View Full Version : Work has gotten very bad
Title says it all.
Manager and supervisor keep telling me I'm disorganized. Maybe I am, a bit, but I'm also overwhelmed by too much work. This time last year, we had 4 full-time people in my department doing imports. Now we have just two - me and supervisor. We have one girl out on maternity leave until early March who did both imports and exports. We have two other people, but they are gearing up for a huge project, and they can only help out perhaps half the day. They haven't been in the business long and can't do the full range, but they can do bits that help.
Being forced to take several days off in December to use up my vacation time didn't help, on top of Christmas Day and New Year's. Then the two week severe cold spell has wrecked havoc on deliveries (diesel engines don't like the cold), and truckers can't make or are being late on deliveries, which mean we spend a lot of time on the phone explaining to customers, trying to calm them down, and trying to find different truckers for some shipments.
Yesterday, supervisor sat down with me and helped organize my file cart better. Thing is, if I don't have the time to get to things, then being better organized doesn't really help.
Work was just horrid this afternoon. Started out all right. I kept having issues to deal with. I spent most of my lunch hour on the phone dealing with a massive problem. At 2:30 or so I mentioned to supervisor that I'd not been able to get to some important things. She glared at me and said I better get them done. More problems. Customers demanding things I *had* to get done right then and there. Manager sent me an email saying if I'm "following the process [of stuff in order to be done in my cart]" then I shouldn't have any problems getting stuff done. She actually expects that if I have problems that take up 1/3 of my day that I'm still going to get everything done. Talk about unrealistic expectations! I was told OT has to end. I was still there at 6 as I had other things (rate quotes to customers) that had to be done before I left, otherwise they would scream bloody murder on Monday. I told manager what I had been able to be done. She said I can't expect them to do my work. I told her I wasn't expecting them to do my work, but I was simply stating a fact that I had not been able to get to a lot. She just shrugged and said I'd have to do it on Monday. No kidding! I'm sure she talked to supervisor after I left and they pulled my file cart apart. And I'm sure I'll hear about it on Monday.:(
The one new girl is a golden girl and being treated like the 8th wonder of the world since she learns so quickly. She has very little industry experience, though, and had been off 2 years after having a baby. Maybe 5 years total experience in a different area. She can do no wrong.
I had been planning on spending $1K on a new dive computer when I got my income tax refund. That's not going to happen now. I've got the $1K emergency fund that Dave Ramsey recommends, but no other savings besides my current 401K (balance is $30K right now) and IRA (rollover 401K from previous job, balance is nearly $57K). I would be willing to cash out the current 401K, regardless of the tax penalty. I've been spending my spare cash on diving.
I'm selling my one rifle (including ammo and accessories) - should net me about $1K. My diving drysuit has been up for sale for a month, but no takers as of yet. Doesn't help that it was a custom suit, but I've shrunk too much for it. It's been reduced to $950. I've got an underwater camera I don't use up for sale ($100). Trying to sell any bits and pieces I can. I'm going to be going over my budget with a fine tooth comb this weekend. Really my food budget is the only place I can really cut. The weather has been so cold here that I've had to keep my heat more and higher than I normally would.
A friend's son helps people with their resumes on the side, so I'm going to be sending mine to him this weekend.
Tradd, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I have no advice, except don't give up anything you love. Otherwise, do what you're doing--circulate your resume and just do your best to toe the line, as unrealistic as it is.
I like where I work, for the most part, aside from the recent BS. I can work in jeans.
I'll sell gun stuff before I sell diving gear I use. My laps in the pool 3-4x a week keep me sane. The membership is a bargain at $30 a month. Plus I shower after swimming, which saves on my gas hot water a wee bit. At least it's the diving off season. Nothing but a pool dive once a month. At least I have the quarry for cheap local diving ($20/day plus gas and tolls, 1.5 hour drive each way). The Great Lakes diving season doesn't start until mid-May and the quarry opens in early April.
probably a little late but I would keep a short and simple log of calls that have nothing to do with the list of work in your cart. Present it to management. I bet every company is in this fix right now.
I think you are wise to think ahead. My husband always says "good luck is the intersection of preparedness and opportunity".
I would put off purchasing any diving equipment for a couple of months and save as much as possible, just in case this doesn't go in a positive direction. By springtime, you should know better how things are going. If bad, you'll also have your tax refund to help out and if not, well bonus, you're in a better financial position all around.
How can they expect 2 people to do the work of 4? Is there a requisition in with HR to hire another person? That's unfair to expect the same output with half the people.
What do you folks think about temporarily stopping 401K contributions? Current percentage works out to be about $250 per paycheck.
What do you folks think about temporarily stopping 401K contributions? Current percentage works out to be about $250 per paycheck.
I'll be interested to hear what people say on this.
My view would be to temporarily stop them and throw the same amount into your emergency fund,
Also to really ramp up job search out of town and try to look for area with lower cost of living--upper Midwest, like where we live, Traverse City, maybe? I seem to remember you are from Michigan (I thought) but Northern Michigan (not UP, we are not that cold) would have great diving, not the problems of lower Michigan, gorgeous nature, maritime economy, and a much lower cost of living than Chicago.
They also seem to have more jobs and less competition for them.
Finally, I would so try to avoid taking out of that 401k if at all possible, which DR always says, so if you could finesse a job change to someplace like up here, you would not need to.
Can you log a simple record of each customer contact each day? Lawyers , for example, have to log every 15 mins of billing.
Talking to a supervisor or manager doesn't keep a clear record of the conversation allowing too much flexibility in personal interpretation of what was said but an email would CYA should it become an issue.
The new manager has learned to do this in her HR life and might be the way to deal with time crunch pressure in terms that she will understand. If not that, find out what it is if possible.
Also, based on personal experience, start your day with a strong affirmation of your worth, your uniqueness, and the all the desirable qualities that you value and express. Criticism drains your self-esteem so counteract it vigorously.
If your 401K offers a temporary stop, that is a good idea. Prevents penalty for early withdrawal and can be made up if you can up the amount later.
Razz has a great idea of affirmation of worth. Remember how much effort you went to for your training and the experience you have.
rosarugosa
1-6-18, 11:45am
Tradd: Sorry things are so difficult at work.
Do you get a match on your 401k contributions? If so, it would be optimal to keep contributing at least enough to get the full match if possible.
I too have been in a situation where the expectations were just totally unreasonable, so I can empathize. I think it would be worthwhile to evaluate what the "golden girl" is bringing to the table. You might be able to learn some things from her and she from you. While you have the knowledge and industry experience, she might have some general administrative or soft skills or other skills that the organization values. In my last role, I had a counterpart supervisor. He & I were very different, but we worked well together and shared our different strengths. I was aware that some of his strengths were more highly valued by our organization than some of my strengths. If I hadn't decided to retire, I would definitely have focused on that area of opportunity for myself.
So sorry Tradd, I have been there. This year has been the worst actually although I think it may be getting better. I have done a lot of reading on managing up and other topics this year, it is an area I suck at. But still for me it comes down to similar things to what you are saying, the basic data of how long a call took or how many tasks are able to be done in a time, but that time is not available. I focus on that as well, and I don't understand how my supervisors can argue or ask for more at some point but they do.
I really related to long phone call interruption. I have a lot of 'soft time' dealing with families or issues that come up and that is hard to track but so essential. I started to track what I do and when I do it so my supervisor can 'coach' me. He is much worse at time management so this feels doomed. However the tracking is helpful. I got a paper journal, dated, and make notes throughout the day. I may write down a long thing that was one project, but often I put a chunk of time as 'task list' and then I have my corresponding to-do list that I have always used to back it up. Creates a little more work but I feel my a$$ is covered.
About the 401K, lots of good advice already. I would stop contributions in favor of an emergency fund. If you are feeling as dire as you sound that would off-set any employer matching contribution. However if you are getting a substantial employer contribution then you could keep it in the 401K and know that you may need to take it out. It is a tax hit but not the end of the world to take out a small amount for emergency or relocating.
This is probably an off the wall idea and I am sure many here will tell me why, and I will feel silly for offering it up, but just looked for customs compliance jobs in my area and first thing to come up was being a US Customs Officer, and you have both customs skills and expertise and firearms skills so here goes:
Help (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/job-announcement/overview/) Overview
Open & closing dates
01/01/2018 to 01/31/2018
Salary
$33,394 to $98,733 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 05 - 07
Work schedule
Full-Time - Full Time
Appointment type
Permanent
Help (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/job-announcement/locations/) Location
Many vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection, United States
Announcement number
CBPO 18-4
Control number
487206200
Duties Help (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/job-announcement/duties/) Duties
Summary
A fully trained Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBPO) is eligible for up to $45,000 in overtime pay. The starting salary for this position may be higher in certain duty locations, please visit the OPM website (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2018/general-schedule/) for information.
The duty location offered in your final offer may include any geographic location within the United States that meets operational and mission requirements, and critical agency hiring needs for entry level CBP Officers. See the How to Apply section below for more information.
You may also consider applying for locations along the Southern Border by applying here (https://www.cbp.gov/careers/apply-now)!
This is a career ladder position with a grade level progression of GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, and GS-12. You will be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level (without re-applying) once you successfully complete 52 weeks in each grade level (with supervisor approval). For example you could:
start as a CBPO in June 2018 as a GS-5 and make $33,394 - $78,394 per year*
be promoted in June 2019 to GS-7 and make $41,365 - $86,365 per year*
be promoted in June 2020 to GS-9 and make $50,598 - $95,598 per year*
be promoted in June 2021 to GS-11 and make $61,218 - $106,218 per year*
be promoted in June 2022 to GS-12 and make $73,375 - $118,375 per year*
*Please note this example includes a range from minimum locality pay up to maximum potential salary with overtime earnings. Pay rates are based on the 2018 Rest of the United States Salary Table (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2018/general-schedule/) and do not take into consideration higher locality pay where applicable, recruiting incentive or yearly cost of living increases.
Polygraph Information: You must complete and pass a polygraph examination to be eligible for the position. If you are a Veteran and have a TS-SCI clearance, you may be eligible for a polygraph waiver. CBP may accept the results of a prior federal polygraph exam in lieu of a CBP polygraph exam. See the Additional Information section below for more information.
Learn more about this agency (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/487206200?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=job%20posting&utm_campaign=Indeed_FY17(May_June)#agency-modal-trigger)
Responsibilities
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.
Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. CBP employees protect our Nation's borders from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, and agricultural pests while simultaneously facilitating the flow of legitimate travel and trade.
The video: Securing America's Ports of Entry (https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/video-gallery/video-library/securing-americas-ports-entry) emphasizes the importance of CBP Field Operations' frontline role in helping CBP accomplish its mission. For more information on CBP's mission, activities, and careers, please visit our website at CBP.gov (https://www.cbp.gov/).
Being a Customs and Border Protection Officer makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) profession. Typical assignments include:
Enforcing customs, immigration, and agriculture law and regulations;
Facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel;
Conducting inspections of individuals and conveyances;
Determining the admissibility of individuals for entry into the United States; and
Preventing the illegal entry of individuals and prohibited goods and the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband
Tybee, I believe the max age is 40. I'm almost 49. I also have have bad knees and sciatica which would make the physical training requirements impossible. I'd also have to surrender my brokers license. They also want Spanish speakers and I am a dunce with foreign languages.
How can they expect 2 people to do the work of 4? Is there a requisition in with HR to hire another person? That's unfair to expect the same output with half the people.
Welcome to Corporate America. I experienced exactly the same thing just before I left my corporate job: a minor part of my job was to maintain three computer servers that provided the software we needed to do our jobs. When Those Most High decided to change applications on us, those three servers mushroomed to a dozen servers full of this new cr@pware (and a very minimal support contract). It was still a "minor" part of my job. >8) When the cr@pware failed, however, whatever I was doing was shunted off because it was (I was told) more important to fix the app/servers so the team of five could continue to work than it was for me to get my own constantly-shifting, never-reliable workload done. Not like I got any slack on the schedule for that. Not that I'm bitter about that at all... >:(
It's just the way things are these days. When I left I was replaced by two people, one who did my primary job and another who maintained the servers (which I understand now number almost two dozen [!]). If you're highly specialized in your work and/or getting up there in years and/or have on the "golden handcuffs" companies know they can treat you pretty badly before you'll lash back. It's unfair but it's reality.
Tradd, I agree with the others -- fund the 401(k) only as much as they'll match and put the rest into your rainy-day fund. If it turns out you don't use it, you can always start your own Roth IRA and get it out tax-free (well, so far) when you hit retirement age. But you are at high risk for burnout. You want to make sure you leave before everyone wishes you had.
Tybee, I believe the max age is 40. I'm almost 49. I also have have bad knees and sciatica which would make the physical training requirements impossible. I'd also have to surrender my brokers license. They also want Spanish speakers and I am a dunce with foreign languages.
Darn it! Well, it was a thought. I will keep looking! Would love to have you up here with us in Northern Mi!
We only get the match in January for the previous year in one lump sum. I'm going to take it down to zero for a time. We can change our contribution anytime online, so it's very easy and doesn't involve dealing with HR.
I've been combing through my budget. I have my $30 gym membership that keeps me sane with swimming, getting in good shape, and losing weight. Utilities are low, as it's only a 1 BR condo I rent. Budget plan is about $40 each for gas (heat/hot water) and electric (electric stove and clothes dryer). I can try air drying some more clothes and rein in the long, hot baths some. My rent is very reasonable for the area ($860)and I've been here 9 years. I pay $47 a month for AT&T Uverse cable. That's the lowest plan. I pay $90 a month for Verizon Wireless unlimited talk, text, data. I didn't know you could get a $5/month discount by using auto pay. I just signed up for that. I looked into switching plans, but it would only save me about $25 a month to go down to the lowest plan. Not much of a difference. I get a haircut/brow wax every 6 weeks for $50. I don't have cable TV and just have a digital antenna. My credit card minimum payment is about $350 a month. Car payment is $300 a month with 17 months left. Car insurance is about $650 every 6 months and renters is about $150 a year.
My underwater camera just sold, so that's another $100 there.
Darn it! Well, it was a thought. I will keep looking! Would love to have you up here with us in Northern Mi!
It was a good one!
Also, there's not much for my industry up there. Chicago is the biggest "inland port," due to O'Hare and all the railroads meeting here. My entire support system is here, what with church and my diving friends.
That makes very good sense, and you ae in a good location for diving, with trips in all directions. We are a little isolated up here...
That makes very good sense, and you ae in a good location for diving, with trips in all directions. We are a little isolated up here...
I lived in Alpena for 16 months in 1991-92 as a reporter on the local paper, so I have an idea about isolated! And this was pre-internet. It would likely be somewhat different now.
I can be to Hammond, IN (at the foot of Lake Michigan) in a bit more than an hour for the charter boat my dive shop runs. I can get charters out of Milwaukee and a bit north of that (Port Washington) 2-3 hours (at the most). I can hit southern Lake Huron with an 8 hour drive. Northern Lake Huron is 8 hours. Lake Superior would be a bit further, as would Lake Erie. Lake Ontario would be a longer trip. I loathe flying and the best part about driving to dive is that I can take my tanks with me. I dive steel tanks, not the usual aluminum rental ones, and would hate to have to use aluminums again (would have to change how much lead I carry).
Tradd, can you find someone to talk to who will understand what you are facing - beyond kind friends who will always support you but not fully understand the mental and emotional situation. When I was feeling harassed at work, the emotional stress as well as the mental stress were draining. It was so hard to step back and strategize a wise response to the situation. Is there a job coach in the mix somewhere? Your need to detach from it all and regain a sense of your worth and power. Your situation is not unusual but your approach to deal with it may be unique.
BTW, DH tried to help but he simply had not gone through something like mine so family and friends really don't help much.
I finally quit and heard that things changed afterwards as Steve said. There was regret all around that I had not made more strategic effort.
Because I had no experience in dealing with such situations and believed that I could handle things as I had all my life before, I missed an opportunity to make the changes needed to properly respond.
I have a friend who is going through much the same thing right now. No job coach. A friend is a counselor and I'll see what her suggestions might be. My way of dealing with the stress is to head to the pool after work and do my 2000 yards which 1.1 miles. I just sort of zone out during it and might be sort of meditation.
Chicken lady
1-6-18, 2:20pm
Um, credit card minimum payment? What kind of balance/interest are you carrying on that? How much of that $350 is interest, and is the balance going down? That seems like the most efficient place to put money to save money.
ApatheticNoMore
1-6-18, 3:16pm
you are doing all the right stuff. Yes I would still put enough in the 401k each year for the match. I wonder if the manager just dislikes you or would treat any employee badly pretty much. The golden girl may just be on a true grace period where not much is expected of them because they are new AND THEN someday they wake up and aren't new anymore and then the boom falls!!! Welcome to the real world kiddo, playing with the big boys now! (and then she quits to have another kid ha ;)).
But seriously she might be on grace period where she is being treated "soft" and that is nothing to envy if so, as it will end. But if there is another reason you can imitate that she is preferred (and it could be a completely unfair reason like she gossips or socializes with the boss more, or she kisses more ass and compliments the boss more or something, then that is something to try maybe - just for the time being until you get a better job).
I've been combing through my budget. I have my $30 gym membership that keeps me sane with swimming, getting in good shape, and losing weight. Utilities are low, as it's only a 1 BR condo I rent. Budget plan is about $40 each for gas (heat/hot water) and electric (electric stove and clothes dryer). I can try air drying some more clothes and rein in the long, hot baths some. My rent is very reasonable for the area ($860)and I've been here 9 years. I pay $47 a month for AT&T Uverse cable. That's the lowest plan. I pay $90 a month for Verizon Wireless unlimited talk, text, data. I didn't know you could get a $5/month discount by using auto pay. I just signed up for that. I looked into switching plans, but it would only save me about $25 a month to go down to the lowest plan. Not much of a difference. I get a haircut/brow wax every 6 weeks for $50. I don't have cable TV and just have a digital antenna. My credit card minimum payment is about $350 a month. Car payment is $300 a month with 17 months left. Car insurance is about $650 every 6 months and renters is about $150 a year.
I agree there isn't a lot to cut here. Perhaps some duplication of phones and internet. If not cable t.v. what is even on the uverse plan? Just landline and internet? Then you might not need data on the cell phone and could just use internet at home. Or alternately you could dump all landline connectivity and just have cell and use wifi etc.. You may not want to make that sacrifice now, it's just something that could happen if you absolutely need to (like when planning a budget for an emergency fund if out of work). As for verizon sometimes it's cheaper on a prepaid phone plan even with data.
Do you pay for the digital antenna or it's just something you paid for once and doesn't cost anything? The car insurance sounds high, but I have a feeling you are insuring a nearly new car with full coverage, it's less for just liability of course, but probably not a good idea with such a new car. I'd keep the gym membership being unhealthy costs more is just how I see it (and something like managing weight if a gym membership helps then it's important to do now as people usually gain weight over time and it's hard to lose a lot of weight after the fact. Your health insurance might offer a discount for having a membership, or it might not).
The thing about most basic life bills EXCEPT food sometimes, and sometimes we can get non-food household items cheaper also (detergent etc.), and TRUE discretionary income (actual wants) is they are KINDA FIXED EXPENSES. Worrying about a few extra pennies from the water heater and taking nice relaxing a bath really is probably too much into diminishing returns at least if you don't pay for water. So that's why I'm just pointing out what little I see. I suppose there are other possibilities like you could be over insured, on fancier medical than you need (but doesn't matter if job pays it in full) or dental when you hardly use it or vision when you almost never buy glasses etc. (but again none of this matters when the employer picks up the full tab, but they don't always).
The U-verse is just internet. I've not had a landline in years. I was considering going with just cell phone if needed. That unlimited plan includes 15G for mobile hotspot (aka tethering my laptop).
Car is a 2014 Focus.
mschrisgo2
1-7-18, 12:37am
I'd dump the UVerse and add that $47 onto the credit card payment.
Otherwise, I see nothing to cut. You live a lean life.
I'd dump the UVerse and add that $47 onto the credit card payment.
Otherwise, I see nothing to cut. You live a lean life.
I had been considering doing that on and off for a while anyway. I mostly surf the net on my iPhone 6. I don't stream much video, but I do enjoy listening to BBC Radio online a lot. Sometimes I forget to switch my phone to home internet when I'm home, and I can't tell the difference. In fact, I swear the Verizon 4LTE over my phone is faster than U-verse. I'm going to think about this for a few more days.
My grocery bill is about $50 weekly. Allergy meds, toiletries, and other household items add about $40 a month.
Someone asked about the digital antenna. It's a one-time expense. It's the current equivalent of the old-time rabbit ears.
There is only one thing holding me back from cancelling the U-verse home internet. I am a heavy user of Apple iCloud for backing up photos, files, contacts, bookmarks, etc. Wifi is needed to upload photos to iCloud. I'm asking elsewhere if there is a workaround for this, aside from tethering MacBook to iPhone.
There is only one thing holding me back from cancelling the U-verse home internet. I am a heavy user of Apple iCloud for backing up photos, files, contacts, bookmarks, etc. Wifi is needed to upload photos to iCloud. I'm asking elsewhere if there is a workaround for this, aside from tethering MacBook to iPhone.
How frequently do you do this? What about taking it to the library every week or two and using the free internet there?
I agree with razz and it sounds like you have some support. I learned so much in difficult work situations the hard way, by going it alone. And left a job i may have been able to work out with a lot of problems that were created by leaving. You seem to have your head about you though
Thanks, Zoe!
On the photo issue: I also have Google Photos on my phone and photos do automatically backup to that, even on cellular data. I can also upload photos to iCloud photo sharing (aka an online album) straight from phone, so I do have other workarounds.
probably a little late but I would keep a short and simple log of calls that have nothing to do with the list of work in your cart. Present it to management. I bet every company is in this fix right now.
I think you are wise to think ahead. My husband always says "good luck is the intersection of preparedness and opportunity".
The calls I get DO have to do with the work in my cart, but they take up so much time. Going to see how keeping a log tomorrow goes.
I should have made it clear there are three management types involved.
1. Immediate supervisor. In position a year, her first supervisory position. I've worked with her for 6 years.
2. Immediate manager. I've worked with her for 7-8 years. She's been a manager before at previous jobs. In this position perhaps 2 years.
3. General Manager. Came over from corporate, she's actually a VP of some sort, used to have HR under her. Has industry experience, but it's been a long time since she was in an operations position. She is VERY "corporate" and has changed the office culture for the worse. She's the originator of all the "Stepford" office stuff I've posted about before.
How frequently do you do this? What about taking it to the library every week or two and using the free internet there?
When I've taken pictures and get home, and iPhone is on wifi, it automatically uploads photos to iCloud. They're then synced with MacBook via iCloud.
Something that makes me feel better: I've got enough in savings with the two things I've sold to cover one month of bare bones expenses, minus U-verse and cc payment.
That makes a lot of sense (management types). In my difficult work situation the director changed, lots of proving herself and the effect on all of us. My direct supervisor is someone I have known a year and I think is very much affected by keeping the supervisors happy. I have no skills in managing up, I know I am supposed to learn but it is so against my nature. I think you may have that similar issue, plus the simple facts of too much to do with too little resources (time and reality). I am just curious who makes these things work out? I know one of my colleagues just put in notice, just stress and workload and everyone is fully aware.
This is happening in so many industries and areas, the workload increases and difficult managers.
I was talking to several friends after church today and one made a comment, asking what has changed with the economy to make my sorts of situations common again? This went on during the recession, but seemed to have gone away for a while. Friend that made that comment, her husband is going through the same thing, too much work, supervisors not allowing sufficient time for tasks to be done. Other people said they're hearing the same thing from many they know.
I just wonder why, what are the factors, how did this happen. I already went through the recession, and other times when we all had to deal with older generations telling us we could just work harder and get what they had. The economy changed however, and it was not very likely to have the same life. Now the millennials are being told the same thing. I lost everything in the recession, and now I am again working at high stress and work hours.
I just want a life, and the more I look at different jobs and possible careers I am not so certain what changes I could make to actually effect a significant change.
Tradd can you screen your calls?
When I was in a toxic job I looked but it was hard to interview while working. But I refused to quit because I had been there 15 years and knew if they pushed me out - as they eventually did to please the golden girl who was letting the boss sexually harass her and trying to dump all her work on me so she could spend her workdays on social media - I would be able to collect unemployment. Besides the unemployment I was able to get state subsidized health care rather than going the COBRA route, and with the stress gone I interviewed much better.
Nope, can't screen calls. The only time I can refuse to answer the phone is when I'm eating lunch at my desk.
Sold my rifle so that is now fattening my savings account. Should have a nice amount of OT in Friday's paycheck.
A couple of coworkers have asked why I'm so frugal, always bringing food from home, my own tea, etc. I simply tell them I'm saving for diving in the spring and summer. A coworker bought my rifle and asked in the open why I was selling. I simply told him I wanted a pricey bit of diving gear and since I wasn't using the rifle, selling made sense.
All of this is nothing anyone can question since my diving passion is well documented.
I was supposed to get a lot of help today from the new gal, but she went home sick after about an hour. So that whole stack of crap ended back up on my desk. I'm sorry she's sick, but I just can't get ahead. Then corporate has decided to dump the quoting they had been doing on us and I'm going to be losing several hours this afternoon in training for the quoting system. I was told I wasn't spending enough time explaining things to a major customer, and when I did, I got chastised for giving them too much detail.
I can't win.
I was supposed to get a lot of help today from the new gal, but she went home sick after about an hour.
Hmmm....wonder if she'll last. I mean this job does require work...that may be asking too much!
I'm so sorry. I know this is not a fun time for you.
Tradd, simply do your best keeping records of your efforts each day and should the question ever arise, you will have enough info to CYA.
Affirm your worth to yourself each day. You are capable, knowledgeable and experienced. That is worth a lot.
Sometimes one cannot see the big-picture (forest) for the daily stressful close-ups (trees). There might be a lot more going on than you are, as yet, aware. On one occasion, the focus was on another worker but they used me to reduce apprehension by the one being monitored.
No you can't win. Sounds like they may want to push you out for someone younger, or cheaper, or less likely to be a legal liability. (You did report the sexual harassment by a warehouse worker.) It might not hurt to start researching good employment attorneys in your area just in case.
They wouldn't get someone else that much cheaper. They have to have an individually licensed broker to qualify the local operating permit from Customs. We don't come cheap.
On the plus side, I had nearly $500 more than usual after taxes in today's paycheck. That went straight into savings. I have to logon to see my pay stub to check if that's just OT or includes the extra now I've stopped 401K contributions for the time being.
It's back to being cold again so it's no problem holing up at home. I work, swim, and have church on the weekend. The only $$ I've spent this week besides gas and groceries was $49 for my haircut last night. I want to try to go a bit longer between cuts this time, but I also need to look presentable for possible interviews. I'm not going to my church's annual dinner as I don't want to spend the $35. I'll have another dinner with friends that will be only about $10.
I've decided to hold off on cancelling the AT&T internet for the time being.
Tradd, simply do your best keeping records of your efforts each day and should the question ever arise, you will have enough info to CYA.
Affirm your worth to yourself each day. You are capable, knowledgeable and experienced. That is worth a lot.
Sometimes one cannot see the big-picture (forest) for the daily stressful close-ups (trees). There might be a lot more going on than you are, as yet, aware. On one occasion, the focus was on another worker but they used me to reduce apprehension by the one being monitored.
I get so caught up in trying to get stuff done that I keep forgetting to keep track of the phone calls and such. But the 2 hours in training is something I'll make note of. I was told I'm the only one with OT, so surely there's something wrong with me, was implied.
It is hard to remember while I'm being piled on, that I am smart, experienced, and capable.
If they go rid of me, they would certainly be hurting in the short term, since I do so much that no one else in my office knows how to do.
Do you update your job description whenever something new is added to your duties?
I'm only part-time but I do that because I'm limited in the number of hours I can work a week...25. Every time someone asks me to take on something new, I add it to my job description and pull that out on my yearly review. It's what bumped me from 20 to 25 hours and also gave proof for several good raises or adjustments to how my vacation and sick time are accrued.
Really good point to put into action now, Float On. Really good!
Do you update your job description whenever something new is added to your duties?
I'm only part-time but I do that because I'm limited in the number of hours I can work a week...25. Every time someone asks me to take on something new, I add it to my job description and pull that out on my yearly review. It's what bumped me from 20 to 25 hours and also gave proof for several good raises or adjustments to how my vacation and sick time are accrued.
Great advice.
Communication has really suffered in the work place these days.
ApatheticNoMore
1-12-18, 12:23pm
No you can't win. Sounds like they may want to push you out for someone younger, or cheaper, or less likely to be a legal liability. (You did report the sexual harassment by a warehouse worker.) It might not hurt to start researching good employment attorneys in your area just in case.
and what exactly does anyone expect to get from an employment attorney. It is at-will employment or isn't it in your state? Unless you can make a case for age or sex discrimination you don't have one as a company can get rid of you for any reason or none. CYA only works if there is someone with power at the company on your side (mangers manager etc.?) then you can take your case to them maybe. If you have friends in high places, who like your work etc., it may help you. Otherwise "but you said to do" and "but I told you so" stands a chance of just making the people with power more angry at you. I documented stuff and there was times I had an air tight argument on my side, so they dropped it for then, but eventually I made an actual mistake, and so all it did was buy me time. I didn't have a single negative except missing one meeting (due to time pressures) on my record, and I had several compliments of my work on it when I was let go. I almost wish I had a record, at least I would have had some idea what it is I should improve, as it was everything I did no matter what I did just seemed to be wrong. What probably did not help me is I was new at the company (first year), so they might have followed more of a procedure with someone who had been there years and years (afterall with a new employee you can just say they suck but with one who had been there a decade it would be more: and why did they just start sucking now after a decade we've kept them on?) but that is all up to the company, some companies do and I guess some don't.
My state is at will.
The gal in export (she's been here a while) quietly came up to me today when we were the only ones on the floor. She said she's overwhelmed, too. She had asked for help, but was told to wait for when the coworker on maternity leave comes back in a month! She said she was told by manager and supervisor to let them know when she got buried. She did and this was the response she got.
I came in this morning and was pulled into manager's office right away. I was told she was there until 9 pm last night, going through all my files. She's actually helping me some today. Shocked the heck out of me.
My state is at will.
I came in this morning and was pulled into manager's office right away. I was told she was there until 9 pm last night, going through all my files. She's actually helping me some today. Shocked the heck out of me.
That is good to hear. She has perhaps realized that you can only be stretch so far by looking at how much you are doing.
and what exactly does anyone expect to get from an employment attorney. It is at-will employment or isn't it in your state? Unless you can make a case for age or sex discrimination.
If there is a pattern of letting people in your class go you may have a case.
An attorney can also review any package they offer you such as release of claims including of discrimination against the company. If you have been there awhile and they push you put you should not be going away emptyhanded.
But it sounds like they are starting to understand the volume of your work and things may turn around.
I had two customs clearances today that alone took me 1:15. One was a complicated EPA entry requiring many hand calculations of the amount of the active ingredient in a pesticide for a multiple line entry and entry of everything. This info has to be entered in the software as it is no longer done via emailing of documents. The other was a shipment of 8 containers with 14 multiple line commercial invoices, each line requiring hand calculation of the total pieces on each line.
I showed manager how long it took me for each one and the stack of documents for each. She is finally realizing how much more involved and complicated the entries I do are, compared with the supervisor's entries.
Tradd, It sounds as if you are doing all you can to educate her and that she may be willing to learn. Of course that might not change your situation at all, but it seems better than when they don't care or hear you.
Good, sounds like maybe a shift. I hope so.
Things have been better the past few days. There have been a number of people out sick, so getting help and getting caught up is not happening much. I'm barely staying ahead of the game. Today was so crazy that everyone left by 5:15!
Tradd
Keep documenting. You want to be prepared if they fire you and then try to get your unemployment benefits cancelled saying your lack of work (or whatever) made them delete your position (not you: your position) or why you quit (due to deteriorating health, whatever).
Work up to 6 months of expenses saved. Many people disagree with Dave Ramsey on the $1,000 emergency fund. It needs to be larger in the event of job loss or medical event. Your company may screw you on COBRA health insurance continuance. Yes, that's illegal but your company obviously doesn't have a moral compass.
I hope recent actions at your workplace mean they are becoming more understanding of your workload. I also fear they want to know more about exactly what you do in preparation for letting you go.
All US corporations, including the one you work for, just got a huge tax break. Your owners / managers saying they can't afford sufficient staff to get work done without overtime is pure greed. You owe them nothing. Focus on finding a new job.
Good luck!!!
I think Ramsey says that only if you are paying down debt. Once your debt is paid you can bump up your emergency fund. Suze Orman recommends 8 months.
Tradd
I suggest you read this thread on MrMoneyMoustache.com
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/epic-fu-money-stories/
"F U money" refers to having enough savings to say F U to your boss if the situation warrants.
Lots of tales like yours of competent, valuable employees being treated badly to the detriment of the employer. (Sounds familiar, eh?)
Some people employ some good strategies about managing up, documenting, and more.
And some of the funniest posts I have ever read in my life. It will raise your spirits. And it's long so the good feelings last for weeks.
This thread is my all time favourite of all forums.
ApatheticNoMore
1-27-18, 5:49am
Keep documenting. You want to be prepared if they fire you and then try to get your unemployment benefits cancelled saying your lack of work (or whatever) made them delete your position (not you: your position) or why you quit (due to deteriorating health, whatever).
uh there are very few situations in which you can get unemployment if you quit and pretty much none you can get if you are fired (I have known people in a situation where employers call a firing a layoff so the employee can collect (because of a kind feeling after years of employment or etc.) but that is up to their discretion and not in their economic interest).
really the best thing Tradd could hope for is that things get better at least until she can get out, and it looks like they are which is good.
Work up to 6 months of expenses saved. Many people disagree with Dave Ramsey on the $1,000 emergency fund. It needs to be larger in the event of job loss or medical event. Your company may screw you on COBRA health insurance continuance. Yes, that's illegal but your company obviously doesn't have a moral compass.
A lot of companies without a moral compass will obey the law though, serious consequences for not doing that in a way there aren't for just immoral or scumbaggy but legal things. But I guess anything is possible. COBRA actually is something you should be legally entitled to HOWEVER for many people either the ACA or an off-exchange plan is a better deal anyway.
FU money, ah that's kind of a myth, or it attaches WAY more importance to money than is warranted. It thinks money does things it simply doesn't do. Look you want to have savings so if the worst happens you will likely SURVIVE. Call it survival money. So yes money does pay bills, that is something money does. But that really isn't' everything you want to consider when walking out of a job for no work, there are A LOT of things equally important as money if you are going to walk away without even having another job, like how in demand your skills are in whatever marketplace you are looking etc... The ONLY time you don't need to give this consideration regardless of your stash is if it's enough to retire and never work again. And how would one know how in demand their skills are? Well looking at job ads helps some (but it's really not telling the whole story). Mostly by applying to jobs and interviewing is best as I can tell, with an awareness that this can change rather quickly over time.
Well, I've been applying for a few jobs that looked like they would be a good fit. But for all of them I was told I had way too much experience and my brokers license wasn't desired for the position. I was told I should be management.
Everyone in the department is now being told they're working too slow. "You're better than this" is frequently heard. Everyone is getting customer complaints because of stuff undone or not done properly. We're all overloaded. One girl was told she'll get relief when the girl comes back from maternity leave at the end of the month.
Supposedly the new girl is supposed to take over a few of my simple, but high volume accounts, but she's been given a very high profile project that leaves her little time to even help with any of my files. I don't know how this long term high profile project is going to mesh with what she's supposed to take over from me. I suppose it would mean that work would be dumped back on my desk whenever the supervisor/management wanted new girl to do whatever.
Manager also has her priorities way out of wack. Customer asked a question late Friday afternoon about something non-critical on future shipments that weren't even planned yet. I was working on air freight shipments coming in over the weekend. I was told to drop those and work on the complicated question customer asked. Turns out I couldn't answer it since the information I needed was not readily available (I sent emails to get what I needed). Manager got pissed when I couldn't answer customer's question, even though it required talking to people on the eastern time zone who had already gone home for the weekend. I went back to my air freight.
Some days are better than others. I worked about 60 hours last week. OT good for fattening savings account.
At least overtime is getting paid, however often you are way less productive over 40 hours. I found one time I spent so much on convenience of food, dry cleaning things I normally washed, etc. that I didn't make much. That was when I had a baby so very little wiggle room.
More power to you on getting out there. I made my resume available to recruiters on linked-in and haven't had any contacts from that but still feel it is worth it.
I hope that this manager has kept up with supporting you at least a little Tradd. I heard some good stuff through a pretty reliable source that things are crap in the department. I know that from other sources but I have a little more detail. This person with the same position as me comes from a job in another area and is horrified by some of the unprofessional behavior. It is by a person I trained to be a trainer with last year and privately told someone that I did not want to do a training with her this year. She didn't even know the correct name of the training we were doing. The other person put my friend on an improvement plan after taking over mid-year and visiting her site one time. My friend just got off all improvement plans this month. Seems like that is happening again to a brand new person, they promoted him, changed all the programming at the site, and then are putting him on a plan.
Do you think some organizations just have a rotten core? I have seen over the years how hard we have worked on improving communication and building trust, yet the supervisor level is back to the worst behavior again and trust is at an all-time low. It seems our effort with committees and task forces and surveys of staff is not that impactful. Our supervisors just got our feedback, I know that many of our site staff chose the option to give feedback to my supervisor. This is a regular survey every year and I have never heard of so many site staff choosing to do extra feedback, and it wasn't positive from what they shared. It seems that there is something at that level that keeps dropping back to bad behavior over and over.
It’s tough to find good leaders. Most people aren’t ready for it when they are promoted although they are trying. Then there are the ones who love to be in charge and have no concept of servant leadership. They actually enjoy dictatorial power. It doesn’t help that our nation is built on aggressive, fiercely independent, hierarchical principles.
Leaders need to be “on” at all times. Always thinking of the mission of the organization instead of their personal desires. A leader can be doing ok for days and weeks, and then they make a selfish, public, and impulsive decision and it ruins the good culture of the organization and disillusions their followers.
It’s tough to find people who can lead consistently in a healthy way.
Things have been a bit better. They allowed me 4 hours of OT to stay on Tuesday so I could get caught up on the things that had piled up. It helped enormously. I've still got a lot on my desk but I'm much more organized as I was able to get rid of the stack of stuff. I've been able to leave at 5 the last 2 days. I was able to go swimming last night. I'd only been in the pool once a week the past 2 weeks. Manager and supervisor are leaving me alone, which is very nice. My stress level has gone down some. It helps that other things are stirred up that have nothing to do with me, and so manager and supervisor are having to spend a lot of time on that.
My savings account is getting nice and fat.
I actually do get a lot done after hours. No interruptions from the phone or other coworkers asking questions.
Ive forgotten to update this thread in a while. VP who was filling in as branch manager has been gone about 2.5 months. They brought in a guy from outside as a replacement. He’s a jerk. Nosy as hell. I can’t take a check to supervisor to sign for freight payments without him grabbing it out of my hands wanting details if he’s standing there.
I cancelled Amazon Prime. I’ll be going back to grocery shopping at Aldi when I had been getting my shopping delivered (see shingles thread). Called AT&T to cancel internet ($47 month). They offered me $30 a month which I took. Saving a bit.
Things were looking up for a while so I bought the dive gear I had wanted and had been saving up for. Had a ton of OT over the winter, but I’m buckling down again.
Will post more later. On lunch right now on my phone.
Sounds like a mixed bag still, but some savings still I hope. I think there is a place to not treat ourselves like we are poverty stricken while having a job, and diving sounds like your one hobby that brings a lot of pleasure.
Geez I am so over people, especially managers, with no sense of personal boundaries or social skills.
I am still struggling, it is very hard for me to get the highly detailed work done in an environment that calls on so many other skills of taking care of people and their needs.
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