Hello. I need some advice. Last year, I took on someone at work to mentor to help her with a promotion. She and I are both part-time and don't have many overlaps at work so the process has been slower that we both would have liked. I just need to go over some procedures that she has to know in order for the promotion. I offered to meet with her outside of work to go over them, but with our busy schedule, it hasn't been possible.
Fast forward to present day, our company is eager to promote people (so I'm told) so our supervisor was asked by his supervisor who was next in line for a promotion. Our supervisor said it was my mentee and both of the supervisors signed off on her promotion paperwork. My mentee told me that the paperwork was signed off and she started to sign off on her portion of the paperwork in front of me. I told her not to sign off on them as she doesn't meet all the requirements mentioned on the paperwork for the promotion. I pointed out all the procedures she didn't know and she admitted that she didn't know them. The next day, I told my supervisor that she's not qualified for the promotion yet. My supervisor said that he didn't know that she didn't meet all the requirements. I thought the promotion was held off as she would need one more supervisor's signature for the final step. The next thing I know, the third supervisor signed off on her promotion and she has now been promoted to the same title as me.
I was furious when this all took place and gave myself a few days to cool off and now, I'm mostly disappointed in my mentee for lying on the paperwork and feel disrespected.
My question is, what is my next step? Do I complain to my supervisors? Do I talk to my mentee? Do I suck it up and go on? Do I look for another job? Do I take this up to HR?
I have so many feelings about this that I don't know where to start. What should I say?
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@BunnyDragon: this probably won't be popular but I think you should do nothing.
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@BandDmommy: I agree. The best thing to do is nothing.
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Wait, she didn't meet the qualifications for promotion, then had someone else sign off on it, so she DID get promoted? That's pretty unethical. Report to HR is my vote. Or talk to that supervisor and ask what happened-maybe he tutored her one day?. (can you afford to burn a bridge? My company is so big, it's kind of not a problem here...)
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@BandDmommy: I'd agree. Especially since you already talked to your supervisor. Maybe they're willing to promote her without meeting all the requirements? Or there could be something else going on you aren't aware of.
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Just curious how do you know she lied? Maybe they decided the missing skill she could learn once promoted? Maybe talk to your mentee and find out specifics before considering going to another supervisor or HR. Personally, this seems like a no win situation, you mentioned your concern to a supervisor already.
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I don't see why you would do anything. You made your concerns known to your supervisor, that seems to be the extent of what you should do. I don't think it's really any of your business at this point - will it affect you in any way?
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As long as YOU didn't have to sign off on the promotion (aka your name on the line saying she had the qualifications), I would do nothing. I think at this point she will either sink or swim. If she sinks you dont want to come down with her.
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Our company has a list of qualifications the candidate must meet and demonstrate before a promotion. There are two people in my department who can train for the promotion and one of them is me. The other person does not like to train people so I do it. My mentee also admitted to me that she doesn't meet all the qualifications yet.
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@BunnyDragon: It really doesn't matter. Three supervisors agreed, and signed off on, the promotion. At this point, you risk tanking your next promotion opportunity (and/or damaging your reputation) if you pursue this further (by questioning the judgment of the three supervisors).
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I understand your frustration! But I would do nothing either. I mean, multiple people signed off on it and at least one person knew that she didn't meet the qualifications.
I have totally been enraged before... Office politics made it possible for the people that shouldn't get promoted, be promoted
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I wouldn't do anything, several supervisors signed off on the paperwork and apparently didn't care enough to verify that she was qualified.
Also though, you've had a year to prep her for this promotion and haven't. I think it's big issue within your company that her promotion would have been delayed because the one person that can train her (you) has such limited availability. I'm not saying that's your fault, but she shouldn't be punished for that. I think that could be discussed with HR; that there should be more training available.
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If you're a supervisor and therefore have some authority and responsibility then I think you should say something. I think the best idea would be to have a quick, factual and unemotional chat with your supervisor (or whoever's next up the chain) noting your concerns ("employee hasn't met these requirements for promotion"). I don't think "complaining" is the way to go about it but at least your arse is covered if sh*t goes down due to her lack of training.
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I agree that since your signature wasn't required, you should do nothing. You said they are eager to promote people so maybe they are ok with her training on the job.
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