Supervision

[Alan30]

I worked within a company for over 4 years. About 6 months ago I moved to a new location within the company.

Another college who has been longer in this location but has much less service has been put in charge when supervisor is not their (which is most of the time). They have no training at all on how to supervise and this strikes me as a practice that should not be going on.

What happens if I say I am not following any instruction from this person?

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Hello

Then you would run the risk of disciplinary action no doubt. It is for the company you work for to make this appointment and your colleague has been chosen to supervise.

Has any particular problem occured due to their inexperience or is it just a question in general about the perceived unfairness of it?

Regards

[Alan30]

No appointment was ever made. Nothing has ever been said to me, just to the other person. It was the supervisor who made this not a manger. I don’t think a supervisor has the power to make any decision of this nature.

[Sidewinder]

Refusing to follow an instruction reasonably given is likely in itself to be a disciplinary matter. You might not know on whose orders the instruction has been given. That said, it would be good policy for all concerned if lines were drawn regarding responsibility and an announcement made as to this colleagues status and area of responsibility.

Probably the best option would be to raise a grievance to the management stating that you are confused as to whom you should report as it would appear that 'X' has been given a degree of supervisory responsibility yet you have always been aware that your immediate Supervisor is 'Y'. You might also add that X's apparent lack of supervisory experience may cause problems with regard to [example] and [example] if left in sole charge. This may be particularly relevant if you have Health & Safety concerns.