Stuck between rock and hard place

[disneyfanatic60]

I work a few hours a week (approx. 4) as a bookkeeper for a local vet clinic.
The vet's husband makes all the financial decisions though he is not an employee there. He signs all checks and most of my direction comes from him. Well let's just say he's "totally anal." Nice guy but anal.

In the past 6 months, he starts coming up with all of these totally crazy ideas for reports, things he wants done, etc. He'll call me all hours of the day and night. My last call was at 7:30 this morning! He feels I am "on call." He wants me to "drop everything" and meet with him tomorrow morning to discuss "new reports" and that he wants to change their payroll and how often people get paid. The last time he did this I had a funeral to go and he was angry that "I was not available." When I was hired, it was never said I would be "on call" and certainly not at those hours.

He gives me 5 minutes of his time via phone a week and he totally thinks I read his mind. Then when he doesn't get what he wants, I'm basically told I don't know how to do my job! I done this for 25 years--is he kidding! He has no bookkeeping background, etc. and despite my willingness to show him some things to make "my life easier" he only sees things his way!

I love the people I work with and the vet. How do I tell her I am contemplating leaving after 3 years because her husband is driving me absolutely insane????? I've tried talking with him and it's useless. The pay is good and the perks are wonderful (let's just say she buys birthday presents from Tiffany's amongst many, many other things--she's good to her staff).

I'm just sooooo frustrated right now! It's been like this for more than 6 months. I honestly am at my wits ends. Sorry for venting but I truly don't know what to do.

 

[mickeyboat]

He pays for a part-time, off-site bookkeeper. What he thinks he has is a full-time on-site bookkeeper. He can't have it both ways. You need to explain that to him, and if what you are willing to offer is not acceptable to him, then you need to find something else. Good luck.

Denae

 

[hiwaygal]

wow...

I think you need to schedule a time to sit down with the vet and tell her what is going on...be honest, but "gentle" (that's not the word I'm looking for, but I think you get the idea). Ask her for clarification of your responsibilities and ask for her to sit in on a meeting with you and her husband to go over those responsibilities again.

She either doesn't really know what's going on, or her husband is filling her head with all kinds of stuff about you abilities...

If you really like this job and need the income, talk to her, if not, chalk it up to experience and move on.

 

[mytwotinks]

I think you are going to have to talk to the vet. Tell her that you think it is time for you to move on because you are realizing that you and her husband have different ideas about what hours you are expected to work and what your responsibility is to him. If she really wants you to stay, she will tell her husband to back off. If she really wants her dh to run things though, it sounds like you won't want to be there anymore anyway.

 

[MareQ]

Next time he calls let him know you'll be happy to discuss whatever he likes- when you're at the office.

 

[sue1013]

If you want to stay at that position I would schedule a meeting with both the vet and her husband. If you meet only with the vet I think it is like going behind his back. Be upfront with your concerns and see what can be worked out.

 

[DVC Daisy]

What a pain.

I used to have that happen to me and this worked great:

When he calls - do not answer the phone! At all.

If he leaves a message - return his call, or address the message next time that you are at work, on the clock. For instance, "I got your message, and I am at work now so I thought that we could discuss the new reports."

Do all of this with a Big Smile and Can Do attitude!

He will eventually figure it out Good luck!

 

[kelleigh1]

Does the vet have know that this is going on? I think the first thing you need to do is to talk to her. She may not even be aware of things.

I would also reiterate that you only work them part-time and that you can not be expected to be on-call at all ours of the day as that is not your work schedule.

I wouldn't just up and quit without talking to her first.

 

[tebookie]

Ok so you are working 4 hours/week...so it doesn't seem overly involved or a difficult job to complete, as well as a smaller clinic.

Sounds like this guy is trying to run/manage a small company as you would a large corporation.

Might want to ask what his goals are in running all these extra reports. Is he trying to find out where the money is going? How to cut costs? If you know what he is trying to get at then you might know how to get to that goal alot easier. My policy...KISS...Keep It Simple Stupid....easier the better most times.

As for him expecting you to basically be on-call..well you need to call him on that. Afterall..you are there for 4 hrs a week..not 40 or 60. You aren't overly invested in this place.

Express your concerns to him and if you don't get anywhere with that, go to the wife. If that doesn't go anywhere....well then just go somewhere else.

Hope it all works out for you.

 

[disneyfanatic60]

This guy is definitely trying to micro-manage a 5 person vet office. He works for a large corporation in a sales management capacity (which he thinks gives him lots and lots of insight as to how to run a business).

He definitely is trying to cut costs but honestly, it is an extremely profitable business. I think that is the problem. You see, she gets all the profits in a "bonus check" at year end and she just got a large check.

I believe it is greed motivated. They just bought a huge, huge house and I've paid for a large chunk of the furnishings, etc. out of the business. I truly believe he thinks if "she" spends less he gets to "spend more."

Get my drift....

 

[tebookie]

Tell him to add more hours to your work schedule/pay if he wants it that way.

No more phone calls outside of work, and if he does call, tell him its a minimum hour charge.