The Work Thread 2 - Get back to work!

[That's not a growth]

On a tangent; after watching Fringe again recently I have a lot more respect for Astrid having to deal with Walter continually treating her like his personal assistant and expecting her pick up any gooseberry fool he throws her way, no matter how important her current task is.

Also, I had a member of the team come to me last week about a complaint he had about our manager shouting and screaming at him for not doing something someone else said they would do.

He was concerned the company wouldn't do anything if he went to HR, as a few managers are like that and nothing has happened to them. I said that he needed to at least try, no point in assuming the worst - but he might want to speak to the manager first if he felt up to it, as I imagined the first question from HR would be "have you spoke to him about this, and given him an opportunity to apologise and work forward from this". He decided to give it a try and spoke to our manager, and the two of them ended up on a call with HR as it turns out our manager had previously complained to them about this team member's attitude (with this being the first time the team member would find out about this - and I believe the 'attitude' referenced is essentially down to him standing up for himself in previous instances).

HR sided with the manager - about seemingly if someone else takes responsibility for a task it can be everyone's fault if it doesn't get completed. And that shouting is just the 'style' of management our manager had chosen.

I found out about this a few days later, and there's a specific bit in our employee handbook how threatening behaviour isn't acceptable - but if HR are just fobbing him off it does seem he's out of options.

How do you even deal with a situation like that. It's crazy to me.

[Drumstick]

Seems like victimisation to me - shouting at B when A was actually responsible for said piece of work.

[Qikz]

On a tangent; after watching Fringe again recently I have a lot more respect for Astrid having to deal with Walter continually treating her like his personal assistant and expecting her pick up any gooseberry fool he throws her way, no matter how important her current task is.

Also, I had a member of the team come to me last week about a complaint he had about our manager shouting and screaming at him for not doing something someone else said they would do.

He was concerned the company wouldn't do anything if he went to HR, as a few managers are like that and nothing has happened to them. I said that he needed to at least try, no point in assuming the worst - but he might want to speak to the manager first if he felt up to it, as I imagined the first question from HR would be "have you spoke to him about this, and given him an opportunity to apologise and work forward from this". He decided to give it a try and spoke to our manager, and the two of them ended up on a call with HR as it turns out our manager had previously complained to them about this team member's attitude (with this being the first time the team member would find out about this - and I believe the 'attitude' referenced is essentially down to him standing up for himself in previous instances).

HR sided with the manager - about seemingly if someone else takes responsibility for a task it can be everyone's fault if it doesn't get completed. And that shouting is just the 'style' of management our manager had chosen.

I found out about this a few days later, and there's a specific bit in our employee handbook how threatening behaviour isn't acceptable - but if HR are just fobbing him off it does seem he's out of options.

How do you even deal with a situation like that. It's crazy to me.

I don't know if you're working in HR, but generally I've learned from seeing what happens at our clients to never trust HR for anything. They almost always side with the manager and it always ends up worse for the person who's already having trouble and raises the complaint in the first place.

HR are not out to protect the employees, they're there to protect the company at the end of the day. HR people are mostly nice when you talk to them, but the decisions I see them make are disgusting and really show them in a different light.

[Ecno]

On a tangent; after watching Fringe again recently I have a lot more respect for Astrid having to deal with Walter continually treating her like his personal assistant and expecting her pick up any gooseberry fool he throws her way, no matter how important her current task is.

Also, I had a member of the team come to me last week about a complaint he had about our manager shouting and screaming at him for not doing something someone else said they would do.

He was concerned the company wouldn't do anything if he went to HR, as a few managers are like that and nothing has happened to them. I said that he needed to at least try, no point in assuming the worst - but he might want to speak to the manager first if he felt up to it, as I imagined the first question from HR would be "have you spoke to him about this, and given him an opportunity to apologise and work forward from this". He decided to give it a try and spoke to our manager, and the two of them ended up on a call with HR as it turns out our manager had previously complained to them about this team member's attitude (with this being the first time the team member would find out about this - and I believe the 'attitude' referenced is essentially down to him standing up for himself in previous instances).

HR sided with the manager - about seemingly if someone else takes responsibility for a task it can be everyone's fault if it doesn't get completed. And that shouting is just the 'style' of management our manager had chosen.

I found out about this a few days later, and there's a specific bit in our employee handbook how threatening behaviour isn't acceptable - but if HR are just fobbing him off it does seem he's out of options.

How do you even deal with a situation like that. It's crazy to me.

Document behaviour in view of having to go to an employment tribunal at some point.

[pjbetman]

On a tangent; after watching Fringe again recently I have a lot more respect for Astrid having to deal with Walter continually treating her like his personal assistant and expecting her pick up any gooseberry fool he throws her way, no matter how important her current task is.

Also, I had a member of the team come to me last week about a complaint he had about our manager shouting and screaming at him for not doing something someone else said they would do.

He was concerned the company wouldn't do anything if he went to HR, as a few managers are like that and nothing has happened to them. I said that he needed to at least try, no point in assuming the worst - but he might want to speak to the manager first if he felt up to it, as I imagined the first question from HR would be "have you spoke to him about this, and given him an opportunity to apologise and work forward from this". He decided to give it a try and spoke to our manager, and the two of them ended up on a call with HR as it turns out our manager had previously complained to them about this team member's attitude (with this being the first time the team member would find out about this - and I believe the 'attitude' referenced is essentially down to him standing up for himself in previous instances).

HR sided with the manager - about seemingly if someone else takes responsibility for a task it can be everyone's fault if it doesn't get completed. And that shouting is just the 'style' of management our manager had chosen.

I found out about this a few days later, and there's a specific bit in our employee handbook how threatening behaviour isn't acceptable - but if HR are just fobbing him off it does seem he's out of options.

How do you even deal with a situation like that. It's crazy to me.

Go off sick. See what their doctor will give them for stress, in terms of being unfit for work. I once had a doctor who was going to give me 6 months off, right off the bat in one go. I declined but i got 4 weeks initially.....i wish i'd taken the 6 months. However, i was contracted for 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay for sickness absence.

[Green Gecko]

On a tangent; after watching Fringe again recently I have a lot more respect for Astrid having to deal with Walter continually treating her like his personal assistant and expecting her pick up any gooseberry fool he throws her way, no matter how important her current task is.

Also, I had a member of the team come to me last week about a complaint he had about our manager shouting and screaming at him for not doing something someone else said they would do.

He was concerned the company wouldn't do anything if he went to HR, as a few managers are like that and nothing has happened to them. I said that he needed to at least try, no point in assuming the worst - but he might want to speak to the manager first if he felt up to it, as I imagined the first question from HR would be "have you spoke to him about this, and given him an opportunity to apologise and work forward from this". He decided to give it a try and spoke to our manager, and the two of them ended up on a call with HR as it turns out our manager had previously complained to them about this team member's attitude (with this being the first time the team member would find out about this - and I believe the 'attitude' referenced is essentially down to him standing up for himself in previous instances).

HR sided with the manager - about seemingly if someone else takes responsibility for a task it can be everyone's fault if it doesn't get completed. And that shouting is just the 'style' of management our manager had chosen.

I found out about this a few days later, and there's a specific bit in our employee handbook how threatening behaviour isn't acceptable - but if HR are just fobbing him off it does seem he's out of options.

How do you even deal with a situation like that. It's crazy to me.

That's exactly what happened to me more than once for my zero hours and I ended up with a formal apology from HR months after I was kicked off payroll after not being handed hours, seemingly over time representing a punishment for not doing a thing that someone else did not do, and then doing that for them anyway after getting yelled at.

Basically gooseberry fool that was no way part of my remit, or things I wasn't even in attendance for to do anything about because I was not given any hours that week, would be blamed on me and I'd get yelled at.

What was I supposed to do a 6hr roundtrip commute to fix a problem I didn't know was a problem caused by someone else that I had no authority over? It was strawberry floating crazy the expectations this manager had of me.

[Songwriter]

I start a new job on Monday, after a starting a job in January, after a horrible period of redundancy and failure after failure after failure of job interviews since last March.

Never been lower. But I got this Jan job, I was happy, but not content. I have two v young kids, (one - who was one day old when I was told I was being made redundant / another story), I was relieved I had money, good money coming in.

Long story short - saw a what felt an unrealistic job and went for it, interviewed in secret and, 3 interviews and a task later, I got it.

When I resigned last week, they were annoyed but - Jesus. Wasn’t expecting... I was sworn at, told I was lying, told the new job wasn’t real and - I think I became the first person to be hung up on - on a Teams call!!

Was weirdly stressful but I’ve left now.

And after a pretty awful year work wise - I start on Monday as a designer at Lotus Cars. And I’m really proud of myself. (It won’t last)

I guess I’m putting it in here for self-congratulation but maybe I need that to gain a confidence for Monday.

[That's not a growth]

Try not too over think it, they hired you for a reason. Impostor syndrome is a bitch. Just take each day as it comes, and congrats!

And thanks for the words people, a few things to mull over there.

[Jenuall]

Sounds like you've been through the wringer there Songwriter, congrats on the new job!

[Zilnad]

Congratulations. I bet it was so satisfying when your ex-employer started ranting like that.

[Songwriter]

Thanks guys.

Congratulations. I bet it was so satisfying when your ex-employer started ranting like that.

Weirdly, no. For the first 3 hours, was anxiety ridden.

Then I shrugged.

[Memento Mori]

Watching a companywide video call now where an exec is introducing the new woman's leader program promoting female execs. The exec in charge of this program is male.

[Trelliz]

Thanks guys.

Congratulations. I bet it was so satisfying when your ex-employer started ranting like that.

Weirdly, no. For the first 3 hours, was anxiety ridden.

Then I shrugged.

Probably a mix of jealousy/crab bucket mentality combined with realisation of all they stuff they're now going to have to do?

[Lagamorph]

I've been in my current job for over 6 years and still have the Imposter Syndrome.

[Memento Mori]

"Would you like to join the company bonus sacrifice scheme? Choose what percentage of your bonus you want to be paid to your pension tax-free and the company will match it! You have to decide before you know how much your bonus will be."

This feels like a gameshow.

[Cuttooth]

"Would you like to join the company bonus sacrifice scheme? Choose what percentage of your bonus you want to be paid to your pension tax-free and the company will match it! You have to decide before you know how much your bonus will be."

This feels like a gameshow.

Oh no, you’ve chosen the door with the "Remember, you’re here forever" plaque! Oh ho, better luck next time, Mori!

[Memento Mori]

"Would you like to join the company bonus sacrifice scheme? Choose what percentage of your bonus you want to be paid to your pension tax-free and the company will match it! You have to decide before you know how much your bonus will be."

This feels like a gameshow.

Oh no, you’ve chosen the door with the "Remember, you’re here forever" plaque! Oh ho, better luck next time, Mori!

If only. I've learned today that because I joined because of a company buyout, the wage I'm on is notably more than someone on my position at this company should be (doubt.jpg) which probably suggests I'll be one of the first to get fired in the next round of corporate layoffs and I won't be getting a payrise this year. Didn't get a payrise last year either.

[Kezzer]

Someone added me on LinkedIn wants me to help write a book ?

Hello [Kez],
We are coming up with a new book on [the tech I work with]. Would you be interested in working as an author on this book with us? If so, I’d be happy to walk you through the details.
Regards,

Hmmmm

[Zilnad]

Business Secrets of the Pharaohs!

[Green Gecko]

Thanks guys.

Congratulations. I bet it was so satisfying when your ex-employer started ranting like that.

Weirdly, no. For the first 3 hours, was anxiety ridden.

Then I shrugged.

I know these fees from when I left my first and last permanent position. Congratulations on the hire, Lotus Cars, that sounds interesting..

I'm trying to spread really further afield as a consultant, currently asking for a referral to join a freelance directory in Japan... At least in theory, if I ever had to travel there, I can visit my brother, sister-in-law and niece! For obvious reasons, there's more remote work going now than ever before so I'm trying to open up to it again.