I'm new to the group. To any group for that matter. It is hard for
me to open up, but I feel I better do something productive. I have
been an assistant manager in my place of employment for about four
years. In the beginning, my superiors were very well-seasoned
professionals who had high, but fair, expectations of the people who
worked in their division. Over the past couple years, many of my
superiors transferred or left to pursue other things. I'm sure
current my suerior is a good person, but they are not supportive of
me, and this has created conflict in my area.

I manage about a dozen people. The new department head has
established a very friendly rappor with many of the staff. This is
good, but in his efforts to be everyone's friend, he neglects to
address very basic issues. Instead, he will pass them off to me or
another one of his assistants to take care of. As a result, there is
a serious good cop/bad cop thing going on. When I mentioned very
basic issues, I mean things such as dress code, not using personal
cell phones while at work, completing daily assigned tasks, etc.

I should say I work in a very high profile enviorment which requires
everyone to be prefessional in the way they look and conduct
themselves always.

I do what I need to do in a FAIR way. Even so, he will override it.
Example: I recently gave an employee a review. It was the best
review she ever had in her 7 years with the company. She scored a
little lower in a specific area that had been an on-going challenge
though. I had documentation of specific incidents logged just a
month or two before her review. The department head said he felt the
review was "the best" he ever saw. Agreed totally with the scoring
and comments. The employee contested it. She went to the department
head the next day and he changed the score. This was after he read
the review and concurred with the performance assessment. This is
one of the many scenarios that have occurred. Such instances as
these have created a feeling among the staff that if they don't like
something, they can go to the department head to get it changed. If
I expect someone to finish their work, or not talk all day on
personal calls, then that person will go to the department head the
next day and complain they feel their work enviorment is not fair.

I have to say in my true defense that I really am a fair minded
person who feels it is impotant to treat others with dignity and
respect. I may not be perfect, but that is an area I am ok with.
Becuase of this, it is very hurtfl to me that this is happening. It
has begun to effect my career outlook. Since my department head is
only concerned with playing the role of a politician, he has will
not address this in my department with me. In addition, while he is
out of town I have to perform his job as well. The individuals on
the staff have now decided to go to another manager above me to
complain I am not supportive. I help them with their work whenever I
can, include them in discussions when we make major changes to our
work, bring coffee in in the morning once in a while, have started
company recognition programs for them and even incentive programs.

But becuase I have been labled a "bad cop", nothing I do will make
my staff "like" me.

I work 50 to 60 hours a week. Everyday, I have to go through this. I
am becoming increasingly depressed, and have sought help from a
mental health care professional. I have anxiety attacks now whenever
it comes time to get ready for work. I am now considering taking a
step down, and leaving everything I worked hard for behind because I
cannot deal with the unfair back-biting and untrue reamarks/gossip.
I called in sick today for the first time in....years! I was so
nervous about having to "face it" again today that I could not sleep
(I have been awake for 24 hours).

I've tried speaking with people individually, and am always
told "everyhing is great". I have done team-building exercises, and
everything else. I've asked my contemporaries how they think I'm
doing, and they all say I'm doing fine. Many have also been witness
and the back-biting and reamarks directed towards me.

Yes, I've been to HR. Always the same thing, "speak w/ your
superior, and let us know how it goes".

I guess I could say that I won't care about anything anymore if that
is how he wants his department run, but he will then voice
disatsfaction with lack of structure.
I'm at the end of my rope!