Chewing your boss' ass

grcthird · Jul 29, 2014

Today my boss, who is also an owner, and I had a professional discussion, the third in five days, about the stupid stuff going on. I was told my negative nancy comments have been getting louder and that I should stop fighting the changes going on. Now if you have held a 5 minute conversation with me, you know I have no tolerance for stupidity, none. Shop is in the middle of the biggest cluster **** (his words) remodel that I've ever seen. Things have been changed that, before they purchased it, were streamlined and the majority of the daily BS was cut out. We are working twice as hard to accomplish half of what we used to. I haven't seen these guys make very many smart business decisions and it just drives me nuts to see something that was my baby, go to complete ****. Promises have been made about things turning around when the never ending remodel is finished, we'll see.

In a nutshell I told him all this in a professional manner, minimal cussing on my end, but in a firm "you are ****ing this up" tone.

Am I out of line to be concerned about the future of my work place? Or shoud I just STFU and let them keep driving it off the cliff?

bad80cj · Jul 29, 2014

I'm a firm believer in speaking up when I see something going on that makes me have to work harder for less moneys. Out of line no.

TacomaJD · Jul 29, 2014

It's like arguing with a stump. The whole twice as hard to do the same work thing has been into effect at my workplace over the past couple years for various different causes. I have bypassed immediate management, went to upper management about a couple things relative to my department, and basically was told I've just got to live with it. Now it's nothing I'd quit over, but I have been contemplating bidding on another job within the company. We have a new plant manager that's been in charge for going on 2 years now, early 30's, and unprofessional in terms of human resources. Myself and a few others were fabricating a legit complaint about the same thing and his words were "this sounds like a bunch of 5th and 6th graders whining about being picked on" .....I smiled and said I have no further comments. It was then, I lost faith in our main leader here.....he is a ****. If you knew how Siemens works and the history of plant managers here, that attitude is not what the company's culture is about.

It was also then, that it solidified in my mind that I must strive to one day be "that manager", the shot caller, or someone of their own authority in a more professional atmosphere. I can't stand being able to plainly be able to look at something and see that it's broken, know the paths that need to be taken to fix it, and it's not important enough to the fatass fawk stick that sits on his ass every day and barely even knows anything about the process to begin with.

*rant over....lol but yeah, in a professional way, like you said you did, I'd have done the same thing. I'd have been stern enough to get my point across, but not do/say anything to get fired or affect my image toward those who control whether I have a job or not.

muddinmetal · Jul 29, 2014

I have too big a mouth with my bosses and have had 2 seperate incidents that turned physical, but have never been fired for any of them. If you do get fired, think about it, how happy are you there, really?

TacomaJD · Jul 29, 2014

muddinmetal said:
I have too big a mouth with my bosses and have had 2 seperate incidents that turned physical, but have never been fired for any of them. If you do get fired, think about it, how happy are you there, really?

A lot happier than I'd be without the pay/benefits of my job lol...If I (or anyone generally speaking) hated it bad enough, obviously I'd leave. My mindset has changed a lot over the years, I definitely want to work toward a more professional career. I don't like taking orders from people that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground about what I do.

muddinmetal · Jul 29, 2014

TacomaJD said:
A lot happier than I'd be without the pay/benefits of my job lol...If I (or anyone generally speaking) hated it bad enough, obviously I'd leave. My mindset has changed a lot over the years, I definitely want to work toward a more professional career. I don't like taking orders from people that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground about what I do.

I was pointing that more at J, but I hear ya man. In the corporate word the dumbest yes men always end up in charge of us "dumbasses"

TacomaJD · Jul 29, 2014

muddinmetal said:
I was pointing that more at J, but I hear ya man. In the corporate word the dumbest yes men always end up in charge of us "dumbasses"

'

EXACTLY! Most our supervisors are merely puppets between us and their bosses. I think that would piss me off being one of those too. You always have that fawker that's higher up, that has the ultimate say in things, but has the least knowledge about said things.

grcthird · Jul 29, 2014

muddinmetal said:
I have too big a mouth with my bosses and have had 2 seperate incidents that turned physical, but have never been fired for any of them. If you do get fired, think about it, how happy are you there, really?

It won't get physical, and I seriously doubt they will fire me. I make 3-4 peoples pay checks for them. If I leave, it will be my decision to do so. Really trying to hold out for a little while so I can see how this pans out. The next person I will work for will be myself.

Joc · Jul 29, 2014

I had to call out the main boss where I work a couple months ago. Long story short, over 2 years ago I was called in the office and really thought I was about to get BLOWN OUT. Dude is an ass to put it lightly. Well I was blind sided when he said what his plans were for my future with the company. Promotion to sales and office job etc. Nothing in writing. Up to date. Still slaving my ass off in the shop. So I said f it and I told him I had to get something off my chest one day after work and he looked scared/worried and I guess he thought I was quitting which could screw them up big time. I told him I was tired of wondering if he was ever gonna hold up his end of the deal and that I thought I was lied to since I hadnt seen any effort from him in teaching me the stuff he told me. Well of course he said everything is still on track and plans are the same but he dropped the ball on training me. Since then I've seen a little change but still have my doubts. I've been with them for 7 years busting my ass doing what 2-3 guys used to do and no telling how much money I have saved them or made them and last week I had a buddy needing a window fixed that we made. I ask the boss and was told NO we cannot help him. Total kick in the nuts. We got a contract with the place that installed it so therefore I cannot help my buddy. By then I was so pissed I asked if i could buy the glass and fix it myself and he looked at me like i was crazy but he priced it cash only. Go figure.

Been thinking why in the hell am I still working there making them richer when I cant even help someone after all the years of bending over backwards to make their jobs easier. Its a great paying job and everybody there hates the dbag but for the money we make we gotta suck it up and get over it and ignore the shitty attitude of the boss.

Dwalk · Jul 29, 2014

Bob & Tom Its a great day to whip somebodies Ass

GOES ALONG WITH THIS SUBJECT. :dblthumb:

The Luke · Jul 30, 2014

This sounds familiar. I was just fired for speaking my mind to the boss. He asked me what I thought. So, I told him. Next thing I know I'm being fired for "Not conducting my work in a positive manner".

grcthird · Jul 30, 2014

These guys seem to think that if they get one time use out of something and it breaks, then oh well. This is something else I have been very vocal about. I brought a 50 ft hose on a self retracting reel to the shop before they bought it, retracting part is broke. The computer I was using in the office got several stupid "download this and speed up your pc" program on it and pretty much just shut down. My $8k toolbox is completely covered in concrete dust and dryfall paint. I spend hours every week cleaning up behind these guys, they will leave a drain pan full of diesel oil and filters in the parking lot, jump in a wrecker and peel out on a call.

I could go on and on about the stupid things that were never an issue before they showed up.

pholmann · Jul 30, 2014

I am very outspoken professionally. I have learned through the years that it's all about presentation. You can say the same thing 3 different ways and get three different responses with various results.

sparepartsdave · Jul 30, 2014

if you are doing a really good job, you will never be promoted beyond that position, too many people above you are depending on you to make them look good. If you are correct in your assumptions, document whats going on, make a plan to address the issue. Compile it in a formal letter or email(depending on how your company operates) and forward your report to your boss' boss, and his boss(go up at least two levels) and ask for your boss' job. Its a do or die move, but the rewards could be great. If it doesn't work, you had better have another job lined up, even better if its with a competitor. But if you are correct in your assumptions, they won't let you leave. If they don't promote you, you either don't need to be working there anyways(dead end job) or you don't know what you are talking about and need to STFU, keep you head down and do your job. Its a gutsy move and it takes a set to pull it off, but that's how people get ahead and into management. hard work and doing your job will only keep you doing the same thing with minimal rewards and advancements.

Dwalk · Jul 30, 2014

pholmann said:
I am very outspoken professionally. I have learned through the years that it's all about presentation. You can say the same thing 3 different ways and get three different responses with various results.

^^this^^ I learned a few lessons in Tactical Speaking in the service, and used it to my advantage often...I don't use it much now, but you can just about get anything you want with this.

***Also if you can't bedazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit! This too is effective if you have the common sense to back it up.

LightBnDr · Jul 30, 2014

Good topic. I have always been an outspoken guy and stood up for what others and what was on my mind. At my first career location in a Chevrolet dealership I was there 6 years and like everyone knows, they turnover management all the time. We got a new set of managers one summer and they started having meetings and making changes that F-ed things up a lot. In these meetings, a director said openly "we haven't been getting any feedback from you techs on these changes, feel free to express what's on your mind" Bam I expressed and 2 weeks later I was fired.

I share that because jobs ARE personal relationships. Anyone who says "it's just business" is a ****in idiot. It is very important to make friends in the work place because thats exactly what will keep you employed. When things get crappy in the workplace you ALWAYS need to evaluate whether speaking your mind is worth losing your job. Or will you be able to step into another location the next day to support your family?

Though sometimes speaking up is the only solution. Good luck to you. No matter what happens, learn from it. It is all preparation for future life experiences that you will be able to handle much easier after this one.

jwilson645 · Jul 30, 2014

I was wondering how all that was going, J. I noticed the wreckers and such. Did that company buy the shop or just the same people own both? I did have to drool on some of the new equipment that just got delivered when I was there last week though. :flipoff1:

I hope it works itself out for you. 2 years ago my wife was ready to quit her job of 15 years because of a bunch of bullshit but she stuck it out and now she's in a much better position there with a lot less stress.

mna0121 · Jul 30, 2014

Let them drive it off the cliff then you and Mattman purchase the newly renovated building and run the business like y'all see fit.

patooyee · Jul 30, 2014

mna0121 said:
Let them drive it off the cliff then you and Mattman purchase the newly renovated building and run the business like y'all see fit.

x2. If you think you can do it better put your money where your mouth is.

Running a business isn't as easy as you think though. You don't always get to do what you want and you have to deal with people who don't get the whole picture and then ****-talk you on the internet where they know you can't defend yourself, dragging your company / investment through the mud over petty disguntlements.

pholmann · Jul 30, 2014

patooyee said:
x2. If you think you can do it better put your money where your mouth is.

Running a business isn't as easy as you think though. You don't always get to do what you want and you have to deal with people who don't get the whole picture and then ****-talk you on the internet where they know you can't defend yourself, dragging your company / investment through the mud over petty disguntlements.

Couldn't have said it better myself. This is very true. Self employment is sometimes a bitch. For every perk there are two things that kick your ass.