Did I Do The Right Thing (Work Related)

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
ita Peachgirl.

It is a difficult position, but Manager's are very rarely in a position to say "well sure, we have to cut $85k in Salaries next year and Data Entry Clerks are gonna have to go."
so they beat around the bush a little and say "Cross Training is good."

I don't blame your co-workers for being concerned and I doubt your Leadership attempt did anything to make them feel better.

Oh, I agree. It's not usually management's fault. After all, you can't expect them to fall on their swords for lower level employees. They have a job to protect too.

Anyone who thinks they're too valuable for a company to fire or lay off will usually find out that it just doesn't work that way.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Most corporations like TEAMPLAYERS. Tattling on your co-workers is NOT team play!

 

[jipsy]

So if I typed 120 WPM what would that be in KSPH?

 

[JayBee]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
both today and tomorrow they told the other clerks to come in 2 to 4 hours later than usual but they're having me come in at the regular time. ........................................................................................................................................I told them they weren't going to lose their jobs but I will admit that I felt good when I was praised for telling my direct manager.

If they are being told to come in 2 -4 hours later than normal that means less pay, and could mean the first step to "see you later"...so maybe your co-workers were right to worry about their jobs.

 

[honeywolf7]

I don't know what your ksph would be, but when I tested my wpm last time I tested at 140. That's been a while, though.
I was not trying to tattle on them (it's not like I told her that a couple of them had been talking the other day about wanting to run out of work so they could go home early while I worked through lunch the day before the hurricane when we were allowed to take a half hour lunch and leave two hours early because I wanted to get as much work done as I could.....I think it's probably more that I'm a workaholic/have a very strong work ethic-I'll only DIS if there's absolutely nothing else to do there-than that they're bad workers for wanting to go home early. I've been known to ask to learn new things if I had nothing to do and I've been asked to do things like creating spreadsheets, etc. when I was originally hired only as a DEO....I just like doing a good job and I appreciate being appreciated.) I started out telling my manager that because I figured that maybe she could comfort them (my office is a pretty friendly, close place....only 10 of us there including the boss/owner of the company.) One of them felt like I was tattling, but she didn't see it the same way I did. I did like being thanked for bringing the problem to my manager's attention b/c I felt like I had been of value to the small company and because I did like it being appreciated by a manager. As far as the two-four hours late thing, the main reason is that we're a company that does inspections for insurance companies and we have suspended them in three counties because of the hurricane....therefore, at the moment there's less work. I was asked to come in at the same time because I am a lot more cross-trained than they are (even though two out of the four have been there longer than me) and so there's USUALLY work for me to do.

 

[LScot]

So, HW, did you win the bet???

 

[Pongo69]

I did like being thanked for bringing the problem to my manager's attention b/c I felt like I had been of value to the small company and because I did like it being appreciated by a manager.
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You keep saying "You liked being thanked by the manager" No offense, but do you know how childish and simple you "sound"!!!!!

As far as being appreciated by the manager let me tell you that manager will use you up just to keep herself looking good for her boss and toss you out the door afterwards.

Seriously do you really think your boss is going to trust you to not run and tattle on her if she does something wrong.

 

[honeywolf7]

I don't agree that it's childish to appreciate being appreciated. A lot of bosses don't appreciate a good employee so it's nice to have one who does. As far as running and telling her boss on her, it's not going to happen and she's not going to "use me up." She's actually a very nice person and getting to be a good friend.

 

[JayBee]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
I worked through lunch the day before the hurricane when we were allowed to take a half hour lunch and leave two hours early because I wanted to get as much work done as I could.....

So -I'm curious-how did your kids react to their first Hurricane?

 

[Pongo69]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
I don't agree that it's childish to appreciate being appreciated. A lot of bosses don't appreciate a good employee so it's nice to have one who does. As far as running and telling her boss on her, it's not going to happen and she's not going to "use me up." She's actually a very nice person and getting to be a good friend.

Bless you Honeywolf


Although I'm 36 I do know your never too old to learn about life. Sometimes you learn from mistakes and other times you have to use common sense to guide you to make the right decision.
I don't know if your naive or lack common sense but it's never a good thing to become chummy/good friend with the boss.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by JayBee
So -I'm curious-how did your kids react to their first Hurricane?

They probably watched it on TV and hoped MOM was Ok!

 

[swea_pea1]

I agree with the poster who talked about the perceived lack of teamwork. I have been there/done that....from the manager's perspective. An employee came in saying that other employees are concerned/complaining/worrying, whatever it was. Then the back-biting began. The next thing I knew, one of the "accused" was in my office saying she never said anything of the sort and that the "accuser" was actually the one concerned/complaining/worrying, etc., plus, here's a list of a zillion other things the "accuser" has been concerned/complaining/worrying about. Made for bad morale all around and in the end, I don't remember the situation, but I remember the "accuser" who wreaked havoc on the office.

I can tell you this from my personal experience....it's far better for productivity when the employees like each other than when they are competing to "get in good" with me. JMHO

 

[2BigKIdz]

Personally, if I expressed concern to a co-worker I would hope he/she would have the common courtesy to keep that information private. From my own personal experience, it is not a good idea to have a good friend as your boss unless you can separate your business relationship from your personal one.

 

[Serena]

Becki, you asked for our thoughts and then argue with most of them. Take some time to think about what we are saying.

It was not, not, a good thing to go to your boss with this. If the other co-workers asked you to, then it would be different. But whether they were right or wrong, you made them look foolish. NOT a good thing.
It is usually not a good thing to tick off fellow co-workers, no matter how much the management seems to like you. There are exceptions of course, but something this minor is not one of them.
What you did was bad for the morale of the group. In any managers eyes, that's not good. It can also cause problems later between you and the other clerks, and that will also be a headache for management.

I doubt you get another chance with this group, but next time, keep your co-workers concerns to yourself. It instills trust, it inspires teamwork and good morale. And you just might make a friend from it.

 

[MeanLaureen]

I'll give you my perspective from a managers stand point.

There are many MANY other things that constitute a good employee - not just because they tell their boss what the buzz is down on their rank.

While maybe I might have been "appreciative" to your face this time, in the back of my head a warning light would be going off. I would be wondering what your motive is, whether you actually are a team player, and whether, well basically, you were a tattletale. Now I'm not saying that telling a manager when something is wrong (not just talk amongst employees) makes you a tattletaler. To me, someone who tattles is someone who spends way too much of their expendable energy at work making sure everyone else does what they are supposed to do when it isn't their job.

When you are part of a group you must work as a team. Part of my employees review is how they operate as a team. If you alienate your coworkers you are cutting your own throat by making you unpromotable, Not many bosses would want to promote someone who enjoys gaining appreciation at the expense of another. Think about it. If you complain or make "observations" about peers on this level, what would make your bosses think you wouldn't do it throughout all levels, especially if someday you became the same level as them? Does that make sense? It's too late for me to be making sense..lol

And Becki (and this statement goes for anyone), please don't overestimate your worth at ANY job. People tend to forget things they did wrong or things that they did that are less than ethical - only their better moments come shining through. I can remember that time you posted on the DIS when you worked at the same mall as me that you were going to call in sick at work so you could keep DISing all night. Not a whole lot better than what you say your coworkers do, right?

 

[poohandwendy]

Since you asked our opinions, I'll be frank.

In the situation described, showing leadership skills would mean doing what you can to encourage fellow employees to discuss their concerns directly with the management staff. That promotes a good, communicative work environment for everyone. A ''leader'' does what is beneficial to ALL people involved, regardless of status. When everyone feels they are being treated fairly and the working environment is respectful, the entire company benefits.

What Honeywolf did wasn't a representative of a leader, it was more that of what a follower would do. A follower tries, unsuccessfully, to mimic a role that is not their own. I really think she has put herself in the position where both sides will look at her and ask "who the heck do you think you are?''. Stepping on too many toes just makes people want to kick you. JMHO.

 

[janette]

I agree Serena.

Let me see if I have this.

1) You told your co-workers 2 of which have more senority than you that you'll be doing the cross-training of the other group. I'm sure that went over well with the ones with more senority, did you also make sure they knew about your management tasks like excel etc... (at my work these are administrative tasks but we all have to do them) My managers rarely create anything they get someone else to do it for them.

2) Your co-workers expressed concern that maybe it meant that they were going to be phased out.

3) You told your manager about your co-workers concern. It is okay in a group meeting to ask about the effect new training might have on the group. It is okay to ask your manager why you are doing the cross-training. It is not okay to tell your manager that co-worker Suzie is worried about being phased out and is that why you are doing that cross training.

4) This is now causing problems with your co-workers. It is more a reflection on your manager's skill than yours if she/he becomes friendly with one of their direct reports and hurts the departments ability to work together. The atittude & moral are the managers responsibility.

5) You have senority over at least 2 people in an office of 10. Didn't you just move there this summer? Usually a companies turnover is a reflection of how well a company is managed. If almost 1/3 of the office hasn't been there more than a few months it seems like they may have some problems.

Teachers discourage tattling in kids unless someone is physically hurt. Maybe they didn't do that where you went to school but it is taught to most kids in kindergarten now. It is a good lesson to learn and many things that we learned in kindergarten are very useful in the work environment.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
we don't even sit in the same place....they sit in the back of the office...I sit closer to the front where the management is

I remember, in school, the teacher always put the bad kids and the ones who didn't understand and needed extra help, up front where she could keep her eyes on them.

 

[honeywolf7]

I have not made sure they know about my administrative duties. The reason that I have been put with the managers and have been given these duties is because a new Vice President is coming in next month and I'm going to be the one who is asked to handle administrative duties for him since I work faster than the others. As far as teamwork with the other clerks, our jobs are really completely separate/different so there is no real teamwork and only one of them was upset with me.

 

[Lynn CC]

Well, since you don't know how management is feeling and you know how the clerks are feeling, there is nothing you can do now except your job. Just go in and do your job the best you know how and forget about the subject ,unless it comes up again.
I've found your damed if you do and your damed if you don't. Sometimes your better off just worrying about you and avoiding getting in the middle.
Time will tell what, if anything, will happen now.