View Full Version : Finally really looking for a new job
The past year or so has been awful. There has been so much that has happened, but I've not posted about it because, well, there's just so much!
Manager and supervisor are bullies. There's no other way to put it. They think nothing of reprimanding people in front of others in a departmental meeting. When I pointed it out in a private meeting, I was told they did it because they wanted the others to not do the same things wrong.
I pretty much can't do anything right. There will be situations where they immediately say I'm in the wrong, complete with scathing emails. When I show proof that the situation is completely opposite of their jump to conclusions, there are no apologies for raking me over the coals.
I'm doing more customs related stuff than transportation now, which is good, but the additional customs stuff is for someone else (The Golden Girl) who does the transportation side for these customers. If she gives me customs clearances to do, I MUST have them done the same day. Non negotiable. If I can't for whatever reason, I have to document why. There was something the past few days I couldn't get cleared due to incorrect info from an airline. I spent so much time on it. My stuff got pushed to the side. They don't care. If I can't get stuff done, it's my problem. They don't care why. The fact that I had issues I was spending tons of time on doesn't even come into play with them.
The end of the workday today was the last straw that's starting me to seriously look for something else. The Golden Girl has to do some billing for the first time on a customer I used to handle the transportation on. She decides to come to me right at 5 as I'm getting my coat on. I had somewhere to get to. She literally shakes files in my face and demands I help her with them. My computer was already shut down (I'd have to look up information to help) and I was already punched out (we have to punch in and out online). I'm struggling with all my layers and asked if we could do it Monday as I had somewhere to be. She was not happy.
Went out to my car and was just driving away when manager calls. She reams into me for not being "nicer" and why wouldn't I help The Golden Girl. I told manager I had plans and why was it OK for The Golden Girl to decide she needed help at 5pm on a Friday. I'm told "that doesn't matter" and she as she took a breath to start in on me again, I simply said "goodbye" and hung up.
Mind you, The Golden Girl is almost always out the door right at 5. She has a 3 year old kid and is always running out the door to get him from daycare. I've tried to ask her something before at 4:55pm and she's told me she can't, has to go get her son. Yet, when she decides she wants help at 5pm, I'm supposed to bend over backwards?
At this point, things are so bad that I might end up getting fired before I find something else, but if I don't find anything, I'll ride this pony as long as I can for the money.
I don't have to do just customs brokerage stuff. I'm qualified to do global trade compliance. The only move I might consider making is back to Michigan, where I'm from. I love my Great Lakes diving, so I'm not going to move from here.
It's kind of funny that things are going so well with diving right now - my confidence and skills have improved by leaps and bounds, while things have gone to heck in a handbasket at work.
Sorry to read that the situation at work is so challenging. Hope that better circumstances come your way soon.
Oh that sounds terrible and familiar. And it sucks. You seem to have your head about you pretty well, and a good idea that it won't solve it if you do understand what is happening. What is so freakin' wrong with people! Explaining that something is impossible makes no difference, I have literally been in that conversation. Hard to believe if you haven't lived it. It seems like there are very few good workplaces,
YES! go get another job, anything that pays reasonably what you need. From here they find things you do wrong, document the crap out of it, and can bring your references down. You know so much, have a lot of skills and qualifications, I am seeing you get into something really great. However the process can really be brutal.
Share whatever you need to in the process, here or by PM if you want
Thanks, ZG! I looked at a few job listings this evening, but I'm just going to put it aside until Sunday. I'm going to work on the very interesting bookwork for a diving class later in the summer. I just need to decompress (LOL - diving pun, too! ;)) and spend all day in bed tomorrow with my books (very cold here). I'm so glad I have the diving to focus on outside of work. This time of year, there's no diving here in the Great Lakes, so unless you go somewhere tropical, it's working out, the occasional pool session (once a month), and planning dives for the next season.
I've not been at the gym much because of the "New Year warriors" who show up in January into February. Can't get on the machines or in the pool. So I workout at home and do weight work with my dumbbells. I'm up to 12lbers now! Starting to see some really nice definition in my upper arms. I can do squats with dumbbells in hand, that doesn't hurt my knees, and I'm beginning to really see the benefits. Knees hurt less and I walk much better.
SteveinMN
1-25-19, 11:19pm
Definitely time to find the doorway out. So sad that they took a job you used to enjoy and at which you seemed to excel and turned it into ... this.
Teacher Terry
1-26-19, 1:38am
Yes they are being asshats!
Even if they fire you, you can most likely collect unemployment so long as you don't have attendance issues and do not commit any crimes like assaulting another employee or embezzling money. Good luck with your search.
Even if they fire you, you can most likely collect unemployment so long as you don't have attendance issues and do not commit any crimes like assaulting another employee or embezzling money. Good luck with your search.
That's another reason I'm going to ride this pony as long as I can.
Come home to Michigan!
Our lakes are unsalted, frequently frozen.
It is so beautiful up here--we used to live where you live now and I know that area very well. Your life will improve so much up here!
Come home to Michigan!
Our lakes are unsalted, frequently frozen.
It is so beautiful up here--we used to live where you live now and I know that area very well. Your life will improve so much up here!
Are you in Alpena?
I have a magnetic sign on my car - “Great Lakes: unsalted and shark free.” :D
No jobs up there for what I do. I need to be in relatively large areas.
Are you in Alpena?
I have a magnetic sign on my car - “Great Lakes: unsalted and shark free.” :D
No jobs up there for what I do. I need to be in relatively large areas.
Traverse City.
Traverse City.
Ah! I was in Alpena in the early 90s.
I feel for you, Tradd. Some work environments are abominable. I'm in a toxic situation myself and just trying to stay with it until the end of this contract. I do think you should be documenting on your home computer. Reaming people out in front of others is abusive, and it's against the law. Of course, getting that law enforced is a whole 'nother story, but you might want to be in a position to at least report their abusive asses.
GREAT that you are taking care of your physical health. When you walk into an office looking fit and strong it can make a difference.
iris lilies
1-26-19, 4:54pm
I feel for you, Tradd. Some work environments are abominable. I'm in a toxic situation myself and just trying to stay with it until the end of this contract. I do think you should be documenting on your home computer. Reaming people out in front of others is abusive, and it's against the law. Of course, getting that law enforced is a whole 'nother story, but you might want to be in a position to at least report their abusive asses.
.
what law is this, exactly?
Miss Cellaneous
1-28-19, 1:50pm
Doesn't the company need you because of your certifications/credentials? Aren't they going to have a tough time if they fire you?
It's possible that someone is trying to get you to quit, because they can't outright fire you. But if you quit, then they can bring in someone they like better. I'm envisioning them championing Golden Girl for your position, and the havoc that would create. >8)
I do think you should get out of there. Sounds very like a situation I was in once. When I announced my two-week notice, they were stunned. Turns out they wanted to demote me and promote a favorite to my position. (They didn't want to get rid of my entirely, because the favorite couldn't do most of the work I did.) I was eventually replaced by two people, because one person couldn't do the amount of work I did. I'm much happier now.
Doesn't the company need you because of your certifications/credentials? Aren't they going to have a tough time if they fire you?
It's possible that someone is trying to get you to quit, because they can't outright fire you. But if you quit, then they can bring in someone they like better. I'm envisioning them championing Golden Girl for your position, and the havoc that would create. >8)
I do think you should get out of there. Sounds very like a situation I was in once. When I announced my two-week notice, they were stunned. Turns out they wanted to demote me and promote a favorite to my position. (They didn't want to get rid of my entirely, because the favorite couldn't do most of the work I did.) I was eventually replaced by two people, because one person couldn't do the amount of work I did. I'm much happier now.
Well, they’d have to hire someone else who is a licensed broker. Here’s the kicker with Golden Girl. She can’t do it. She’s not a US citizen! You have to be a citizen to even take the exam. The supervisor was really talking it up to her on Friday and Golden Girl said she wanted to do it. You should have seen the look on her face when I said you had to be a US citizen. I laughed inside.
And yes, they would have a very tough time. I’m the only one in the office who knows how to do the EPA, FDA, ATF entries. I’ve tried to show them. They’ve keep saying they don’t have time.
I’ve tried to show them. They’ve keep saying they don’t have time.
As soon as you give your notice, that brain dump will be Priority 1. (Don't ask me how I know this.)
Tradd, just a thought. You have the skills, the experience and the history. Rather than a new job, have you considered getting some advice on how to approach such a situation to turn it around. I ask because I didn't think of doing this when I was in a challenging situation. Looking back, some skill development on how to retake control of my work setting would have made a big difference.
Bullies can be managed but most people have not developed the skills to do so. It is a learnable skill. The company is benefiting from your knowledge, experience and expertise. You have powerful bargaining power. Please think about this and seek a mentor who can advise you on the optional approaches open to you in the current work setting.
Tradd, just a thought. You have the skills, the experience and the history. Rather than a new job, have you considered getting some advice on how to approach such a situation to turn it around. I ask because I didn't think of doing this when I was in a challenging situation. Looking back, some skill development on how to retake control of my work setting would have made a big difference.
Bullies can be managed but most people have not developed the skills to do so. It is a learnable skill. The company is benefiting from your knowledge, experience and expertise. You have powerful bargaining power. Please think about this and seek a mentor who can advise you on the optional approaches open to you in the current work setting.
Razz, it’s a thought, but the problem is that stuff started going south majorly after someone was brought in from the outside to be the branch manager and so my manager and supervisor didn’t get promoted. The 2 other people who have been here about two years all noticed they got awful around that time.
They’re still pissed about it. I’ll do some thinking about it. Thanks.
So sorry.
Every time I'm in a big box store I often wonder if you had anything to do with getting it to our shelves. When we notice shortages we can figure that you finally had enough.
ApatheticNoMore
1-29-19, 12:53am
My prior workplace situation was bullying (as I've posted about). I often felt like I was being framed. I just thought "this is the craziest thing it's like I'm being framed... I've never felt this way in a workplace before EVEN WITH another bully at another workplace. Or if not being framed .... it's like I'm being HAZED, but with a hazing that doesn't end ... aren't hazings supposed to end and you prove your mettle at some point?"
I'd get accused of making errors that the accuser themselves had made, I'd investigate if I had indeed made an error and forgot about it, and when it turned out no (it was provable by source control, by email trails), I'd deep breath whew how to handle this and point out the simple fact it was not me. I'd be given nearly impossible deadlines for which I needed the bully to answer questions because I was newer and did not know stuff. The refused to answer any questions (again being framed), I'd come up with innovative ways to meet the deadlines and get answers anyway. I met impossible deadline after impossible deadline that I was sure was the end of me. I'd celebrate every month "i've made it another month!" (uh this is how you know you are in trouble). Since everything I did seemed to anger them (I could do no right) I tried very hard to read minds and figure out what they wanted and always managed to piss them off anyway. And then I made a medium size mistake and got fired.
I went to the gym when I had that job, and it made me resilient, lifting them weights, I laughed off the crazy to a degree while I was there (I work with lunatics - ha ha ha! :laff:). But the joke was on me in the end, as I paid the price (for having ever took that job even), not them.
At this point, things are so bad that I might end up getting fired before I find something else, but if I don't find anything, I'll ride this pony as long as I can for the money.
you choice, I was trying to stay a year etc, as firing had come to seem inevitable, but frankly I ended up regretting not quitting, and not mostly for pride. I got unemployment and I wouldn't if I quit (and unemployment was very welcome), but I also got badly emotionally damaged, I didn't do as well on interviews because I was scared of jobs (scared of abuse is the truth), I had to explain how I lost my last job (and it never sounds good to have been "let go"), and fill out endless job applications that ask if you've ever lost a job involuntarily (why yes I have!).
Oh that sounds terrible and familiar. And it sucks. You seem to have your head about you pretty well, and a good idea that it won't solve it if you do understand what is happening. What is so freakin' wrong with people! Explaining that something is impossible makes no difference, I have literally been in that conversation. Hard to believe if you haven't lived it. It seems like there are very few good workplaces,
The problem is people with full blown personality disorders, narcissism, sociopathy, stuff on that level, are still employed and one might be working with them ... This isn't discussed much but ...
Even if they fire you, you can most likely collect unemployment so long as you don't have attendance issues and do not commit any crimes like assaulting another employee or embezzling money. Good luck with your search.
that's right, but a few companies are very sleazy and fight it (how far they get with that might depend on the state). I think my last company was actually too disorganized to even bother fighting it.
Tradd, just a thought. You have the skills, the experience and the history. Rather than a new job, have you considered getting some advice on how to approach such a situation to turn it around. I ask because I didn't think of doing this when I was in a challenging situation. Looking back, some skill development on how to retake control of my work setting would have made a big difference.
Bullies can be managed but most people have not developed the skills to do so. It is a learnable skill. The company is benefiting from your knowledge, experience and expertise. You have powerful bargaining power. Please think about this and seek a mentor who can advise you on the optional approaches open to you in the current work setting.
this is true, but I'd still get out! But stuff like this might be used to manage the bullies *until* you get out if you wish to try not to get fired (and you should try to not get fired).
My bully seemed of the narcissistic type, so being more friendly and giving the narcissistic supplies, praising a haircut, apologizing profusely for errors, catering to their whims, might have helped. They wanted to be *special*. I didn't play that narcissist like a violin, I just tried to just do my work as best as I could imagining that might save my job, and that was not the tack to take. Not sure if your bullies are narcissist or something else, so you'll have to figure out what might work for them.
Oh ANM I can relate. I just had memories of my old workplace at 3 am. The impact and recovery is truly hard, I was told I had workplace PTSD. Like you I just tried harder and harder to do a good job. At the end they were really mad I didnt do a parent sign while dropping off a disabled child with no paperwork. I doubt there was anything I could have done, and being conscientious was probably part of the reason I was targeted. It sounds like you were in the situation.
Tradd, leaving before they fire you is something you really have to consider. As ANM shared there is an impact to being fired. There is also the impact of the damage of staying while it gets worse. At some point you either make a mistake due to the stress or are put in an impossible situation where they can claim you made a mistake. You sound like a very capable and strong person, but I also think they can still do what they want sooner or later. Basically prepare for the worst with your career and finances.
Wow wasn't that cheerful! The good news is that I think sometimes the more responsible and capable people are targeted. So in another setting you will excel like you have in the past.
Yesterday was interesting. I full expected to get pulled into the manager’s office and raked over the coals for not staying to help the Golden Girl on Friday. Not a damned word. And because no one was stressing me out on stuff, I was able to get a fair bit done as I’m still trying to get caught up from last week.
A lot of other businesses are going to be closed tomorrow and Thursday due to the record breaking cold. I’m sure we will be open.
They had a full weekend to think over what happened and either decide it was not necessary to rehash or that it was forgotten. Or maybe, just maybe, the powers that be decided that the request was not "right". Of course, no one will ever apologize.
Of course, they will never apologize! They’ve already proven that’s their way in previous situations. Manager will be out visiting customers today so that will be nice to not have her around. We’ll see if the supervisor turns into a petty dictator.
I forgot to provide some background on the the Golden Girl. Somewhere in her early 30s. Came to the US about 10 years ago from a former Soviet Bloc country. She is the epitome of the entitled Millennial. A bunch of coworkers went to an airline Christmas party. She couldn't go because a friend was having a birthday party. One of the other coworkers won plane tickets to Hawaii. When the Golden Girl found out the next day, she flew into a tizzy saying "You won MY tickets." She was stuck on this for days.
She always bitches she doesn't have enough vacation time and that people back in her home country get at least 4 weeks off every year. Her family was much more comfortable than the norm, from what she's said. I've had to bite my tongue to not ask her why she hasn't gone back, if it's so great. I get 4 weeks a year, between vacation time and personal days. But I've been there for over 12 years and she's barely over a year. Last year she kept asking if she could have the time I didn't take (which as close to 2 weeks). That's not allowed at our company. She takes her time all at once and then complains that it's all gone.
She's also said she wished she could make what I do. Mind you, we don't talk about salaries at all, but it's pretty obvious I make more than anyone else except supervisor and manager, due to experience, seniority, and my brokers license. She doesn't want to put the time in to get experience. She thinks she should make more because she wants it. Her amount of inexperience is very clear from the questions she asks. She'll sometimes ask how I know something and the response is I've been doing this a long time. She doesn't get it.
Her husband is an immigrant from the same country and his mother is also in the US. Mother in law lives with Golden Girl, her husband, and preschooler. Husband travels a lot for his job. MIL, until very recently, would take preschooler to daycare in the morning. Golden Girl picked him up after work. Well, MIL got a different job and can't take the kid to daycare anymore. Golden Girl was going on about it like it was the end of the world, as she has to do it now. I told her, "Welcome to what everyone else has to do."
High strung is the most polite way of describing her. I once described someone else as that, and she said that she was that herself. I told her that she said it, not me.
Update -
I was contacted by a corporate HR person for a big company in my field in my area. All they told me was that it involved brokerage. Would not provide a job description. I’ve been asking for 3 days. Position is also not posted on their website.
Annoying.
I was contacted again by the same person asking me to make an appt for a phone interview. And they still won’t give me any details about the position. Feels like they’re jerking me around. I don’t like that.
Tradd that does sound fishy, maybe they are disorganized or maybe they are not for real. I would be interested but not give them too many chances,
Could be it is not posted as they are secretly planning to replace an incompetent person. The lack of a job description is concerning though.
All they know about me is from LinkedIn. That’s it.
Could be it is not posted as they are secretly planning to replace an incompetent person. The lack of a job description is concerning though.
Job is posted now, but her not giving me any before was very odd.
I would be expected to work BOTH weekend days - that would mean NO diving and NO church. I told the recruiter that the working weekends was a deal killer.
mschrisgo2
2-26-19, 11:10pm
Well, that's crummy. I'd think that working all weekend would be a deal killer for most people. Oh well, their loss.
ToomuchStuff
2-27-19, 2:02am
LOL,
After my schedule last year (working 80 hours a week, covering for an owner due to medical), I hoped they listened and realized we needed more people who could do what the three (two owners, both medical issues) of use do. I had hoped that we eventually would have enough, I could actually get time off, and two days off in a row, more often then Christmas Eve and Day.
The boss who had the medical issue, got ticked at me Sunday, and threatened me with time off, LOL. It would be nice if that would happen, but it would require the two of them to be in better shape, since they don't want to hire other help.
Well, this morning has been interesting.
1. Accounting was trying to get some supposedly old invoices posted so they could pay an overseas agent. I hadn’t received either invoice. My manager was demanding I post them and bill them out to the customer. Couldn’t figure out what one was for as the description was not in English. Emailed overseas agent to get explanation, as I can’t bill it out to customer if I don’t know what it’s for. Manager keeps after me to bill. I explain. She’s not trying to get it. I finally walked into her office with the invoice in hand and showed her the non-English description. I asked her if she knew what it was for. She didn’t. I asked her if she wanted me to bill the customer just showing “misc charges” on invoice. She just sort of mumbled. Within 30 min I had explanation from overseas and was able to bill it.
2. GM who has been here for a year announced 30 min ago that he is leaving at the end of the month. Surprised me. The female VP who sat in for 6 months before this GM was hired will be back to serve as GM for however long until a replacement is hired.
3. As soon as it hit noon, my manager and supervisor left for lunch together. Bet we know what they’re discussing.
Teacher Terry
3-6-19, 2:22pm
Sounds terrible!
The export guy got let go last Monday. They said his position was eliminated due to not enough business.
GM's last day was Friday.
Due to export guy being gone, I've been told I WILL learn export. Mind you, the last time I did anything with export was the early 2000s. That was ocean. I never did air. And export air freight is so different these days due to security issues. I was handed an export account already. It's something we do for another office, that involves inspection by a Fed agency before export. Always flies out of our city, so it's done in our warehouse. It's simple enough and I'm already used to dealing with that Fed agency. It's just one more thing on top of everything else I'm expected to do.
I discovered when I came in today that the manager and supervisor had gone through my file cart where active stuff lives and went through everything. I got pounded today for the number of new shipments that we don't have specific sailing information for. I handle a customer that has a lot of hazardous cargo. It can take 4-6 weeks to get the required approval from the ocean carrier, vessel captain, etc. I'm checking in weekly with my counterparts at origin to get updates. That's not good enough for manager and supervisor. I'm supposed to be emailing DAILY. What a waste of time. When I responded to their email about it, telling them I'd go through the files tomorrow and send emails as needed, manager blasted me, "UNACCEPTABLE." Supervisor said "we could be making money off those shipments." Like I'm purposely not letting these shipments get on a ship?
I'm taking nearly all of my 3+ weeks of vacation time this year. Several longer weekends and 2 week long vacations.
Just more of "making do with less" and we're supposed to have NO OT at all. I ran from 8-noon, and both manager/supervisor were peppering me with questions on and off during lunch. Then it was head long again from 1-5.
Tradd,
I feel for you. Seems like your experience and certifications would go a long way in getting a job in another area. Would these latest events make you consider a relocation? I hate to see good hard-working people get jacked around in their workplace.
Is this worse because everyone is afraid of a trade war? Or are competitors gaining ground, that a layoff was needed? It keeps getting worse for you, and these events are beyond your control which they should realize.
Much cargo that would have shipped first quarter this year came in before the end of the year as people were trying to beat the increase to 25% duty for stuff from China that people were trying to avoid. So Jan, Feb, March were quieter than normal. The troublesome customer that the Golden Girl was given is very seasonal. It was being implied that the no shipments from them was my fault, but I told them to pull a report to look at their shipping patterns going back years. I was able to prove March through May is their slowest time. They are very seasonal and Halloween is the next holiday.
Even though it’s been slower shipment wise, there’s still been plenty to do. I’m continually being blamed for things I have little control over. They do this with everyone. The Golden Girl and 2nd favorite made errors on customs clearances last summer that resulted in shipments being released but not going on the statement from custom that gets duties paid. That results in notices and fines from customs. I didn’t train them. The supervisor did. All I can do is point out what they have to watch out for and if they get X electronic response from customs, then you have to do Y. Manager constantly hammers me that if I was properly auditing entries then I would catch this stuff. Corporate compliance has only said to audit 10% of customs clearances. Manager doesn’t seem to get that even if I had the time to properly audit, there is no guarantee I would be looking at the files with problems.
Just yesterday I got an notice from a customer (late duties payment notices go to importers) that something from last year hadn’t had duties paid. I researched it and showed things were paid timely. Went to corporate compliance person in email with my proof duties HAD been paid, asking for help as I couldn’t figure out his duties were late when they had been paid on time. Manager started after me about it without even reading the email. She’s quite the one for jumping to conclusions and gets pissed if I attempt to defend myself. Sometimes I don’t even try.
We've got giant Pacific octopuses up here in the PNW. Just thought I'd mention that.
Sounds like management is running scared. Amazing to me they dont realize that their constant interruptions cause you to have less time to work on the money making cases.
Teacher Terry
4-2-19, 11:32am
I would leave the building for lunch so they cannot bother you.
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