View Full Version : Work changes
Well, even after working my butt off for a year studying for the danged exam and passing with flying colors, all while working some crazy hours since May, my manager has backed off what I was promised. I was told that as soon as I had passed the exam (had official notification), I would be officially promoted to Compliance Manager (I've been doing the duties unofficially since July) and receive a raise. Once I got my license and then qualified the local operating permit from CBP, then I would get another raise (it's a big responsibility since my individual license is on the line if there are major screw ups with CBP). Total raise would amount to 20-25% of current salary. They absolutely need my individual license to continue operating, per CBP regulations. No individual license, no customs clearances done by company. Period.
Now, no raise until sometime 1st quarter and probably not until I get my license, whenever that is (going by CBP's timeline of three months, I should have it mid-late Feb, but we'll have to see). I've also gotten shafted on the title. No manager now. Current title will have a one word change to indicate I handle compliance. And no title change until I get my license, as well. Current title is a peon title. My equivalents in our other US offices have various titles, but all are managers, even one who doesn't have his license yet. I did everything, and more, that was asked of me. Interestingly, several others from other offices across the country took the October exam, as well. I was the only one who passed.
There's really no indication what caused the change in title or making me wait on raise. I continue to get good feedback from everyone: coworkers, management in our other offices I assist on specific things, customers, and high level corporate leadership. I've still been working my butt off, although fewer extra hours since the seasonal peak shipping season is mostly past. Manager continues to leave me in charge when she's out of the office, as for a week very recently.
So, it seems I'm being asked to remain a peon in name, yet with a heck of a lot of responsibility. I'm fleshing out my LinkedIn profile, redoing my resume, and putting out very quiet feelers to industry contacts. I'm beginning to consider moving to Minneapolis, even. I really need to have my license before I make a move, though, as the positions out there now require the license, plus it makes me a lot more marketable to have license already in hand.
After I read the first 2 sentences I said 'Classic!' out loud to the computer screen.
Even more classic is what I bolded below:
Current title is a peon title. My equivalents in our other US offices have various titles, but all are managers, even one who doesn't have his license yet.
Best wishes on dipping your toes in other waters! Doesn't hurt to sniff around and see what's out there.
Mtnlaurel, and my manager is a woman. If she's trying to keep me from trying for HER job, I don't want it. She has to deal with budgets, numbers, all sorts of stupid meeting nonsense. I'm still very much a hands-on type.
And no, nothing in writing. I'd not even thought to get it in writing. Oh, welll!
You beat me to it, mtnlaurel.
I'm still very much a hands-on type.
aka.... what The Grunts do.
I worked with a group of women as their assistant - which worked great for me at the time b/c I didn't want to travel with small infants at home.
I left that job and moved, then went on for a professional certification in my field surpassing many of them.....
Still when I see them they say Oh you should be an assistant at x....
And I'm like 'No, Sister, I could go for your bosses job' (to myself of course)
It's like they will never see me as more than their lackey.
that uber stinks, but I get it. I am in an organization and it seems that whatever position and pay you have then you are considered that position and pay forever with them doing you a great favor to move up. Right now I am doing my best to learn Spanish and thre is onlyl one person I trust to actually move me up in the organization. Otherwise I know I will need to move along like you are considering. Right now I am also biding time because there are some things I need to work on to add to my resume. I think you are very smart to not get too emotional and stomp out, or simmer while doing nothing.
I would be hurt and pissed off however, that was a clear or implicit agreement. If you can't do much then in your exit interview (if they do that) I would tell them straight up.
Too bad you are not considering Denver, I would love to show you around. If you do consider us or even visit for an interview later let me know.
Zoe, the funny part about the whole thing is that my manager *begged* me, for some months, before I agreed to sit for the exam. This whole thing was so not my idea...
Hi there Tradd,
Sorry to hear your organization is giving you the runaround like that... sounds like a typically cynical and exploitative management maneuver - I hope you get the raise you deserve or a better opportunity elsewhere soon... there are companies out there that treat their employees with respect - they're just hard to find sometimes...:confused:
jennipurrr
12-8-12, 4:32pm
Arghhhh, why do employers pull this kind of stuff? Honesty would be much appreciated here. I had much more vague promises of a different kind of role after I got my masters degree, which combined my technical skill with some student retention work we were doing at the time, and they never materialized. There were various reasons, including some office politics but eventually I came to the conclusion that I would never be allowed to grow or change my role because I was that dependable, qualified person in my job at the time and they would have a very difficult job replacing me.
I wasn't quite disgruntled, but when the opportunity for something new that was a stretch for me came along I went for it. I am very happy I did even though I now am working and responsible for a lot more for only a bit of increase in salary. In the old department a couple of other people have told me they were told the same kind of stuff I was about opportunities for advancement and they're still hanging in there waiting knowing its likely not going to change. I even had one person who was a huge roadblock come into my office CRYING when I had announced I was leaving...hello?!? If this person hadn't tried to block any chance for me to have more responsibility or advance, I certainly wouldn't have left. The cynical part of me thinks she was just crying bc now she wouldn't have me to use/abuse, heh.
I would think much easier/cost effective to keep excellent employees rather than for people to have to hop around to move up the ladder, but I guess employers believe that most people are going to sit around and wait forever.
Good for you getting your ducks in a row! I bet something great will present itself when you've got your licensure situation all finalized.
Arghhhh, why do employers pull this kind of stuff? Honesty would be much appreciated here. I had much more vague promises of a different kind of role after I got my masters degree, which combined my technical skill with some student retention work we were doing at the time, and they never materialized.
If your companies were anything like mine, it's because there's a disjoint between the folks who know what skills and qualifications are needed for the job (both now and in the short-term future) and the folks who sign the checks. I had countless discussions with my supervisor urging me to get additional training or certification, but when i finally committed to a class or a certification exam (neither of which were a dime a dozen at my technical level), I was given some sad excuse about how budgets were being trimmed and maybe I could do it in the second half of the year or there was going to be a significant reorganization and we didn't want to be changing too much. >8) Then, of course, there was the constant restructuring and the opportunities that disappeared under the new manager even though the old manager was in full agreement with the path to be followed. After a while, I just quit listening. When I left, our director was telling everyone to put "get certified" on their annual performance goals. No reason given other than "I think it would be a good idea" and no discussion among us on where the resources to do that would come from.
Tradd, I realize it's hindsight now, but I would have insisted on the whole path (training, licensing, promotion, etc.) being documented in your annual performance plan. Not that it would have guaranteed that, but you're suffering the effects of a withdrawn verbal promise now. Having it on paper would make it much harder to ignore.
I would think much easier/cost effective to keep excellent employees rather than for people to have to hop around to move up the ladder, but I guess employers believe that most people are going to sit around and wait forever.
You'd think so, wouldn't you? I think The Great Recession pushed a lot of workers to concentrate on just keeping the job they had; nevermind that many organizations essentially froze headcount and promotions and raises. There still is some of that as the Jobless Recovery continues, but I think eventually that will change. As the workforce gets older, though, many workers have more at risk (income needs, health insurance coverage, inertia) and are less likely to jump around than just take what they can get. I also can understanding getting experience in other parts of the company or even other companies helps round out an employee's portfolio of skills. But doing too much of that can be counterproductive. It's the difference between getting six years of experience and two years of experience three times.
Verbal promises were worthless in my prior Federal job. 31 years of experience and this one "trueism" never changed.
The only time something could be challenged was if it was reduced to writing and even then, the lower manager, could be stomped on by upper management and it could be reversed. One of our many reasons for a union.
If your companies were anything like mine, it's because there's a disjoint between the folks who know what skills and qualifications are needed for the job (both now and in the short-term future) and the folks who sign the checks. I had countless discussions with my supervisor urging me to get additional training or certification, but when i finally committed to a class or a certification exam (neither of which were a dime a dozen at my technical level), I was given some sad excuse about how budgets were being trimmed and maybe I could do it in the second half of the year or there was going to be a significant reorganization and we didn't want to be changing too much. >8) Then, of course, there was the constant restructuring and the opportunities that disappeared under the new manager even though the old manager was in full agreement with the path to be followed. After a while, I just quit listening. When I left, our director was telling everyone to put "get certified" on their annual performance goals. No reason given other than "I think it would be a good idea" and no discussion among us on where the resources to do that would come from.
Tradd, I realize it's hindsight now, but I would have insisted on the whole path (training, licensing, promotion, etc.) being documented in your annual performance plan. Not that it would have guaranteed that, but you're suffering the effects of a withdrawn verbal promise now. Having it on paper would make it much harder to ignore.
Steve, my annual review was last January. The part about the licensing and getting more experience on the brokerage side was there. The rest of it happened in the summer. If anyone goes back and updates things, I'm not sure about that.
They actually got away with my exam prep course on the cheap. I used a highly recommended at home study course that was only $225, plus another $300 for the required reference materials. That's because I'm very self-disciplined and a dedicated student. Most courses run a minimum of $1K. The second time around I paid for some online materials, which were well worth it, plus my hard copy reference materials. I am glad I paid for them, as they're mine now. I did get reimbursed for the $200 for the October exam fee (since I passed), as well as the $240 to apply for my license.
Now, anything goes in writing. An email works.
Not even a week ago, our US CEO was saying how I was a fabulous example of people learning new skills/areas and being promoted from within. :-/
If they lose me, they also lose a lot of technical skill. I'm now known as the person to go to for our industry specific software, among those who are ops people. I'm easily the most technically literate person in the entire department.
Ugh, sounds familiar. My annual review was a couple months after I got certified for a higher position, and about six months after I'd taken over the workload for that position. ...And then I got a cost-of-living raise. So I had an awkward conversation with the boss about how that was not what I'd expected, given the workload and the certificate and how we'd talked about this before, yes?
It turned out that they could certainly promote me; since reviews for the new position had happened right before I was certified, I'd be eligible next year... In the end, my boss managed to wrangle an off-schedule raise (the economy was good at the time), and I stayed. And then it took them another two years to change the rate they were billing clients for my work!
Ugh, Mer05! I at least did get a 5% merit raise over the summer, primarily for working my butt off, carrying a lot of the load while one girl was out for a month when her DH suddenly died. Our reviews are in January sometime, so you can certainly count on me sticking up for myself.
Tradd,
This sucks big time, obviously, and I don't blame you for being upset. But one thing to be positive about here is that YOU are clearly in the position of power, though it doesn't feel like it at the moment. You have skills and now a credential that is in high demand. If your current employer isn't going to recognize that, then you should definitely be looking elsewhere.
Good luck and chin up. Good things are waiting for you.
lhamo
Thanks for the words of support, lhamo.
After I read the first 2 sentences I said 'Classic!' out loud to the computer screen.
Even more classic is what I bolded below:
Best wishes on dipping your toes in other waters! Doesn't hurt to sniff around and see what's out there.
Mtnlaurel, I was just chatting on FB with a friend, who I had momentarily forgotten is just about done with law school - she's specializing in employment law. She was asking about the gender discrimination thing and how many of the other folks who are my equivalents in company's other offices have licenses. About half are women.
My priest was asking the same thing about gender discrimination when I spoke with him after church today.
rodeosweetheart
12-9-12, 3:01pm
Tradd, I checked out customs broker jobs in Twin Cities and there are some right now--one wanted 4 years experience and preferred a broker's license, so you would seem a natural for that one! I say go for it, and you have nothing to lose by looking right now!
My lease isn't up until late Aug so I might just take my time. It will depend on if I can bear to leave my friends here.
Tussiemussies
12-9-12, 3:25pm
Sounds psychologically like the old "bait and switch." Very unhealthy behavior. Sorry after all of the hard work you went through that you have to deal with this now...hope you find something above and beyond your expectations to make up for it...
rodeosweetheart
12-9-12, 4:53pm
Tradd, I know what you mean about leaving an area and leaving friends. Lots to think about. And maybe you should broaden the search to closer to home?
Minneapolis will be last resort if I can't find anything here. Chicago is really big for my industry, but we will have to see. It's a good thing I would have a very good reference in my former branch manager, as he's pretty well respected. I can tell you, that if he were still at my company, none of this would be happening. :( I cried when he left. He was very good to work for and with.
I've come up with an alternative title - just "Customs Compliance." No specialist, manager, etc. I'll have to see if they would be willing to go for that. It's what the previous compliance person had on her business cards/email signature line, with "Licensed Customs Broker" added to it. I actually like it because it's much more descriptive.
Frankly, this is the best place I've worked. Even though I've griped a lot, it's the best group I've worked with - ever.
I'm surprised that Chicago is really big for customs- I would think those jobs would be concentrated on the coasts.
I'm surprised that Chicago is really big for customs- I would think those jobs would be concentrated on the coasts.
Many years ago - yes, but Customs has allowed goods to be railed/trucked "in bond" from the coasts to inland points for at least two decades now. This allows goods to be customs cleared at another "port" besides the one at which goods entered the U.S. All the railroads converge in Chicago. Plus we've got O'Hare.
I think your company will come through, it's just not on the timetable that you expected. But what do I know.
In the end you DO hold all of the cards because that certification goes with you, not your company, and it's not easy to get. You'll be in demand. Like that saying goes, they can take away all of your stuff but they can't take away your education.
I have been through this too Tradd....extra schooling, certifications....sorry, there is nothing we can do right now! UGH.
Don't be a "grunt worker"....look for a job that will give you the title and the money! You owe nothing to this company. IF you cannot find it, create it....become your own boss :)
Had a 45 minute closed door talk with manager today, at her initiative.
It's the new local leadership. :-/ She showed me their email exchange. Nothing until I get my license.
rodeosweetheart
12-10-12, 8:41pm
Would it be advisable to get that in writing--I just don't know much about these things, but it would be good to get written confirmation from her. . .
I'm wondering why it takes a few months to actually get your license if you've already passed your exam? or am I mis-reading that?
sweetana3
12-10-12, 10:26pm
I bet the answer is that it is a Federal Government organization that has to issue the license and it is not something you can walk down and pick up.
iris lily
12-10-12, 10:51pm
Would it be advisable to get that in writing--I just don't know much about these things, but it would be good to get written confirmation from her. . .
I don't see any advantage in Tradd attempting to "get it in writing," it seems like antagonistic behavior to me.
There is nothing stopping Tradd from perusing job opportunities elsewhere. Even if she finds something, applies, goes off to interview for it, and is offered another job--that will not likely be complete until her company processes her promotion. Even IF this mythical other company is in the same town? Kids, this is Holiday Hell season where crap doesn't get done. (I hate this season. :D)
I advise her to chill with her manager and meanwhile, explore other options. Explore. That is not making a commitment.
The employee's advantage is always that they can walk. It is unlikely that Tradd's management really understand how footloose/fancy free haha she is--she could pack her apartment in half a day. She is, psychologically, open to move. She has all the advantages and she SHOULD see what else is out there.
I bet the answer is that it is a Federal Government organization that has to issue the license and it is not something you can walk down and pick up.
I'm dealing with Customs and Border Protection. Background check! Pre-9/11 when the US Customs Service was under the Treasury Department, it took on average about 6 months for people to get their license. Post-9/11 with Customs morphed into Customs and Border Protection under Homeland Security, it's now 12-18 months. But since that put people's careers on hold, and businesses in jeopardy (due to the reg for an individually licensed broker to qualify the local operating permit - issued by CBP - of a corporate broker), there is a new streamlined program. It's been in effect in Chicago and JFK for 18 months. A few other cities have it. Instead of ICE doing the background checks (checking all 6 references, etc.), and it being a low priority (catching bad guys having higher priority), CBP local officers have been trained to utilize the already-existing technology of the trusted traveler program (aka Global Entry) to do the background checks. Somewhere during the process (I'm not sure where - I called my local contact at CBP to find out when I might get called), you are called for an interview with a local CBP officer, who then digitally fingerprints you. Those are sent electronically to the FBI, who runs them. Used to be paper fingerprint cards you'd have to take to your local police or sheriff's department to get your fingerprints done.
After background check and interview is done at your local CBP port office, all materials are sent to DC (Office of International Trade) with a yay or nay recommendation on if your license application will be approved. Once DC makes the decision, then you get a call from your local port that your license is ready and you can pick it up the next week.
It's more involved than many people realize. It's because trade is actually a security risk. Customs brokers are in the unique position of being the only entities authorized to act as a third party between importers and CBP. And we have to be licensed by the feds, which is very unique. When your references would be visited in person or interviewed over the phone, one of the questions asked was, "Is there anything that makes the applicant susceptible to bribery?"
Here is a recent (and extraordinary) case of a customs broker being prosecuted for evading US import laws:
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/CriminalInvestigations/ucm313527.htm
Not only do brokers need to be US citizens (heck, you can't even take the exam unless you're already a citizen), you also have to submit a recent credit report. That's because we're responsible for seeing that duties (import taxes) get paid to CBP. The theory goes like this - if you're irresponsible with your personal (or business finances for a business you had control over), you're not going to be responsible with paying duties. If someone has bad credit due to a divorce, medical bills, job loss, that's one thing, which you can prove and show documentation on. If you just run up your credit cards, and don't bother to pay them - that's another thing entirely.
The first thing I do every morning is make sure duties are paid. This involves a double and triple check of customs entry paperwork we generate against the duties statement that CBP generates each morning and "pushes" into our system. There are so many different facets to my job that keep it interesting.
I don't see any advantage in Tradd attempting to "get it in writing," it seems like antagonistic behavior to me.
There is nothing stopping Tradd from perusing job opportunities elsewhere. Even if she finds something, applies, goes off to interview for it, and is offered another job--that will not likely be complete until her company processes her promotion. Even IF this mythical other company is in the same town? Kids, this is Holiday Hell season where crap doesn't get done. (I hate this season. :D)
I advise her to chill with her manager and meanwhile, explore other options. Explore. That is not making a commitment.
The employee's advantage is always that they can walk. It is unlikely that Tradd's management really understand how footloose/fancy free haha she is--she could pack her apartment in half a day. She is, psychologically, open to move. She has all the advantages and she SHOULD see what else is out there.
My manager was brutally honest with me. There's all sorts of political BS going on, going back something like 15 years with new GM. I found out US CEO loves, loves, loves me. This is a very good thing! I was shown some correspondence to that effect. I've worked with him about 3 years. There's also some weirdness from the merger - new GM is from the company MY company merged with.. He seems to not *get* that we're dealing with challenges the other offices aren't having to deal with at all, that I don't need to go into. Hopefully, he'll *get* it better when he's up here.
My manager also told me to continue learning as much as I can, well, as quickly as I can. Right now I'm kinda green, even with my license, but I'm one heck of a resourceful chick.
sweetana3
12-11-12, 6:32am
Tradd, it is getting so bad about "background checks" that I had one when I went back to work with the IRS as a secretary, I had a full background check. This was even though I had 29 years under my belt but had been gone 5 years. I handled no money and had no access to account changing codes.
Front line managers have to accompany all new employees to central locations for fingerprints and badge issuance now. Massive time waster and cost since many offices are in areas far from these central locations.
Office politics aside (and I'd put them aside, because there really isn't anything you can do about them) it sounds like you are in a great position. That the CEO recognizes your work is HUGE! I'm in a similar position. Understand how frustrating it can be not to be able to move forward and do all you are capable of, but in the meantime I'd just hunker down, keep doing the best job you can and let your work speak for itself. Much more productive in the long run than getting bogged down in the political stuff you really can't change (and yes, this is a pep talk for myself as well as I get ready to head to the office....)
lhamo
Lhamo, yes, it is huge. I really had no idea I'd made that much of an impression on him.
Manager pulled me into her office when I walked in this morning. I was told that new GM's stance was actually NO new title for me. He'd actually sent her a separate email saying that, since I'd talked to her yesterday. To say I wasn't pleased is a major understatement. She's actually going to the CEO. It's one thing to say I have to wait to get my license, another matter entirely to say no new title at all. One of the things that bothered her the most was that it will totally put me at a disadvantage with my equivalents in our other offices. The majority of my time is spent on compliance stuff. She said something that surprised me - that she will quit before he attempts to fire me in his petty political crap - and that I'd always have a job where she was. Apparently, she was also the one who suggested me for this position last summer, after previous compliance person was fired, and they weren't finding anyone they particularly liked. CEO was thrilled at that suggestion.
While we were talking this morning, I kept thinking she has no idea that I'm mentally open to moving.
She and I had meeting with CEO today on a serious compliance-related issue with a customer. I was pulling stuff off the top of my head, and CEO seemed impressed I didn't have to look things up. :) I later found out CEO gave me a huge thumb's up for this meeting.
So things seem to be a little better than I thought. Just have to hunker down for the next two months or so until I have my license.
chrisgermany
12-12-12, 7:36am
My theory: The GM is someone who cannot stand that someone's light shines brighter than his.
He is already pissed off by the good impression you made on the CEO but he cannot do anything against that.
But he cannot tolerate that a new title makes you more visible to the other offices.
Wrong theory?
I think chrisgermany wins the "what game is this jerk playing anyway" prize.
Keep letting your light shine, Tradd, and don't be afraid of or threatened by this bully. You are a huge asset to this or any other company. You'll end up better off than this guy in the long run, confident of that. What an a**...
Your boss may just quit before you do, if the CEO doesn't get rid of this ninny soon. Wouldn't surprise me if she was looking already. Nobody wants to work for an idiot that plays these kind of games, unless they are the same kind of person. And then she'll hire you over to the new place.
Grrr... Feeling grumpity tonight. Thanks for letting me vent on your thread :)
lhamo
SteveinMN
12-12-12, 11:30am
Your boss may just quit before you do, if the CEO doesn't get rid of this ninny soon. Wouldn't surprise me if she was looking already.
Any supervisor with an ounce of sense has to look at this situation and know Tradd is at least looking for the exit door if not actively walking toward it. The supervisor may want to get out before Tradd does so as not to be saddled with losing a key employee and having to find another replacement.
iris lily
12-12-12, 11:37am
Sometimes I think "what's in a title?" but in this case, agreed, you need a title change. Since the majority of your day is spent on compliance work, and that's the complicated stuff that others in your office cannot do, for practical reasons is nothing else (to identify yours as the final word about compliance in your work unit) it seems a title change is necessary. You have authority over technical matters, and that is key.
In addition to that extra money, of course!
Miss Cellane
12-12-12, 11:53am
Any supervisor with an ounce of sense has to look at this situation and know Tradd is at least looking for the exit door if not actively walking toward it. The supervisor may want to get out before Tradd does so as not to be saddled with losing a key employee and having to find another replacement.
Totally agree.
This is one time when the employee (Tradd) who is being treated badly holds most, if not all of the cards.
Things may end badly here, but not for Tradd.
It will be most interesting to see how new GM acts when he is actually in the office with us. He should be in the office right after New Year's.
Thanks for all the words of support. They've helped.
Chrisgermany, yes, we're all wondering what the heck game is this guy trying to play.
Sometimes I think "what's in a title?" but in this case, agreed, you need a title change. Since the majority of your day is spent on compliance work, and that's the complicated stuff that others in your office cannot do, for practical reasons is nothing else (to identify yours as the final word about compliance in your work unit) it seems a title change is necessary. You have authority over technical matters, and that is key.
In addition to that extra money, of course!
EXACTLY. And I wants that moola!
Tradd - I was in a similair situation. I worked for a large water/wastewater agency as an Environmental Compliance Officer. I had started in the field lab and worked my way up to inspections and enforcement and eventually was senior officer with only a Director above me. I had been assured that I would get his job (Director of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement) when he retired if I had all the correct licenses, education, experience, etc.. I did and when he retired I DID get his job. However they (the Board of Directors) decided that they wanted to eliminate all the Director positions (one for each dept with a GM over all) when they retired out and so I was basicly left with the same job title, same pay, but the out going Directors work load on top of my own. Wasn't anything I could do about it so I choose just to relax and go with the flow. And trust me I was ready to walk off the job so know exactly how you feel and can empathize!! But I didn't. I just delegated more of my duties to others, minimized my work load in anyway I could, and looked at the whole work/life thing over just a pay raise and fancy title. Did I still like the job? Was I OK with the hours, pay and other things that came with the job? The answer was yes and it ended up being a great job (although I eventually quit for other reasons) and I was glad I overcame any anger at not being awarded the title and pay I thought I would get. So maybe just cooling off a bit and looking at the whole work/life quality thing may help you decide if quitting and moving to a new area and job is REALLY what you want. If you like the other aspects of your life, and still like your job, then maybe staying put a while longer is the best move.
Frugalifec
12-14-12, 1:33pm
Tradd,
Your frustration is so real I can sense your clenched teeth from here. If your company is anything like the ones I've worked for, and I think most of them are about the same, they will string you on for as long as you put up with it. I found that the title and the money are just carrots on a stick that they wanted me to accept in place of real fulfillment. Once this money and this title would come there were more titles and better money to keep me sprinting to the next hurdle. They would only let me over the next hurdle when I was ready to pass out from frustration and exhaustion. It was an endless treadmill until I simply stepped off. The real danger to the company was when I stepped back and realized how idiotic the pursuit of THEIR money and titles were. There is plenty of money and titles at other companies or even... at your own company... or in your own investments. What I really wanted was my self respect and dignity.
It took some time for me to get this concept through my thick head and then it took even more time to get my life in order so I could end the merry-go-round drama at work. Stepping off the treadmill is a very scary thing. Not just for me but for a lot of friends and relatives who I shared my dream with. I met with a fair amount of opposition at the suggestion that it was even possible. But it is!
Good luck Tradd. I know you will sort through this one way or another on your own terms.
Update: it's just a waiting game now. Waiting for new GM to start in several weeks. Waiting to get my license.
Peeved at Customs now...
I have no freakin' clue when I'm going to get my license. Talked to CBP here today. I'm in the system and a higher up has my application. But they have to wait for a bunch more applications, as they do the interviews/digital fingerprinting for a bunch of folks all in one fell swoop. To say I'm not happy is a major understatement. Why the DC big wigs keep parroting 3 months is beyond me. The local contact actually LAUGHED when I asked her about the three months...
It is at times like this that I understand why people want to live off the land, cut all their own wood, sew clothes by themselves, except then they would need to fill out the chopping wood permit forms in triplicate.
Edited to add my latest story. For working in my business we all need to be trained in First Aid, CPR and Universal Precautions. We also have many people trained in medication adminstration for our kids with meds. We have a new nurse who came to a training for staff who are working the winter school break camp and she wants everyone to re-take all their certifications because they took them with other (certified and qualified) instructors. That is 10 hours of training we are current in just because she isn't sure our previous trainer was good.
It's interesting timing - ever since the new GM said no title change period and no raise at all until I got my broker's license, people have been singing my praises left and right.
:)
The end of the week I was helping a colleague (actually sort of my counterpart, except she's a manager) in another location halfway across the country with some industry-specific software issues (she was with the company mine merged with, so this system is new to her). I got her straightened out, and figured out a glitch she'd not been able to figure out for three months. She said I was the most competent, most professional person within the company she's worked with in a long time. I follow up when I say I will, go the extra mile, have one heck of a work ethic, willing to help out (and unafraid to say when I don't have the time, which means I refer her to someone else who can help) and know my stuff inside and out, as well as being a very valuable resource for others in the company.
I asked her to please put that in an email to my manager and she did. I asked her to put it in writing as I know it will get to the US CEO (who loves me) *and* the new GM.
People from other offices I've helped have said the same things verbally to my manager. And it's all very recent.
It would make the new GM look like quite an a$$ to try to walk all over someone (me) that highly regarded.
Good for you Tradd for getting these comments in writing.
I try to make a point to email a fellow employee, and his/her boss, when they went above and beyond. I am specific and brief - not gushy or vague - so they understand how their efforts affected the project outcome positively.
It's very much appreciated, as they have said, and sometimes these compliments get forwarded to others in their area.
I admit that one reason I do it is that in the event I need help from them/their department again, they'll remember that I am thankful for their prompt and/or extra assistance and that it does not go un-noticed.
We're in the home stretch before new GM starts on Monday. Everyone in the dept. has been told by manager to make sure their desks are neat, closed files put away, and mind their Ps & Qs. Keep your head down and concentrate on your work. I'm still working some long hours, so no one suspects ANYTHING is on my mind about switching jobs or even moving.
Good luck with the new GM, Tradd! Keep us posted!
Good luck with the new GM, Tradd! Keep us posted!
Thanks! I most certainly will! I updated my resume this evening for the first time in a few years. A few friends who handle resumes a lot for work are going to be looking at it and helping me reformat, etc.
Nothing really to report with new GM yet, as he's only been in the office for two days. Getting settled and such.
I did have some good news from Customs locally today, though! :) I called to see if there was any update on when they would be calling people for interviews. I was told I will be receiving a call within the next week or so. Yay! Actually, the just the thought of the interview makes me so nervous I want to throw up! The interview will be to make sure I'm an upstanding citizen, not a terrorist, etc.
The interview will be to make sure I'm an upstanding citizen, not a terrorist, etc.
Nahhh, they'll make you sign a form for that! :doh:
Nahhh, they'll make you sign a form for that! :doh:
Hah!
Well, all I can report on new GM is that he doesn't really have a sense of humor and doesn't have a very welcoming personality. What really surprised me is that he didn't even bother coming around to all the departments to meet all the peons. He only knows the managers (and me, due to the "situation") and that's it. Such a contrast to the old GM who had an absolutely *wicked* sense of humor and all-around great, very nice guy.
We're super busy and I'm working my arse off. I worked 14.5 hours today. I think it's time to schedule another massage. Chinese New Year is coming up very soon, and the exporters in China are stuffing everything possible into a container and onto a ship. It's always madness this time of year.
On the plus side, there have been a few big issues I've essentially handled on my own, with kudos from my manager. I found someone senior at Customs locally who is very nice (not always the case!), helped me on an issue, and gave me a how-to document on how to handle it in the future. I'm feeling much more comfortable in my skin this week in my role. I really do hope I'm able to stay.
Tradd, if you can say, what happened to the old GM? Did he/she go elsewhere? I'd recommend being sure you are connected on LinkedIn, etc. Definitely would share the news about passing the customs exam and having the license in process. You just might find yourself becoming the target of a headhunt! And in this case, maybe that wouldn't be bad. I wouldn't want to work under someone who doesn't bother to meet people and who doesn't seem to have a sense of humor.
lhamo
Old GM left - of his own choice, although he didn't really want to go (company politics). He was very sad to go. He went elsewhere. We're in touch occasionally via email (I know for sure others are in contact with him as well). Spent a lot of time with him at a Christmas party. I *am* on LinkedIn. I've set my settings so changes to my profile aren't shown to others as an update. I'm connected to my manager, CEO, other coworkers, my counterparts in our other offices, etc. There are a couple local recruiters, too, including one who is a friend of my manager and I met at local trade group Christmas party. I shared about my score when I passed as a status update. But my profile for current job is very fleshed out. I've been contacted (before I passed October's exam) by people who only wanted me for the transportation side, but I indicated I'm more on the brokerage side now and thanked them for their interest.
Lhamo, talked to my manager today and mentioned that I thought it was odd that new GM hadn't been around to meet the peons, etc. All she said was "it has been noticed." Other people, at least in my department, were commenting on the GM not coming around either.
Update:
Annual performance review today. I got "exceeded expectations" in virtually every category. :) Manager said I had an incredible, although an also incredibly stressful, year. I also learned I will get the entire raise I was originally promised - 21% increase/$10K- *immediately* after I get license (new GM was trying to reduce it by several thousand!). I'm still cheated on the promised title. However, if new GM gets weird about me displaying those three lovely letters (LCB) once I get my license, he's in for a fight! :devil::moon:
On the title thingy - new GM says mine is going to stay like "the others in the other offices," which really is a bunch of BS, since all the people I've been dealing with were managers. However, there's one guy in another office who handles *exactly* the same things I do, is a licensed broker, qualifies the local operating permit with CBP, and has the exact same title I do. I found this out after a little digging. I talk to him all the time, but didn't know he did compliance for his office. The import manager in that office is apparently not a licensed broker.
I brought up something that's really stuck out, in my weird brain. The executives like to boast about how many licensed brokers the company has, not just managers/compliance people, but even some of the peons. Yet NONE show "licensed customs broker" in their email signature lines. I told my manager that if the executives like to boast about how many LCBs there are, they need to identify exactly who is a licensed broker. I told her I am putting "licensed customs broker" in my email siggy, and new GM can put that in a pipe and smoke it! I worked damn hard for those three words. I am NOT going to hide them!
I am getting the promised original raise amount through the direct intervention of the CEO. He was told specifically how absolutely angry I was, how cheated I felt.
P.S. The only category I didn't get "achieved expectations" for - I did get "achieved" - was in coworker relations or whatever the heck they call it. I don't show quite enough empathy. I don't tolerate BS. I can live with that. She didn't fault me at all in the other stuff in that category - being a team player, etc. I help out when needed - if I can.
iris lily
1-17-13, 10:38pm
Update:
Annual performance review today. I got "exceeded expectations" in virtually every category. :) Manager said I had an incredible, although an also incredibly stressful, year. I also learned I will get the entire raise I was originally promised - 21% increase/$10K- *immediately* after I get license (new GM was trying to reduce it by several thousand!). I'm still cheated on the promised title. However, if new GM gets weird about me displaying those three lovely letters (LCB) once I get my license, he's in for a fight! :devil::moon:
....
See! told ya, the money would come, just not on your timeline. And remember, the money is what pains them, that's the hard thing for them to come up with. They can allow you to use WHATEVER letter of certification you want on your email, it costs them nothing.
But the main thing (other than that huge raise, that is GREAT!) is that within your workgroup and company others recognize you as the authoritative voice in compliance.
Start another thread about how you are going to blow a LEETLE bit of that extra money, one time. Vacation? Does your car need upgraded?
See! told ya, the money would come, just not on your timeline. And remember, the money is what pains them, that's the hard thing for them to come up with. They can allow you to use WHATEVER letter of certification you want on your email, it costs them nothing.
But the main thing (other than that huge raise, that is GREAT!) is that within your workgroup and company others recognize you as the authoritative voice in compliance.
Start another thread about how you are going to blow a LEETLE bit of that extra money, one time. Vacation? Does your car need upgraded?
Yes, I am totally geeked. I want to go "nah, nah, nah nah" at new GM. Hee hee!:moon:
I will pay down my credit card and do some repairs to car. It's 8 years old/85K and I plan on keeping it a while yet. I will visit a few friends for long weekends.
Congratulations Tradd! So happy for you :)
chrisgermany
1-19-13, 10:41am
Congratulations! Use the 3 letters and the title will come over time. Either in this or in next company.
Thank you!
A few interesting things happened yesterday.
New GM actually held a whole office meeting for about 15 minutes. He gave some BS about not having come around because he's been running crazy, with still partial involvement in branch he did run (new guy doesn't start for a few more weeks). I couldn't believe he actually said that it took my manager saying something to him for him to hold this meeting.
Once corporate moves out (to a nearby office) in a few weeks, we're going to all casual. This guy likes his jeans, I guess. Apparently the office was this way before the merger.
Bonus program being instituted (I was actually told about this in review). Certain % of dept. budget being put in a pool each month. It will be divied up amongst dept. based on performance. Hah! More money for me, since I'm consistently at the top/near the top for performance.
As for those three initials, I've been told, that once I have them, Customs gets kinda cranky if the supervising licensed broker doesn't display their credentials (LCB) on correspondence, which includes emails. New GM is on the transportation side of the business, not the brokerage.
I'm still in the midst of keeping my eyes out for other opportunities. Just ordered some personal business cards with my contact info for networking/job hunting and really going over my resume with a couple of friends, who deal with resumes on the job a lot.
I've been talking with some online industry friends. They have all been urging me to stay at current company for as long as I can stand it to have more experience. All the job openings I've been seeing have been for either peons with little experience or senior management. I'm admittedly in the very awkward position of having only 16 months experience on the brokerage side, but I have a helluva lot of responsibility for one so new. It's simply not normal. Most people wouldn't get the position I currently have unless they had 5-6 years experience on the brokerage side. My position has a lot of variety, which I really like and enjoy.
I'm still going to keep my eyes open for something else, but we will see how things go. I'm attending local seminars that are very relevant and great learning opportunities. The new GM is not balking at paying for them - my manager supports me in learning as much as I can. She simply tells him, "I want Tradd to attend this" and he approves the cost (they've not been very expensive - no more than $75 for a 3-hour seminar). I've got two just this week. There's some other training she wants me to go to, it's just a matter of when.
chrisgermany
1-23-13, 5:47am
So I would stay until I feel confident enough to try jumping into senior management.
There is no fixed term for that in my book.
Tradd, you have done well. Let things unfold and see what comes. Time to sit back and observe how life happens when preparation meets opportunity.
CEO and new GM visited a customer of mine today, very big one. I don't handle much of the daily stuff anymore, since I took on new duties, but customer is still officially mine (handled them for 4+ something years when they first became a customer). I keep my finger in and handle some particularly complicated shipments. Customer heaped praise upon me. I was so glad new GM heard this from the horse's mouth. CEO made a point of seeking me out at my desk this afternoon and telling me. He was very happy and thanked me for keeping customer so happy. My manager and I had a good chuckle over this, given new GM's treatment of me.
So, new GM is hearing from all sides that I'm danged good at what I do and so on. Hee hee.:devil::moon:
Nothing like stickin' it to the man without having to do a danged thing!
Sometimes you don't want to stick it to the man...it just affects who you are...not them. Something someone told me to think about a long time ago...and I've always been glad that they did!
jennipurrr
1-27-13, 3:25pm
I am so happy for you to hear that you got the raise you deserved! It sounds like things are working out and with the GM hearing from customers and others how valuable you are, I think he will show you more respect.
I'm with Iris, blow a teeny bit on something completely ridiculous then go back to being super practical.
Oh, I know what I'm going to buy, but might end up getting it with tax refund, depending on availability of item.
I don't have raise YET. Have to wait until I get my license, and who knows how long that will be, given the decrepit slowness of Customs. Still no call to even schedule my interview/digital fingerprinting yet. They kept saying, "Three months (or less)" - it's been nearly 2.5 months already.
Not a particularly good day in the office after a meeting with my manager and GM. I'm so furious that I can't even share it right now as I need to calm down. The only positive thing is that GM said he's put my getting raise as soon as I get license in writing. I've not seen it, so I assume it's with HR.
Yes, I still have a job, the thing is do I still want to keep working there after I get my license.
I'm starting to put out a few very quiet feelers to people in other companies, in other cities, whom I'm in semi-regular contact with, who know I don't yet have my license.
Deep breaths, Tradd. Sorry you've had a rough day. I've been having some of those lately, too, so I sympathize. Just focus on doing what you do so well. Your competence will shine through and will take you places, either with this company or with another one.
lhamo
One feeler I put out, just by telling someone I was considering my options, has paid off already:
If I wanted to move to Boston right now, I would have had a very strong recommendation for a position at a broker there.
But Boston? The contact is a broker who I worked with for four years, as she was the broker of a customer (now former customer). We've kept in touch. She always loved my work and spoke very highly of me when she moved to another office and happened to work with a different branch of my company.
I actually told her I wanted to move to a more politically conservative state if I was going to go through the trouble of moving. Her company does have offices in both Atlanta and Houston. They're very well-regarded in the industry. So, if I chose to pursue something at this company, I've got a very good, strong recommendation. Her company does have an office in the Chicago area, so that's a possibility as well.
ETA: The really good news today. Customs called - my interview is in a week! Yay! Finally!
YEAH TRADD!!! Good luck!!!
I've calmed down since the meeting several days ago and can share what happened.
I'll try to make this short. My manager has gotten a huge promotion. Shocked the heck out of me. The coworker with previous supervisory/managerial experience will become operations supervisor. I will still handle customs compliance stuff. GM wants new manager to be hired to have a broker's license as well as extensive transportation experience. That combo is uncommon in my area, as industry has a large enough presence to allow specialization. New manager would be local CBP operating permit qualifier - what I was supposed to do, once I got my license. My manager thinks I'll still end up permit qualifier, as she doesn't think GM will find a new manager that's also licensed.
One positive: GM says my $10K raise is tied to me getting license, not becoming permit qualifier, unlike old GM, who had tied raise to me being permit qualifier. Upon me asking, he confirmed that licensed import people in our other U.S. offices are compensated similarly, compared with their unlicensed import colleagues. If I don't have my license by June, he said I'd get half my raise, since I'm already doing the job, just without the license. Full raise would go into effect immediately after I get license. I'm it's now in writing, I'm assuming with HR since I've not seen anything.
Tradd,
is it possible that your employers were hesitant to put too much work responsibility into one person? not that it was specifically you, but anyone?
At my workplace they're called "Single Point Failures" (SPF) so that in the event they leave the company, there's a huge gap in the work chain that affects work output immediately. Instead, if they spread duties around, or cross-train people, that SPF situation should not happen.
Lainey, I would be very surprised if that mindset was anywhere in this situation. In fact, at least for the customs-related responsibilities, they've moved towards greater consolidation. The company that mine merged with has the consolidation practice. The company I was with had the customs-related tasks spread out over three or four people. One very important task, the daily payment of duties, was done by file clerks, not anyone who had a background on the customs side and who understood how crucial this task is (think fines of $50K if fines aren't paid on a single shipment, and the actual dollar amount of duty is irrelevant!). Higher ups at the company we merged with have told me directly that they were horrified when they learned who was handling duty payments. There are now three or four people who are trained to handle the duties when I am out of the office, although one woman is best at it (one doesn't pay sufficient attention to detail to do it well).
Others know how to handle other tasks, such as correspondence with CBP. We're big on cross training.
If GM would prefer someone newer to brokerage to not be the permit qualifier, I would respect him if he was actually honest with me.
Interview with Customs today. Sheesh, it was so easy. Questions on if I'd ever been arrested or filed for bankruptcy and why I was doing this (to be a broker of course!). Took my pic and digital fingerprints. That was it! Said it might be 90 days before I hear anything. 15 minutes tops.
On the 90 day thing, especially since our drop dead date to get new individually licensed broker on record with CBP is mid-March: the corporate officer who is head over all customs compliance stuff has relocated to my city. This person qualifies national operating permit from CBP, but in special cases CBP will allow such a person to qualify a local operating permit as well for short periods of time. So if there is no licensed new import manager hired, corporate officer will put their license up to cover my office until I get my license.
I'm so excited for you, Tradd! Fingers crossed! You've worked so hard and have been so dedicated and steadfast in your quest to get this. You deserve it. :)
Tonight is the annual office party. GM is going to announce my manager's promotion at this party. Neither manager nor I think this is a particularly good place for announcement. I *think* everyone from the dept. will be in attendance (aside from one girl out for a few weeks, but this all transpired after she left). Manager told new ops supervisor and I that we have to "act surprised." I won't post what I think of that. It won't be difficult for the rest of the dept. to figure out we likely knew, given that we've been manager's "right and left hands" for some months now. I"ll update you how this goes tonight.
It is stupid to tell you to act surprised. I never get that sort of thing.
At my work I assume that people who need to know things before I do are told these things. I don't resent them for it, it's the operational necessity of business. It belittles ME in this situation to play-act to me.
Just a comment, carry on.
Iris, yeah, I thought that was kind of stupid myself.
Yesterday I was talking with GM about a customer of mine which he will be visiting next week. He told me they are concerned about the stability of the department. What caused that, I don't know, since I've been handling this customer for a good number of years, when I first started with the company. I told him, "You can tell them I'm not going anywhere." GM actually said, "I'm not letting you go anywhere."
I hid in the bathroom and had a good laugh. :devil:
The few people in my department I was able to talk to this evening are not happy about manager being kicked upstairs, although they're happy she'll finally get more $$ for what she's already been doing. Monday should be very interesting.
There's one internal candidate - from another office - who I've worked with on the phone and email, who seems reasonable. I just hope whoever the new manager is, the person isn't a micromanager. I work fairly independently and *loathe* being hovered over.
SteveinMN
2-10-13, 11:39am
I just hope whoever the new manager is, the person isn't a micromanager. I work fairly independently and *loathe* being hovered over.
If the new manager (whoever it is) has some get-to-know-you sessions with his/her new staff, that would be a good time to tactfully work that into the conversation. You don't need to assume they are a micromanager, of course, but there are many ways you can drop that hint. It won't hurt if others corroborate it to him/her, either.
Simpler at Fifty
2-10-13, 12:39pm
So were you surprised last night Tradd? :laff:
So were you surprised last night Tradd? :laff:
Hah! No, I didn't need to be. Some announcements and such were made in a side room at the event location (we ate sectioned off in the main room and it was VERY noisy), and so many people were there that I didn't have to act like I would have been if it was just our department.
Turns out the woman who was made supervisor is not just ops supervisor but import supervisor. I'm going to have to get clarification if I have to report to her or not. I don't really know at this point. Frankly, she has only maybe 8 months experience doing brokerage and admits she doesn't have a brain for it. So it makes no sense for me, doing all the compliance stuff (in addition to handling everything for a few customers), to have to go to her on brokerage stuff when she only knows the most basic parts. She's got many years of air freight experience, but only 3 years on ocean. And I taught her much of what she knows on ocean. The company (the old one, before merger) took a chance on her from all her many years of air experience that she would do well on the ocean side, which she has.
If the new manager (whoever it is) has some get-to-know-you sessions with his/her new staff, that would be a good time to tactfully work that into the conversation. You don't need to assume they are a micromanager, of course, but there are many ways you can drop that hint. It won't hurt if others corroborate it to him/her, either.
Good idea.
Today GM really had me shaking my head.
My first name is common but with an uncommon spelling. After more than a month of GM spelling it wrong, including three times in an email to a customer yesterday (I was included on email), I nicely asked him, in a separate email with my manager on copy, to please note that my name is spelled differently than the common way. He told me to "pay attention to real issues." Excuse me, I have no right to have my name spelled correctly? :-/ I'm very vigilant on this issue because in previous jobs I've been handed business cards, ID badges, and even legal documents with my name spelled incorrectly. They refused to replace the business cards even though the error was their fault. I had to fight for a corrected ID badge, and I had to cross out incorrectly spelled first name and hand write in correct spelling on legal documents.
Manager couldn't believe GM's attitude and talked to him about it.
On an unrelated note, GM, CEO, and my outgoing manager visited a VIP customer yesterday. I've been handling customer since I started at company 6+ years ago. Customer loves me, says I've always done a great job for them, and they're glad I'm "on their team." Very excited they're going to have a licensed broker handling their account. Their only complaint? I give them too much information. I don't remember them ever telling me that. They don't want to be educated. Essentially, they want to remain in the dark unless something blows up and THEN they want to know why it blew up. Whatever. Customer called me today on something else and praised me to the heavens, aside from the one issue.
Interestingly, my manager actually acknowledged today that she realizes I might be out the door one day, if I just can't take it anymore. She's urging me to just hold on, as she believes it will get better. I've got tenure, etc. However, "If it comes to point where you're just miserable, I'll support you in whatever you choose to do."
Compared with the last job where I was so miserable, at least the coworkers are much, much better this time around. I work a lot, but it doesn't bother me that much, as I at least find what I do interesting and challenging. It's only the GM that's the fly in the ointment.
I found out something very interesting about the old GM today. There was another person in the department, hired no more than a month before GM quit, whom he promised something to - this time, in the interview. My manager didn't even know about it (she wasn't in on that specific interview). Not in writing, either. Makes me look at old GM in a whole new light. I wasn't the only one he screwed.
SteveinMN
2-13-13, 11:04am
Interestingly, my manager actually acknowledged today that she realizes I might be out the door one day, if I just can't take it anymore. She's urging me to just hold on, as she believes it will get better. I've got tenure, etc. However, "If it comes to point where you're just miserable, I'll support you in whatever you choose to do."
IMHO, good managers want to see people reach their potential. If it can happen on their watch, so much the better. But, if it can't, good managers know it's selfish for him/her to hold an employee back or not support them in a move that enables that person's goals.
fidgiegirl
2-13-13, 8:28pm
My last principal was like that, Steve. I am eternally grateful to her for it.
Sometimes moving on is the best for everyone...not easy...but the best thing when personalities are clashing or just operating in totally differenct styles and on a different wave length. I have been on both ends of the situation. I was the one who needed to move on when my new superior started to make it clear that he and I didn't view things in the same way, and I was also the superior who made it uncomfortable enough for someone to want and leave the team when it was clear she was not going to go along with the "new system of management". It is difficult when old staff and new management have to coexist with different viewpoints on interpersonal situations! Good luck with however this situation is meant to go.
This is interesting, I do truly hope they improve things. And the spelling of your name when you work on legal items is not a fluff issue. I have an unusual last name and one of my kids a very unusual first name plus a hyphenated last name of mine and dad's. We have had to do the same polite request to get the name right at times.
Zoe Girl, so do I. However, another issue in the form of the new import supervisor is rearing its head. Hopefully, she'll stop feeling her oats so much once she's settled in some.
Today was not so good. GM has been randomly checking financials on what we invoice to customers. He sends an email to whoever did a specific file with questions, copying in our manager. Thing is, he is seeing stuff done differently from the much smaller office he came from. My office was the last one left of my company before complete merger. We did things in different ways from how he is used to. Two different company cultures, but he is not really allowing for this at all. When he sees something different, he begins nitpicking and accusing us (it's not just happened with me) of not knowing what we're doing. There have been issues of the department in charge of rates not giving us information in a timely manner. We're working with what we've been given and how we've been trained, however different it is from what he's been used to. I ended the day crying in my outgoing manager's office. She's frustrated, too, with him.
I'm sorry Tradd. Like I said before it can be so difficult trying to mix "the way it was always done" with the "that's not the way I want it done now". I have been in both places. I hope that things settle down soon and/or you find a place where you feel comfortable once again.
My department is having a meeting tomorrow (this has been scheduled for a few weeks). It will be very interesting, I suspect. There are some things I wanted to standardize (just how some paperwork is handled), that are on the agenda for these future weekly meetings.
On the positive side, my manager told me that she's told GM in no uncertain terms that several candidates for her job that seemed too controlling in their interviews were a big no-no. They've got more interviews scheduled next week. All of the candidates that have passed muster so far have their brokers licenses, but not all seem to want to put their license up as the local permit qualifier.
...all of the candidates that have passed muster so far have their brokers licenses, but not all seem to want to put their license up as the local permit qualifier.
ack. What does THAT mean?
My opinion, so very worthy in this workplace saga (haha) is that you need to ride it out with this GM and I think that you will come out on the other side steller. Do NOT take this stuff personally. DO NOT. He will see that you are all about doing it "right" and since that's what he seems to be focusing on (? hard to know from tiny bit of info here) he will see and value your worth. Let him rant and rave about prior methodologies, don't spend you energies defending them, but spend your energy demonstrating to him that you are completely ready to work according to his new and (supposedly) higher standards.
IL, THAT means they don't want to put up their individual brokers license as the one to qualify the local operating permit from CBP. Some people don't want that responsibility.
I don't particularly mind reasonable changes explained in a reasonable manner, but to start in on me (and others) for not doing things properly (what's proper to him) when certain procedures have been in place for literally years is what is pissing me off. He's already hinting about lots of changes. What worked where he came from won't necessarily work here. We're the most efficient office turning out the most amount of work. They've run all sorts of reports and such to prove it. I hate it when people decide to fix what ain't broken!
I suspect the the new GM is just throwing his weight around because he is in a new position and uncomfortable. He is just not good at sitting back and making change slowly and carefully after review of all the facts. Not a good way to start out for sure.
I agree that you cannot take it personally but I have found myself crying behind the manager's door several times in my career. Looking back, I just took the comments too personally and in the long run, it made no difference to anyone. In the long run, the quality of your work and customer relations are the only important things.
iris lily
2-21-13, 11:15am
IL, THAT means they don't want to put up their individual brokers license as the one to qualify the local operating permit from CBP. Some people don't want that responsibility.
I asked because I couldn't figure out why they didn't want to put up their license since that seems to me to be one of the purposes of the license. ah, the responsibility of it--got it. Do they get extra monetary compensation if they DO use their license as the qualifying one?
I'd assume there is some extra compensation.
GM is upsetting pretty much everyone in department. This is not good.
I keep hitting the job postings online and there is very little out there right now. I'm leaning more towards staying in my current city.
We've only got outgoing manager for another week. Interviews are in progress, at least two a day. I've been told at least half have been nixed as no go. Micromanagers and "my way or the highway" types aren't getting past first interview. I've been told they hope to make an announcement by March 1. Several of the candidates have asked if they would be expected to handle the compliance stuff (what I do), in addition to everything else. GM is telling them we already have someone who does that (me). In much smaller import departments, the manager would do the compliance stuff. But that's not possible when you have a staff of 13.
Someoneat corporate who does compliance, now based out of my city, will handle a lot with the transition. I don't know how I feel about that.
The meeting Thursday was very interesting, as I anticipated. After the phone call with GM on Wednesday when I ended up crying in manager's office, I sent GM an email. I politely and calmly told him that he needed to understand where we were coming from. We had been trained a certain way, told to do things a certain way years ago, and these were long-standing processes. If things needed to be done a different way now, well, that was a training issue. I also told him that when it comes to number-related issues, I work best with them in writing (he was throwing numbers left and right on the phone, and I was extremely overwhelmed). I wanted to tell him that telling me I'm doing things wrong, when that's just the way I was trained, is not particularly helpful to me. Different doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong, just different from what he's used to. But I didn't. However, at the meeting, another person did essentially tell him that.
However, he seems to have changed his tone and backed down some, as a result of that email, which is a very good thing. Things seem to have come down to personality/temperament issues. Things might be getting a bit better.
On the plus side, I keep pulling rabbits out of a hat with regards to shipments for one particular customer. They had some shipper delays, plus didn't plan like they should have. VIP customer, who gets GM very involved. I come off looking very good, which is nice.
Good for you Tradd for explaining your position and thoughts early on. It's so easy to just keep quiet and simmer while things get worse, so hopefully your GM acted like an adult and took it as a wakeup call.
I also agree about the "don't fix what's not broken" mantra - another reason why our current VP is really well-liked and respected because he gets that.
License update: talked to my local CBP contact this morning. She's waiting on my letter of recommendation from the port director. She should have it in hand this afternoon. Once she has it, my application will be forwarded to HQ in DC. :)
Baby steps... There's a backlog of 400+ applications, so it's going to take a while.
Surprisingly, things actually seem to be improving with GM.My outgoing manager told me told that several people, including the manager, in another department were having the same issues with him that I was, but was feeling even worse about it than I was. At least one of these people thought they were soon going to be fired. But he backed off and gave them (and me!) space. Everyone is breathing much easier and the atmosphere in the office is more relaxed. A very senior executive from our worldwide HQ was in town this week, and I'm told by multiple people that GM was saying extremely good things about me and my abilities, more than one meeting.
Reason 657 why new GM is can't be trusted:
From comments he was making about my new manager being a "he" while talking to IT, I correctly assumed someone had been hired. We've not heard squat, other than being told we might be told something in a few days. So off I went to my old manager and asked her for the guy's name so I could look him up on LinkedIn. Turns out, regardless of the promises made to the department by CEO and GM, that former manager would be very involved in the hiring process of her replacement, GM did just the opposite. He chose some guy who my old manager never met/talked to and whose resume she never even saw. She's been out of the office, traveling a lot, so they took full advantage of her being gone (my old manager, that is). Funny how GM chose to hire the only candidate my old manager had no contact with (she was in on the interviews for all the other candidates).
No clue when the new guy is starting. He accepted the position more than a week ago, so I'll not be surprised if we're told one day next week, "Oh, your new manager is starting tomorrow."
I hope the new guy has a backbone, because I can't stand folks who have overcooked pasta where their spine should be. He does have his license, so I'm assuming his will be the one going up on the wall.
The only positive note is that GM has backed off from everyone, so the work atmosphere is much more pleasant than it was in January and into February.
But does it really matter who told who what?
Someone was hired, your previous manager really isn't, ultimately, the one to make the hiring decision. That she was included seems like a courtesy, and an attempt to use her expertise when it is available.
Focus on the work and the standards set. The "who" of the position only matters in relation to the actual work.
The problem is that we have a very interesting mix of personalities in my department. Old manager knew what would work and what would not, personality wise. GM doesn't - he's a control freak himself and I am very worried that the new guy is going to turn out to be a control freak. The group is used to working VERY independently. We do not need a micromanager. I had one of those at the last place. I spent a great deal of time having to explain to manager what I was doing, when I could have been working.
Today was not a good day.
Several days ago I followed instructions from manager with regards email communication with a customer (whom I don't normally handle). Customer got very upset and has pulled their business. I received a written warning today, which I've not received in six+ years with company. I have written proof I did what I was told, but that doesn't hold any water with GM. I'm friendly with HR, so I'm going to write something up, include proof I followed directions, and request that is put in my file.
GM has done several other things very recently that are showing his true character - and it's not nice.
Things are changing in the office, in a bad way. It's all come to a head at once. Several people I've worked with for years are now playing office politics, where they never have before, or at least not so publicly. I'm seeing people, not managers, willing to throw others under the bus for the slightest reason, whereas before they showed a lot of integrity.
I've cut all ties with all coworkers *outside* the office. All coworkers' personal cell phone numbers and such are deleted from my phone (we would sometimes chat). The only one I kept is the work cell of department supervisor, so I can let her know if I'm running late in the morning, etc. They're all deleted as LinkedIn contacts.
Today was not a good day.
Several days ago I followed instructions from manager with regards email communication with a customer (whom I don't normally handle). Customer got very upset and has pulled their business. I received a written warning today, which I've not received in six+ years with company. I have written proof I did what I was told, but that doesn't hold any water with GM. I'm friendly with HR, so I'm going to write something up, include proof I followed directions, and request that is put in my file.
GM has done several other things very recently that are showing his true character - and it's not nice.
Things are changing in the office, in a bad way. It's all come to a head at once. Several people I've worked with for years are now playing office politics, where they never have before, or at least not so publicly. I'm seeing people, not managers, willing to throw others under the bus for the slightest reason, whereas before they showed a lot of integrity.
I've cut all ties with all coworkers *outside* the office. All coworkers' personal cell phone numbers and such are deleted from my phone (we would sometimes chat). The only one I kept is the work cell of department supervisor, so I can let her know if I'm running late in the morning, etc. They're all deleted as LinkedIn contacts.
I would say that it doesn't matter if you are friendly or not with HR, you (the generic you) are always welcome to include your own version of facts in response to a personnel action and you SHOULD counter it with facts that are beneficial to your side.
Simpler at Fifty
3-23-13, 8:03pm
Wow Tradd. Sounds like GM has no interpersonal skills. Got half the story and went with that. CYA on everything which you have probably been doing anyway. Good thing you have been looking around at the job market.
fidgiegirl
3-23-13, 8:41pm
Maybe we'll see you up in the Cities after all!
Maybe, Fidgie, maybe. There have been a few more openings online, but the ones I'm qualified for, that aren't entry level, require applicants to have their brokers license.
Supervisor on massive power trip. There will be a meeting this afternoon that I've requested with supervisor and interim manager, as I need some clarification on line of authority.
This morning someone came to me with a CBP request for ppwk. It was dated 40 days ago and ppwk needed to be to CBP within 30 days. We're past that. Request had gotten buried on that person's desk, someone else having put it in overloaded paper in box. I'd asked everyone some time back to give me everything from CBP. I let interim mgr know about the late response to request and that I was going to send reminder email to dept. Supervisor reamed my butt on email for daring to send email to dept without her approval. interim mgr reamed my butt as well, telling me I'm not over compliance for entire office and I cannot respond to anything from CBP without approval from either of them.
This is all brand new to me. No one had bothered to tell me. I've been operating very independently as I have since July. Interim mgr knows customs side well, but having someone, the supervisor, who is one level above clueless with customs stuff approving stuff I send out to CBP is a freaking joke. She also doesn't write or spell very well, so the concept of her approving my nicely written and professional letters to CBP pisses me off. Old mgr not in office today, so I can't even talk to herabout this.
Interim mgr actually had the gall to tell me I'm very much in the training stage, yet somehow the supervisor isn't? I've been doing this a year longer than the supervisor and spent a year studying for that danged exam which I passed with flying colors. So someone who can't figure out where something could fit in the import tariff and can't understand the language of the customs regulations (she says all the time she doesn't know how I can understand it) is going to tell me how to do my stuff?
So what happened today? I'm so angry I've got a raging headache.
I talked with the interim manager without the supervisor, because right now, I could spit nails at the supervisor. I'm not happy with the interim manager, either, but I could at least talk to hear more calmly than I could the supervisor.
I've been told my "promotion" is null and void. I'm nothing more than a peon that happens to do some compliance stuff.
The stuff about the supervisor is an absolute joke: not only is she auditing customs clearance files (after a one hour training session), but she has to approve anything before I send it to CBP. Putting someone with virtually no experience on the brokerage side over brokerage functions makes no sense to me. She has no idea how to classify, can't understand the 19CFR (import regulations - even has told me in the past she can't understand the language period) at all, nothing besides doing very basic, repetitive entries. I have absolutely no authority.
Any email I would send out to the department on brokerage stuff has to go through supervisor now. I can't even forward general notices sent out to every broker in the area from Customs to them on my own. Everything has to go through her.
Aside from the incident last Friday, they've not had any issues with me work wise. They have no reason to distrust me. I show up to work on time, do my work well and efficiently, don't have a messy desk (we have people who regularly lose stuff on their messy desks), pretty much don't bother anyone, and I've worked tons of extra hours when needed. So to give me this level of supervision is absolutely stupid and unwarranted. I hate people who hover, they make me nervous, just because they're hovering me. Give me some space. But nope.
Interim manager said they had everything going to me up until now because there was no branch manager (my old manager picked up a lot of that stuff), but now there's a supervisor, well, it goes through her, even though she don't know jack squat. I kept their nuts out of the fire by some damned hard work last summer, while studying for the exam, which I passed with flying colors, and these are the thanks I get.
Screw the GM, screw the interim manager, screw the supervisor, screw every single other person in my department. Even the people who have not thrown anyone under the bus will now be considered as suspect and untrustworthy Can't trust one, can't trust all. Screw them, I'm only looking out for myself now.
It would have been a heck of a lot different if interim manager and supervisor had bothered to actually be proactive and have a meeting, telling me, "X, Y, Z" has to go through supervisor now. But to rake me over the coals for operating as I have been since July is messed up. Pounding me for doing something "wrong" when you couldn't be bothered to tell me procedures/chain of command have changed? That's wrong.
Now, I've really seen a clueless person get set over stuff they have little or no knowledge about.
Sounds like the communication is bad and won't be getting much better. I think most of us here would agree it's best to keep your eyes open for a position in a normally functioning office. Best to you!
Sounds like the communication is bad and won't be getting much better. I think most of us here would agree it's best to keep your eyes open for a position in a normally functioning office. Best to you!
Well, even though there's not much out there, I'm seriously beginning to look. I sent emails/LinkedIn messages to a few contacts (not linked to my current company), asking if they knew of any openings. Resume revision will be finished this weekend.
Nope, communication won't be getting any better. I'm even through dealing with my previous manager. It's a lonely feeling, having literally no one in my office I can talk to, but I'll get over it. I'll look forward to their reactions when I tell them I've resigned. THAT will be sweet.
Oh boy, that sounds like a pretty horrible place to work now...I know there will be something better for you out there. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the right position comes along, and soon!
Deep breaths, Tradd. You'll get through this. THough the field is totally different, this is VERY similar to what happened to me that drove me out of what had been my dream job but became a HSSJ in my previous organization. They hired someone in over my head who didn't have any of the necessary experience to do the job (which everyone in our organization knew I was totally capable of), and basically told me I was to report to him. Which meant doing all the work and having someone who didn't understand anything take credit for it. Oh, and then they tried to cut my salary because I didn't have managerial responsibilities anymore. Yeah, sucked big time. I almost walked when it happened, but decided to get my ducks in a row and planned a transition strategy that ended up working perfectly. Took about 6 months from the time everything went down until I gave notice, and I had two months as a "lame duck" which were VERY painful but it was good for wrapping things up and saving a bit of extra money.
Keep your head down and your CV updated to the SECOND, and your eyes out for other opportunities. You'll end up in a better place, I'm sure.
lhamo
iris lilies
3-28-13, 10:27pm
You can't leave until you get your license!!!!! What's the status on that?
You can't leave until you get your license!!!!! What's the status on that?
A month ago, I was told by my local contact that the local Customs head honcho had written his letter of recommendation that I be granted my license. That was added to the rest of my paperwork, which was forwarded to Customs HQ in DC. There are two people to review applications before the top dog signs them. There is a backlog of 400+ applications. And it's unclear what effect the sequester thing is going to have - will it take longer?
I really would prefer to wait until I had my license, but it's best to be prepared. I really wish I didn't have to leave at all, but they've pretty much made it impossible to stay, as things are now.
Oh, forgot to add - the guy they had chosen to become the new manager? He went through several interviews, background check, etc. He backed out at the very last minute, when he had to sign his acceptance to offer letter. Something about his family situation didn't allow for a new job requiring lots of hours. Gee, couldn't he have thought about that earlier? So, they're back to square one.
SteveinMN
3-28-13, 10:57pm
I'm sorry to hear about all this, Tradd. I think this organization has made it very clear what your value is to them. Hang in there, plot the escape strategy (I found even just working on that helped me get through the garbage), and network your way out of there. They don't appreciate what you're bringing to the table.
I'm sorry to hear about all this, Tradd. I think this organization has made it very clear what your value is to them. Hang in there, plot the escape strategy (I found even just working on that helped me get through the garbage), and network your way out of there. They don't appreciate what you're bringing to the table.
I don't totally agree with this. It isn't the organization, per se, that has mistreated Tradd -- it is the new dysfunctional GM, the interim manager, and the people they are putting into positions of authority. If I remember correctly, the CEO has spoken highly of Tradd in the past. If you do get another offer, I wouldn't be shy about letting CEO know directly. You don't need to talk dirt about the people who have been making poor decisions, but you should let him know that you are leaving and that your decision is related to these management changes and the negative vibe it is creating for staff. Who knows -- he may make you a counteroffer that involves kicking them out and putting you in charge.
In my case it was the Executive Director who I ended up in conflict with, so aside from going to the funder with my complaints/warnings I didn't have anywhere else to turn. And if they had offered to put me in charge I would have said no anyway -- too much ingrained dysfunction and stress.
SteveinMN
3-29-13, 11:47am
Originally Posted by SteveinMN
<snip>They don't appreciate what you're bringing to the table.
I don't totally agree with this. It isn't the organization, per se, that has mistreated Tradd -- it is the new dysfunctional GM, the interim manager, and the people they are putting into positions of authority. If I remember correctly, the CEO has spoken highly of Tradd in the past.
So Tradd has one friend among the host of people she works with -- and people promoted into authority despite apparently not being familiar with the business and lacking integrity and/or ethics. I understand what you're saying, but it takes only a few bad strawberries to ruin the whole pint. I've worked with some very good people at some really dysfunctional companies. If the CEO has been aware of the situation and still cannot bring about a satisfactory resolution, and if the culture of the organization is such that this level of Peter Principle and lack of integrity is condoned/encouraged, I see it as an organizational failure.
I had an interesting talk with old manager today. More over the weekend.
interestingly, I found out that one of the girls in my dept. was laid off on Friday late in the day. I left 2 hours early for a doc appt, and so didn't know until I came in today. GM had instructed that none of us gone on Friday ( people were off for Good Friday) were to be told as he wanted to avoid "gossip," but if we asked where so and so was, we could be told. He's supposedly having a meeting today with those of us that weren't in the office when he told the rest of the dept, but nothing yet today.
The woman laid off had been there about a year. Nice, but there were some performance issues (error rate wasn't as low as it should have been) and she was perpetually disorganized, often losing stuff in her pit of a desk. There were two other people in the dept with less time at the company, but they didnt have the issues the laid off person had. She'll be OK, as her husband does very well in his job. She certainly had little to do over perhaps the last 3 weeks or so, but it seemed to be seasonal.
Meeting this afternoon should be interesting.
One of my coworkers is a conspiracy theorist! Between my newly colored hair (covered gray), a new outfit (but not that dressy), and my leaving a bit early on Tuesday (had to be home when AT&T service tech came), she thinks I'm hunting for a new job. Apparently the number of closed doors lately have reminded her of what happened under managers some years back. I told her no and to take her tin foil hat off.
She has no ide of what has really been going on...
Life_is_Simple
4-4-13, 10:30am
Tradd - Tell your coworker you were on an episode of "What Not to Wear," got a make-over, and she should look for it to air next month! ;)
LIS, I like that. :D
The others in the dept aren't really aware of what's been going on. So, I buy some new clothes?
Reason# 314 why the supervisor shouldn't be over customs stuff: One girl had a very complicated shipment that needed to be classified today (determining where it fits in tariff and thus duty rate). Supervisor came over while we were working on it. She listened to us for a few minutes then walked away, saying she didn't understand what we were talking about at all.
One of my coworkers is a conspiracy theorist! Between my newly colored hair (covered gray), a new outfit (but not that dressy), and my leaving a bit early on Tuesday (had to be home when AT&T service tech came), she thinks I'm hunting for a new job. Apparently the number of closed doors lately have reminded her of what happened under managers some years back. I told her no and to take her tin foil hat off.
She has no ide of what has really been going on...
It sounds to me like she knows--at some level--exactly what's going on, and I hope she listens to her instincts.
One of my coworkers is a conspiracy theorist! Between my newly colored hair (covered gray), a new outfit (but not that dressy), and my leaving a bit early on Tuesday (had to be home when AT&T service tech came), she thinks I'm hunting for a new job.
Several years ago, when I decided to leave my current place d'emploi, I started several weeks early wearing the occasional tie to work and either taking long lunches or bugging out a bit early on certain days. After several weeks of seeing this behavior without my resignation, the chatter subsided. Eventually I left and nobody said, "Oh, I knew you were looking back in <whatever month>."
jennipurrr
4-4-13, 10:27pm
Haha about the conspiracy theorist! On the day I interviewed for my current job, I came back in the afternoon to my job at the time. I changed from my interview clothes but one of my coworkers was "on to something." She came in my office very concerned that I might be cheating on my husband during the day because I had on makeup and had my hair done, LOL...she found out the truth soon enough!
Turns out GM kept me in his office for a one-on-one after he told us about the situation with the person laid off last week. It was much the same yada yada yada, "I'm not X [previous GM]. You should have known there were going to be changes," etc. I told him, with regards to the situation with the supervisor and interim manager last week, that I'd been operating the same way since last summer. I'm not against changes, just inform me of them. I told him it was not helpful and not appreciated that I was pounded for doing something "wrong" (sending nice email reminder to dept. on something) when I'd done the same sort of thing countless times over the preceding months. I asked him why interim manager and supervisor weren't proactive and didn't simply sit me down and say X and Y need to be done a different way now? He didn't answer that.
He finally did say he took responsibility for me not being told about the changes.
I've had a couple of very interesting talks with former manager. She's spoken with the CEO recently. He specifically asked how I was doing. She told him I'm upset and why, including about the changes I wasn't informed of. I'm told there will be changes within the next couple of months, whatever that means. Seems GM has been given plenty of room to make major mistakes, and he seems to be heading that way. CEO is making changes behind the scenes, it seems. I'll believe it when I see it.
Both GM and interim manager are out of the office for vacation/business travel. It will almost seem like a vacation to me!
It's turned out the person who was laid off was a good choice for that to happen. We are finding all sorts of errors, things we're having to spend lots of time fixing, searching for misfiled files, etc. Some of the stuff just makes us scratch our heads.
Interesting. i am really wondering what is going to happen next. i have had a feeling for some time that the doggie doo may just hit the fan over this and you will be able to stay with the changes going in the most productive evolution. Just a gut feeling, however it also seems as though you need to be 100% ready to move on for this to happen if it does happen. The free will factor creates a certain amount of uncertainty of course, any one of the players can choose to listen and act or not listen and react to what they are hearing.
It is encouraging in a way to know that the layoff seems to be more justified than original appearances. That lessens the feeling that people are randomly witch hunting in the organization, and from everything you have said you seem to be a leader in quality.
I'm told there will be changes within the next couple of months, whatever that means. Seems GM has been given plenty of room to make major mistakes, and he seems to be heading that way. CEO is making changes behind the scenes, it seems. I'll believe it when I see it.
I certainly would not put my job search on hold for that. If it's true that changes positive for you are coming, and you're still there for them, great. You can always stop looking elsewhere. But I've been told "there will be changes" too many times in the past, and very often it either overstated the coming changes or it was merely to milk another couple of months out of me. Won't get fooled again.
No, Steve, I'm not going to stop looking.
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