's hear it. WTF? She doesn't know that. She really doesn't. Thing is, I have improved my stress levels and have tried to improve things that they said I should work on, ie not being so sensitive, but a lot of that is something that I can't just turn off because of the anxiety and depression. Not making excuses, but it's true. And I HAVE been commended by lots of people as they've seen the improvement.

Question 6: I want to ask you again since I didn't feel like my question was answered earlier. Are there any promotional opportunities for me here?

Her answer: If you had listened and understood anything that I was trying to tell you earlier, then you would have known that answer. That's another thing. You need to be more receptive to feedback.

Once again, WTF? If she's saying what I think she's saying, then no, there aren't. Of course, she's not going to go outright and say it. She's basically telling me that I will have to go elsewhere to get a promotion. I could go to my boss, but she is the one who has final say on hiring and promotion, full stop.

If you guys make it to the end of this, I commend you. I just needed to get it out. I'm very frustrated because I have worked my ass off for 4 years. 4 years. Hardly a small amount. That is 4 years that I could have been doing something else if I had known that I had no opportunities. I could go to the store manager, but he seems to worship the ground the HR executive walks on, so it's pointless. I could go to my boss, but like I said, even though they essentially hold an equal position, she has final say in hiring and promotion. Should I go higher? Thanks!

My head is still spinning from the WTFery here. Also, apparently to her, NO DEGREE = you are only capable of doing peon work and nothing better, basically.

[Dani]elle - Head of the Teen Forumz Mentor Program

i think ur capable of doing a better job than this.. so no need to worry.. opportunities will come ur way

I think your more than capable of doing that job and your boss is just being ridiculous!
You'll get some new opportunities coming your way soon enough.

Michael~