04-07-2003 00:51									#1
	Sometimes I hate my job. Support Apolyton

Arghh!! Sometimes I hate my job. Like today I’m knee deep in the doo-doo because some of the field work I did for our largest client wasn’t done correctly. Normally, the memo my boss gives me has a summary of everything which needs to be completed while I’m at a job sight but for the last job the project manager forgot to include a few things on the summary form and since they weren’t there I didn’t perform the tasks. Now the client is miffed and the boss is unhappy because we have to revisit a sight and the project manager is claiming that even though he forgot to include those tasks on the summary I should have known by readding page XXX of the four hundred page work plan to find out.

I did try to call the project manager to double check with him before I left but he went out on break and I’m feeling like it’s not my fault and that it's unreasonable for me to have to know the entire 400 page work plan by heart including sampling schedules for a project that will probably take a decade to complete. It’s not like I had the dictionary sized work plan with me when I was out in the field. Now, I’m getting a written reprimand for not collecting this one sample set while the project manager, who forgot to include that sample set in his summary memo, is only getting a verbal reprimand.

Sometimes life isn’t fair.

	04-07-2003 01:01									#2
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

No such thing as a bad soldier. Just bad officers...

Better start memorizing that 400 page document - and better a written reprimand than being fired.

It could have been worse.

	04-07-2003 01:08									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

You are of course right. Still this reprimand will probably effect my raise next review period.

	04-07-2003 01:14									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

This is to cheer you up

Attachment: happy.jpg
This has been downloaded 131 time(s).

	04-07-2003 01:15									#5
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Then you'd better start building up some brownie points in other areas to countermand the effects... and make it clear you really have memorized that work plan. If you've learned from the experience, it wasn't a failure...

Hope this helps Oerdin. As you move up the promotion ladder you will appreciate that this idea "the bosses know everything" is bunk. Often the blather and propaganda conceals a profound ignorance.

	04-07-2003 01:16									#6
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Take it like a man.
(especially since you're going to take it anyway)
When this situation is repeated, the real truth may come out. You're allowed to state the facts only once.
After that, you're either a whiner or a trouble maker.

Once you've been tabbed as the scapegoat, there's usually nothing you can do. (unless you've got some e-mails where you questioned the plan)

So take it like a man. You'd be surprised sometimes how certain people in the know will know what really happened.

RAH

	04-07-2003 01:22									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

good advice

	04-07-2003 01:23									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

damn...I didn't know you were mrumbling around.

	04-07-2003 01:24									#9
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

I'm pretty fast.

RAH
Today anyway.

	04-07-2003 01:24									#10
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Test sat.

	04-07-2003 01:28									#11
	Remove this text

I told them I would go back out to the job site this weekend and redue the work in question without charging the company. Hopefully that will help earn those elusive brownie points and get me out of the dog house.

	04-07-2003 01:30									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

If I was you manager, it would go a far way.
A simple rule of thumb for me, is the person that complains the most about who's at fault, usually is the one that is.

	04-07-2003 02:23									#13
	Inflate your Upload Space

I've come to the conclusion that I really want to be my own boss some day just so I can be the dumper instead of the dumpee. That means I'm going to half to start my own company since no one is going to make me the head of theirs.

	04-07-2003 02:29									#14
	Suffering from ads?

Well, since you're the new guy, as long as you don't get labeled as incompetent, you can always self-evaluate it as a positive learning experience, etc. It's still bullshit, of course.

	04-07-2003 03:23									#15
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Oerdin I've come to the conclusion that I really want to be my own boss some day just so I can be the dumper instead of the dumpee. That means I'm going to half to start my own company since no one is going to make me the head of theirs.

You're never your own boss until you're retired on a ton of money. Self-employment just takes you out of the frying pan and puts you right on the fire - especially because a lot clients look for excuses not to pay you, or to gouge extra free work out of you.

Your manager or project manager or whoever is a real chickenshit, though. One of my few cardinal rules as an employer is that anyone who blames a subordinate is out the door.

Even if it's the subordinate's "fault" - the manager/supervisor is responsible for his people.

My attitude is fix the problem, make sure it doesn't happen again, but don't come whining to me about how it's so and so's fault you can't manage people or jobs.

	04-07-2003 03:28									#16
	Put an end to popups!

Question -- is there any individual who does NOT hate his/her job sometimes?

	04-07-2003 03:40									#17
	Got spare money?

Hugh Heffner?

	04-07-2003 03:47									#18
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quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat Your manager or project manager or whoever is a real chickenshit, though. One of my few cardinal rules as an employer is that anyone who blames a subordinate is out the door. Even if it's the subordinate's "fault" - the manager/supervisor is responsible for his people. My attitude is fix the problem, make sure it doesn't happen again, but don't come whining to me about how it's so and so's fault you can't manage people or jobs.

Why isn't this obvious to people? So many more people would be successful in their positions if they took responsibility with their staffs. The flip side is that they must also hold their saffs accountable for their performance. When used hand-in-hand I have never seen them fail.

Oredin, Try making a habit out of sending an e-mail to you boss upon completion of your work at a job site. Something like: "Persuant to the summary you provided me with, I have completed the following tasks:

(list tasks performed)

Please advise if any further action is required at this site"

Good Luck with it. Sometimes how you react to a reprimand can be very telling to those that control your future. Chances are that they know who is really at fault and will make it up to you later if you work through it well.

	04-07-2003 03:49									#19
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by MrFun Question -- is there any individual who does NOT hate his/her job sometimes?

I love mine - both the consulting and the software company.

I take **** from noone, I don't kiss any body's ass, I tell them the way things are, and if they can't handle the truth, **** 'em, here's my bill anyway.

I get paid to fix things and make them work, so there's real clear feedback as to whether I've done my job or not.

	04-07-2003 04:31									#20
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat I love mine - both the consulting and the software company. I take **** from noone, I don't kiss any body's ass, I tell them the way things are, and if they can't handle the truth, **** 'em, here's my bill anyway. I get paid to fix things and make them work, so there's real clear feedback as to whether I've done my job or not.

The more I know about you, the more you sound like my father