5. I counted four kinds of chairs in the “conference room” that doubles as the lunch room.no need to go any further, that alone is enough to look for another job...
Posted on 11/18/2013 4:50:55 PM PST by Crazy Jim
I just got my dream job but terrible working conditions.
I won't go into details, but the I'm not sure I can buck-up and tolerate it.
What to do?
If I complain I'll be labeled a troublemaker from day one, but if I don't I'll have to put up with it for years!
Help!
Thanks
They are lucky to have you.
1. The work is the dream. If the conditions were only moderately better...
2. First impression: The people are a lot like me, experienced but in awe of the work and what is to be accomplished. I would love to say what it is but you have to believe that this will be the culmination of my 40+ year career if I can overcome this stumbling block.
3. Again maybe its my impression. I thought I might ask “What is the plan to fix all of the facility problems?” I may just be overreacting but having seen the “show palace they take the dignitaries, etc.” I was hoping for a modicum of a useable work environment.
That has more than a grain of truth in it for sure.
BTW The pay is completely acceptable, I feel truly blessed that the work is great and I am paid what I am.
Cowboy up or walk away. No whining.
Ick...
You have two choices, either suck it up or move on. You’ve been around the track. Some of the best work I’ve ever done were in some of the worst environments.
Best job was plant engineer in a trash burning steam/co-gen facility. Nice people, average pay, good bennies, dirt poor town in the middle of nowhere. Stayed for 14 years.
Worst was in small company, beautiful offices, ideal location. The people were obnoxious and the work was not what I signed on for. 12 months and out.
5. I counted four kinds of chairs in the “conference room” that doubles as the lunch room.no need to go any further, that alone is enough to look for another job...
My goal was to make this my “last” job. Currently 40 years after my BS degree. So either back on the road or stick it out.
old, dirty chairs with stains that would qualify for 20 and out!
we have eight chairs in out break/conference room and only the two leather ones match, but at least the rest are wood, no cushions...
yes but if you asking for moderately better work conditions will make you a troublemaker, how nice are these people if that’s what they will think?
especially since you now say they have a really nice building they take muckety-mucks to. theydo know what clean and pleasant and a great environment is, and they are deliberatelymaking you not work in one.
to be honest this is what they think of their workers. if you work there they know you don’t mind being treated like crap and working in crap conditions.
Telemarketer eh! Suck it up!
There are no happy jobs; only happy people. I have worked in similar environments, and worse, doing things I loved. In one job, I did mostly desk work, but the entire building was 417 x 35 feet and was a firetrap, all steel construction several inches thick, with one air vent open 5% of the time, and could incinerate all of us in 10 minutes or less, with all exits locked. Plumbing leaked, some of it as high as 700 psi. One of my workstations was 3 feet away from a high radiation area, which was just 200 feet away from the lunchroom. The CEO was a nice, if somewhat distant guy who understood our equipment and procedures. Complaining meant getting more of the same. I could walk to work every day, but could not leave, for months in a row. Open carry was encouraged, indeed required for security guards and key workers. On-call 24/7 with 30 days vacation a year. No windows, no sunshine, fresh food 6 months out of the year, no Internet, cell-phone, or outside calls at work. 3 Company uniforms and laundry on site. 6 Manual flush toilets and 2 showers shared between 140 people (of course the CEO office had its own!) No cologne or aftershave allowed. Smoking severely limited. Bad, but strong coffee available in large quantities, and average tea. We had to do all custodial work. No transfers or promotions for 3 years. $32k a year.
Take the job, and if need be, fix some of the problems yourself on your own time WITHOUT being discovered. Embarrassed management will soon amaze you. Breathe fresh air every day; drink what you like. Be glad its not a submarine!
I would consider the items you listed as opportunities to establish yourself as a very valued employee. Once you get settled a little bit why not volunteer to fix up some of the issues? If you don't know how find somebody at the company who can do the work.
Talk to the managers about some fix-up work done by the employees. It sounds like a Saturday spent with some paint and cleanup tools could make a significant improvement.
You could round up a bunch of new chairs on the cheap too.
Sometimes everybody just needs a new idea, like "would anybody else like to help paint the work room?"
As a firefighter, it means I often have to work in a burning building.........
Wouldn't give it up for anything.
Species8472, you guys have my respect. Submariners do our own fire-fighting, but you guys also have to cook your own food!
I’d just ask what’s up with the slum conditions. If you’ve already taken the job I’d wait a few weeks until there’s some rapport with your boss.
Meanwhile I wouldn’t make repairs or do anything out of the norm.
I take it you’re confident these people who don’t pay to provide a decent work environment are legit so maybe there’s some reasonable explanation, Though the only one I can think of is that they’re moving soon or their janitor just quit.
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