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I need help (work related)
Hi Everyone,
I really could use some advice. My work situation has deteriorated over the past few months to the point that I can't take it anymore. The trouble is, I work in an extremely abusive, toxic environment with an overarching culture of blame.
If you make a mistake, you will be crucified for it. In front of your entire department. Including people that are not your superiors. I have actually asked for training on a specific element of my job, and my boss said it was a "good idea" that I get training. And I never got it. And then any time I make a mistake in this aspect of my job, I get crucified.
Today was really the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I work M-F typically. And tomorrow (Monday) is a federal holiday, so we have off. Well I receive a text message today (a SUNDAY! And mind you, I don't have anywhere NEAR the salary or title to be taking work calls off-hours, much less the Sunday of a 3 day weekend)! from my boss today saying that her boss is up in arms because he *thinks* XYZ was done improperly, and do I know for certain how I did XYZ.
I stated that I could not be 100% certain how XYZ was done without going into the office to evaluate the physical evidence. My boss then continued to pound and pound asking me what my typical procedure for doing XYZ is and is that what I did.
I've learned the hard way NEVER to say for CERTAIN that I did anything at work until I am looking at the piece of work. Because if I say something was done, and it turns out it wasn't, I get CRUCIFIED.
So my boss carries on, saying she needs to figure out how to formulate a response to her boss about why XYZ appears to have been done incorrectly. I said either XYZ is not actually wrong and it was user error OR XYZ was actually done incorrectly (in which case it was an accident.) She then continues to hound and hound and hound me asking me what I did. (I said I didn't know for sure, and wouldn't unless I went into the office.)
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. It was clear to me that all she was looking to do was assign blame. (I discovered when I opened my work email that there was already a plan to fix XYZ on Tuesday.) So I told her that she can blame whoever she wants, but at this point it's far to assume that XYZ was done incorrectly, and blaming someone doesn't change that. I offered to go into the office tomorrow to fix it if she wanted. And I stated that blaming me for a mistake that she ASSUMES I made wasn't helpful.
She then called me and SCREAMED at me for 15 minutes. Now I have to go in and fix XYZ tomorrow. On my day off. And I don't even know what to do. I'm beside myself. I really can't handle the abuse anymore.
Can I have thoughts/opinions/advice?
Re: I need help (work related)
What kind of a supervisor calls people out inf ront of others? If there is a problem, you say to that person, "George, come into my office" and you discuss the problem behind a closed door in tones that nobody can hear outside the door.
That's how it's done.
And if the employee is to blame, you take steps to ensure that the error does ot happen again: you ensure that the employee knows what the procedure is --- print out the procedure and you and he both sign it at the bottom and date it. You keep a copy; he keeps a copy.
What you described is also a culture of fear and control. Nobody wants to walk on eggs and this also decimates morale.
Welcome to the new world of Nobody IS Ever Out OF the Office. Sad and sorry sign of the times; they will now contact you all hours of the day or night.
I would look for another job and the second I had it, leave notice. This is not a way to run a business nor is it a way to run a department.
This is a managerial problem, not an employee problem. They are to blame, not the "nobodies."
I had a boss who was like this; unfortunately she also owned the company ad her assistant was 100% on the bus with her so it was their word against yours. Cute.
She'd do the same: scream at you in front of the entire company and say rotten things about whatever employee was the flavor of the moment. All this within earshot of the employees -- there were 8 of us. (we got a noise complaint once from the people in the company in the suite next to ours, that's how loudly she was screaming)
I think you might have to have a talk with your boss about her poor method of handling various situations. If that doesn't work then you should go to her supervisor about her lack of whatever it is you feel she is lacking; professionalism, communication skills, management skills, responsibility, etc.
Or, just quit. Doesn't sound worth the money.
I think you nailed it when you called your job toxic.
These people have fallen into an awful habit that I don't think will easily be changed. Start job hunting and get out as soon as you can!
Your company sounds INCREDIBLY unprofessional. Is there an HR dept. you can report your boss to? That level of employee abuse is ridiculous.
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There is no HR. it's a small company.
When you've been married this long, you need a ticker to remind you.
Baby Boy M - 08/01/2013
1. Start looking for a new job
2. Stop answering calls and text after work hours
3. Do exactly what you need to do to get your job done, double check it and don't do a single thing more. In other words, spend 50% of your time there doing your work and the other 50% of the time covering your azz.
Leave as soon as you can. I can tell you from experience, a toxic work environment affects all aspect of your life.