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I love my job. I really do.

I reminded myself of that a few times today.

I can't say that I'm currently doing anything that makes the world a better place, that justifies my having been born, or that changes the state of the world in any way that makes it better than before I existed, but I like going to work every day and, to me, that's worth more than sliced bread.

Every job has its glitches. Every boss has their moments of making you think evil thoughts. Particularly, nitpicking with employees that can't be replaced. I recently thought, and spoke aloud, "pick your f-ing battles". The idea is: Is this worth losing an employee over? If not, don't say it.

As a manager, I've been given instruction a few times to deal with employee "behaviour" that didn't seem like a good battle to wage. I've been nitpicked at times when I was donating hours of free time every week in silence. I felt like cracking today and having a one on one with the boss about how destructive it can be to criticise good employees over something small and then thought... hey. Pick your f-ing battles.

The boss may bitch but she's not in a firing position. So... does it matter?

Do I really want to confront her or should I pick my f-ing battles? I'm a woman. I know what it's like. I just happen to be the type of woman who says "I'm sorry I'm being a bitch, I know it's me. It'll pass in a week."

koan;1171019 wrote: I felt like cracking today and having a one on one with the boss about how destructive it can be to criticise good employees over something small and then thought... hey. Pick your f-ing battles.




I also love my job. I love going to work every day and I miss it in the school holidays when I'm not there.

However, the other half hates his job. He used to have a manager who was friendly and helpful and who made the workplace a really nice, friendly place to be. Now they have a new manager who's a total git. He's always nitpicking and insisting they all work extra unpaid hours to 'finish off work'. He does nasty, spiteful little things to annoy the ones he doesn't like. I keep telling OH to look for something else but he's worried that he might lose a new job as so many are losing theirs in the credit crunch.

This nit picking also has a knock-on effect in that the atmosphere has gone from one of pleasant friendliness to one of back-stabbing and bad feeling where some employees keep telling tales on others purely to get someone into trouble whilst making themselves look good in the managers eyes. Its a horrible atmosphere to work in.

And no one tells the boss about how destructive it can be to criticise good employees, so nothing gets done and good employees are being lost!

Never confront in the heat of the moment, but depending on the workplace environment, you should have opportunities in 1-1 review sessions to constructively give your boss some feedback. It can be done is a positive way that you boss could end up appreciating.

Rapunzel;1171033 wrote: I also love my job. I love going to work every day and I miss it in the school holidays when I'm not there.

However, the other half hates his job. He used to have a manager who was friendly and helpful and who made the workplace a really nice, friendly place to be. Now they have a new manager who's a total git. He's always nitpicking and insisting they all work extra unpaid hours to 'finish off work'. He does nasty, spiteful little things to annoy the ones he doesn't like. I keep telling OH to look for something else but he's worried that he might lose a new job as so many are losing theirs in the credit crunch.

This nit picking also has a knock-on effect in that the atmosphere has gone from one of pleasant friendliness to one of back-stabbing and bad feeling where some employees keep telling tales on others purely to get someone into trouble whilst making themselves look good in the managers eyes. Its a horrible atmosphere to work in.

And no one tells the boss about how destructive it can be to criticise good employees, so nothing gets done and good employees are being lost!


I am sorry to hear that, as a manager myself it is terrible to hear of such morons in management positions.

Often in business a mistake that can be made in companies is that they promote someone to a management position because they are good at their job. That is a mistake, being ‘good at your job’ and being qualified to manage a group of people to perform and deliver results in a positive environment are two different things.

You can be great at the job and know everything, but still be a sh1t leader.

mikeinie;1171047 wrote: I am sorry to hear that, as a manager myself it is terrible to hear of such morons in management positions.

Often in business a mistake that can be made in companies is that they promote someone to a management position because they are good at their job. That is a mistake, being ‘good at your job’ and being qualified to manage a group of people to perform and deliver results in a positive environment are two different things.

You can be great at the job and know everything, but still be a sh1t leader.


That is so true. In this instance there are 2 night time managers, Richard and James. Both can be nasty, but James more so. James was below Richard but he told everyone that he would 'stab Richard in the back' to be promoted over him! And he did! He does little work but sucks up to the main manager and tells him that he does everything whilst the other staff do nothing. The main manager came in one morning and praised the layout of the shop floor, something my OH had spent all night doing. James took the praise and said "Oh yes, I spent all night doing this!" Just then the OH walked around the corner and said "Actually, I spent all night doing this!" It made James look stupid, which he hates, and which is why he takes constant petty revenge on the other half! I just wish the main manager would talk to the normal staff and not listen to the other managers' constant lies! :-5 :-5 :-5

Yes, pick your battles and do not always pass along the grief. You are a wise woman, you will know when to say something or not.

I've always tried to apply "choosing my battles" in my life, especially raising kids. My son is 21 and still does not put the lid back on the toothpaste. It always made me crazy, but not enough to battle over it. At least he brushes his teeth! Sometimes he bathes twice a day. At least I've never had to fight with him to bathe like so many parents I knew did. If you pick on a person for all the little things they do, how can they take you seriously when you have to say something over something major?

I have been so lucky. I worked for a company for years where i was the boss and my bosses left me to get on with it. Then i went to work for my brother. I never see that as work as it's doing some-thing i absolutely love which is being on a race-course. I haven't been able to do as many meetings with Mr O's health of late and as much as i'd never tell him, my bro is the best boss ever. He is so thoughtfull, always asking me if i need a cigg or want to get some tea. More importantly, we laugh at everything so it's more a fun day out than work. Weekends i look after after Mr O's pal's take-away. I don't do alot there for my money, just read the Daily Mail mostly and eat the food. :wah: I don't think i could ever go back to working for some-one else now.

Do you know what is just as bad as a pushy, argumentative manager? A manager that can’t make a decision.

Where I work now there is a manager in another department, again, was promoted because he is very good at his job. He is a really nice guy and everyone likes him personally, but his staff is so frustrated because he couldn’t make a decision if his life depended on it.

If it almost funny, when you go to his office to raise an issue with him that may actually require an opinion, you can see the blood drain from his face and his eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights. Any time a question or issue is brought to him he has to go directly to his boss for an answer.

We can't choose our parents or siblings.............and we can't choose our boss or our co-workers. In a perfect world, we'd all get along. Since we don't live in a perfect world, we do have to learn to "pick our battles" when necessary.

You are right, Mike................knowing your job doesn't necessarily mean you can be a good manager.

I like my job too. And I'm glad I have one.

Attached files

I have lost jobs, or walked off jobs because of the ways my co workers were

treated. Employers have an opportunity to be examples to those who work for them. An opportunity to increase self esteem and self respect amongst workers. Unfortunately most are too ignorant, power hungry, or short sighted to see this. Oh, well....

koan;1171019 wrote:

I can't say that I'm currently doing anything that makes the world a better place, that justifies my having been born, or that changes the state of the world in any way that makes it better than before I existed


Come back and talk to me when you have made the world a better place.

I just dont have time for common riff raff.

I'm surprised that I was never fired or reprimanded for being so open about how I felt in the workplace. You can speak your mind if you are a great employee and if replacing you would cost your employers dearly.

What really cracked me up yesterday morning was that one of the girls from the back room came out and f.r.e.a.k.e.d out on the head manager because her pen was gone.

:yh_rotfl

In front of clients and staff and God. You'd think she'd been asked to work nekkid or summat.

koan;1171583 wrote: What really cracked me up yesterday morning was that one of the girls from the back room came out and f.r.e.a.k.e.d out on the head manager because her pen was gone.

:yh_rotfl

In front of clients and staff and God. You'd think she'd been asked to work nekkid or summat.




As a receptionist/admin, I had tons of pens on hand......so if you loose one...no biggy.

....but to do that in front of management and staff?

your cruising!:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

I have been dealing with that on and off for several years, heres my question, why will a boss bitch and bitch and bitch at one employee and not the one who is guilty of the mistake, and they know it?

princessladedah;1172072 wrote: I have been dealing with that on and off for several years, heres my question, why will a boss bitch and bitch and bitch at one employee and not the one who is guilty of the mistake, and they know it?


because they play favorites....been there soooo many times!:-5:-5