So I have a slight problem. 

 

At the moment in my workplace it is looking very like that on the 1st of January there will be less positions available than people. With most contracts ending on the 31st of December, that means at least one person will be leaving. 

 

Most of the team know their jobs are safe, which leaves me and one other person whose roles will not be continuing. There is some hope however in that there is another job in a different team that works quite closely with our team. For me this is very good news as I am very confident that I will get that job. 

 

The problem is that the other person only found out about this job yesterday, and was very keen to apply for it as it was essentially his only chance to keep his job. However the person specification is such that I meeyt it and he does not. In their view it is essentially the case that despite working in the same job for a year doing similar work, he has not had a fair chance to apply for a position that he could potentially be capable of doing. 

 

To make matters worse I know some members of the team in question have been operating under the assumption that I would be joining their team in January and may have given the impression this job was created with the intention of me getting it.

 

My concern is that this could become a source of conflict in the workplace and I was wondering if people had any experiences or ideas for how to avoid the problem?

I don't know what you do or who you work for, but I would say the situation is out of your control.

The boss has the whole thing figured out already, and the only thing you can do is ask him.

I don't know where you live, but if it's the U.S. you will have about 11 million more people in the pool looking at your job.

Good luck, I know from your contributions here, you are a valuable employee.

You should just avoid the subject entirely. If he brings it up, be straightforward though, tell him your perspective.

Edited November 21, 201411 yr by ccabal86

Apply for the job and treat it like any other interview etc. At the end of the day they'll have to employ the best candidate... just make sure it's you! The other chap will have no reason to object if you win it fairly.

Well it has already come up in some regards, although not targeted at me. There has been some negativity already (pulling out of office Christmas dinner, bitching about team meetings where future planning is being discussed etc). 

 

Tbh not getting the job does not even cross my mind at this point as I don't think thats a realistic outcome. Its about managing the workplace relationships on that basis as ts going to be fairly obvious that I am not planning handovers of work on my long term projects and am not planning to leave. 

This all sounds like a huge failure of your employer. Their refusal to lead, and more than likely to cover their ass, they are not being straight with any of you. It sounds like you have the workplace politics under control, but that should never be an issue for you. Your job should be to do your job, and that should never include bad blood between your coworkers. I'm sure this will all work out in your favor... one way or another... you're the Icewolf, and the Icewolf always wins.

I would apply for that new position in my workplace if I were you. Meritocracy rules. The one with the best specifications wins the position. With such way fair and just way, you will not disappoint your initial working partner and your future working partners.

Well so far all is calm

Well I got to the interview stage and I believe I am the only applicant so hopefully all is good. 

 

Hasn't stopped them setting a 2 hour long interview process though...

Good thing they have the time, lol

Edited December 2, 201411 yr by ccabal86

This all sounds like a huge failure of your employer. Their refusal to lead, and more than likely to cover their ass, they are not being straight with any of you. It sounds like you have the workplace politics under control, but that should never be an issue for you. Your job should be to do your job, and that should never include bad blood between your coworkers. I'm sure this will all work out in your favor... one way or another... you're the Icewolf, and the Icewolf always wins.

 

This^^

 

The situation appears to have been handled poorly by your employer; that said it could just be workplace gossip as people probably know what qualifications/attributes you both have and theyre fully aware of what you require for the post, they put 2 and 2 together knowing your the only one that fits the job description and ASSUME.  After they finish assuming their mouths start flapping and thats how rumours get started.  

 

That said if the other person doesnt meet the specifications/qualifications required by your employer its petty for this person to take it out on you; I would love to be a brain surgeon but if I dont meet the requirements for the job I cant really be butt hurt over it.  What do you mean I need to have a medical degree?  Racist!   

 

Seems petty that your getting some flak and obviously feel a little guilty about it but after all you will likely still have a job after Christmas.  It could be worse

 

 

Did you get the job after?  Im going to feel pretty dumb otherwise.

 

Yes I did get the job and I don't think anyone would question it being the correct decision given the way the other guy has completely disengaged and not bothered for the last few weeks.

 

Really the guy has been very silly as there are other posts that will be coming up over the next few months (our funding is weird like that) which he could have applied for if he had taken the initiative at an earlier stage, but has now sunk his chances of.

"you're the Icewolf, and the Icewolf always wins."

 

Hate to say I told ya so, but... I'm very happy it worked out the way you made it work out.