I generally agree with the experts’ stance on Elizabeth’s difficult situation, especially on the recommendation that she should move away from her current position. Although Elizabeth excels at her position, and it would be unwise for her to stay in an environment where her manager and her colleagues do not respect her. She should look for other jobs, even if it means that she forfeits her status and future potential at her company. Ideally, she finds another job that is commensurate to her current job and can continue to grow her career there. I also second the idea that Elizabeth should at least transfer to the new London site. Ultimately, Elizabeth’s wellbeing is the most important. She is miserable in her current situation – a change of scenery and new colleagues are necessary. Power, money, and status are no substitute for health and happiness.
As a manager, I would have intervened when Claudia was being sent to the investor conference to be groomed as a possible mentee for Elizabeth. My goal as a manager would be to set clear expectations about how personal issues should not impact the office environment, however I will make reasonable adjustments when I can to support the workers. Additionally, I would hold private conversations with Elizabeth to assess how the breakup is affecting her work and wellbeing. To ensure the happiness and efficiency of the employees, I would offer support and reemphasize the importance of remaining professionalism in the office. If the tension persists or worsens, then I would consider transferring one employee to another team or office. Creating space might be necessary to ensure the productivity of the entire team.
