# Caught between old boss and new boss, any advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619 "2006-09-29T16:28:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/1 "2006-09-29T16:28:56Z")
Here’s the situation. My old boss took a step diagonally upwards, and they assigned someone to be in charge of this office who already worked for our organization. The new boss **doesn’t do anything**. I mean really, he keeps focusing on stupid things and not doing the really important things. He doesn’t step up to the plate. He’s not a good leader. Every time we ask him for his help or for his advice he turns around and says, “Well, what do YOu think?” He has flat-out refused to do some tasks, and he’s friends with some important people, so he’s getting out of them. This means that the old boss has to pick up a lot of slack, as do we all. Whatever, I mean it sucks, but that’s life. But the old boss keeps telling me to “not take that” from the new boss and to “tell him what he should be doing”. I can’t really say those words directly to my new boss. I’ve tried to be as diplomatic as possible but after all I’m his direct employee. Any advice on how to handle this situation? The old boss keeps throwing his hands up at the new boss, but the new boss doesn’t do enough…and I get caught in the middle. How do you bring this up? How do you say this kind of stuff? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/2 "2006-09-29T16:39:42Z")
Isn’t there someone above your new boss to whom you could complain? Well, maybe not complain, but at least make a tactful obversation that perhaps your new boss is not quite fulfulling his duties. Your old boss shouldn’t be putting you in the middle though. Why can’t he take his complaints directly to the new boss, instead of telling you to do it? It seems like he’d be in a better position to be doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/3 "2006-09-29T17:03:42Z")
If I get this right, the old boss, who was _promoted_ has to pick up the slack for the new guy, and he’s counseling YOU on how to deal with the new guy’s issues? I have a better idea, old boss can start flexing his promoted muscles and put the heat on the new guy himself. That way, the “your doing it wrong” talk comes from a person with a bit of authority, instead of from the people being managed. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/4 "2006-09-29T18:03:47Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] If I get this right, the old boss, who was _promoted_ has to pick up the slack for the new guy, and he’s counseling YOU on how to deal with the new guy’s issues? I have a better idea, old boss can start flexing his promoted muscles and put the heat on the new guy himself. That way, the “your doing it wrong” talk comes from a person with a bit of authority, instead of from the people being managed. [/QUOTE] Here here. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/5 "2006-09-29T18:10:33Z")
Well the old boss _is_ putting some heat on. But the way the politics work around here, the new boss has the ear of the Really Big Boss - so the old boss is afraid to say much too. Plus he’s in a totally different department now so he’s kind of washed his hands of things. And rightfully so…his new job is HUGE and he has a ton of work to do, and he _still_ has to pick up the slack from the new boss. I dunno. I’m miserable and I don’t think I will be lasting much longer in this job. I’ve handled two bosses before, but not two bosses that are so different and that obviously don’t like each other. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/6 "2006-09-29T18:22:17Z")
I would agree that it’s not your place to have to do that, and I would assume it’s not going to change anything if you did. If your old boss really does have some responsibility for your new boss’s area, it will become clear through you or preferably through his obvious work product deficiency that there is a problem. If you think you can’t take it but you have a good relationship with you old boss, could you be honest with him about leaving and give him the chance to reassign you? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/7 "2006-09-29T18:24:35Z")
Your old boss needs to stay out of it: tell him that he is no longer the boss of you. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/8 "2006-09-29T18:43:06Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Well the old boss _is_ putting some heat on. But the way the politics work around here, the new boss has the ear of the Really Big Boss - so the old boss is afraid to say much too. Plus he’s in a totally different department now so he’s kind of washed his hands of things. And rightfully so…his new job is HUGE and he has a ton of work to do, and he _still_ has to pick up the slack from the new boss. I dunno. I’m miserable and I don’t think I will be lasting much longer in this job. I’ve handled two bosses before, but not two bosses that are so different and that obviously don’t like each other. [/QUOTE] If you’re miserable and are really serious about leaving, go to Really Big Boss and tell him so - and tell him why. If RBB has any sense, something will be done to get you to stay - most non-profits don’t pay enough that they can afford to lose a good employee. If RBB doesn’t do anything, at least you will know you tried to help the place you worked. Before anyone jumps on me about “leaving the chain of command” - it sounds like she has tried that and it hasn’t worked. I feel for you - I have worked for a non-profit and it amazes me how often people in those type of places get jobs because of who they know - even if they are in a job where they are actually supposed to _do_ something ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/9 "2006-09-29T19:15:16Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady] If you’re miserable and are really serious about leaving, go to Really Big Boss and tell him so - and tell him why. If RBB has any sense, something will be done to get you to stay - most non-profits don’t pay enough that they can afford to lose a good employee. If RBB doesn’t do anything, at least you will know you tried to help the place you worked. [/QUOTE] Ok…see, how do I do this? How do I ask someone whom I never deal with and see literally once a year and no more about this sort of situation? ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/10 "2006-09-29T19:20:38Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Ok…see, how do I do this? How do I ask someone whom I never deal with and see literally once a year and no more about this sort of situation? [/QUOTE] Call him and make an appointment. Strictly business. Have notes with you to remind you of the problems you need to discuss. If the RBB cares at all about the place, he will want to know what is going on. Tell him how new boss is passing the buck and how things aren’t getting done. Do not refer to new boss being a friend of old boss. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/11 "2006-09-29T20:22:11Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Well the old boss _is_ putting some heat on. But the way the politics work around here, the new boss has the ear of the Really Big Boss - so the old boss is afraid to say much too. Plus he’s in a totally different department now so he’s kind of washed his hands of things. And rightfully so…his new job is HUGE and he has a ton of work to do, and he _still_ has to pick up the slack from the new boss. [/QUOTE] Sounds like old boss doesn’t want to let go. Don’t complain to him anymore. Do what you think is right, take notes. Eventually someone will notice the new boss isn’t pulling his weight, and that’s when you step in. Is there someone between New Boss and Really Big Boss that you can go to? E-mail me privately if you wish…I have some first hand experience with this. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/12 "2006-09-29T21:07:24Z")
[QUOTE=SnakesCatLady] Call him and make an appointment. Strictly business. Have notes with you to remind you of the problems you need to discuss. If the RBB cares at all about the place, he will want to know what is going on. Tell him how new boss is passing the buck and how things aren’t getting done. Do not refer to new boss being a friend of old boss. [/QUOTE] But if new boss is schmoozy with Really Big Boss, will RBB really take kindly to that, especially from someone he doesn’t know as well? ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/13 "2006-09-29T21:12:59Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] But if new boss is schmoozy with Really Big Boss, will RBB really take kindly to that, especially from someone he doesn’t know as well? [/QUOTE] If she’s going to be leaving, why does it matter if he takes kindly to it? If his friendship with new boss is causing work not to be done, he needs to know it. Most people who hire friends do expect the work to get done in spite of the friendship. That’s why I only suggested she do this if she was really serious about leaving - to make a last ditch effort to make things better so she can stay. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caught-between-old-boss-and-new-boss-any-advice/374619/14 "2006-09-29T22:12:33Z")
Could you put in for a transfer to your old boss’s new department?