How ro deal with an ignorant passive-aggressive micromanager
I was hired as a contractor by a VP as an SME in product marketing and BI / analytics. He now has me working with his subordinate that complains that my work isn't high enough quality in his eyes and I don't hold myself accountable. Oddly enough, I do nearly all of the work and he simply makes minor adjustments to what I provide. He gets angry when I don't write like a "product marketer" (which is false) yet his suggested edits are often incorrect (both from a grammar and accuracy perspective) and wants to train the salesforce on these incorrect assertions. To make matters worse, he gets flustered if I have a quick question that I need an answer for to move forward in my work and refuses to answer unless I bring in the VP. Overall, he fails to provide deadlines and expects a fast turnaround and questions the amount of time I put in. When I suggest having semi-regular sync-up sessions he refuses saying that because of my rate I should be able to do everything and that we can fix later. I need this job until I find a FT opportunity (which the VP and this person support and are helping me with intros), but I am getting tired of the constant attitude from this person. How do I deal with this situation?
If you are a Contractor, you should be reporting the situation to the agency you are contracted through. If you had been brought in via an agency contract, then any direction should be going through your agency. If you were brought through as an individual contractor - then you should express your concerns via the procurement office.
I was brought in by the VP. There is no agency or procurement office.
Say just what you said here to the VP
I would love to, but I don't want to get fired. This person has worked with the VP at multiple jobs and is good friends with him so I have to tread very lightly I only met the VP recently and it took a lot of work to get this contract which I can explain offline. I know my days at this company are numbered. The subordinate sent me an email requesting tbat I reduce my rate earlier tonight claiming how I replied to him in an email made him feel like I am not an industry expert. This guy really needs to be fired himself, but the best I can hope for is getting another job and being as far away as possible when this person is finally exposed as a fraud.
I've been in this situation. It's usually caused by the minion feeling intimidated and concerned that they can't do what you do. I had a sit down with the exec, and it ultimately didn't change a thing, but at least I felt like I tried.
How long did you stay after that sit down?
About two months. One to make sure that things really weren't going to change, and then another or so while I lined up the next gig. When I left I left them a written explanation detailing everything again, and sent it to the CEO. Things never did change and they all ended up looking for jobs a few months later.
Start cataloging your experiences. You'll need specific examples to have that discussion with the VP go anywhere.
Quit
In these cases, you are limited in options and given that it's 4 yrs later, you left and on to something better. It's a toxic environment and not one worth your time.
This situation sounds toxic. I would continue to tolerate the environment until you can something better.