Freeper Help/Advice Requested With Work Issue

OKSooner ^ | 01-26-03 | OKSooner

[OKSooner]

Okay, gang, here goes: Exasperating problem with office politics and conflicting prioritites from management. Anyone got any free advice?

[537 Votes]

It's obvious that JTA and The Manager are doing the nookie nookie. The Manager gets free sex with a sweet young thing, and JTA gets power, status, and $$$ far beyond her years and competence.

Verbal sparring techniques aren't going to help you against JTA. JTA will simply retaliate by telling The Manager that you've got to go, and then you will be gone, under a cloud of concocted scandal that will ensure that you will be unable to get a company recommendation for a comparable job anywhere else. You will lose your job, your home, your car, and then you will shiver in the gutter, shoeless and hungry.

Don't be Jiminy Peanut telling the Ayatollah that holding hostages is not very nice. Go nuclear. Now. It's your only option. Squash the bugs before they administer their poisonous bites.

The best way to do this is to log onto JTA's computer late at night (the password is on her desk slider table, it always is) and write a rambling e-mail that appears to be a drunken tirade (it helps to carefully compose these things beforehand, of course). The e-mail will be from the JTA and will address The Manager by his first name.

Impersonating the JTA, accuse The Manager of deceit and treachery. Put something in about how, if he truly thinks senior management is full of idiots like he's told her again and again, then why hasn't he gotten her a better position yet? Threaten to tell his wife about their affair. Close with choice expletives about how you hate working for this company and how everyone who works there is an idiot. Then thank him for letting you use his company credit card to buy the mink.

'Inadvertently' address the e-mail to the entire company, then press Send.

Remember to wipe your fingerprints, and if you did compose the letter beforehand like I mentioned, you need to shred the hard copy immediately.

If you wonder if this is the right thing to do, think of the two qualified people out there, shivering in the gutter, who could be earning high incomes and doing productive work in place of those two dodos you have to work with. Why should everyone suffer so that two evil, selfish, dishonest people can be happy?

Remember, if you don't stop them now, someday one of them will run for President, and if you tell your story then, some poor country will be bombed to distract news media attention.

Do the right thing before this whole thing gets out of hand.

[FairOpinion]

Since, apparently, you get along better w senior management, than your immediate manager, I would strongly and very seriously suggest that you explore possibilities of getting out from under your current manager, if at all possible: how about asking for a promotion to work for one of the guys above, as his staff, how about this Chief Technical Officer guy? Maybe you can even sell that for your architecture work, to interact better with the others, etc., it would be helpful, if you were one notch up organizationally.

Staying where you are is an option, if there are no other options. That kind of thing rarely improves, even if it may appear improved on the surface and it tends to grind you down and in another year or two you'll wish you had taken the initiative to get out.

As for you being a "know-it-all", possibly your manager thinks that you are making him look bad. (Good managers never feel that way, but there are very few of those).
In the meantime, bolstering his ego in public meeings may make him feel more kindly towards you -- as in give him some credit for things that he may or may not really deserve credit, as in "this is a great suggestion, and here is the way I think we can implement/expand it, etc.".
As for obnoxious junior, is there some way that he can get some task, separate from what you do, where he has to sink or swim on his own, where it becomes more obvious that he is full of hot air, no substance?
You can't exactly shut him up, but in meetings, maybe you can use a little humor, like "did you ever think of becoming my "straight man", I was just coming to that, so it's clear that HE is not driving your presentation -- but do it sweetly, with a smile, until people start getting the idea and he starts to look ridiculous.

AND try to structure your presentations to pre-empt such questions, as in put in as part of your own presentation the reason why A is better than B, etc., without going off topic, of course.

Also be pleasantly, gently, dismissive of his questions, such as, "well, most people here are already familiar with these details, but I'll be happy to give you a tutorial after the meeting".

But always say it sweetly with a smile. This kind of thing will signal that you are not about to let this little jerk push you around.

But my main advice is still to get out and work for someone who appreciates you.

And as a general advice, if you are willing to consider taking it, you may try to work on being a bit more diplomatic and less of a "smart aleck", "know-it-all". There is a fine line -- you can still be very knowledgeable about most things, but maybe you can express it, so higher ups don't feel like you are putting them down, which, while it may not be your intent, it may come across that way.

Good luck!

[FairOpinion]

The best way to do this is to log onto JTA's computer late at night (the password is on her desk slider table, it always is) and write a rambling e-mail that appears to be a drunken tirade (it helps to carefully compose these things beforehand, of course). The e-mail will be from the JTA and will address The Manager by his first name.

Impersonating the JTA, accuse The Manager of deceit and treachery.

-----

I am sorry, I strongly disagree -- this is very dangerous, OK would be found out, and would never get a job anywhere, as long as he lives.

[Balata]

kcar and others have given you your answer. It is up to you to recognize, simplify and institute it.

Good luck my FRiend.

[UnBubba]

You sound like a needy twerp. You're right where you belong. You are not management material. Deal with it. BTW, do you have JTA's phone number?

[Jambe]

You need to get copies of 2 resumes - one for JTA and one for the manager.

Get them out to the headhunters and hope they get hired away!

[philetus]

Maybe you should ask this guy:

DON'T MESS WITH THE COMPUTER GUYS

Actual letter of resignation from an
employee at Zantex Computers, USA, to his boss.
His boss apparently resigned very soon afterwards !

Dear Mr Baker,
As an employee of an institution of higher education, I have a few very
basic expectations. Chief among these is that my direct superiors have an
intellect that ranges above the common ground squirrel. After your
consistent and annoying harassment of my co-workers and myself during the
commission of our duties, I can only surmise that you are one of the few
true genetic wastes of our time. Asking me, a network administrator, to
explain every little nuance of everything I do each time you happen to
stroll into my office is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of
precious oxygen.

I was hired because I know how to network computer systems, and you were
apparently hired to provide amusement to myself and other employees, who
watch you vainly attempt to understand the concept of "cut and paste" for
the hundredth time. You will never understand computers. Something as
incredibly simple as binary still gives you too many options.

You will also never understand why people hate you, but I am going to try
and explain it to you, even though I am sure this will be just as
effective
as telling you what an IP is. Your shiny new iMac has more personality
than
you ever will. You walk around the building all day, shiftlessly looking
for fault in others. You have a sharp dressed useless look about you that
may have worked for your interview, but now that you actually have
responsibility, you pawn it off on overworked staff, hoping their talent
will cover for your glaring ineptitude. In a world of managerial
evolution,
you are the blue-green algae that everyone else eats and laughs at.

Managers like you are a sad proof of the Dilbert principle. Seeing as this
situation is unlikely to change without you getting a full frontal
lobotomy
reversal, I am forced to tender my resignation, however I have a few
parting
thoughts.

* When someone calls you in reference to employment, it is illegal to
give me a bad recommendation. The most you can say to hurt me is "I prefer
not to comment." I will have friends randomly call you over the next
couple
of years to keep you honest, because I know you would be unable to do it
on
your own.

* I have all the passwords to every account on the system, and I know
every password you have used for the last five years. If you decide to get
cute, I am going to publish your "favourites list", which I conveniently
saved when you made me "back up" your useless files. I do believe that
terms
like "Lolita" are not usually viewed favourably by the administration.

* When you borrowed the digital camera to "take pictures of your
mothers b-day", you neglected to mention that you were going to take
pictures of yourself in the mirror nude. Then you forgot to erase them
like
the techno-moron you really are. Suffice it to say I have never seen such
odd acts with a ketchup bottle, but I assure you that those have been
copied
and kept in safe places pending the authoring of a glowing letter of
recommendation. (Try to use a spell check please, I hate having to correct
your mistakes.)

Thank you for your time, and I expect the letter of recommendation on my
desk by 8:00 am tomorrow. One word of this to anybody, and all of your
little twisted repugnant obsessions will be open to the public. Never f***
with your systems administrator. Why? Because they know what you do with
all
that free time!

Sincerely,
Darryl Brewer

[Thinkin' Gal]

You need to be self-employed. ASAP. God be with you.

[Balata]

LOL! That would work as well, but you have to get rid of both of them.

[cryptical]

I woud cancel the show-down meeting....you will have a hard time winning....he'll think you are just a hard-nose.

I'll ditto this advice. Remember, politics is polite warfare, and a gripe session about JTA will just put your boss in the corner. That's bad, because it'll force the issue, and I can guarantee it won't be in your favor. You become the troublemaker vs. JTA.

Breaking things to prove her incompetence is bad, it can easily backfire on you. If you arrange for her to take on tasks that are beyond her technical ability, it's your fault for not helping her succeed.

Remember, there is a fine line between know-it-all and smart-ass. I'm more impressed with someone who knows a lot and says a little, than someone who runs their mouth constantly, even if they're right.

Other people at the company are probably on to JTA as you are, but don't expect help. It's dangerous these days to speak ill of [women, minorities, disabled] when they are incompetent.

Cultivate your relationship with the CTO. He can be a powerful rabbi, but don't expect him to take your side over one of his managers. It doesn't happen. He may, however, move you somewhere where your unique talents bring more value to the company. For this to happen, you have to not be involved in a pissing match with your manager/JTA.

Good Luck.

[Mercat]

I'm going through similar stuff and have thought about posting but will share on your thread. I'm an attorney. I've been building my practice and my firm for 20+ years. I've been in the same office with RWN for 20 years and partners with him for 8 years. Three years ago, JWB recruited us. We took him on as an associate and he did a bang up job, earned us lots of money and a year later, we made him partner. I had been senior and managing partner for ever and when he seemed to have the energy and aptitude to do that boring stuff, I happily settled down to just practicing law. I'm female and conservative and they are both male and very liberal. I should have seen it coming. They way over spent, ran up debt, and now have voted me out of my own firm. I'm going to survive but it's very painful and difficult. Hang in there and trust in the Lord. Get up every morning and do the best you can and treat everyone else honorably. You may prevail or not but at least you'll have your integrity.

[speekinout]

Manager is sleeping with JTA. You can't win. Either get out or suck it up (I would say get out, because sooner or later JTA will really mess up, and they will need a goat)

[judicial meanz]

Big Mack had the best approach IMHO....the end around works great in these situations

[SSN558]

"Unfortunately, office politics are a fact of life. Lots of people make their careers on being good at destroying others who are more competent, taking credit for other's work, and "brown nosing" upper management."

Get used to it. If you have senior techicnal skills or more qualifications there will always be a few that are not team players and can't respect that. An aquired management skill is to recognize these types and let them hang themselves with their own rope periodically. They are easy to pick out of the crowd since they always vaciliate between being a poo-butt and shit-ass.

It is really a senior management problem to recognize that a few underlings always torpedo the organizations productivity and profits with infantile political games, and keep them in line. Managers that don't do this have trouble retaining the most talented employees.

[FairOpinion]

How terrible, that people you trusted and helped stabbed you in the back.
I am not an attorney, and even though you are, you may want to consult one who specializes in partnerships, maybe there is something you can do to stop them voting you out of your own firm.

Good luck and while it's tough, I am sure you'll get through it and things will work out for you maybe in ways that you don't even see at this time.

Take care, and don't give up!

[ghostkatz]

phuuuhhhh!!! Your tag line sucks.

[SunnyUsa]

"keep your resume updated and start shopping it around. You could end up making a whole lot more somewhere else...."

good advice, and the other thing that occurred to me while reading this is sometimes demeaning and non productive situations like this give you the PUSH to get out and get the job that will make you much happier and richer!

Someone else mentioned that others in the organization might recognize the Jr person's incompetance but no one is saying anything publically about it. Often I was always amazed at how many people shared my opinion of things, after some shakedown happened in mgt etc...and the 'popular' losers got the boot!

When I was working in the corporate world, the politcs were awful at times....but the funny thing is the "karma" thing always came true (sometimes it took it's sweet time) but it did.

Good Luck...it might help you to change your attitude, be really nice & helpful - that will scare them and make them wonder whats going on. You know the truth, keep them guessin!

[Arpege92]

I can understand where you are coming from because my husband goes through the same thing at work with a female. It is not acceptable for a "man" to demand that a "female" co-worker be accountable equally....by my definition, that is not politically correct but to other's it is. Sexual harrassment by a female to a male is laughed at and stored away until sexual harrassment law applies to all. My advice, keep a notebook close by to record detailed information because it could be of great help to you should a lawsuit happen. If this female is not able to do the job like you, then give her the room to make mistakes and then have to answer for those mistakes (record her mistakes too).

Keep your emotions to yourself....you don't want her knowing she upsets you. Killing her with kindness would drive her nuts because she would know that she doesn't push your buttons. Doing that keeps you in control and more able to do your job right. Good luck!!!

[OKSooner]

Hey, if the shoe fits... I've been called worse by people who've known me my whole life.

[strela]

This is the line from your description of the problem that really struck me:

Because "the manager" is a volatile, boorish man, I've asked another manager whom I respect to sit in as a mediator.

Wow. That is a lot of hostility to be encountering in a business setting. If given the choice and I were in the same boat, I would do my level best to vote with my feet and find another situation well away from Volatile Boor, preferably with another company. My manager has his faults as well, but I've never had one moment's doubt that he has the best interests of the company at heart.

I've certainly had complete jerks as managers in the past, and I made it my top priority to remove myself from that sort of situation, as my performance and morale suffer greatly if I'm forced to work for an individual like that.

In general, my advice is to document, document, document. Keep a journal and document all boorish behavior (both by the manager and by your junior jerk); this will give you the ammunition you need to take the problem up with senior management.

As for the "shutdown" lines you are getting from the junior guy, I find that an icy stare as they are yapping, followed by "As I was saying ..." works to squelch that sort of nonsense. Also, simply ignoring the interruption while talking over it can be effective. Make the interruptor appear to be a child whining for his candy bar in the grocery store.