My VP literally hates me as a person, but my actual manager loves me. How will this play out
I hate to stroke the flames of this particular topic (racism) but I have no other place to go that would have actual finance professionals respond.
The VP on my team has made it clear since I joined that he does not want me on his team. I never knew him before this job but he acts like I have seriously done something horrible or harmed him previously.
Since I joined he has tried to discredit me at every turn. My second month on the job he asked my manager and the other senior bankers to put me on a PIP because I told him I needed some clarification on something he asked me to do, we then had to have a meeting with the actual team MD and he said he doesn't understand why he would make such a call when it was a reasonable question.
This caused a chain reaction because I think he "blew his cover" way too soon and my manager caught on, now I think she's trying to protect me by giving me good reviews and ignoring his comments. This has even made him angrier and I've heard he's now talking about diversity candidates being protected, and now he is even worse.
He doesn't answer my questions or tells me to do a task in a very particular way then he copies my manager in his response listing out everything I did 'wrong'. For example "make this powerpoint and include this person that just joined as the CFO as a contact" then copies my manager after saying I put the wrong person after he told me to correct it.
I have tried to push back once by telling him that is how he asked me to do it but he just denies it or copies my manager again with a new fabrication. It is so outlandish and childish that he is acting this way, I feel silly for even trying to report it, I don't know who I can even tell and i am so angry that he is doing this so early on in my career.
Before he started making the diversity candidate comments I tried to smother the idea i was going through a racial battle because its just scary to have to actually deal with it in such a blatant way when I am just trying to live my life and grow my career like everyone else.
I always hoped the people who didn't like me would be harsh but could still act professionally, this particular guy is going full looney tunes with his childishness and I honestly wish I could slap him across the face.
The cherry on top is he is not a white guy, he from India and was brought to New York on a visa so one would think that he would be a little sympathetic to someone who is "different".
Reporting him would also just make things worse because i am the only black male on my team and in my division, I know a few other MD level and C suite black people I could raise this to but that would just destroy my career because i am sure at the end of the day the bank wants to protect itself.
End of rant.
How would this affect my end of year reviews? it seems like he wants me to be pushed out but with my manager i think she would at least make sure i'm mid bucket. Would his feedback matter more than my manager?
I am currently trying to switch teams to another within the bank that seems reasonable and is full of nerds who just want to get their job done, is this a good move?
Tough, and I really feel for you man. You've worked too hard to get here to be screwed with like this. There are certain subcultures in South Asia that are very, very regressive about race/caste/social status. My girlfriend is Sri Lankan & her father has prejudices that are so brutal it'd make a Trump rally go silent if said aloud.
Given that you're both POC, is it outlandish to mention to your manger that you believe there may be a "cultural difference" that leads this man to treat you poorly and you don't think it's going to stop on its own?
If you are not embellishing or exaggerating, then I think you have so much electronic evidence you need to share with your manager.
She seems to have your back and understand the situation.
Tell her exactly everything you have said in this post. The passive aggressive manner in which he speaks to you, the condescending comments about diversity hires to you, and most importantly the lies he tells when he copies her pointing out your mistakes.
Tell her that you’re not looking to get HR involved and cause drama, but you’ve also been raised to not be a coward and want to stand up for yourself.
Ask her to either help facilitate your move to another group, or that you not work with this VP again. And I would also point out how ironic you think it is he is claiming you were a diversity hire given he is a foreigner on a visa.
Hey bud, I am sorry for you but things are going to be ok.
If I were you, I would first reach out to your mentor if you have one at your bank (if you don’t, it’s time to!) - ideally someone more senior than you AND a POC - chances are he/she has been through the same situation as you and will be able to tell you what’s the best course of action and how to bring the topic to your manager.
In the meantime, keep doing your best and keep all records of emails with the VIP. You’ve worked very hard to be there so please don’t let that VP sabotage your morale and your performance.
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