What would you do if your boss at work was taking credit for your projects?

[gotsmack]

If you were a new low level guy for a huge firm that was top 3 in its industry and your boss REPLACED your name with his on a project that you did by yourself, what would you do?

talk to HR?

For everyone who says to be quiet and take it in the butt, what happens when review time comes around and you don't have anything to show.


given info:
1. there is atleast 1 other guy in your team that is the boss's goon.
2. you don't need the job (becaue you have a second job on the side in a different field that pays pretty good), you're only there for industry exp and to learn something.
3. you could transfer as soon as a new position opens up, but feel that your current department is the place where you would learn the most.
4. talking to the boss will only result in the run-around.
5. you don't want to quit because you're bound by contract.

 

[Rent]

I'd try and talk with HR. If nothing happened, I'd just tell him to eat sh!t and die and quit on the spot. :thumbsup:

 

[RadiclDreamer]

HR, without a doubt

 

[IronWing]

Kill him. Do it in way that everybody else in your firm understands your meaning.

 

[Stumps]

My boss does that all the time, especially when it involves repairs or something similar for his chinese friends and relatives, bloody pisses me off all the time

 

[wasserkool]

i don't suggest the HR route first because you don't want to sour the relation with your direct boss.

I suggest you talk to the boss IN PRIVATE and CALMLY about the situation.

If that does not help, gather all evidence of your work and talk to your manager's boss.

 

[spidey07]

get used to it.

That's your job. To make him look good.

Welcom to work.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: spidey07
get used to it.

That's your job. To make him look good.

Welcom to work.

yeah he is your boss..thats how the real world works when you have these chains of commmand...whoever is your superior you just have to expect they are going to take credit for whatever you do...
Just make sure his superior knows you and your talents....sooner or later it will come through that he knows nothing and u know everything and then that guy will be taking credit for everything you do like he is probobly taking credit for everything your boss does already

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: spidey07
get used to it.

That's your job. To make him look good.

Welcom to work.

yeah he is your boss..thats how the real world works when you have these chains of commmand...whoever is your superior you just have to expect they are going to take credit for whatever you do...
Just make sure his superior knows you and your talents....sooner or later it will come through that he knows nothing and u know everything and then that guy will be taking credit for everything you do like he is probobly taking credit for everything your boss does already

that sucks, whatever happened to adding you name to someone's project instead of taking all the credit.

thats BS, because what happens when review time comes and they ask you what you have done all year?

 

[Alienwho]

Kings and pawns my friend. Are you a king or are you a pawn? Many times the best workers are those who can get other people to do things for them making themselves look good, but in payback he should be making you feel good which you obviously are not. The worlds best leaders always talk of themselves not doing anything but they are just smart enough to surround themselves with smart people. In reality the best relationship is for you to want to make your boss look good and for your boss want to make you look good. It's a win-win situation, everybody looks good. If you make your boss look good but he makes you look bad, well then your boss's true character shows and you better be hoping one of his superiors can take notice of that, thereby hindering any chances for him to progress in the future.

 

[Yossarian]

you had better talk to him now or he will know you're his bitch.

 

[markgm]

I'd say nothing, let him take credit. When it comes time for a review and you are asked what you've done, show them. You have all the proof of the work you did, so the other guy will be called out during his review.

I don't have reviews so as long as I get paid, I don't really care who says what. I only say something when someone either breaks something I did or causes more work for me to do.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Talk calmly to him first and tell him it's an issue for you

 

[yllus]

I would strongly advise against talking to him about it. If he's the kind of person who'd strip your name off like that, he's not going to be the kind of fellow who'll receive a private talk about the issue very well. I can't believe people are actually saying you should do this - this is NOT a 30 minute television show where everything wraps up neatly at the end!

Preemptive action and preparation is, as always, the key.

1) Make it known unobtrusively throughout the ranks of the company that you are working on project X independently. Result: It's obvious to everyone if he horns in at the end.
2) Make sure his name is on the project - just not as the lead. As an advisor or mentor or whatever nice business label works well for you. Result: His ego is fulfilled and he feels no need to cut you out and take the risk of lying.

Edit: Added bold.

 

[petejk]

somehow let people know that you wrote the project b4 it is released...is this code we're talking about?

before releasing it write a release e-mail or one that pre-accounces the project so you get your name out there
first...

 

[WildHorse]

That's nothing.
Wait till you do something innovative in grad school & a professor publishes it under his/her name. It's a common occurence.

 

[Injury]

Am I getting paid? Oh, okay. Nothing more.

 

[Ornery]

At the end of the next project, ask him if you should sign it with his name, to save him the trouble.

 

[Lonyo]

Next time make the thing sh!t and then let him put his name on it.

 

[KillerCharlie]

If your bussiness is in the top 3 for its area, then it's probably pretty big and has an ethics department. Where I work, if someone did that, they'd be reprimanded in a heartbeat if you tell the ethics people.

 

[Kelemvor]

Next time yu email your boss that your project is done, BCC his boss and then when it gets turned in with your name removed, you may have something to do. Otherwise Unles syou are supposed to get a bonus or something for the work, I don't think it really matters.

If your boss is getting something by taking the credit, then I'd schedule a meeting with your boss's boss and let that person know that your boss is removing your name from projects and it's making you feel that your work is not valued by the company and that it's making you rethink your desire to continue working there. You could also mention something to HR and have it put in your official gile in case something would come back to you later on.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Kill him. Do it in way that everybody else in your firm understands your meaning.

I like this idea, or at least metaphorically.

What you need to ask yourself is if it really matters and why. Ego brused? Suck it up. Are you hoping for reward? Then you need to strike hard, and twist the blade without the poor sap ever knowing it.

Politics of the workplace for the upwardly inclined:

Now that you know your boss has done this, you know some things about him/her, foremost that this person will use everyone for his personal gain. Nothing you can say will change this. You cannot reach an understanding, since one will quickly be reached. What will be understood is that you are trouble, and need to be eliminated by one means or another.

First, recognize that this isn't your superior so much as your competition. As such you need to be ruthless and smart.

You will have to keep your ears open for who above him likes him, and who does not. You will also need to gain understanding of the relative power of each individual, which may or may NOT correspond to their official title.

Once you gain a good understanding of the power structure within your organization, mention how you take satisfaction in knowing your project helps the company. Make sure that "your" gets noticed. The person to do this with is your competitions worst and most powerful critic.

You will have to play games like this for a while. Eventually it will get to your boss who being politically savvy will most likely leave you alone understanding you are no ordinary peasant.

Wealcome to the world of corporate politics.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Next time yu email your boss that your project is done, BCC his boss and then when it gets turned in with your name removed, you may have something to do. Otherwise Unles syou are supposed to get a bonus or something for the work, I don't think it really matters.

If your boss is getting something by taking the credit, then I'd schedule a meeting with your boss's boss and let that person know that your boss is removing your name from projects and it's making you feel that your work is not valued by the company and that it's making you rethink your desire to continue working there. You could also mention something to HR and have it put in your official gile in case something would come back to you later on.

Hmm, but as your boss I get credit for what the entire department does.

#1 rule, make your boss look really good.

I'm kinda laughing at some of the responses. The OP is new and hasn't figured out how things work yet. Causing trouble will be very detrimental to his career. He's still TFNG.

I'm curious what "replaced his name on a project you did yourself" really means?

 

[richardycc]

change the name back to your name, then give the report to someone higher up, wait and see what will happen from then on. good luck.

 

[brxndxn]

I would just keep backups of all the original reports that can show that your boss changed the name after the report was completed.

Also, you could think about doing intentionally sloppy work and then having your boss take credit... (ya.. sabatoge)

First, I would talk to your boss directly. Do what company policy states - if company policy states that your name should be on a project you did, then your boss is violating company policy.

Second, if talking to the boss doesn't work, go to HR or his boss. State exactly what is happening without sounding like a whiner - and then ask what he would do in this situation. Be prepared to prove that you completed the projects.