"Victim of your own effiency with no people skills"

[MorganaNK]

Hi

 

About the last week in August the CEO of our group took my "appraisal" where he proceeded to tell me that I was a victim of my own efficiency with no people skills. He said that he could "no longer swallow coming into the office and seeing my desk clear" and that I had three choices:

 

1) Cut my hours down to 20 from 40 and look for a part-time job

2) Cut my hours down to 20 from 40 and he would look for a part-time job for me

3) Leave

 

He said that he might well be cutting off his nose to spite his face, but that he couldn't justify my salary to the Board. He told me that I had "failed a supervision role downstairs" (we are a nursing home and the ground floor is the home and upstairs is admin). I and my immediate boss have no recollection of me doing any supervision job as I don't have the qualifications to supervise nursing staff and would never dream to try! He told me that he would talk to me the second week in September and left it at that.

 

The second week in September passed and nothing happened. About the third week he asked me if I had found anything, which I haven't.

 

More time passed and nothing was mentioned. My boss told me to keep my mouth shut and go with the flow so that is what I did. Then last week I happened to ask him if he had heard anything and it turned out that the CEO had said something and requested that when my supervision and appraisal was done that it was noted "in writing" that my hours needed to be cut.

 

I made a point of saying that the work load had increased, that I was doing stuff for visiting consultants, that I had taken onboard some of the work that our new maintenance operative said was "not in my job description" (running to and from the GP surgery, emptying the kitchen rubbish bins etc), organising a funeral, doing stuff for my boss, doing personal projects for the CEO, and that I had been looking but hadn't found anything.

 

Today the CEO called me and says that he wants to have a meeting with me on Monday at 10:30am even though he is here on Thursday (that's my weekend screwed then!). He is also being very "professional" with me on the phone, even though lately he has been trying to crack jokes with me etc.

 

I am now at my wits end. I have always done the job to the best of my ability; making sure that everything is always done and done properly. There are times when I can be sitting around waiting for something to do or for the phone to ring, but there are other times when I don't come up for air!

 

I have Fibromyalgia, B12 deficiency, PCOS, IC, OAB and Asthma, and I am scared about looking for another job because my health only just about allows me to do this one. I work from 8am - 4pm (at the CEO's request because I used to work 8 hours a day on flexi-time but he said they needed someone here between those hours to cover the phone etc). I give everything to my job, which normally means that I end up going home and crashing out for a few hours just to give my body a chance to recover. I can't afford to lose nearly £500 a month.

 

Any help, comments, suggestions, lengths of 2x4 round the back of my head???

[Emmzzi]

Sad to say, if the hours are not required, then they are not. I am not sure all the running around will be doing your health any good, how are you doing?

 

He can cut your hours, or he can make the post redundant.

 

If you can hold down this job you can probably hold down another office based job. You may even enjoy it more being under less stress. Also remember you cannot be asked about illnesses at application stage now unless it relates to the job.

 

What kind of roles have you been looking for?

 

Do you have a union rep who can advise you on the position with the current role?

[MorganaNK]

Hi Emmzzi and thanks for your reply.

 

Health isn't great; been seeing GP a lot lately (my condition is worsening) and saw a Rheumatologist a couple of weeks ago... his recommendation was to "remove or physical and psychological stress from your life"

 

The sad thing is; the hours ARE there, he just doesn't see it and doesn't believe it.The other homes in the group only have 15 to 20 hours admin; and one of the visiting managers said today that that isn't enough for her home... and other managers (H&S Manager for one) says the same. Even the girls at HO who I deal with on a daily basis say so but...

 

I have been looking for Admin roles; although I wish I could find something that I could do from home... and I am also thinking of self-publishing a novel that I have written.

 

I don't have a union rep... just a boss who sometimes does a convincing impression of an ostrich!

 

[Emmzzi]

Ok. So, have you tried keeping a log of what you do and how long it takes? I would start by suggesting you keep track for a month and have a discussion after that. Also suggest he provides benchmark data from other units of a similar size? As if he is arguing for redundancy or substantial change there should be data to back it up.

 

The other thing wiorth doing, if your health is getting worse, is checking your benefits entitlement to see if it really is worth keeping going. It probably is for a whole host of reasons but checking things out may be reassuring. At least you will know where you stand.

[MorganaNK]

Well, the CEO and my boss decided between them last night to bring the meeting forward to today... and I only got told this morning... no text, no call. I have just been down to speak to my boss and I have told him the following:

 

"When X calls to tell you what time he is coming, tell him not to bother and to just do what he wants. If he wants to cut my hours then cut them, I don't have any fight left and he will do what he wants to anyway"

 

So sick and tired of being the string to his cat... just don't have the fight left in me any more.

 

[Emmzzi]

While that may be how you are feeling today, I am not sure it is best longer term. Do have a think about that work log will you?

[MorganaNK]

Thanks Emmzzi, but in the end it won't matter... they do what they want here, always have and always will. Don't see the point of X getting in his car and driving to see me to just pontificate a load of hot air before getting to the point. I've seen it happen to others and I'd rather it was done.

 

Thanks again x

[MorganaNK]

Hi Emmzzi; I was right... it made absolutely no difference... as of 2nd January 2013 I will be working 20 hours a week. He wouldn't entertain anything other than what he thought he and I had already agreed

 

Oh well

[Emmzzi]

20 hours exactly then, and home time....

[Bandit127]

"he proceeded to tell me that I was a victim of my own efficiency with no people skills"

 

I think he sees you as being in a senior position and expects you to work at that position and delegate the detail. And that he sees you still dealing with the detail.

 

Just an observation and I may be way off the mark... But if I am right then starting to delegate will will start your journey back.

[MorganaNK]

I am just a lowly administrator who has taken on a lot of the work that the manager is supposed to do - he doesn't even know how to turn on a computer... I have to check his emails and print them out for him to action* (*which means shred and pretend he knows nothing about them)! He spends all his time on the "floor" saying he is too busy to do anything (but has plenty of time for coffee/fag/larking around breaks).

 

Work has gradually got worse and worse... boss has said about three words to me since 11:45am on Thurs... he asked me to do something which I am not allowed to do (pay someone petrol money out of petty cash when it has to go through expenses and the person doesn't have business insurance so shouldn't have been driving boss around and may not get his expenses paid because of this) and he got the hump... he didn't come near me all day yesterday... didn't say good morning... didn't come up to our shared office unless I wasn't there (came back from the bank to find notes on the desk)... he has become a right miserable sod lately... and two other staff were ignoring me too! If it wasn't me who would get it in the neck I would just do as he asked and be done with it... but I know it would come back and bite me on the arse not him so I am not prepared to break the rules! I have covered for him so many times - not any more... doing my job properly and no more.

[Emmzzi]

Having decided not to challenge the reduction in hours it is either move on or put up with it I am afraid. Moaning is just going to get you into a downward spiral of depression...

[MorganaNK]

I'm looking; I'm taking two college courses; and I am doing my best to put up with it until I find something else... Just sometimes you need to "vent the steam"

 

Sorry if my post annoyed you or dragged you down... wasn't my intention as you've all been so kind

 

Mo x

[Emmzzi]

I think it often helps to start with "I just need a moan" and then we know

 

college courses is fab news - I hope it takes your mind off it a bit!