MM How Not-To Tips

Micro managing at its best.

Probably a good idea to not give direction for the day-to-day business without finding out what direction has already been given.  It's a good habit to ask questions like, "What did so and so supervisor/manager tell you to do?" or "How are you doing that work today?".   Your direction without knowing what direction has been given already is pretty confusing to employees.  Plus, maybe that's the job of someone else to worry about and not you.   So, from that point of view you could say it's undermining someone else.  If this is you, knock it off!   :)

Jane

Conference Calls - WOT (Waste Of Time)

Why do people insist on waiting for arrivals on conference calls?  I'd get it if they were key players, but when they're not, why have 10 people wait even 5 minutes for someone to arrive?  You just wasted the equivalent of 50 minutes.  Start on time and don't recap for one person, you're still wasting time at that point.  Same thing for onsite meetings, be on time and don't wait.  That was the reason you set the meeting time, be prepared.

Can you tell I wasted much needed time today in meetings/conference calls?   :).

Jane

Your Lack Of Patience Disturbs Me

Ugh, I'm sure most of you have experienced a boss who has mentioned how they don't like to micromanage, yet they do a pretty good job micromanaging their employees.  You get phrases like, "I'm not here to micromanage, let's hear your thoughts".  Of course he listens to words coming out of your mouth, but he doesn't really hear you. When you do get a chance to utter a few syllables you can tell he's already thinking about the next conversation and how he's dying to talk.  This is the same person who asks a question in email and if you don't reply in an hour he's going to your boss asking why there's been no response.   Umm, there's work to do, the day-to-day shit that helps pay the bills.

If you're this type of manager, you're a pain in the ass.  The employees who care about their work and do a good job for the company don't need to be managed in this way.  You think you're helping, but trust me, all you're doing is aggravating the good employees.  A good manager is fluid in their approach with leadership.   Different employees respond to different types of leadership.   The only thing you'll succeed in, is driving the good employees to another company.  So knock it off!

Jane

Wait, what did you say?

We all have them.  Things we look back on and wonder, what the f*?@ was he/she thinking.  The boss says some shit sometimes that makes me wonder, really? How the hell did you get to this position making comments like that/??

FLASHBACK:  a month or so before the day when we are officially "separated" from the company.  My "boss" at the time thought it was a good idea to give me my anniversary award in front of an audience   Really?  I'm about to lose my job jacknut, whdy the fuck and you give me my anniversary placard?  Which is worth dick  BTW.  Ugh.  You've heard the saying, why don't you need a license to have a kid?  Well, why TF don't you need a license to be someone who supervises others???  Dicksmack, ugh. 

Sorry, that's what a few glasses of wine will do to you.  Rehash old memories that piss you off. lol  Well, things are better these days.  I have a new job.  Making decent money.  I just wish I wouldn't be responsible for anything.  Is that too much to ask?  lol 

Well, time to go watch some hockey.  :)

Jane

Retirement Planning

I haven't talked much about retirement, but I'll tell you now, I think about it a lot.  Not about actually not working.  Although, that will be nice, not have to be any where specific each day.  But I think about if and when I'll be able to retire.  Will I have enough money to retire?  At 60?  70?  Ever?

I spend more time researching and trying to invest my money wisely these days.  But in my earlier working days, I wasn't so interested in 401k or Roth IRAs.  Today, I think about them often.  Am I investing wisely?  Too aggressive?  Not aggressive enough?  Ugh, it's enough to make your head spin.  I do what I can to at least invest up to the company match into my 401k.  we also try to fund our Roth IRAs with what we can each year. 

Then if thinking about retirement constantly weren't enough, I think about if we're too focused on saving for retirement and not enjoying things more today?  What if one of us is in poor health and all that money saved would be for not? 

While I don't think I will stop working altogether, I would like to not work for about a year or so before then so that we can travel a bit.  Can you tell I'm working on the finances today?  lol  I researching mutual funds so we can start putting a few dollars into our Roths.  I side with our broker's own funds.  They have little to no expenses.  I do all the research for our retirement funds and pick what I think will be good performers.  I did pretty well last year, 6.7% ROI last, I'll take it!

We've also been considering a small real estate purchase.  Something for some supplemental income now and after retirement.  Real estate is still somewhat reasonable where we live.  While it's been on the rise, there are still some deals to find.  It's hard to pull the trigger though.  The unknown is always scary.

Jane

I'll Take "Pride In My Work" For $100 Alex.

Well, another weekend is upon us.   I'm enjoying my last break of the day while writing this post.  There's nothing big planned for me this weekend.  Just the usual errands and maybe hang out with some friends.

We've really started to see the days at work becoming more "usual".  Things feeling new and all the learning of new systems and processes is turning into the same ol' stuff.  I suppose it's good, but the newness made the days go by quicker.   I know, I'm never happy!   That's not true.  The new position I have and the way the new company operates is way ahead of the way the old company did.  While I'm not overjoyed with working, I don't despise going to work each day. That's worth something.  : )

What's has been interesting to see unfold is the number of employees who transitioned from the old company who have quit.  I must say, not that I knew them all very well, but I think it's better that they left.  They wanted the pay without really working for it.  The new company held them to being productive and accountable.  I guess they couldn't handle the accountability of being an adult.  Guess what?  They're going to have a pretty hard time with most companies they end up with.  Imagine that, being asked to work for your pay.   It floors me the laziness and attitude of some workers today.  I don't care what your job is, have a little pride in your work and some work ethic.  But again, with the new company I really haven't noticed it much.   It's refreshing.

Jane

Someone Has A Case Of The Mondays

Ugh, no matter what company you work for, no one can be excited about a Monday.  There's a whole weeks' worth of work ahead of you and the weekend seems so far away.  Hell, it's Sunday and I already feel like I'm in Monday mode!  There's a point during the weekend where you feel you have all the time in the world ahead of you.  Friday night and Saturday the last thing on my mind is work.  But Sunday, especially in the afternoon I start thinking about what my workload is going to be for the week.

I wonder what it will be like to retire and not having to think about prioritizing my Monday.  Or I'll be prioritizing it in a different way.  After I retire, what's going to be the bigger decision on the day?  What will I have for dinner?  Lunch?  I can't imagine going from all crazy non-stop firedrills, to having not really much to prioritize.

Is this why some retirees end up passing on early, from going so fast to a snails pace they just can't handle the change.  There's something wrong with the way we work here.  Maybe it's just the companies I've worked for, maybe not like this everywhere.  But we seem to be so connected, efficient, tools at our fingertips making our work faster and more efficient.  Yet, we're overwhelmed.  Working 50-60 hours a week we are working ourselves to an early grave.  The work we do in a normal day today would have taken days in our father's generation. Yet it's not enough, there's more work handed to you.  And when you're good and show how proficient you can be with your resources, your reward?  More work.  And sure, some say it's a choice. "Find something else to do", some may say.  It's easy to say things like  that when we may not be in that situation.  Understanding is something we should all look for.

This may not be a popular thing to say, but I dare say it's not even about the money.  It's about a true life balance.  Those companies who have the happiest employees are those whose leadership not only talk about life balance, but insist on it. It's not about the money.

Sorry, that entry was all over the place.  I started it with the intention of just talking about how I really don't like Mondays, lol.  It may be the wine and thinking about friends of mine, some all across the spectrum of employment.  From out of work for years and struggling to make ends meet, to life long dedicated employees who have seen jack in return for their loyalty.  No matter how you look at it, it's disgusting to me. 

Jane

Management Lesson #241

In my years at the old company I've seen some really good managers and some who quite frankly, I wondered how they tied their shoes in the morning.

So I thought I would bestow some words of wisdom from the trenches.   This one from the "I wouldn't do this" category.  About a month or so towards the end of our time with the old company, the top leader in the building thought it was a good idea to gather a group into a team meeting and hand out an anniversary award placard to one of the lower level leaders.  One month left, and this lower level leader was losing his job.  What does the boss think is a good idea? Let the company express their gratitude of his tenure with a lovely piece of paper recognizing his dedication to the company.  I was literally standing there with my mouth open and speechless. Awesome tact.

A friend who is in the HR field uses that story in her new manager on boarding.  Ugh, it would be funny if it weren't true.  I still feel bad for that guy.  I could tell he was as shocked, but he still mustered a smile.

Jane

Piss Poor Planning

One thing that hasn't changed from one company to the next is the number of people who want to make a fire drill of THEIRS be YOURS.   It amazes me how there are too many people in a company, and at all levels, who want to make their issue yours too.

Lesson here people...your responsibilities and lack of planning to do those responsibilities aren't someone else's problem.  Nut up!

Jane

Resentful? Who, me?

I'm finding that one of the biggest downfalls for working at the outsourcer is that I still have to directly communicate with the customer,  the old company.   Do you know how hard it is to put on a happy face to the very company who turned mine and 100+ other employees world upside down?  It's a pain in the ass!   

I like my new job, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around helping advance the old company's best interest.  While this all may play out in my head each day, of course I have too much pride in my work and I do my job.   The old company may have let me go, but they are still reaping the benefits of having me around.

Jane

A Whole New World

Wow, I have been a bad, bad blog mommy.  LOL  I can't believe something that brought me a great outlet to vent and post my worries has gone to the back burner.  Well, I'm back.  And would like to update everyone on what's been happening since my last post.  :)

Let's see, the Reader's Digest version:

*  My company abandoned me.  lol not really, but they did lay me off.  Late last year they announced they were outsourcing the office/warehouse where I work.  Whatever.

*  I was hopeful for a long time that with my 10+ years with "the company" that I would find something within "the company".  That didn't work out so well. 

*  Near the end, I was told there was nothing for me within the new structure in "the company".  Okay, talk about rejection.  (Side note, lesson learned; just because you're loyal to a company doesn't mean they have to be loyal in return.  Sort of like a relationship.)

*  I was able to get a position (pretty similar to what I was doing) with the new company right before the transition to the new company.  Good news?  Who knows, the jury is still out.

*  Flash forward to today.  I'm still finding my way in the new position.  And of course, with a new company comes new processes and things you knew inside and out with the old company, you feel like a tool not knowing with the new company.

The *old* company was big, the *new* company is pretty small in comparison.  And just when I found some of the benefits of working for a smaller company, a larger company comes into the picture and is working to buy out the *new* company.  Here we go again.  Not really though.  The new company doesn't operate the same businesses.  They're buying us out so they can enter the market with the type of work we're doing.  So there has been no talk of layoffs or anything like that this time around.  For now. I have to be somewhat cynical considering what we've been through.  Sure, for now they have no plans to close us.  I'll believe it when we're still here for a couple of years.

Anyway, I hope everyone who finds their way to my blog a very merry Christmas.  I'm hopefull for the new year and the opportunity it will bring.  :)

Jane

Dear Jane

Well, I finally received news.  It's not good news per se, but news.  I had a talk to my boss and they confirmed my position will not be in place once the outsourcer takes over.  I'm not surprised.  For the most part, I'm not the type of person who will start to lose motivation or do a poor job.   That's just not in my nature.  I can totally see someone losing their motivation pretty quick.  It's kind of messed up though.  LOL something like this going through my head...I need you to work hard and help us with the consolidation so you can be let go.   Umm, sure.  

We also know it'll be sometime in September too.  So I have less than 4 months before walking away from nearly two decades of dedication.  Sucks.   I know business decisions like this are made each and every day.  But it's difficult not to be bitter.   It feels like a company just tosses you aside.  I'll continue to come to work though with my head up, and be able to walk away saying the quality of my work didn't deminish.  :)

Jane

Just A Little Bit Longer

Well, the higher-ups have addressed the team again.  This time to mention our new "end" date.  Now set for mid-September.  How bad am I that I was hoping for it early in the summer so I could enjoy some time by the pool?   Anyway, another four months.  I should be happy though so I can try more to line something up.  They did tell us the outsourced would be interested in most of the employees to join their team. That's good news.

Dead pool update!   That supervisor I had a feeling was going to leave, did.  He actually gave notice just last week.  Good for him, he found a promotional opportunity outside the company.  Great to be able to leave and get a raise out of it.   I don't really have a good feel for who is next, so my choice is truly a guess.

For now, I'm still here.  I keep getting mixed messages about if I'll have a job post roll-in.  So as before I'll keep plugging away doing my usual fabulous work.   :p. The vendor was here a few days a couple weeks ago.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to spend any time with them.  I'm sure I'll have more opportunities to dazzle them.  Oh yeah, and since the date was extended to September, guess who has an anniversary in between and will get a new bank of sick time to use?  ;).

Jane

Out Of It

Hey everyone.  Sorry for the lapse in entries.  I ended up getting sick for the better part of a week and it just knocked me on my ass.  The good news is I'm better and back at work.  Well, the good news is I'm better.  Not sure if it's good to be back at work.  lol  I've never been hit that hard with being sick for that long.  It gets tougher to recoup as you get older.

Anyways, this is an exciting week at work.  They have announced the vendor taking over operations and they will be in, in mass, this week as they plan for the transition.  Pretty quiet today, but I'm sure that will change over the next few days.  The place is abuzz of speculation.  When the higher-ups dropped the news on us, they did mention the new vendor has an interest in taking over the workforce.  After of course, they interview folks.  But good news nonetheless.

On to the dead pool watch.  Okay, "dead pool" may be a bad term, but I'm referring to folks who have jumped ship. There's been a couple of hourly folks leave, but that's about it.  I did get wind that someone on the supervisor level has a lead with another company similar to ours. It sounds like a pretty good lead from what I've heard.  BTW, this supervisor was MY guess as being the next one going.  Too bad I can't find someone to take some good odds for that!

Anyway, almost time to leave work.  (I'm on break!  I don't take advantage of my work time for personal things).  So here's to a promising tomorrow.

Jane

Elite Eight

Not that elite eight.  We have a pool going in the office on what leaders will be jumping ship first.  We started with a dozen on the team and we're down to eight.  (see what I did there?  with the elite 8 reference now?)  Anyway, it's like playing a dead pool game.  We're wagering on who will be dropping next.  I've said all along, if we don't have a little fun with what's going on (and the lack of information) we'll all go crazy.

Another day, another day

Ugh, another week of no news.  Here we are within reach of April and given an initial date of June and no news.  At this point my worry and concern is beginning to grow to anger and frustration.  I used to understand that decisions made by senior leadership were given proper diligence.  But now, I don't care.  I want news and my frustration towards how decisions are made and by whom is being tested.  :(

Jane

Career Training

We had more career "training" this week.  I use the quotes around training, because this session was more about how to put together your resume.  Truth be told, I did enjoy it.  Although to me resume writing is a big PITA.  I mean, they're very subjective, don't you think?  And in this case, we received the instructors opinion of how resumes should be written.  I think the trainers just go with the popular flow as it were.  Whatever the resume du jour is, that's the method taught.

Seeing into the future

Of course, we can't see into the future.  If I could, that huge lottery jackpot would be mine.  But what I can do is hedge my bets, so to speak.  I want to stay with the company without question.  And I have a lead on a position with one of the vendors coming.  But I've also been working on ideas I can do on my own if things don't work out.  My own business ideas.  I've been keeping this notebook with me the last couple months, jotting down ideas, thoughts, research, etc.  Some way out there ideas, but some which I may be able to make a living doing.  This scares the hell out of me.  There's something to be said for working within the safety of a big company.  Well, I had to laugh as I typed that word, "safety".  Not really feeling safe these days even though I'm working for a very large company.  So, I suppose I can't use that for an excuse anymore.  ; )

My notebook.  Lots of ideas of varying interests I have.  The more I spend gathering data and thoughts, the more I really think I can put some of these ideas to practice and maybe even have a shot at not only doing something I enjoy, but to make a living off of doing it.  I feel after the experience I've gathered over the years, I have some very marketable skills which companies could benefit.  For now though, I need to keep doing some research and data gathering.  I have to say, my significant other has been nothing less than 100% supportive in my ideas and really believes there's something out there for me to do which I not only will enjoy, but I'd excel at.

Jane

A small light

Well, we had more visitors to the facility this week.  I didn't think this would have any impact on me, but it did.   I ended up having to work with a couple of our visitors going over some numbers and such.  I've said it before, I know my job very well and they could tell.  When we were done with my part, before I left they asked me what my plans were if nothing comes up with the company.  I told them I didn't have any plans but to wait it out and see what comes up.  After handing me their business cards, they told me if nothing comes up with the company, to make sure they're my first call.   That was a nice feeling.  : )

Jane

The Week Ahead

Well, we're all anticipating some news this week.  Not sure what the news will be specifically, but we're all betting on it happening.  The big shots went to corporate last week to go over the bids and make a determination on what outsource company will get the job.  That's not really "good" news, but news nonetheless.  Which is more than we've heard since last fall.  Then at least we can hope the new company will be requiring some help, *wink-wink*.  Of course though, there's still been nothing good posted for internal jobs.  And with the length of time our recruiting department takes, someone would almost have to see something posted today in order to just make it for an early June deadline.  Ugh.

 We are potentially looking as soon as early June, that's right around the corner.  Part of me is okay with that, and part of me would like the to run long with the timeline.  It would be nice to have some extra days with my other half during the nice summer months.  It would give us some time to spend together and do some fun things that a limited amount of vacation time wouldn't allow.

In other news, we should all be receiving our annual merits this week.  Another bittersweet thing.  Here's some more money, for now.  I'll take it.  If I land on my feet and stay with the company, I'll be happy for whatever increase I end up getting.

Jane