Dear Madame L,
I work for someone who has a very hands-off approach to our work, except when he himself is under pressure.
I'm not the only one who struggles to produce satisfactory results without any input, being told when we do ask for some advice that the boss is "overwhelmed" but will get back to us later. That's understandable, and anyway he's the boss so what can we do?
But then, when that "later" comes around, the boss e-mails us that he has to put off our meeting until sometime next week because he won't be in the office that day. He doesn't realize (or doesn't care) that we all know he's going skiing.
When he is ready and rested, though, after a week, say, of skiing, the boss gets very upset if we're not available when he passes by our cubicles to check on our work.
He's the boss, though, so who's going to call him on it? Nobody, that's who.
Sincerely,
Frustrated
Dear Frustrated,
You didn't really ask a question for Madame L to answer, so Madame L is going to ask you a question or two:
Are you by any chance the person who wrote to Madame L earlier about not wanting to tell a potential new employee the truth about your boss?
You are, aren't you!
So, what are you still doing there? Madame L asks only because she guesses you need another push.
Sincerely, your friend and ally,
Madame L
1 comment:
You describe management behavior that would get a summons and reprimand in private industry... and if a second summons was necessary, a pink slip, or demotion if the jerk is lucky.
In the Federal government the process for dealing with this sociopathy takes quite a bit longer, but is just as certain; the delay is due to the fact that such boorish, arrogant behavior in a manager is quite rare (the Jerk Coefficient is lower). It wakes awhile - and a lot of evidence - to believe it.
Your reader is describing some sort of caste system, where certain castes are Untouchables - in this case, meaning the upper caste cannot be touched: there is no accountability.
~~~~~
Post a Comment