A work "WWYD?" Long

ASmallWonder

Ok so I alluded to this in the spam thread earlier this week and I can say a little more now.  I'm an assistant who was hired to support two VPs and some directors.  One of my VPs left right before I went out on maternity leave.  Around December our division head shuffled support and gave me a new second VP.  My first/primary VP (we have a mutual adoration lol) is now leaving (I'm devastated).  I've struggled with the new VP because she is extremely demanding and, while I'm doing my best, I always sense a feeling of dissatisfaction from her, though she's never said so.

Here's the issue - I've never received a formal review in my 3+ years here because as admins, we don't really have goals beyond "Do what they ask you" and that changes by the minute.  The VP leaving is the person I officially report so and she's ensured I've received "satisfactory" ratings for merit increases each year.  With her leaving, I have no formal proof that I've been considered good at my job, beyond the fact that I'm not on a performance plan.  I've never had my successes, or my boss' happiness at my support of her, documented, if you know what I mean.

Does it make any sense to go to her with these concerns before she leaves?  We're outside of the review window so I'm not sure there's anything she could do that even makes sense but I feel a little like a sitting duck.

cafecreme

Yes, I think that's very important. Esp. with the new VP coming in. I had something similar happen to my SIL. She was an assistant to the head of a department at a university. When he left, a woman took his place, and ended up letting her go less than 6 months later. 

ColieAnn31

It never hurts to talk to her about it. You'll never know if there is anything she can do unless you talk to her so I think it's extremely important to bring it up before she leaves. Good luck!

Cricket81

Yes! Even asking her to write a letter for your file, or a letter of rec. for you just to keep on hand would be a really good idea.

ASmallWonder

Thanks everyone.  You confirmed what I knew, deep down, I should do.  I just spoke with her and didn't delve too deeply into specific concerns but just mentioned that there's no record of my job performance and I'm not comfortable leaving it up to newer supervisors to dictate how I'm viewed here, without the ability to counter based on my past performance.  She's going to write the review even though it's not "HR official" just so I have a baseline with the new boss.

WasNotWas

Also, keep all e-mails, positive and negative, regarding your performance for future reference.

BC&LM

stargazer763 said:

YES. Talk with her ASAP.

This.  Ask her to put a letter in your personnel file.

Murphie82

In addition to getting documentation from the exiting VP, I second what @34blondie said - get a meeting with the new VP now and find out what her expectations are with respect to what you do for her.  If she seems unhappy with you, it's definitely best to deal with that head-on than to avoid the topic with her.