The "I Hate My Job" Thread

[Boris13c]

my dream job is to be Terry Tate

[video][/video]

[Boris13c]

what is it with managers and quad charts?

ok, I know the importance of having a good project plan and having tools to track the progress ... but those plans and tools need to be used in a useful manner to have any impact

case in point - getting purchase orders and some necessary contract bids in place since about mid January ... we are starting to get bids and we have estimated shipping dates on the equipment ... this morning was a meeting on all of this

apparently a manager put a team together to come up with a project plan and quad chart sometime last month (maybe earlier?) ... these are people from a different group than the one I work with and was the first time I met a couple of them .... so we were told to simply sit and watch the presentations and hold all questions until the presentation was completed

while watching the presentation, I felt like I was living in a Dilbert comic strip

there were dates for completion of equipment installation that show on the chart to be 2 months earlier than the date we have been given for receipt of the equipment ... there were dates for testing and spin-ups that are before the date established for the vendor being hired for that is required to even begin work ... and on and on it went ... so of course, when the show was over, and Ms Perky Breasts asked "any questions?", she was not prepared for the onslaught but I do give her credit for being the only part of the presentation that was useful (sexist comment yes, but she is a knockout) ... but the big negative was the fact her team was working in a vacuum, creating a plan and making up dates based on some pie in the sky projections from their group leader, who never at any time spoke with or even e-mailed anyone in regards to the equipment or required vendor support

so then part 2 of the show begins as the various manager types start arguing with each other ... we worker bees were then dismissed as they stayed

wouldn't be worth mentioning except this has happened before in the past ... multiple times ... one instance even getting a manager fired, though his official announcement of departure was a "hiatus to spend more time with family" ... so you would think at some point a bit of common sense would be liberally applied to these sorts of projects

alas, it is not to be

so they have a nice set of charts and slides, colorfully put together, but mostly useless since not 1 date or projection is correct ... and low and behold the people assembling it all were hired on a 90 day consultant contract so the presentation could be more professional than the actual usable PowerPoint presentations we generally assemble on our own for this purpose

I have a feeling there is going to be another manager on a hiatus soon mainly because the big bosses were part of the meeting this morning ... and the ones dismissing the worker bees while keeping their managers in place as we closed the doors when we left

days like these are just those kind of days where you sit back and wait to see how many clowns exit the clown car this time

[IE]

Boris - I've lived that for 20-25 years, on IT projects. I know you know this -but whoever presented that plan without validating it with experts in advance is just inexperienced, or inept.

Regardless... since management certainly wants the project to go forward, someone is going to need to communicate a realistic plan (ideally with options)... "here's what you can get on the SCHEDULE you want (and why)"... and "here's the schedule we need, to deliver WHAT you want (and why, plus assumptions)"... and "here are the RESOURCES we need to give you what you want, when you want (if it is even feasible - usually isn't)".

The way I've learned to operate is to make management make a formal choice to scale back their expectations - and document their decisions for CYA. In my experience, most middle managers are willing to manage expectations upwards if they are well-armed with detail. If your boss isn't willing to speak the truth upwards, run like hell! lol

[Otis Day]

This thread always seems to get bumped when I am having a shitty week. Is it karma or coincidence.

I have to get the hell away from my job or I may go postal (you heard it here, you are all now witnesses).

Deep in the back of my mind, bar ownership is creeping in. Small neighborhood bar closed and is being sold fairly cheap.

Alls I need is $$$$$$$.

[Boris13c]

Boris - I've lived that for 20-25 years, on IT projects. I know you know this -but whoever presented that plan without validating it with experts in advance is just inexperienced, or inept.

I vote on inept as this scenario has been repeated across multiple projects over the years ... but only 1 person actually was held accountable and crushed as a result ... there is a "do-over" meeting scheduled for next week on this, but with the same people running it ... maybe this time they will be required to sit and listen before puking out another failed-from-the-start plan?

seems to be a factory somewhere with the Dilbert-esque pointy haired bosses being cranked out to become managers and CIO's ... and once they infiltrate your organization, they never leave

[IE]

Good luck. Yeah, you're right - those types are good at three things... saying what management wants to hear, avoiding accountability, and finding a goat.

[mmmc_35]

Recently a few things have irked me at my job.

Few weeks ago I had to deal with a man using his feces like lotion. It was everywhere. However because he is, not harming himself or others it is, near impossible to get him real help. He will never be normal, but darn it sucks that we can't infringe on his "civil liberties" and get him real help without jumping through hoops.

Tonight I had to deal with a man who raped his son, screaming at me naked about how bad of a person I am. Of course you laugh it off but really? Why does this stuff happen.

[o-pus #40 in B major]

Don't have a clue why it happens but I know it takes special people to work with society's problems.

[Otis Day]

Damn, I can't believe it has been a year since my last post in this thread. Bar ownership fell thru for many reasons. Still dealing with fucking criminals. Burnt out and it is affecting job performance big time. And I really don't give a shit. Since there is a hiring freeze no way they fire me (even though performance not that bad, yet).

[Rusty Trombagent]

i like my job. i'm not the only one i hope.

[Boris13c]

i like my job. i'm not the only one i hope.

I liked mine better when it was primarily tech work in the communications lab ... me, computers, tools and test equipment .... peaceful

this whole project management part is a nightmare primarily because we don't get to develop our own projects ... we are given things created by a special group of management butt remoras ... and rarely do these plans make sense

they do have pretty graphics in their slideshows ... but even those are a 50% fail as they have nothing to do with the actual tasks

[G08]

I like my job now, dealing with the mental health population has been refreshing compared to your everyday common asshole.

My attitude toward stupid/incompetent people is just the worst since I started working as a pharmacist.

[Boris13c]

I like my job now, dealing with the mental health population

I believe I work with some folks who could use the services of an organization like yours, but they are in denial of their issues

[wab]

My job has sucked lately...and all I've been doing is working. It's been crap since the beginning of the year.

[southdakbearfan]

How about, I love my job, but I hate my boss?

I guess I don't hate him, I just hate pansies that can't deal with conflict except to sweep shit under the rug or pass it off on others.

[G08]

How about, I love my job, but I hate my boss?

I guess I don't hate him, I just hate pansies that can't deal with conflict except to sweep shit under the rug or pass it off on others.

Is he new? Confrontation in those situations as a manager can be difficult, especially with pompous individuals that push back (not saying that's you). It's definitely a skill that takes time to learn; I couldn't do in my mid-to-late 20's what I'm doing in my early 30's in that regard.

[southdakbearfan]

How about, I love my job, but I hate my boss?

I guess I don't hate him, I just hate pansies that can't deal with conflict except to sweep shit under the rug or pass it off on others.

Is he new? Confrontation in those situations as a manager can be difficult, especially with pompous individuals that push back (not saying that's you). It's definitely a skill that takes time to learn; I couldn't do in my mid-to-late 20's what I'm doing in my early 30's in that regard.

New, no, he has 30 years in and is "retired" but hasn't left the building.

So he pushes all the confrontation under the rug, or lets me deal with it. The good part is we have good people and they can see it so they appreciate me more.

[Atkins&Rebel]

My boss is a jerk. He makes me work 10-12 hour days when I get busy.

'course, I'm self employed and work a seasonal business.

[G08]

12 hour shifts with no lunch/dinner or breaks... God I don't miss those fucking days

[Passepartout]

Dream job would be to work with the NFL!

[RING4CHI]

Welp, I was just informed I'm being laid off within the week. So, life is grand.

[wab]

Well shit man. That's terrible news.

[UOK]

Welp, I was just informed I'm being laid off within the week. So, life is grand.

Laid off as in you'll at least get unemployment?

[RING4CHI]

I think so, but I have no idea how unemployment works, so I don't know. I have until May 6 to figure life out.

[RING4CHI]

Been "awarded" unemployment. To the tune of $280 a week.

[Otis Day]

The job has just continued to suck and the county I live in, it seems it is OK to commit crimes. There is no deterrence and peeps are not scared to go to court, they do not worry about it at all.

Had a detention today for 2 car thieves. A witness IDed them to police as they sped down the street. He saw them get out of the car and walk to the housing projects. They are seen on security video coming from the area of the cars and into the projects.

Granted these kids were arrested mid morning and the hearing was mid afternoon and that witness could not get here. The officer explained what the witness saw and what she saw. Descriptions matched what the kids were wearing.

The fucking judge, who said this was very suspicious, did not find probable cause that these kids committed the crime.

Probable cause = Probable cause is a level of reasonable belief, based on facts that can be articulated, that is required to arrest and prosecute a person in criminal court.

REASONABLE BELIEF!! Not preponderance!! LOWER proof.

This is fucked up.

[staleystarch]

I've had some really shitty jobs in my past, but I've been at the place I work now 10 years and love what I do and the place

[mmmc_35]

Fuck that Otis. The world is seriously teaching people actions have no consequences. PC = a crime was committed (car stolen), and it's probable the suspect did it ( id's by victim, and video). That's how we teach it.

My job has been crazy busy and for me it's probably going to continue through football season. I personally don't live to work. Knowing until probably Feb I am going to have to be a workaholic does not appeal to me.

[Otis Day]

Well another day, another punch to the groin.

Client on home confinement, charges pending are Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault (Rape) and Child Porn. I have over 4 documented incidents where violated his home confinement. The police dept asked for a warrant for this dude due to an Agg Battery and Mob Action offense (victim was able to tell police this was one of the assailants). Dude comes to court, Asst State's Atty doesn't even attempt to get the Judge to sign the warrant, that is typed and ready to roll!! Judge doesn't ask how the asshole is doing on home confinement!!!!!!! The mother fucking criminal walks out of the courtroom, FREE.

Not only has he been accused of the Agg Batt/Mob Action shit, he was arrested in another county for Possession of Stolen Motor Vehicle and Resisting Arrest. WTF more does the State need?????

Needless to say I have ramped up my efforts to get the fuck out of this job. I don't even get pissed anymore, I expect the worst to happen. come to my county if you want to commit some crimes and get away with them.

[Boris13c]

I was going to pop in and bitch about another episode of Managers Gone Dumb, but after reading what some of the rest of you are going through, I don't feel I have the right to complain about working in a Dilbert environment.

Otis - damn dude, that last post is seriously messed up ... I understand courts are backed up and whatnot, but by your description, they aren't even trying ... I feel for you man