Like I have said here before, I started a new job in March as a manager with a large firm.
My boss is a senior manager, and he reports to our division chief, who reports to the CEO, who reports to the Board of Directors.
The division chief and CEO are both women, so you would think he is attuned to relating to women at work. So I was surprised when he went off on me recently, telling me in a not so hushed tone within hearing of my staff that I needed to learn my place because I had authorized something I felt important for a staff member.
After I confronted him in his office the next morning, and calmly explained my rationale and uncomfortably with how he handled that, he said he “may have acted inappropriate” and then was quick to add he realized it might be difficult for me coming into the firm and stepping into a position that had been vacant for so long. My immediate thought was “what the f@ck”...
I went back to my office and thought about this, and wondered what jobs are out there, in case this didn’t work out. As we all know, the job market sucks, and my online search showed me that locally things are pretty bleak. So I am resolved to stick it out, although I am going to continue looking for opportunities to move up.
OK, so now things start going weirder. I say that because my sense of value at work, and whether I have a reputation for being good at what I do or not is important to me. My resume says a lot that gets me in the door, but it’s my abilities that keep me employed. And if my boss doubts me already, how can this work out?
So now the weirder part
First, I get an industry award for something I did before coming to my current firm. My boss mentions it to his boss, and the next thing you know I am invited to the divisional staff meeting, to talk about the award, show off my plaque, etc.
Then last weekend, my boss wrenches his back badly, and so I am emailed Sunday that I will take over for a couple of days while he recuperates…OK, no biggy.
Only by Tuesday, he is not better, he is worse, and is now on some pretty strong drugs, as evidence by the cryptic emails he is sending to me and staff. Eventually his boss calls him at home and recommends he let me run things for the rest of the week, and stop emailing everyone…and recuperate.
So by Wednesday he has considered this, and sends me and her email saying he is so very glad I am there to fill in, and will stay home. She replies (to him and a cc to me)
“I have every confidence in Canice, who has been doing an excellent job in your absence. I have heard nothing but good things about how she is handling things in your absence. See you when you are feeling better”
Mind you this last week my senior worker has been out on vacation, my most skilled writer and planner were in training classes until Wednesday, my technology expert was out Monday, so all week I have been handed a less than full staff to do our normal work, plus be his stand in.
All I know is by yesterday afternoon, I was ready for the weekend.
Besides all this, during this past week we got one of those corporate wide emails which I hate (HATE them, so impersonal) that is written like a memo and simply says its from the CEO (Office of the Chief Executive):
From: CEO <corpnotifications@****.com
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 4:25 PM
To: All employees
Subject: Salaries and Bonuses
All of us are aware that the national economy has had its difficulties over the last several years, which have caused us all to tighten our belts. Just as you and your family have had to adjust to changes in the economy, **** Corporation has had to consider the changing economy, our needs and the needs of you, our valued employees.
To assist employees in planning their personal finances, the Board has reviewed the salaries and bonuses schedules, and revised them to include a one-time corporate wide salary adjustment of 3.8% effective November 1, 2011. The Board has also voted to include a supplemental increase to the top salary step of all salary ranges in the form of a cost of living increase not to exceed 3% in November 2013.
The Board has suspended all bonus and incentive programs indefinitely….
Most of my staff had already left for the day when this came out, but the one guy remaining read this and came storming to my office …apparently before the downturn, they were handing out bonus money which varied between 4-8%...so he thought this actually was a cut…he was sort of offended actually.
And I just love that something they voted on last week is being released to employees the last Friday of the month at almost quitting time…
OK, so I made it through the week…let’s see how next week goes J
