I have a pretty cushy job. I sit in front of a computer all day and type stuff in. As far as jobs go that someone should complain about, I'm about as far down the list as you can get. That being said, in all twelve years of my working life, I've never had a manager get under my skin as bad as the one I have right now. Most recently, I went in to work today (drove for a half hour, paid 7.50 for parking) and walked in to the office only to remember that I had brought my laptop home so I could get some work done over the weekend. I told my boss I'd go home and work from home and he said it was okay. On the drive home I get a call and he says I have two options, either take a half day of vacation and bring the laptop back in to the office (another hour round-trip of driving and 7.50 for parking) or take the whole day off. Than he starts ranting about what was an innocent mistake and I basically told him to put me down for vacation and I'd see him tomorrow, and hung up. This alone, doesn't seem like that big of deal, in fact, shame on me for forgetting my laptop, I'm an adult, I should remember such things, but this guy is just a pain to work with in general. On a daily basis, this guy asks me four to five times what I'm working on and what I've gotten done so far. I'd understand this if I was a poor performer, but I'm one of the most productive people in the office and he's even told me so. It's just his personality, he needs to be in control so bad that he has to know everything that's going on and how it was done. My day though ends up being me explaining to him why I did what I did so he can argue with me for half an hour because he thinks he's got a better idea, only to have him agree that what I was doing was right in the first place. This is the first time he's ever been in charge of anything and he has no knack for it whatsoever. He's had two employees besides me that have both quit because they can't stand the guy. Last week, I went to his boss and flat out told him, "I just can't work with this guy." His response was, "If you can work for this guy, you can work for anybody." His boss acknowledges the fact that this guy doesn't know what he's doing and is a pain in the ass! Than he has the audacity to ask me to help train him so that he can become better! Needless to say, I've been looking for a new job for the last two weeks and if I don't get moved to a different department, I'll just move to a different company. Heck one of the jobs has me in an office two days of the week and expects me to work from home the other three. Alright, I'm done with my rant. If you read this whole thing, thanks, I know I'm not the only one with boss issues and I have little room to complain.
To add to this, I've never understood the guys that tell their boss off to their face and then quit. I could never imagined being so pissed off at somebody that this could happen. Twice now in the last two weeks I've had to hold my tongue because I would have done it. He's the only person in my entire life I've disliked this much. Oh, did I mention I didn't get a raise because he didn't keep his boss informed of the work I was doing? His boss actually asked me to keep him in the loop when I talked with my boss about stuff so that he'd know what was going on. Isn't that my boss's job? Jeez.
What doesn't kill you, make you stronger. Everybody has issues be it personal, family, financially and they carry them around and take it out on others. Start working on your own business on the side and see beyond this job. IMO Nothing is better than having an old A-hole boss coming to you looking for a job
Just don't burn any bridges. Nope, you can't tell someone off to his face and then quit without burning the bridge and the whole damn highway. Realizing of course that we're only getting one side of the story.... I can see someone wanting to know what you're doing or not doing. If you drop the ball somewhere it's his butt. Micro managing is a *****. If you're given something to do and they tell you it's yours to do.... well hell... let me do it. Since he seems to be this way, why not beat him to the punch once in a while and just tell him..."Hey boss.. here's what I'm doing and here's where I'm at". The bit about half day off or take vacation.... well it's probably company policy. If he doesn't follow it someone else will want to run home to turn off the coffee pot or something. He set a policy, or someone did, and now you know. You want out...just keep on with your job search and if it comes to be... just quietly tell them it was good working for you. I learned a lot but it's time to move on. Burn bridges and you burn possibilities down the road.
Heck, my boss doesn't know what I'm doing most of the time, and he probably doesn't care as long as I am selling and making money for him and myself. Being a full straight commission salesman, he always told me that he doesnt' care what I do, when I do it or how it gets done....he just said you know what you have to do to make a living for you and your family ! Now I'm sure if my sales would slip to almoist nothing, then he would probably care. There are times when I don't see him for a week or two at a time.
The policy on working from home is a manager just has to say you can. There are folks that do it all the time, my boss is just a ****. He's gotten worse as of late. To give you a little more background. This guy has only been a manager since January, but in that time he's become the worst I've ever worked for. I've tried every trick I could as far as dealing with bad bosses and have tried things like beating him to the punch. Somehow, instead of it easing his worries, he took it as permission to bother me more. Don't forget, two of the three people he was put in charge of quit, citing him as the reason for leaving. Since then, he was in charge of two other people, one of which I know is looking for another job as am I. Five out of six direct reports quit? To list his other amazing traits: - He can't spell or use grammar correctly. He sends out page long emails to the entire department that are difficult to read. - He takes everything personally. - He makes decisions five minutes before a meeting so that all of the work you put in it for the last five days means nothing. - Anything he doesn't like he calls unprofessional even if the context makes no sense. - When you do include him in a work in progress, he schedules a meeting so he can "watch you do it." Alright, I'm off my soap box, thanks for responding guys.
I've never had a problem burning a bridge. Some people need to be told how much of a jackwagon they are.....directly, clearly, to their face. Just make sure you have something else lined up before hand. He does sound like a PITA to work for. So find something else, its just a job. It shouldn't make the rest of your life miserable.
So you're saying I should be thankful that my boss's work an hour and a half away in the regional office?!!
How large is your company? Do you have an HR department? How long have you worked there? How long has your boss worked there? How well are you paid compared to other companies in the area? How many companies are hiring in your area for a position you are qualified for?
I have bad news for you..This guy is going to the TOP he may even run for president and Win!!! best of luck and transfer out asap.
Get some exercise and drink a big cup of coffee before work tomorrow Big. Take some deep breaths before work and just go in and talk with him immediately. Explain that you do not need to be micromanaged but you would be willing to potentially write a quick summary of your day and provide him with the details via e-mail or a short 5-10 minute meeting each day.
Our company has 150 employees. We do have an HR department. I've worked here for 19 months. My boss has worked here for about a year longer than I have. I am paid about 30% less here than somewhere else. I've got three in-person interviews this week and people knocking down my door for more of them. I'm a commodity apparently.
Thanks Shadow. Went out on a long archery course and shot and hiked for about two hours. It was good medicine. I've tried talking to this guy before. He gets defensive when you try to discuss things that you feel aren't going all that well. He came under a crunch from his boss and something had to get done before the next day that he had no idea how to do. I told him that I'd take care of it after dinner when I was at home. I volunteered to work more hours. I sat down at the computer that night to find two emails and three IMs asking me why I hadn't started working on it yet. I talked to his boss about all this again and even mentioned that if things didn't change I'd have to go somewhere else. I was told that they didn't want to lose me and that I'd probably be rolled into a different team. No indication how long that will be or if it will actually happen though. Hopefully soon, otherwise I'm going to have to roll.
Since you guys were nice enough to respond, I thought I'd give you all an update. I accepted an offer on a new job Monday night and gave my two week notice yesterday. After Labor Day I won't have to deal with my current boss any more. I apparently timed it pretty well too, we had one other person out of our 24-person department put in their two weeks today too. I'm aware of at least two other people planning on leaving as soon as possible. The personal messages I've gotten from a lot of coworkers seemed genuinely sad to see me go and I realised that I made some lifelong connections with some of those folks. One guy had even warned my boss's boss that if he didn't do something they'd probably lose me and was frustrated that they hadn't done something to keep me from going. This guy in particular doesn't speak candidly very often and it was pretty touching. Life is all about change though, and taking that change in-stride.
Big, good luck with the new job....I hope you made up that 30% difference in your pay with the new place. Find a job you love, and you will never have to work another day in your life. A little thought for everyone who works....don't ever say your indispensible (sp?)...stick your finger in a bucket of water, then pull your finger out and see how big of a hole you leave !!!
What type of industry do you work in? Did you make up your 30%? Is the new job, closer? I'd think there has to be an alternative to spending $7.50/day for parking? That's almost 2K/year. Yuck.
Sounds like to me you need to be interviewing at those companies that'll pay 30% more... why do the same amount of work that you can do elsewhere for more money?
