Boss: Ashley, do you remember when I interrupted yesterday?Ashley (puzzled look): Uh. . .
Boss (cutting me off): Well I did that because I told you to only receive training from me, don't ask Jimmy (not a real name) any questions.
Ashley: When was this again?
Boss: Yesterday. You don't remember?
Ashley: Are you sure it was me?
Boss: Of course I am, you were asking about the computer.
Ashley: I don't remember.
Boss: This did happen yesterday. But don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong.
Damn right I didn't. I didn't work with Jimmy yesterday and I'm hella sure you didn't interrupt me asking questions about computers- I'd only ask people that have been formally trained in computers (I'm pretty computer savvy).
What is it about people that have a title that makes them think that anyone who works below them know nothing about anything? I have an awful memory, I'll say that- but I didn't work, with Jimmy- that's a fact (I looked in the schedule). Getting called on something I didn't do doesn't bother me as much as the fact that people with titles (usually) don't believe in the "little people."
In "Nickle and Dimed," Barbara Ehrenreich mentions how people would ignore her just because she was a maid or a waitress- only people "at her level" would greet her. Now I'm aware this is way different but all the rivers eventually fall into the same ocean- When I was still working at the theater and I was up for review, I approached my manager and said "My review was up about two weeks ago, am I still waiting for you to call me into the office?" That same day she called me in. She said I was a great worker, and in the last part, during "comments and suggestions," she said: "You shouldn't be so insecure." I asked her what she meant by that and she said that she didn't like the way I asked her about my review. First, that comment has NOTHING to do with my performance at work, and two, insecure? really? No wonder why you're a theater manager.
When do we get to stand up to these bosses and called THEM on their mistakes? Life works in a funny way- people move up, they get greedy and they forget things that matter.
Photo taken from http://vacascom.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html
Ouch.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it's so much bosses, or just the bosses you've worked for, you know? I've worked with jerk higher ups as well as terrible subordinates.
Personally, I think that the climate of the traditional corporate business structure is changing. With so many more highly educated people pursuing management level positions at such young ages, family oriented bosses working from home, and large companies pushing team-like environments it seems like the strict vertical hierarchy that our parents worked under is becoming more of a horizontal blur.
Maybe that's just my experience, though?
Either way, these days it seems -- whether a product of the economy or a taste of things to come -- that your boss today could very well be your subordinate in about 2 seconds. And vice versa.
(Maybe it will help to keep that in mind?)
Kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
En muchos sitios el clasismo persiste de forma atroz, y persistirá el hombre es un animal jerarquico, como el lobo.
ReplyDeleteKelly: I think I failed to successfully take my point across the table. I don't mind my bosses and I have pretty good ones too- I was just trying to stress the fact that sometimes, people that have some sort of power abuse that power and they forget how they got that power in the first place.
ReplyDeleteJesus: Muchas gracias por su comentario- tiene toda la razon, asi pasa; asi somos.
I hear you, Ashley. Boo on arrogant bosses.
ReplyDeleteI like this: "...but all the rivers eventually fall into the same ocean."
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE this entry. A big reason I'm super glad I don't work a "normal" job anymore. NO bosses! Wheeeeeeeeee! :)
<3 Jenn (Ex Hot Girl)