Boss Taking Credit - How to Handle

[Anonymous]

I work in a conservative (not politically, but atmosphere) office that's very hierarchical and fairly competitive. I report up to my immediate boss, who reports to the head of the office who reports to the general counsel. It's a large multinational corporation. I've been there about 6 months.

Over the past couple of weeks, my boss has twice done things that made me feel like he was deliberately trying to cut me out and/or undermine me. First, after I re-wrote something that another team member had written (it wasn't very well done and made more sense to re-write rather than edit), my boss sent it along for approval without including me on the email chain or (as far as I know) any acknowledgment that I'd contributed. The paper is signed by him and the final version is nearly verbatim what I wrote. It's not just that he signed it (that bugs me, but I supposed there are defensible reasons for doing so), but also that he left me off the email chain that makes it feel shady.

Next, in a meeting with my boss's boss that I was also in, my boss opened the meeting with an anecdote (not personal to me, though) that I'd noted to my boss 15 minutes earlier. He then proceeded to relate information from a government source that I had obtained without any reference whatsoever that he'd received it from me, and making it sound like he'd obtained it first hand (e.g., "the White House has expressed a great deal of interest in xyz.").

I'm not really sure how to handle. The organization is very hierarchical, as I mentioned, so I don't have a lot of exposure to those above me except through my boss. Given that it feels so deliberate (and that I'm pissed and not sure I could hide that very well), addressing it directly seems like a questionable idea. I've honestly never worked with someone like this. Do I just keep my mouth shut, keep doing good work and figure that eventually it'll get noticed or I'll be able to transfer away from him? Am I totally overreacting? Any coping tips?

[Anonymous]

In an organization or institution, your work is the work of the organization. If you work on a project, it is not Amy's Project, it is the Gizmo Company Cog Project. Your name may never appear on anything associated with it, ever, no matter how much you contribute in writing, development, or research. The client or boss or hierarchy may never know your hands touched it. If you have a good boss, your boss will let the client and hierarchy know of your valuable contributions. But the notion that you would be acknowledged and cc'd and that this would go forward as your work is not only naive, it's inappropriate. Especially in a workplace that you know is hierarchical. You describe it as "deliberate" but this is just business. It's not about you in any way. You were not left off the email. You didn't belong on it.

As for the anecdote, why would you have been mentioned? Again, you sound both naive and arrogant at the same time. Kudos to you for passing on to your boss valuable info that he used for intel with the big boss and you made him look good. THAT'S YOUR REWARD. That's exactly what you should be doing. Making your boss look good. And you did. I can't imagine that you would think he was going to turn around and say "This anecdote was brought to me by Amy."

You really sound like you need to get your head straight."

[Anonymous]

Stop telling him things.

[Anonymous]

Let me guess you are female and your boss is male.

[Anonymous]

Transfer.

[Anonymous]

You also need to see how this plays out in your review.

[Anonymous]

Is this your first real job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You also need to see how this plays out in your review.

+1, the only person you need to impress is your boss. Are you a special snowflake who needs everyone to know how wonderful you are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In an organization or institution, your work is the work of the organization. If you work on a project, it is not Amy's Project, it is the Gizmo Company Cog Project. Your name may never appear on anything associated with it, ever, no matter how much you contribute in writing, development, or research. The client or boss or hierarchy may never know your hands touched it. If you have a good boss, your boss will let the client and hierarchy know of your valuable contributions. But the notion that you would be acknowledged and cc'd and that this would go forward as your work is not only naive, it's inappropriate. Especially in a workplace that you know is hierarchical. You describe it as "deliberate" but this is just business. It's not about you in any way. You were not left off the email. You didn't belong on it.

As for the anecdote, why would you have been mentioned? Again, you sound both naive and arrogant at the same time. Kudos to you for passing on to your boss valuable info that he used for intel with the big boss and you made him look good. THAT'S YOUR REWARD. That's exactly what you should be doing. Making your boss look good. And you did. I can't imagine that you would think he was going to turn around and say "This anecdote was brought to me by Amy."

You really sound like you need to get your head straight."

THIS - 1000 times. You really sound young and immature. The fact that your boss is using information you provided and/or work product is a positive thing. If you need a pat on the back for everything you do, you will be sorely disappointed in the real world. The only reason I would be concerned would be if your boss was using your information and rewrites and then gave you a review stating your work product was lacking. Otherwise, understand that by him using your work product, that is your acknowledgement that you are performing to an acceptable level.

[Anonymous]

Too soon to tell. I am going to disagree with the PPs a bit and say that certainly, your boss is not a great boss. A really good supervisor who is secure in their position/value will acknowledge "down" where appropriate. That said, it does not seem you have any reason to think yet that he is undermining you. (Has he discussed/praised your work, e.g. the rewrite of the memo?) He may not be exactly promoting you, but at this stage, for all you know he is happy/satisfied with your work and that will be reflected in your review/work assigned to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In an organization or institution, your work is the work of the organization. If you work on a project, it is not Amy's Project, it is the Gizmo Company Cog Project. Your name may never appear on anything associated with it, ever, no matter how much you contribute in writing, development, or research. The client or boss or hierarchy may never know your hands touched it. If you have a good boss, your boss will let the client and hierarchy know of your valuable contributions. But the notion that you would be acknowledged and cc'd and that this would go forward as your work is not only naive, it's inappropriate. Especially in a workplace that you know is hierarchical. You describe it as "deliberate" but this is just business. It's not about you in any way. You were not left off the email. You didn't belong on it.

As for the anecdote, why would you have been mentioned? Again, you sound both naive and arrogant at the same time. Kudos to you for passing on to your boss valuable info that he used for intel with the big boss and you made him look good. THAT'S YOUR REWARD. That's exactly what you should be doing. Making your boss look good. And you did. I can't imagine that you would think he was going to turn around and say "This anecdote was brought to me by Amy."

You really sound like you need to get your head straight."

THIS - 1000 times. You really sound young and immature. The fact that your boss is using information you provided and/or work product is a positive thing. If you need a pat on the back for everything you do, you will be sorely disappointed in the real world. The only reason I would be concerned would be if your boss was using your information and rewrites and then gave you a review stating your work product was lacking. Otherwise, understand that by him using your work product, that is your acknowledgement that you are performing to an acceptable level.

+1. OP, that is your job. Particularly if you have only been there a short time. If you can't get comfortable with that and instead start making an issue of it, you aren't going to last long in the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me guess you are female and your boss is male.

I think this is highly likely and that OP believes it is a sign of sexism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too soon to tell. I am going to disagree with the PPs a bit and say that certainly, your boss is not a great boss. A really good supervisor who is secure in their position/value will acknowledge "down" where appropriate. That said, it does not seem you have any reason to think yet that he is undermining you. (Has he discussed/praised your work, e.g. the rewrite of the memo?) He may not be exactly promoting you, but at this stage, for all you know he is happy/satisfied with your work and that will be reflected in your review/work assigned to you.

I disagree that this makes him not a great boss. Not at six months. OP has not demonstrated sufficient consistency for her boss to take the chance of starting to promote her to the attention of his superiors. Further, OP is not yet in a position to fully understand the internal politics yet, especially given the hierarchical nature of the organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You also need to see how this plays out in your review.

+1, the only person you need to impress is your boss. Are you a special snowflake who needs everyone to know how wonderful you are?

Not true. Your boss is NOT the only person you need to impress, especially if you have any ambition to move up or around in a company or an organization.

The anecdote is not a big deal. But your boss passing off something you wrote as his own writing is a big deal, especially if it wasn't made clear that that would happen (meaning part of your job is explicitly to write things for him).

Some bosses will use the work of the people under them to boost themselves while intentionally keeping their underlings in a corner, not allowing them exposure. It's a crummy tactic and a horrible way to manage.

But you have to tread carefully. I would not do anything about what has happened, but just adjust your style/approach going forward. Don't give him information without being in earshot of other people and/or copying people on the email. So, for example, if you rewrite something, email it to him and XYZ person with a blurb "I did some edits or I recrafted this because..." This gets your name out there and/or connected to the work.

Sure, the other PP is right that the work you do for a company belongs to a company, but that does not mean it's okay for a boss or a coworker to take credit for your contribution. If you allow that to happen, you will find yourself planted and unable to move your career forward while other people get recognition, promotions, et cetera, for the work you've done.

You also need to identify someone higher up -- either a colleague of your boss or above -- and really network with that person. Get to know them, keep in frequent contact. Make it impossible for your boss to shut you out.

[Anonymous]

Shit rolls downhills, the opposite is true for praise. Do you expect the CEO of the company to personally thank you for that typo fix? Are you a millennial?