Hi Celine

Welcome to London!  If you'd like to forward your cv to me by PM, I'll let you have any comments I have.

Good luck in your job search.

Emma

Hi Gee

I think you've had some really good advice so far so I don't have much to add.  One thing I have wondered is whether or not you agreed probation targets with your line managers when you started your role.  These should be written down with agreed measures that will allow you and your bosses to objectively assess your performance and whether or not you have passed your probation when the time comes.  For example, communication as a target is far to all-encompassing and should be allocated specific performance measures, e.g. report budget position on 15th of each month, produce weekly report of staff attendance, report instances of aggression directed at other members of staff (!!)  Don't be afraid to sit your bosses down and agree specific performance targets.

Your boss : varies daily! from 1-7
Answering phones: 5
Planning Meetings: 8
Co Workers: 10
Special Projects: 3 (usually 'special' in the sense of nobody else willing to do it cos basically donkey work!)
Filing: 1
Your computer: 10 (I love my machine!)
Putting out daily fires: 9
Maintaining Schedules: 8

Well, he's certainly an odd one.

I'm inclined to agree with others that he is attracted to you.  You mentioned before that he's married and if he has a generally happy marriage he may be protecting himself and his marriage, as he sees it, by limiting his contact with you.  Less contact, less substance with which to fuel his fantasy of you.

But may be wrong, who knows what his motives are.  If he is behaving professionally, however, there may be nothing you can do.  Some people are just cold fish and don't have the need to build working relationships that are friendly as well as courteous.  If it's not creating an atmosphere that is affecting your mutual colleagues, it might be better to accept him as he is.  

I'm not sure about mentioning it to him.  If you think he might be responsive, it might be worth doing but given that his behaviour to date seems to be designed to maintain a distance between you, he may resent this approach.  Cultivate some friendships with your other colleagues.  Over time he may drop his barriers.

I don't agree with the agency's advice but if you feel happier then it was probably the right decision for you.  I do think you should make sure you have an unblemished HR record before you leave the company: were the accusations recorded anywhere?  If so you should make sure there is a written retraction recorded alongside it.  Perhaps you should try and get something on file to counteract the allegations this woman's made about your working relationship with other staff.

It seems to me that you would have a strong case for constructive dismissal though I understand that you would probably prefer to put this behind you.

Good luck with the job search.  Things can only get better!

My favourites are also American tv shows: I love The Sopranos and The West Wing.  Fave comedy is Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld.  I also used to love Northern Exposure when it was on tv.  I've been rewatching them recently on dvd and they are still as good as ever.

Hi - I was wondering for how long you all commute and what you do to pass the time.