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Topic: Management
| Author | Message |
| Jerose | Posted – 1/8/2008 2:13:20 PM | show profile I'm thinking of throwing in the towel with my job. Recently I went to bat with the senior management of my company on some polarizing, unpopular issues and have faced some backlash from my employees who will benefit from the change, but who sided mostly with my employer. I'm not so concerned about the popularity contest because I know I have to make tough, unpopular decisions at times, but my employees are taking sides and really making my life difficult. That affects everyone. One thing is clear to me (and my employees who voiced this): status quo is not working. I'm starting to think, however, that my miserable staff really and truly enjoy their misery. I come to work to battle for change, only to meet resistance from the very people I am trying to help. It seems like my time is more and more consumed with policy than with doing my actual job. Any other managers have this issue or one similar to it? |
| Cyrus | Posted – 1/8/2008 2:50:59 PM | show profile Not to sound cynical, but I've come to feel change is the most overused buzzword in the American lexicon because it's uttered most in the areas of life where it occurs least: business and politics. I'm confused, though. When I read a statement that says "going to bat," it generally means you're trying to do something that would benefit somebody. I first took the sentence to say that was your employees, but once I saw the remainder, it wasn't so clear. What exactly are you trying to do? If it's something that you've been charged with doing by your superiors and employees don't like it, then you have to do what you think is best, trusting in the fact that solid employees understand these issues and will stick around. Others won't, and it can often be a way to get rid of dead wood. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 1/8/2008 5:29:18 PM | show profile Your post is really hard to understand. As I read it, it sounds like you're frustrated because you want to institute changes you think will benefit the employees, but the employees don't see it that way and are pushing back. |
| Jerose | Posted – 1/8/2008 6:43:21 PM | show profile I was being too cryptic because a few of the employees read this forum. I am a managing editor with a staff of under 10. Several of my employees came to me and threatened to quit because of new company policies. I wish I could be more specific, but it was an economic policy that reduced some of their benefits and prevented some raises until 2009. Some pay reductions are also happening to management, not regular employees. I listened to them in individual and group meetings, then tabled it for a cool-down period. They came back to me and demanded action, so I took the information to the SR management. SR management demanded a meeting with all of us. So I took the lead and spoke for the group as per our meetings. When addressed directly, the staff all sat there like logs and refused to talk, at one point denying what I said. When we left the meeting, they all complained about how nothing was going to change and they didn't say anything because they knew nothing would change. I took it that were nervous that they would be fired if they spoke out. I assured them that was not the case. I later found out that they all had individual meetings with the SR management where they denied that they had any problems, and even said that I exaggerated their claims. They said that I was the one with the problem about the new policy and dragged them into the meeting. They used a personal problem I had last month as a back up to their claim (I miscarried...and yes, I considered that claim affecting my judgment but dismissed it). I'm very confused why they are black sheep-ing the person who tried to help them. My employer questioned my honesty and threatened to replace me. I have all their emails voicing their concerns, but have yet to show it to SR management to "prove" my case. I don't want to do that. It seems like a waste of time that may just end up costing me my job. If it doesn't, I sure won't take their greivances seriously in the future, and that, too, could be a problem. That's my quagmire. |
| melinyc | Posted – 1/8/2008 9:54:34 PM | show profile Management You said it: "management". The environment sounds hostile. I have experienced a similar situation. From my cursory understanding, I would suggest that you assess/shore up your position with senior management AND look elsewhere for a better position. I don't mean to alarm you, but realistically and regardless of how this all came about, you being snadwiched between supervisors and subordiantes may ot bode well for your job. You cannot go back, and your view of 'forward charge' appears to hold no reward for you or your staff. If economics rule (when is this not true) and the company is shakey, you must now look out for your own interests. Good luck. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 1/9/2008 1:07:51 PM | show profile As mel said, you should have had upper mgmt's full support. By them putting you in the middle, they showed their true colors and those don't bode well for you. It sounds as if they'd rather bury their heads in the sand by pitting people against each other rather than solve the problem. Short term, that makes your job almost impossible, so I'd start looking. Long term, it will come to roost in a bad way for your employer, so they'll get theirs too. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| detour_memphis | Posted – 1/9/2008 5:18:45 PM | show profile You Need to Resign... Pack your paper box because you are as good as done at the job. I hope your resume is up to date!! |
| Jerose | Posted – 1/9/2008 6:38:37 PM | show profile Thanks Well, I guess that says it all. I will definitely think twice before 1) defending those who work for me, and 2) giving 100 percent to an employer who doesn't support his management team. OK, the anger is out of my system. At least now I can prepare to make a professional exit. However, if you're one of my employees who lied about the incident, all I can say is karma is a bitch. I was trying to preserve your vacation time and 401k benefits and protect your ever-declining wages as well as two of your jobs AND get you paid for working on Christmas Eve. But clearly writing nasty notes on your MySpace pages is more effective. Good luck! I'm human; I needed to throw in one barb. :-) |
| Mag Girl | Posted – 1/9/2008 6:42:09 PM | show profile Wow, I can't imagine why any employee would have a problem with you fighting for those on their behalf. I hope your next position is in a better environment! |
