Prob with boss

Hi

I was requested by a colleague to support her in a meeting with the company manager where she outlined probs she was having with her immediate supervisor. My colleague has indicated she is being treated unfairly in her role and because her supervisor has indicated he is not happy with her performance, the company might not extend her contract. She received a letter in this regard. My colleague is not Irish but is an EU citizen. She is very stressed. We have a meeting next week with her supervisor and I have again been requested by her to attend in a support role.

Has anyone out there been in this position and if so can they offer any suggestions? Apologies if I have used the wrong forum.

Mangos

It sounds like she's calling you just as a witness, to be at the meeting and note what is said etc.

Employees have a right to bring someone with them to a disciplinary meeting as a "witness" of sorts. To just feel that there is someone there so they can't intimidate her, or treat her unfairly.

You can tell her you would rather not if you don't want to do it and she can find someone else.
other than that let your employer know you are merely accompanying her as support at her request, and that your position and opinion on it is neutral.

I have read and re-read your thread a couple of times and I am unclear as to the situation.
Am I correct in saying that you have already attended a meeting as her support rep. where your co-worker outlined to the company manager (not her supervisor.) the probelms she was having with her direct supervisor. ?? Is next week's meeting an action item resulting from the first meeting??. Did the supervisor attend the first meeting ?? If you can set me clear on these questions then I may be able to comment better.
thanks

If it's a disciplinary meeting as Ci1 suggests, then "Support her" is not really the right term. You're really a neutral observer. If on the other hand there is a disciplinary investigation in progress and you're being called as a witness, then this should happen without the other parties in attendance. In either case, it might be good to ask at the outset of the meeting, what is the purpose of the meeting & your attendance.

Hi

Thanks for responses. To clarify. The colleague approached me on Tuesd morning to say she was going to the supervisor's manager to explain to her that she was having serious difficulty working with the supervisor. She felt for the main part she was not allowed autonomy in her role. She requested I come with her to take notes on the exchange and also to witness and support her. I subsequently did this and the manager insisted (that was my perception) that she talk to the supervisor. The manager also hinted there was no need for anyone else (meaning me) to attend. My colleague said she wanted me to go this meeting tomorrow as well. She is terrified of going in on her own to deal with this. So tomorrow's meeting is to see if the supervisor and she can reach some agreement.

Any further comments would be appreciated.
Mangos

Firstly, would this colleague be as supportive to you if you were in this situation?

If so and you think its the right thing to do then go.

Just say nothing, you're not a mediator and its not up to you to tell either party what they're doing wrong, or take sides.
she only wants your support so just give your support.

Also, let your colleague explain your presence, make sure the supervisor knows your there at her request and that your are totally neutral.

you don't want to get dragged into the politics between the 2 of them.

witness what is said and let them sort out the problem themselves with minimal input.

good luck!!

Mangos, I think ci1 has hit the nail on the head. If you agree to go to the second meeting then you must make it clear to both your co-worker and her supervisor that you are there as a witness only. It appears from your second message that it is a clash of supervision styles that may be the core issue here. Your co-worker does not like the tight controlling style of her supervisor. If this is the case then this is going to be a difficult issue to resolve as supervisors do not change styles just because someone reporting to them does not like it. The company manager seems to have listened to your co-workers issues and directed her to get them sorted out betweem herself and her supervisor.It also appears to me that he did not take sides either way which indicates that he views this as a local issue between the two involved. TBH I would let them sort it out and take care to mind yourself.

Is your colleague a member of a union? If they are, would they not prefer a union rep to attend the meeting with them?

Hi

Thank you for all your responses. My colleague has had her second meeting with her supervisor. I am not sure how the situation will unfold over the next month or so. However, she is now happier that her supervisor has been made aware of her concerns and today went fine for her at work. So perhaps all that was needed a clearing of air. As she is not a member of a union, it was that bit more difficult to handle

Thanks again
Mangos