Vent-Budget Buster- Evil new bosses

[Zhoen]

Ok, first, it's more of a "budget threat" than a "budget buster"-- because it's my money and I will not cede them control...

And...I realize evil is in the eye of the beholder, to a certain extent.

But here we go... old bosses rotating out, new bosses rotating in, two of them, both type-A micromanagers, not really wanting us to do anything we don't already, just wanting it filed, in triplicate, soft copy, multiple locations. Additionally, no more first names in the office, no more flex-hours, suddenly what was a very good job just became prison... and we're all on contract, so no, I can't just quit, and transferring is very difficult.

Honestly, I could live with all that... well, the hours things stinks because of before-care for my special-needs DD8, but still, could live that... but the main boss is female (so am I), and at the same time we're "laying down the law," she's implimenting "mandatory fun." I don't mind decorations in the office, but I do mind mandatory lunches that are not company-funded, particularly when they are to be held at restaurants that don't have food I can eat, but being a buffet, you pay at the door... I mind mandatory morale chili cook offs (I make great chili, but I don't want to eat it with people who are hurting me and my co-workers...)

But the big budget threat, beyond lunches out, before-school care, and mandatory-morale-cooking... is that in these situations in the past, I've been known to eat my feelings and/or engage in retail therapy.

So... strategies for dealing?

Since we now have "set hours", I intend to start taking the lunch break I'm entitled to and usually don't, and can walk off some stress during that time...

And I can always remember that "it's just a job"-- which kills me, because I'm quite invested in my program... but if my buy-in is being taken back, so be it...

... but what else?

Ideas for dealing?

Save me, chipper Disney-ites!!! WWGD? (What would Giselle do?)

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Use your sick and vacation days (plan fun little trips with your family) and remember that a new boss is just around the corner!

 

[peanut12392]

Try to be glad that you have a job. Alot of people don't, are are facing the end of unemployment payments.

 

[MapleGirl]

Make your chili really hot.

 

[Marionnette]

Ok, first, it's more of a "budget threat" than a "budget buster"-- because it's my money and I will not cede them control...

And...I realize evil is in the eye of the beholder, to a certain extent.

But here we go... old bosses rotating out, new bosses rotating in, two of them, both type-A micromanagers, not really wanting us to do anything we don't already, just wanting it filed, in triplicate, soft copy, multiple locations. Additionally, no more first names in the office, no more flex-hours, suddenly what was a very good job just became prison... and we're all on contract, so no, I can't just quit, and transferring is very difficult.

Honestly, I could live with all that... well, the hours things stinks because of before-care for my special-needs DD8, but still, could live that... but the main boss is female (so am I), and at the same time we're "laying down the law," she's implimenting "mandatory fun." I don't mind decorations in the office, but I do mind mandatory lunches that are not company-funded, particularly when they are to be held at restaurants that don't have food I can eat, but being a buffet, you pay at the door... I mind mandatory morale chili cook offs (I make great chili, but I don't want to eat it with people who are hurting me and my co-workers...)

But the big budget threat, beyond lunches out, before-school care, and mandatory-morale-cooking... is that in these situations in the past, I've been known to eat my feelings and/or engage in retail therapy.

So... strategies for dealing?

Since we now have "set hours", I intend to start taking the lunch break I'm entitled to and usually don't, and can walk off some stress during that time...

And I can always remember that "it's just a job"-- which kills me, because I'm quite invested in my program... but if my buy-in is being taken back, so be it...

... but what else?

Ideas for dealing?

Save me, chipper Disney-ites!!! WWGD? (What would Giselle do?)

I always vented my feelings in a nastygram to the offending supervisor. I would burned it instead of sending it. But just putting all my anger and frustration into words had a cleansing effect.

And the forced lunches? I'd make sure that I had no money in my wallet on that day and tell the boss that it's been tough to budget for extras now that the change in hours means that I have to pay for before-school care.

 

[Mrs D]

And the forced lunches? I'd make sure that I had no money in my wallet on that day and tell the boss that it's been tough to budget for extras now that the change in hours means that I have to pay for before-school care.

 

[Zhoen]

Wonderful ideas, the spicy chili idea made me laugh, which I definitely needed right now!

I also shook salt in a circle around my desk (ever seen "The Skeleton Key" ? ) Even if it accomplishes nothing but making me feel better... it's cost effective

She just suggested, in all seriousness, that we put signs up in the ladies room "that if you need to go #2, you only use the stall right by the fan."

I've had micromanagers before, but telling people where to... do that... that's a new one

 

[disprincessatheart]

Op that sucks! I too had a job I really enjoyed and the team and our boss were great. Just before i had my ds, our boss quit. When I came back from maternity leave we had a new boss who was awful. I just hated going to work every day and I had never felt that way at this job in the 6 years prior. A few people were getting laid off and I joked with coworkers that I would love to get laid off. A month or so later i did (it really was entirely unrelated as my coworkers had a different boss and all of the bosses were in another city). I have been home with my ds now for 15 months and love that I have that chance, but I have had 4 interviews in all that time and am no closer to finding a new job than I was the day I left. I have some time left on unemployment, but there are things we want to do that we cannot afford, and the stress of the unknown is definitely there. I know it sucks but definitely find a way to deal. My suggestion is on the daily lunch walks, listen to some disney music or the podcast to put you back in a happy place. Maybe try to suggest more pot luck lunches to keep away from the expensive lunches. I know the bosses will still be there, but if you have to do team lunches, at least it doesn't have to break the bank! And hang in there - sounds like its only a matter of time until a new rotation of bosses. Oh, and is there any chance of talking ot an old boss to get their input?

 

[luvthemouse71]

Make your chili really hot.

I like this. Maybe there's a way to lace the bosses portion with some ex- lax too?

Wait it out . Middle management is always the first to get the ax. If there's a boss above her, document all of her foolishness. It'll come back to bite her in the butt someday.

 

[hereyago]

Try to be glad that you have a job. Alot of people don't, are are facing the end of unemployment payments.

I"m sure OP is thankful however part of the reason for having a job is to pay bills,not add to them. It isn't financially business smart to have a job that YOU have to keep paying things for.

 

[labdogs42]

Wonderful ideas, the spicy chili idea made me laugh, which I definitely needed right now!

I also shook salt in a circle around my desk (ever seen "The Skeleton Key" ? ) Even if it accomplishes nothing but making me feel better... it's cost effective

She just suggested, in all seriousness, that we put signs up in the ladies room "that if you need to go #2, you only use the stall right by the fan."

I've had micromanagers before, but telling people where to... do that... that's a new one

WOW. That IS a whole new level of micromanaging!! One thing that's good is it sounds like you'll have a lot of funny horrible boss stories to tell after these people are gone some day!

I hate when new bosses come in and ruin perfectly good places to work. I have had it happen a lot of times. Sometimes I have waited it out and sometimes I have bailed. There are obviously consequences to each of those. If you have to stay because of your contract, try to make the best of it and keep track of those funny stories in case you want to write a book or blog some day!

 

[hereyago]

I do get the idea that the boss wants to bring the team together. However, if I don't like you,I don't want to spend MY lunch time with you watching people suck up to the boss while they stuff their face.

I am thrifty and never buy my lunch, always bring it from home and I would always leave and go eat some place in peace.

plus I can't have a sit down lunch and then want to jump back to work, let alone a buffet. Yea, that will be interesting to see how many people are sluggish after wards bringing work productivity down.


I also never carry money with me unless I plan on going shopping during my break. if it isn't there, I can't spend it. Also if there are places you can't eat, I'd be letting her know, or as another person wrote forget your money that day.

OP, I know it's hard, you don't want to be looked at as not a team player, but at the same time, it would be dumb to start paying for all this(even though you have to pay for child care) lunches and time and money to make chili.

Would the boss being putting her meal tab as a business write off? most t business people would be, I don't think she would be flinging money all over the place? would she be putting in time and money for chili?

I've seen how people eat and not wash there hands, I can't imagine eating food not knowing if people were careful about how they prepared the food. I am just weird like that.


I wish you luck.

 

[HM]

How long do you have on your contract? Does your contract say anything about what your working hours are supposed to be or if you are able to have flex-time? I'd be taking a good look at it again and see where you stand.

I would be very unhappy if my hours were arbitrarily changed so that I had to find and pay for extra childcare provisions, when things have not been that way prior.

As mentioned by the poster above, I do not go out to lunch except for very rare occasions. I eat food brought from home at the office. I would be very unhappy to have to join my coworkers because it was dictated that I do so.

I like the poster above who said: I'd make sure that I had no money in my wallet on that day and tell the boss that it's been tough to budget for extras now that the change in hours means that I have to pay for before-school care.

Find some way of bringing it up, if you can. Your new boss needs to understand that she is requiring you to spend money that you haven't spent previously by her new 'rules' and it's a hardship for you (even if it really isn't...it might be for someone else).

 

[Eliza32]

Don't you american guys have any laws that protect you around flexible working where childcare is concerned?? We sure do in the UK. Also, if you are not paid for your lunch break, then the company has no claim on your time. It may be tough to say no in the beginning, but if you and your co-workers stick together new boss may have to give up.

 

[bettymae1121]

Don't you american guys have any laws that protect you around flexible working where childcare is concerned?? We sure do in the UK. Also, if you are not paid for your lunch break, then the company has no claim on your time. It may be tough to say no in the beginning, but if you and your co-workers stick together new boss may have to give up.

Oh heck no, US workers have zero protections like that. The law only states that we get 12 weeks unpaid leave when a child is born (or adopted), but only if the company is large enough (50 or more employees, smaller companies are exempt from that law and can fire you if you take off to have a child). You work when the company tells you to work, if you can't/won't, then you're out on your butt, regardless of reason.

For unpaid lunches, yes technically the company has no say in your time, but depending on the corporate culture, you could be committing career suicide if you don't go along to get along. Those that go and brown nose the boss will advance, those that don't will not.

 

[bumbershoot]

When I was working, there was simply no possibility of me joining in those mandatory things. The money was budgeted for different things (rent, car, insurance). If anyone had tried to force me, it would have forced me to go above my boss.

If you have to stay because of your contract, try to make the best of it and keep track of those funny stories in case you want to write a book or blog some day!

Don't you american guys have any laws that protect you around flexible working where childcare is concerned?? We sure do in the UK.

No, I don't think so. We're not as enlightened, work-wise, as many other countries in the world.

 

[Zhoen]

As someone mentioned, they can't "require" you to join them for lunch, unless they pay (as in "you are on the clock AND they pay for the food", but they can "highly encourage" and then make your life miserable if you don't go along with it.

It's been awful here today. One coworker was so upset about the "no first names" thing that he took down and threw out the stocking she'd brought in for him (and everyone else) with the cutesy nickname on it. His justification? "If it's unprofessional for me to use a first name, it's unprofessional to hang a symbol of your custom on my desk with a nickname you chose." I don't mind the decorations, but honestly, he's right about the nicknames.

Then, she had also brought in a tree and said everyone should put ornaments on it... today after the meeting, someone hung a really stinky car air freshener on it... I think the idea is funny, but it smelled so bad I wanted to throw up!

After the designation of where to poop incident this morning, I'm having a much easier time laughing at the situation... simply because that is impossible to take seriously!

 

[Greenepona]

While I dont have signs directing us where to use the bathroom or anything... I can tell you that at my work we are limited to 8 minutes of restroom time a day. Which is crazy for someone like me that has to go every 2 hours... the bathroom is not right near my desk either...

 

[Zhoen]

Wow. So clearly they don't want you to wash your hands... That is astounding.

 

[Dominus]

Don't you american guys have any laws that protect you around flexible working where childcare is concerned?? We sure do in the UK. Also, if you are not paid for your lunch break, then the company has no claim on your time. It may be tough to say no in the beginning, but if you and your co-workers stick together new boss may have to give up.

Especially if you live in a "right to work" state. The workers here in Texas have almost zero rights. Unless your employer is breaking some OSHA regulation, they can almost do what they want to you.