I work in a department store, so.. yeah. It's great :/
One of my bosses is great. He can correct people without being a jerk, he's friendly without being annoyingly chipper, and lets us know what's what. I like working for him, because you know where you stand, and you know that he'll be fair.
One of my bosses is not great. She constantly talks down to people, using diminutive terms like "Honey" and "Sweetie", which I find grossly inappropriate in the workplace. She calls "meetings" to tell us to work faster, taking us away from said work and sets goals that are unrealistic (I'm sorry, a 2600-piece truck WILL NOT GET DONE IN AN HOUR. Company goal is like, 2.5 hours, so don't you think that's a little... short?). She bitches and complains about everyone to everyone else (making it seem like a secret, so you'll give her dirt), then repeats anything anyone says to her. I can't stand her.
One of my bosses is annoyingly chipper. That's really my only complaint. He seems to know what's going on and can give fairly good direction, but jesus, man, it's 5:15 in the damn morning, do not sing while I am baling cardboard (I work overnights). Don't ask me to sing along. I really am not a bitch, I'm just not... chipper.
The last boss is not terrible, but certainly not good. He is really bossy and inconsiderate in a lot of the things he says. You don't need to baby us, but please don't snap when telling us to go to domestics because you only told a few team members and expected them to spread the news. And he constantly brings his child in (at about 6:30), so there's often some little 8-year-old brat running around the break room, annoying people. I am imagining it's a money issue, so I can't hold it against him, but it's frustrating to try to take your break and have some kid bothering you.
I would say that the best thing about both of my current bosses is that I have to see them very seldom. Both are tactless nutjobs who are not well-suited to people management, and who are professionally in over their heads. Of course, in all fairness, I have to wonder what it is about me that makes tactless nutjobs look at me and think, "There's our girl."
Mr. JB's boss's most redeeming quality is that he has kept Mr. JB in a job. In this job market, that's worth something. But in all other respects, he's wretched. Mr. JB might hope for advancement, but that would mean being partners with the guy, and no amount of money is worth that. We're just hoping the job market improves so he can find something else.
I am so sorry to report that I am part of those who dislike their bosses. I actually really liked mine up until about two months ago, when we underwent some restructuring and it started to look like he was being phased out. His reaction was to pretty much go batshit. And as I am one of the few employees who saw my responsibilities and job description take a bump upward, I find myself taking the brunt of his shit. And so now I fucking hate him. Anyone who knows me knows I rarely hate anyone, so to make me hate you is to really have accomplished something massive.
It's more than just the personal shit, though. My team has great chemistry, and we work wonderfully together when on our own. The second he comes in, though, it's like all the joy has been sucked out of our lives. No one likes him, not even employees in other departments. It's remarkable, really. I have never known someone who was so thoroughly unlikeable. So frankly, I am hoping he gets phased out. It will suck for him, but whatever, I could not care less at this point.
@whynotshesaid: I was in a really similar situation a few years ago and my terrible boss at the time ended up getting fired, partly because I addressed his insanity with his superiors and partly because he just started getting on their nerves as well. Hang in there.
The truly terrible thing about him was that he would be rude and gossipy and just plain MEAN, then turn around and get all offended when you didn't want to have lunch with him and gossip about coworkers or when I politely pointed out that driving him to and from work when his car was in the shop was not, in fact, part of my job responsibilities.
@whynotshesaid: No, but he did have me charge $500 worth of easels (EASELS!!) for a presentation he was doing. Because he "forgot" to put it an order for them. And I had to drive 20 miles away to pick them up. Aaaah, good times!
I can't stand my boss. At all. I could write an essay about it. It's funny too did you know bosses day is coming up on friday? Every time I see that I think "really? Bosses don't have enough to feel good about?" But I'm bitter.
How much of these results do you think are an accurate reflection of the quality and character of supervisors, and how much that people don't always like/understand authority? I once had a job where I thought my supervisor was a crazy bitch. And then I got promoted into her job, and realized how hard she worked and was amazed that she wasn't losing her mind on a regular basis.
I'm certain that there are supervisors and managers who are incompetent, shady, dumb or of questionable character. But I also wouldn't be shocked if some impressions of supervisors were affected by not understanding their jobs, not liking having a boss at all, or possibly just plan old envy.
@lizdexia: I think this is part of it, but one issue with our system is that often in an office, the only way to be promoted is to become management, and not everyone is that great at managing people. They're very often great at what they were doing when they were being managed, but they needed more money or wanted the prestige or whatever, and then move into a job with a vastly different skill set and can't quite do it. And admitting that they're not terribly good at that part of the job is anathema, so what do they do? I know a couple of people like this right now, and it's really not possible to support oneself at a level below what they're doing, so they feel as stuck as we do. I feel sorry for them.
My coworker and I just had a quick whispered conversation in which we imagined with great satisfaction what it will feel like to tell these bitches we're quitting, and then briefly fantasized about a few scenarios in which they are humiliated and ousted. Whatever it takes to get through the day.
Oh, and for the record, I am hands down the best dresser in my department (not hard -- I'm the only one who tries), and not only does it not help me get ahead, it draws unnecessary attention and provokes envy (we're talking just nice knee length skirts and patterned blouses from Filenes, accented with pretty costume jewelry, lest you think I'm tarting it up or flaunting a trust fund). I work in Backwardsland, where doing your job well, looking presentable, and having ambition or poise is considered threatening, and to be stifled at every turn.
"Oddly, two thirds of Americans would not change anything about their relationship with their boss ..."
Yes, because we're comfortable in the knowledge that our bosses are lying and manipulative. At least we know what to expect! Throw someone all kind and honest at us and it's like Whoa, what's happening here?
I had a boss who would spend half a meeting talking trash about anyone not there. Most heinous comment? "I can't believe *** is pregnant - she's so fat i can't believe she can have sex".
And then she cried in her office on her last day when no one came to her goodbye party. Yep, Karma's a bitch.
@boobookitteh_is_a_Ranty_Pants: I have had sooo many bosses that did that. "Oh, Laura is sick today? She's not sick, just lazy, you know? And she drinks too much . . . " which only makes me realize that all sorts of heinous crap gets said about me when I'm out.
@boobookitteh_is_a_Ranty_Pants: I found out that my current boss was griping to the new crop of summer help about the rest of us--naming names! I had to then meet these new people and know they'd already gotten a bad first impression from our boss. I was not amused. If I do quit, I fully intend to let her boss know about that. I don't want someone with so little discretion involved in my career at all.
I don't think I could determine if I could fire my boss or not. I don't really know what she does all day or if she does it well. We only have one contract right now but she manages to spend 7 days a week doing whatever it is she does in the office. Hopefully she's trying to find us more work, but I'm not so sure.
@linnyt is a walking cliché: I wonder about that myself. My boss complains about all of the work he has to do, but when he goes out of town I am one of two employees tasked with doing his job, and honestly, I don't know what takes him so fucking long. It's filling out a bunch of spreadsheets and answering a handful of emails. I think he just likes to complain to make himself seem busier and more important than he truly is.
"In the same survey, 98% of women said their appearance affects their career, and 55% said they frequently felt like they had nothing to wear."
The company I work for (and am desperately trying to leave) is so gossipy about the way all the ladies (95% of us) dress.
It's really frustrating because, damn, I don't care what lady X is wearing today. Nor do I appreciate hearing from Lady Y that Lady C thinks I dress "inappropriately" at times.
Anyway... if I were polled I'd be with the majority here. I know for a fact it affects my career.
@Eleanor Ramilly: I have slowly stopped doing more than what I think is the bare minimum: being clean and neat and wearing basic business casual and flats. No makeup.
I wouldn't be surprised if it is affecting my promotion prospects, but eff it. I am not going to spend more time on my appearance than men do - for me it is a waste of time that I'd rather spend sleeping in the morning, and doing other things at night.
@lijakaca: In my office, bare minimum is the norm, and even that's a stretch. Most of the women in my office wear old, frumpy, and wrinkled pants or skirts with t-shirts and the occasional ill-fitting jacket. No one does their hair and no one wears makeup. Which is fine, but I do put more effort in. I like clothes and sometimes putting something cute together is the only aspect of working I genuinely enjoy, so soul-sucking is my job.
But the women in my office punish me for looking nice. They make snide comments about how they wish they had the time or money to "dress up." Which is bullshit -- I work longer hours than most of them and as one of the youngest people in the office, am near the bottom of the pay scale. I look nice not due to money or time, but merely effort. I spend no more than 30 minutes getting ready, including showering, and keep my hair short in order to avoid spending time on it.
Anyway, I don't think there's anything wrong with your approach at all. But I've learned that looks-ism at work goes both ways -- sometimes keeping a nice pair of heels in your desk to wear around the office is considered "trying to hard" and people take you less seriously as a result.
@emfish55: @lijakaca: My version of this is just wearing whatever the fuck I feel like. Black combat boots and floral dresses "inappropriate" office attire? Tell that to Winona, and the hand.
@emfish55: That's fucked up that people give you a hard time about dressing nice. I am kind of a slob myself but I think that some of my coworkers manage to look slammin' when they come to work, and I have no compunction about telling them so.
I guess I'm a minority because my boss was one of the most honest, loyal and fair people I have ever known. I'm still in amazement somebody like her would be fired.
@Lymed: I am the same... I just got a new boss after 2 years with my old boss, and they have both been great. Completely focused on my advancement, career developement, and happinesss in my job.
If I ever have a boss I don't like it is going to be a rude awakening.
10/14/09
One of my bosses is great. He can correct people without being a jerk, he's friendly without being annoyingly chipper, and lets us know what's what. I like working for him, because you know where you stand, and you know that he'll be fair.
One of my bosses is not great. She constantly talks down to people, using diminutive terms like "Honey" and "Sweetie", which I find grossly inappropriate in the workplace. She calls "meetings" to tell us to work faster, taking us away from said work and sets goals that are unrealistic (I'm sorry, a 2600-piece truck WILL NOT GET DONE IN AN HOUR. Company goal is like, 2.5 hours, so don't you think that's a little... short?). She bitches and complains about everyone to everyone else (making it seem like a secret, so you'll give her dirt), then repeats anything anyone says to her. I can't stand her.
One of my bosses is annoyingly chipper. That's really my only complaint. He seems to know what's going on and can give fairly good direction, but jesus, man, it's 5:15 in the damn morning, do not sing while I am baling cardboard (I work overnights). Don't ask me to sing along. I really am not a bitch, I'm just not... chipper.
The last boss is not terrible, but certainly not good. He is really bossy and inconsiderate in a lot of the things he says. You don't need to baby us, but please don't snap when telling us to go to domestics because you only told a few team members and expected them to spread the news. And he constantly brings his child in (at about 6:30), so there's often some little 8-year-old brat running around the break room, annoying people. I am imagining it's a money issue, so I can't hold it against him, but it's frustrating to try to take your break and have some kid bothering you.
1/4 isn't too bad, I guess!
10/14/09
Mr. JB's boss's most redeeming quality is that he has kept Mr. JB in a job. In this job market, that's worth something. But in all other respects, he's wretched. Mr. JB might hope for advancement, but that would mean being partners with the guy, and no amount of money is worth that. We're just hoping the job market improves so he can find something else.
10/14/09
It's more than just the personal shit, though. My team has great chemistry, and we work wonderfully together when on our own. The second he comes in, though, it's like all the joy has been sucked out of our lives. No one likes him, not even employees in other departments. It's remarkable, really. I have never known someone who was so thoroughly unlikeable. So frankly, I am hoping he gets phased out. It will suck for him, but whatever, I could not care less at this point.
10/14/09
The truly terrible thing about him was that he would be rude and gossipy and just plain MEAN, then turn around and get all offended when you didn't want to have lunch with him and gossip about coworkers or when I politely pointed out that driving him to and from work when his car was in the shop was not, in fact, part of my job responsibilities.
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10/14/09
I'm certain that there are supervisors and managers who are incompetent, shady, dumb or of questionable character. But I also wouldn't be shocked if some impressions of supervisors were affected by not understanding their jobs, not liking having a boss at all, or possibly just plan old envy.
10/14/09
10/14/09
10/14/09
Oh, and for the record, I am hands down the best dresser in my department (not hard -- I'm the only one who tries), and not only does it not help me get ahead, it draws unnecessary attention and provokes envy (we're talking just nice knee length skirts and patterned blouses from Filenes, accented with pretty costume jewelry, lest you think I'm tarting it up or flaunting a trust fund). I work in Backwardsland, where doing your job well, looking presentable, and having ambition or poise is considered threatening, and to be stifled at every turn.
10/14/09
10/14/09
10/14/09
Yes, because we're comfortable in the knowledge that our bosses are lying and manipulative. At least we know what to expect! Throw someone all kind and honest at us and it's like Whoa, what's happening here?
10/14/09
Just kidding.
10/14/09
And then she cried in her office on her last day when no one came to her goodbye party. Yep, Karma's a bitch.
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10/14/09
The company I work for (and am desperately trying to leave) is so gossipy about the way all the ladies (95% of us) dress.
It's really frustrating because, damn, I don't care what lady X is wearing today. Nor do I appreciate hearing from Lady Y that Lady C thinks I dress "inappropriately" at times.
Anyway... if I were polled I'd be with the majority here. I know for a fact it affects my career.
10/14/09
I wouldn't be surprised if it is affecting my promotion prospects, but eff it. I am not going to spend more time on my appearance than men do - for me it is a waste of time that I'd rather spend sleeping in the morning, and doing other things at night.
10/14/09
But the women in my office punish me for looking nice. They make snide comments about how they wish they had the time or money to "dress up." Which is bullshit -- I work longer hours than most of them and as one of the youngest people in the office, am near the bottom of the pay scale. I look nice not due to money or time, but merely effort. I spend no more than 30 minutes getting ready, including showering, and keep my hair short in order to avoid spending time on it.
Anyway, I don't think there's anything wrong with your approach at all. But I've learned that looks-ism at work goes both ways -- sometimes keeping a nice pair of heels in your desk to wear around the office is considered "trying to hard" and people take you less seriously as a result.
10/14/09
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If I ever have a boss I don't like it is going to be a rude awakening.