I was a manager of two centers, number one challenge was working with all the different personalities and using each individual to work best as a team.

Anonymous

December 31,2022 at 1:47PM UTC

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I was a manager of two centers, number one challenge was working with all the different personalities and using each individual to work best as a team. However, now I’m staff again for about 4 years and been taking advantage of . As I have strong work ethics, I don’t complain like the X generation . I do the job and others to keep things running smoothly and still given more work and asked to change shifts constantly . Even gave two vacation days back to help the clinic as we were short staffed. (Never even got a thank u) . In other words ,the good employees get screwed and the complainers get things handed on silver platter. Just want to know what I can do other than leaving .

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AnonymousDecember 31,2022 at 1:57PM UTC
...'like the x generation'...? Nothing tanks empathy like being an earnest jerk to an entire generation.
AnonymousDecember 31,2022 at 3:12PM UTC
Two things pop out to me. These two things are probably hurting you in your work place.
You are expressing prejudice to a generation. I hear a lot of it towards millennials. It is not productive to have prejudice towards any generation. Try to look at people as the unique individuals we all are.
The second is being concerned with with how your coworkers are being handed things on a silver platter. Concentrate on yourself and talk to management about your perceptions in a constructive and professional manner. You then can make changes in your performance in order to get these rewards you are seeking. You have been there 4 years and it sounds like you do not have open and honest communication with your manager.
If you feel you have a good relationship with your manager and you are not getting what you want/need then it is not a good fit. We are all unique and not every place will be the best fit for you. It may be time to look for a better fit. Take your time looking. Reflect on what would make you happy in a workplace.
Now I am in the generation you have expressed disdain and my advice comes from learning about workplace relationships. Your comments remind me of how I thought about co workers in my early 30’s. Thankfully I learned how to be a better co worker. Which helped me with my anger towards perceived slights.
Good Luck.
AnonymousDecember 31,2022 at 7:06PM UTC
well stated and thank you for the reminder
AnonymousDecember 31,2022 at 6:43PM UTC
Stop putting yourself in situations to be taken advantage of. I would reexamine your definition a great work ethic. Much of what you described is not being taken advantage of. It's voluntary.
So if you have decided to stay, rewrite your professional demeanor and redefine your boundaries. You have plenty of room to show up professionally on your own terms.
Management doesn't thank you because you are delivering yourself on a silver platter.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 1:42PM UTC
Other than showing negativity towards an entire generation, I can’t imagine why you are being taken advantage of. Oh, wait a minute. Because you volunteer to do these things. You gave back two vacation days?! And expect your employer to thank you?! Say “no” for heaven’s sake. Here’s some advice, stop volunteering to do more work. Stop agreeing to change shifts. At this point though, after 4 years, you’ve conditioned your employer to expect that you will roll over and do what they say. No need to complain like the X generation lmao!!!! Just say no!
ReachingGoalsJanuary 1,2023 at 1:55PM UTC
Slowly stop. Do your job and not Managements job. Given more work? Ask what they would like you to give up in order to take over the new task. Sure this is passive aggressive, but as long as you keep doing the work, they will give you more. If you are truly unhappy, perhaps it is time to look for another job. Because you are complaining, you are angry in your head if you aren’t expressing it out loud and that serves no one well.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 1:55PM UTC
I agree with the previous commenters. Worry about what you are doing and the attitude that goes along with you volunteering yourself for shifts and tasks that are not in your job description. Since you are an adult and a former manager, I assume you know how to say no. Start with that. As a manager, I don’t believe in making friends of my support staff. Their personal lives and needs have nothing to do with our working relationship. When one of them declines an extra shift, I don’t assume they’re a bad employee and I certainly don’t ask them why they can’t do extra work. Nor do I care. I put on my manager hat and solve MY problem, which is getting the shift filled. There are assumptions in your post here that you are a bad employee (or person) if you don’t give 2000% at your job and that your manager is always thinking about you and devising ways to take advantage of you. Trust me, we don’t. We have many, many other things to think about.
GirlBossanova934974January 1,2023 at 2:04PM UTC
When you reward complainers and less productive employees with more perks for less work, guess what happens? They demand more! I have never heard of giving back vacation days to a company. That should have come back to you in the form of "comp time". No manager worth 2 cents should have allowed you to take less than vacation time than your standard allotment without some sort of compensation. I would consider that in making a decision to leave or not leave this company.
rgstaffing@bellsouth.netJanuary 1,2023 at 2:38PM UTC
If you are managing a medical clinic and dealing with hourly employees, do what you can to keep them. You cannot be without staff and they are not easy to find. Especially without drama.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 2:41PM UTC
Without changes to your perception of an ethical work culture and a less adversarial view of your coworkers, I have a feeling that your problems would follow you even if you switched companies.
AnonymousJanuary 3,2023 at 7:33PM UTC
Completely agree with you, some self-reflection seems necessary here.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 3:26PM UTC
You show disdain for some colleagues, even their entire generation, and seem to be taking your upset over your treatment, out on them. There is a very necessary need and truth behind the term ‘quiet quitting’ from the current generation. They are not willing to give up their vacation days thanklessly, change shifts constantly, or get screwed at their jobs for example. I am personally thankful for their reshaping of workplace expectations, they’ve helped me realize a lot about myself, my behaviors, and what I will or won’t tolerate in my workplace.
Although some of your complaints are valid, this seems like a passive-aggressive or unhealthy way to manage workplace expectations. We know the company will always take your time and flexibility, usually without thanks. Also, there is a widget mentality in your language about people. It’s quite dehumanizing, and when it was applied to yourself, you didn’t care for it. Also ‘using each individual’ is unfortunate language, this mentality comes across loud and clear.
I think your post really struck me because many of us work with people and companies who have this mentality, and we’re over it. I would encourage you to be open and really look at your boundaries, I think you’ll see more relevancy and connection with the current generation than you’re giving them credit for. Have a discussion with your manager about it and be prepared to walk if it’s not a good fit for you anymore.
AnonymousJanuary 2,2023 at 3:07PM UTC
Often, the people who won't take on extra shifts or change shifts have a very good reason for it, like child care or a second job or a transportation issue. It makes things harder for the more flexible people, but we can't have workplaces where parents get punished for having kids to pick up at a certain hour.
AnonymousJanuary 3,2023 at 7:30PM UTC
Absolutely. Or they may simply be setting a healthy boundary for themselves. The reason why doesn't really matter, parents or not, if they are contributing per their employment agreement.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 3:54PM UTC
Experienced similar issues.
Chronic complainer gets promoted over (older) more emotionally stable employees.
Chronic complainers create toxic work environments and contribute to poor morale.
Not surprised as to why many remote workers want to stay working remotely.
Cantankerous people in management positions should not be in those positions.
AnonymousJanuary 8,2023 at 2:13PM UTC
Yes, yes, yes! Often times they are trying to take eyes off of their own issues. Management is too lazy to look into it, or too incompetent, letting the loudest voice win. Or just trying to shut them up.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 3:56PM UTC
Agree! Unlike the others who have responded here. Seems like they hand it to the responsible employees, and let the slackers be. Surely, if you were to take on the attitude of the others, you would be reprimanded for not being a team player. I finally had enough of an atmosphere like that and left. My new job is great and my hard work is appreciated.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 4:04PM UTC
Adding to my comment...the slackers I am referring to crossed every generation, so no one in this thread can say I'm prejudice against any generation. I AM prejudice against lazy people who allow others to pick up their slack, and to the managers who take advantage of an employee with good work ethic.
AnonymousJanuary 3,2023 at 7:28PM UTC
Perhaps the 'slackers' are working the number of hours they get paid for and are drawing the line where the OP should?
AnonymousJanuary 8,2023 at 2:05PM UTC
Not true! I ONLY work my scheduled hours, but unlike the "slackers " I give my all while I am there, doing exactly what I am getting paid for. Isn't that what we do? Expected work and productivity, for an expected paycheck? I have no problem saying no, because I know they get the best of me while I am there. Seriously? A slacker is a slacker, someone always getting by with not doing what they are getting paid for, during NORMAL working hours.
Mary PoolJanuary 1,2023 at 4:12PM UTC
Businesses are needy organizations; they will take and take and take until you burn yourself out. That is their nature. If you want things to change, recognize this and change your behavior. Why are you willing to make these sacrifices, especially as it is obvious they are unappreciated? That is a question that needs to be answered. Think of it from another perspective, you gave up two days of vacation, therefore, you paid your employer to work. Does that make sense? What you can do is change your perspective, recognize this is a job, not your life and that short-staffing is a management problem, not your problem. If you are going to give away your time and money, give it to a charitable organization where you can establish new and meaningful relationships.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 4:19PM UTC
Take care of yourself first.
Crystal HowellJanuary 1,2023 at 4:22PM UTC
You should have a conversation with your direct supervisor and explain how you and your team have worked for several years meeting or exceeding their goals. You would like them to be recognized at a new years celebration of employee luncheon.
Start something new, print off certificate of achievement awards, have a brown bag lunch, and enjoy 2023. Complaining gets you no where, there is always another way!
Afo Ogbeyalu KaluJanuary 1,2023 at 4:29PM UTC
Stop doing the job of others. If you continue at the current pace, you'd begin to suffer from burnout, while the rest of the work group's skills get rusty, and the efficiency of the department falters, esp in your absence. By constantly filling in, you mask deficiencies that the manager should be mitigating and/or correcting, and you build resentment. Play your ascribed position, share strategies which you've found to be successful. If that isn't fulfilling enough for you, consider revisiting a management role.
Kimberly HJanuary 1,2023 at 5:56PM UTC
Generation X is me. I don’t complain - cool generalization though
Jeff DicksonJanuary 1,2023 at 6:06PM UTC
Like your job. Love your life.
AnonymousJanuary 1,2023 at 11:18PM UTC
Wow! I don’t think you should assume that all Gen x people complain! I’m a gen x and I am a hard worker as well. I am currently a temporary employee and I have done more tasks than my fellow temps. The company was going to hire me on permanently but market changes affected that decision. Most of the time I work from home. I was asked to go in the office for tbe last two weeks of this month. I let them know I would go in. One of the other temps out right refused - she’s a millennial! Another temp also a millennial went in only a couple days. I also help out the permanent workers in my department with a task the other temps don’t. It allows me to hone my detail oriented skills.
Arlene Frances Gottardo (Bryak)January 2,2023 at 2:05AM UTC
Talk to supervisor & stop being so darn good all the time! Hehe- I don’t really mean that, but put yourself first.
AnonymousJanuary 2,2023 at 9:30AM UTC
Well, congratulations on having “strong ethics and not complaining”. Round of applause for you. (Insert eye roll). Your condescension is nauseating.You chose to give back two vacation days which is one of the most asinine things I’ve ever heard. Time off is good because you get to unplug and get some work life balance. You chose to help because you were short staffed. That wasn’t your job to figure out the staffing issue. You’re clearly doing too much; and strangely expected gratitude.This is a weird post and I don’t know what else to say about it. Good luck to you.
AnonymousJanuary 2,2023 at 3:04PM UTC
Don't put in extra time without being paid for it! If they've gotten used to you doing that, have a meeting with the boss to discuss your need for work/life balance and tell them you're getting burned out. What you do during your paid hours ... if you have been saying "yes" to everything, then of course you're going to be asked to do more. Which things are being handed to the "complainers" on a silver platter? Ask for those things!
If you are over 40, jumping ship will be more difficult than most people realize, so leaving should be a last resort.