Dealing with a Tough Boss

Off Topic
21

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I work for one of those micro-managers. I know him for a very long time, he’s bounced around the industry and is now back with us again. He’s quite the keyboard warrior, spends 90% of his day glued to his PC. I’m at the point where I can retire and take the pension and go. So I choose to challenge him right back when he challenges me. We got into it big last week, but we both held our cool. In the end, he backed down.

I’m used to working alone with very loose ties to who I report to. I probably have been doing that for a run of 8 years straight.

I tie him up with emails, which he’s compelled to respond to each one, I copy people higher up the food chain that I trust, so they know what’s going on. I know he checks his work emails when he’s on vacation, so at those times I ramp it up. If there’s a problem that we have to solve quickly, I can usually do it fast. But if there’s asinine politics involved, I may choose to drag it out and see how far I can take it, maybe throw another level of complexity into it. That’s only after I know that I can overall save the day at any time.

My advice, do the best work that you can. Gain the confidence of people at your peer level and above your boss. Find something that nobody likes to do, make it your bitch. This gives you leverage. Any given chance, you may want to make this guy look bad, but be subtle about it.[/quote]

To tell you the truth I don’t believe in making someone look bad for the sake of politics. Again, I think it is just children in the sand box guarding their stupid little castles. This is one reason why I want to get the hell out of the cubicle life in general - people are petty and it is obvious there lives are too easy/boring.

Anyway… I tried one of the approaches today at work. My boss was asking lots of questions again. He told me he is testing me, but again I don’t understand the motive. I highlighted the wrong line on a document by mistake and it turned into a pop quiz, which is annoying, but I tried better not to show it.

I followed up with a question to another one of his questions, namely why the answer to this question was his versus mine. The answer he gave me was “I don’t know the hell why, I defer to XX to answer those questions.”… I thought it was a little rude and unnecessary.

A coworker explained to me that sometimes he gets “like that”, but I still cant tell if I should take it personally or not.

22

I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.

23

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first.

24

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first. [/quote]

You need to get a grip and grow up. You make of your career what you make. Every company is different, every manager is different, and you is all you can control. You really need to work on conflict management and your approach to these situations or you will have the same problem everywhere you go eventually.

25

[quote]JLD2k3 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first. [/quote]

You need to get a grip and grow up. You make of your career what you make. Every company is different, every manager is different, and you is all you can control. You really need to work on conflict management and your approach to these situations or you will have the same problem everywhere you go eventually. [/quote]

I like how he’s turned “I’m an entitled brat in denial” into “all corporations are evil and will fuck you in the ass instead of giving you what you deserve”.

26

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]JLD2k3 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first. [/quote]

You need to get a grip and grow up. You make of your career what you make. Every company is different, every manager is different, and you is all you can control. You really need to work on conflict management and your approach to these situations or you will have the same problem everywhere you go eventually. [/quote]

I like how he’s turned “I’m an entitled brat in denial” into “all corporations are evil and will fuck you in the ass instead of giving you what you deserve”.[/quote]

Big and tough on the internet, as usual.

27

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]JLD2k3 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first. [/quote]

You need to get a grip and grow up. You make of your career what you make. Every company is different, every manager is different, and you is all you can control. You really need to work on conflict management and your approach to these situations or you will have the same problem everywhere you go eventually. [/quote]

I like how he’s turned “I’m an entitled brat in denial” into “all corporations are evil and will fuck you in the ass instead of giving you what you deserve”.[/quote]

Big and tough on the internet, as usual.[/quote]
Actually, I’m a really big asshole in real life to certain people because I need to act that way. I’m quite nice online by comparison since I can be myself.

That being said, I’m simply pointing out the inconsistencies in your thought process based on your previous rants here. Anything more you infer from my posts, the bigger chip you have on your shoulder I guess.

28

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]JLD2k3 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first. [/quote]

You need to get a grip and grow up. You make of your career what you make. Every company is different, every manager is different, and you is all you can control. You really need to work on conflict management and your approach to these situations or you will have the same problem everywhere you go eventually. [/quote]

I like how he’s turned “I’m an entitled brat in denial” into “all corporations are evil and will fuck you in the ass instead of giving you what you deserve”.[/quote]

Big and tough on the internet, as usual.[/quote]
Actually, I’m a really big asshole in real life to certain people because I need to act that way. I’m quite nice online by comparison since I can be myself.

That being said, I’m simply pointing out the inconsistencies in your thought process based on your previous rants here. Anything more you infer from my posts, the bigger chip you have on your shoulder I guess.[/quote]

I think you just need a great big hug

29

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]dt79 wrote:

[quote]JLD2k3 wrote:

[quote]Aero51 wrote:

[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
I’m to the point where I have little respect left for my immediate boss. He plays the management games, gargles with the corporate koolaid and expects us to do it too… and like it. Just give me a task and let me do it. I have deadlines, strict budgets and bring in tough jobs under budget and early. He admits that he gets zero complaints on me or anything that I do from anyone.

If I’m out a week, they have to assign 3 people to pick up my work. I covered for one guy this summer… he was gone for 3 weeks. I cringed when I heard that. But… nobody came to me with anything that needed to be done. So I watch the guy when he comes back. I have come to the conclusion that he makes his own work. I know he’s in a financial bind (at age 62… great) and he makes his own OT and has no limit on it. And he has got the boss buffaloed on it. He looks like he’s scrambling all day.

When I leave for the day, I turn the place off like a switch. I’ll be in tomorrow for a few hours to start on something new, OT is getting close to being mandatory and there are so many caveats attached to it its not even worth it.[/quote]

Wow, you are a very hard worker. I respect that. When I was in college I was similar too you - always got my shit done, always brought my A-game to my education. But when I got into the corporate world, I learned very quickly the ratio of the reward vs effort & [time sacrifice] for being a top notch employee is terrible.

A former best friend was putting in 60+ hours a week for the last three years. It got him some decent raises, maybe 3-5 percent at the most, but there went his mid 20’s and he still does the same type of work as I do, just more of it, still has the same office drama, and in the end his title doesn’t mean much because he has no power compared to upper management.

Is it worth it? To me absolutely not. My father knows guys like him who have been laid off without a second thought. If there is one thing I learned from him is that most companies fuck employees in this country. Look out for yourself first. [/quote]

You need to get a grip and grow up. You make of your career what you make. Every company is different, every manager is different, and you is all you can control. You really need to work on conflict management and your approach to these situations or you will have the same problem everywhere you go eventually. [/quote]

I like how he’s turned “I’m an entitled brat in denial” into “all corporations are evil and will fuck you in the ass instead of giving you what you deserve”.[/quote]

Big and tough on the internet, as usual.[/quote]
Actually, I’m a really big asshole in real life to certain people because I need to act that way. I’m quite nice online by comparison since I can be myself.

That being said, I’m simply pointing out the inconsistencies in your thought process based on your previous rants here. Anything more you infer from my posts, the bigger chip you have on your shoulder I guess.[/quote]

I think you just need a great big hug
[/quote]
sob you got me… I need to go to the strip club now sob…

30

Send some faxes and cry deeply? Eat a bagel?