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Help/Advice about my Job

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 May - July: Career Group (ARCHIVES): Help/Advice about my Job users admin

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Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 12:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This is a really long post, would appreciate any thoughts, advice or criticism. Thank you.

Here goes: It is very long, but I felt there were definitions needed, since I bet I will be back with more over time.

I need some input, advice and opinions. Here is the deal, I have a great job, I can work from home most of the time, I am responsible for my own actions – don’t have to manage or motivate anyone else, and can pretty much set my own hours, within reason. Got a new boss and it has gone to h*ll in a hand basket.

I have been struggling with some issues that started in November/December and even tho I am grateful for my job (remembering all the jobseekers) wonder if I need to move on, or am I over reacting. I know that I sometimes take things personally that are not directed at me but have been working on that. I initially reacted very strongly to the changes but remembered that I can only control how my reactions and not those of others.

My Background: I work in mortgage lending, have been an Underwriter, Officer of a Mortgage Banking Firm, Manager of Underwriting (approving all your home loans), Quality Control Director for mortgage loans, and then Quality Assurance for a mortgage software product (I tested the product and worked with the developer to fix the bugs).

Background: The Department was managed by a Director (similar to VP in other org’s) and a manager. The current Director wants to retire, so recruited a person who had not been managing people but had been managing paper that was called risk management (thought that the risk management aspect would apply to the risk management for loans). This person’s experience is to make deals for bulk packages of loans in the neighborhood of 5-10 billion dollars. My department deals with the individual loans, usually around $150 to $200,000 each, but up to $650,000. Now we have the new director (prior knowledge explained above) have hired two managers and a supervisor, so replaced one director and manager with 4 people. I have been working in this department for 1.5 years and with the company for 2.5 years. The new director has been in this department since November, the new managers started in January, the new supervisor started in October.

The Database: This is an Access database so somewhat limited, but handles the issues so far. There are nine different tabs that have detailed screen information regarding the loan in question. It contains details of the transaction (purchase/refi, loan amount, etc), reasons that the customer feels we did not complete our job, our response to there reasons and defense thereof, what they require from us, whether the loan is performing, etc. plus contact and many other bits of info.

Today: We had staff meeting where it was discussed that we need to document the comments area of the database more concisely. (I am the biggest proponent of documenting any database thoroughly because I understand the power of information that can be extracted.) I asked what that meant, since at our last meeting it was indicated that there were not enough comments, and they (management) could not understand why we were making our recommendations (the reasons are very detailed on the findings screen of the database.) Because of the last meeting we were directed to have a recommendations comment that summarizes our reasons to pay the customer and to analyze the collection notes and indicate the reasons for default on the loan, if that occurred. Normally we have a healthly discussion of the topic and come to resolution for the group, but today the director decided to attend. As soon as he walked into the room, the atmosphere changed, the manager talking practically tripped over himself to change how he was presenting the topic. I had been talking and thought to myself, should I continue with my train of though, or back down from my opinion. I did not want to appear to have stopped talking (like if we were gossiping, but I know he does not like anyone to have a different position than his in front of people, he often tells us not to ask stupid questions in group meetings) I did question what was needed, since I felt I was receiving conflicting direction, one week there are not enough comments and the next week there are too many and they should be summarized. I brought up the fact that legal had previously indicated that the comments should be complete (not summarized) ** and that the point of the database was that we would not have a paper file, so it should be complete. I also indicated that it is hard to know what information they want since we never know when the customer may take exception to our findings (because the files that have been found lacking are ones that the sales staff were upset about, we deal with about 150 files per month) or just go along, because the issues in conflict are detailed on the findings screen. (What became apparent is that “they” want a summary because they do not want to have to read the comments. My problem is that I do not feel I should be summarizing anyone else’s emails, and the entire post is important since I could interpret it wrong) At this point it was pointed out that the files have all the hard copy emails, because of auditors (this is not the first time the auditors have dropped by and they have never brought this up as an issue, since we are very technology oriented they have always made their conclusions from the database), but the Director/Manager do not want to read them so we must summarize. I have been copying the email to the comments, and admitted have not been putting a hard copy into the file, but will do so as we go forward.

The Issue:

Okay now that I have detailed the above, here is my question. Based on the above and ask me any question you my have, was I argumentative?? I felt that I was simply expressing my opinion, but have been told (because I asked) that I was argumentative. And I will tell you, I really backed down my comments when the Director walked in because I know the Director cannot handle being challenged in any way. I also know that the Director has bad mouthed me to one of the Managers ( it was relayed to me as a funny incident, last December) and by my supervisor ( she is my friend and has told me how the director talks about everyone, and is concerned about what the Director says about her to others); bad mouthed people not in our department and made assumptions about those who want to work in our department, indicating they cannot work for him because he will not tolerate them taking smoke breaks, with no consideration that the skill set is excellent., indicated that one person needs to go because she talks to much, and, in my opinion generally runs roughshod over the entire department.


** I copy and paste all correspondence from the customer, plus my reply into the comment section. I also comment on my reasons for my decision, analyze the reasons for default, and use the tracking comment area to clarify anything I have requested on the tracking screen that may not be clear.



Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have experienced some of what you are experiencing in a position I had many years ago. Few questions:

1. The Director who is retiring, is he retiring by choice?

2. The new Director, who does he report to? If he has hired new people then he may have been given some sort of mandate to either change the direction the group is going in or he may have been told that the operations require revamping and improvement.

What is your relationship with the retiring director like? Is he someone you can talk to and feel out to get a sense of what the politics are and what the forecast for the group is?

If This new director is bent on embarrassing you and belittling others, a possibility you should consider is that he has hired new people to replace people currently on staff and they may be looking to make some personnel changes. I would definitely be keeping a logbook and making a note of any incidents where you are belittled in front of others, keep your own notes of meeting minutes and instances where you were prevented from doing your job efficiently and effectively. Are the current employees training the new ones? Keeping records can help you in the even you are being pushed out. I know in my case by keeping very good records of meetings, etc I was able to negotiate a severance package of a years salary.

I would definitely make some discreet inquiries about the job market. See what is out there and be ready just in case.



Faerygdds
Member

08-29-2000

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 8:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Okay... I'll jump in here...

First of all, your director seems seriously lacking in the people department. The fact that he puts everyone down is actually a good thing -- at least he's not singling people out. The fact that he had something negative to say about everyone is, well, pathetic.

I can certainly see why you are not happy right now. Database documentation is a big pet peeve of mine. I used to work in technical support. In that realm, it is necessary for any individual to be able to look up a particular case with no past direct experience, and be able to glean what has been done in the past to better assist the customer. If the database is incomplete, you are going to frustrate your client.

Your world is a bit different. What I *think* you should do is make a hard copy of the e-mail for the file. Summarize the e-amil in the database as best you can and add as the last line something like... "Hardcopy of e-mail on file" That way no one can ever question that you are trying your best to make everyone in this situation happy.

As far as being argumentative... *I* don't thin you were. You were simply trying to get clarification on an issue which had been presented in numerous lights. However, your boss demands no one argue with him or have a dissenting opinion. Which probably means that he dislikes/is afraid of confrontation. So to him, you may have seemed argumentative. If he has the guts to bring it up, which he won't, just tell him you weren't trying to be argumentative, but needed clarification as you can't fix a problem if you don't know what's broken.

In the meantime... if all this was happening to *ME*... I'd be looking for an exit strategy. As in I'd be looking for a job. This is not a situation you want to stay in long term. It sounds stressful and stress is not good for people. So discretely start sending out resumes and try to get out of there.

No job is worth your health -- I had to learn that the hard way. So find a way to cope while you plan a way OUT.

JMO
FaeryGdds

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
And also realize that a lot of what upper managers do, when the top layers of management are too heavy, is meaningless. They are just trying to invent something to look like they are "managing."

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 11:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've had managers in the past who gave conficting directions and got very upset when anyone pointed that out. It's disconcerting and very disruptive. Unfortunately, most organizations are set up to support the higher-positioned person, no matter how disruptive their style is. Unless and until they do something that costs the company money (beyond increasing the turnover rate for employees), they tend to stay put.

Here's what I suggest if you want to try and make it work. Warning, it might not ever work and it might take more effort and energy to try than you're willing to put forth, but this is one way to approach it that's worked for me in the past. :-)

First, although you might feel like you're doing a self-piercing on your tongue, try not to point our discrepancies in the director's instructions in a group meeting. You've said he doesn't like that. Sounds like he's got a very fragile ego and some issues with self-confidence. To him, having his instructions questioned or challenged in a group meeting means that he's being disrespected. Although he might benefit from your input, he's not going to 'hear' it in that forum.

Instead, write up minutes of the meeting and send them to the entire group. (Don't ask for permission to do this, just do it. Preface the first one by saying you wrote stuff down so that you could be sure to remember the directions given and thought others might find the information usefulk too.) You might want to consider copying HIS boss on them, too, as a "courtesy." Don't add any editorial comments in the minutes, just document what directions were given. Be sure to end the email by asking folks to fill in anything you might have missed. If conflicting instructions are occurring from week to week, this will effectively document that without making you look argumentative.

AFTER you've sent the minutes out, if you have questions about the instructions he gave, ask if he has a few minutes for you and talk to him one-on-one. Do this TOTALLY from a perspective of trying to understand him and how the instructions he's giving will benefit the company. Try to listen more than you talk. THis is all about validating his fragile ego while letting him know that you are a total team player and you're on his side. This is the only way you won't appear agrumentative to him.

As far as his apparent habit of bad-mouthing others when they aren't around, this is another indication of his fragile self-esteem. By belittling others, he feels bigger and more important. This will eventually bite him in the butt, but it can take a while. The only way for you to deal with it is to ignore it. He's got the rope and he's making a noose. You, as a 'lowly peasant' really aren't in a position to help him along with that. If you try, you could end up on the gallows with him or before him. When talk comes up about his bad-mouthing others, it's best to just grin and bear it and walk away as soon as you can. You don't want anyone to think that you are participating in such conversations.

Unfortunately, he has all the power here. If you want to keep this job, you have to find a way to appease him while making soe of his actions visible (on paper) to others who have the ability to remedy the situation (either through getting him better training or moving him to a position where he doesn't manage people).

Of course, you always have the option of looking for a different job, but that's not always feasible or desirable.

I hope it works out for you. I suffered through about a year of a boss like this before the company finally wised up and canned him. It was hell, so I feel your pain. :-)


Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 5:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I keep trying to make this work and you have given me some good ideas.

Maris the Director is retiring by choice, she will still be with the company but will have less responsibilities as she wants to spend more time with her family (first grandchildren ). She had been looking for someone to pass her job on to for a while, planning to get out of the mess by first quarter this year.

The new Director has the same boss as the old Director. My position is as a temp - contract person, so they can dump me anytime they want. The only problem with that is I am well liked by others in power and I am their highest producer.

I am unsure of my relationship with the old Director, I believe she thought very highly of me so I do want to try to talk to her, but I am very nervous about doing so.

All in all, I have been documenting everything I can, just in case. And I think I will check out what is going with different jobs.


Max, I think you have pegged it pretty good, and you are right it is probably hopeless that he will be kicked out of the company. This company is the worst I have ever seen in that the peter principle really does exist. If you are an employee you have to do something really serious to be fired, and not doing your job is not a fireable (is this a word) offense. They just put you into a different job, it is the most amazing thing I have ever seen, and I have been in a lot of corporate situations over the years.

Faerrygdds, LOL, how right you are about the lack of people skills, I marvel every day that he was essentially promoted into one of the most people oriented areas of the company but had little or no experience managing people. His position had been to analyse spread sheets and make bids on the package, he didn't even have anyone who reported to him.

Juju, thank you, I have been trying to figure it out, and I think that is it. He is trying to make sure people believe he is managing!!!!


Finally, I may just have to stick it out and keep my mouth shut when he is in the room, because this really is an ideal work situation for when Big Brother starts up, LOL. Maybe thinking of that can help make me keep my mouth shut and put up with the bullsh@t.


Faerygdds
Member

08-29-2000

Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 8:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Dipo.. also keep in mind that coming here and venting can also be a really good way to deal with the idiocy! I know when I am frustrated and rant here and people understand at least where I am coming from -- it calms me down enough to continue on...

We are SO here for you!


Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 12:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Faery, I think the venting is as helpful as all the good advice.

UPDATE: The funny thing is that I had a chat with my immediate boss, we both agreed that I will just try (I mean, I will) just keep my mouth shut when idiotboy boss comes to the meetings. The other bosses have come to the consensus that I am the star performer of the department and really want to to my job well. (I must say I was pleased that someone else finally noticed.) Plus they are going to recommend an increase in my contract rate. This cracked me up because I have just been waiting for them to do the employee performance reviews and I was going to bring it up. So it should work out well!!!

I think I will just vent here instead of to my boss, although last week she was the one venting to me about the idiots. I told her yesterday that we could just take turns when we need to vent, but I think this place is safer.

Thanks everyone!!!

Danielsbabe
Member

08-07-2003

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 6:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hi everyone, hope someone can help me with this:

My boss has just tasked me with organizing our department 'Thank you' Barbeque. He started the ball rolling but now has to go out of town on business.

So, he's already arranged for a DJ, tent, chairs, tables, large containers for ice and a large barbeque.

Food we are serving is hot dogs, hamburgers and salad. What condiments should I get besides the obvious, ketchup, mustard and relish?

Also beverages; water, pop and juice...anything else?

Then I'll need paper plates, napkins, cutlery, ice, balloons and streamers. Am I missing anything here?

Any help would be great. I just don't want to miss anything, especially the obvious!




Ddr
Member

08-19-2001

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 6:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Danielsbabe, are the kids invited to the barbeque? If they are, you may want to get fun jumps, games, etc. to keep them occupied. Sack races would be fun too.

Don't forget salad dressing, lol.

You might want to have on hand some insect repellent, sunscreen, first aid kit.



Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 6:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wet wipes, tin foil, masking tape and garbage bags.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 7:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Onions, tomatoes, cheese slices...any other toppings people may want for their meals. Are there vegetarians? You may want to consider a few packages of Boca Burgers or something like that. Are people being invited to bring a dish to share?

Don't forget charcoal and the BBQ utensils- plates or whatever to place the cooked food on and spatulas and all that.

Danielsbabe
Member

08-07-2003

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 7:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks everyone!

Some good ideas.

Ddr, fortunately there will not be any kids attending. But the bug spray is a good idea.

Half, wet wipes, something I never would have thought of!

Kaili, and again cheese slices, something else I never would have thought of. I don't have cheese on my burgers. And another thing I never thought of those damnvegetarians! I'm going to have to look into some veggie burgers.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 8:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hi, Dbabe!

Will this be held on someone's personal property or at a park? Are the tent people bringing fans or something to cool the tent area, if necessary? What hours will it be held? Will the event be rescheduled for inclement weather or will the tents provide good shelter?

No booze, I take it?

You didn't mention dessert. You could hire a water ice vendor to serve freshly made lemon water ice. Or you could go with fresh fruit.

How about little goodie bags for everyone to take home? Fill with whatever makes sense to your company: a company magnet, some sweets that won't melt, and a little bit of memorabilia for that particular event--a personal note from the boss or a customized salutation on a generic letter to everyone. (We had an in-house print shop and could make little notepads with the theme and company logo imprinted; other times we purchased koozies (those summertime drink thingees with the straw) and featuring the company logo. You get the idea. The items would vary, depending upon the guest list, of course. Some other ideas: Desk paper weights, gym bags, portfolios.)

Designate a couple people as photographers and take lots of pix-using disposable cameras if you don't have a company camera.

Also, do you have pix from other events? You could make a small display of them--would be helpful in helping people get together to chat.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 8:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Pictures! Yeah- you could try to get people to bring in baby/kid pictures of themselves then do some game kind of thing (or a small prize thing) where you have to figure out (guess) who everyone is.

Danielsbabe
Member

08-07-2003

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 8:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
So many great ideas! I knew I could count on this place for help

HP,the event is being held on company property between 4pm and 7pm. Rain or shine. I'll check with the fan people and see if they provide any cooling service. My boss never mentioned dessert, I was thinking of a cake, but you might be on to something with the hot weather. I should look into cold treats.
Photographing the event is another great idea! We have a digital camera too.

Kaili, the game sounds like fun, now if I can just convince a bunch of humourless techies to bring in pics of themselves...LOL

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 9:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Have fun with this, DB, and let us know how everything works out!! I'd love to see a picture of two, if you feel safe sharing.

Perhaps a small centerpiece on each table, too. Could be a single helium balloon tied to a paperweight (cover a rock or pebble-filled baby jar with shiny wrapping paper. Could be a single flower or a potted plant. Or it could be a stack of techie-based toys--little nothing gizmos you can buy at a card shop/dollar store (erasers with a techie theme, etc.)

Danielsbabe
Member

08-07-2003

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 9:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
HP you are just plumb full of great suggestions!
I'll be sure to post some pics, it's not often I get the use of a spiffy digital camera!

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 7:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Danielsbabe, I got the International Police Association annual Canadian American picnic dumped on me too, and I have also never organized one. However, I do have the list the Canadians made last year, to which I have added some handwritten notations I got from someone I know not who. I have this typed up as a Word document. If you want it, send me an e-mail at Juju2bigdog at Yahoo.com, and I'll e-mail it to you.

Danielsbabe
Member

08-07-2003

Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 6:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Juju, I just sent you an e-mail

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
And the list is on the way to you, DB!

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 9:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ice cream cups with the little wooden paddles!! They always make everyone smile.

Danielsbabe
Member

08-07-2003

Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They always make me smile Goddess!

I'll keep that in mind too, cause they aren't that expensive.