Returned to work today, only to be slapped in the face with the latest indignity.
We have a venerable old war horse who works here, and has been here from day one. The guy has paid his dues, and worked hard for the company. He is an ex-military guy who transferred the zeal he no doubt used to break unlucky privates to breaking unlucky newbie sale representatives. (For example: One of his management ideas was to make all the sales reps who didn’t make quota wear “Bob the Builder” hats every day at work for the next month. The company actually implemented this for a while.)
He was famous for the lectures he would drop by HR to give to new hires, one of which I was unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of (think old school “you should give prayers of thanks every day for having such a wonderful job” style management, and you pretty much have the tone). He has made his money, and started the trendy “second family” that so many executives are sporting these days. The problem is he has kind of outlived his usefulness. He is a sales manager of the Old Guard. He managed by threats, intimidation, and humiliation; but he did deliver results. Several years ago, due to the stress of the job, the overtime, and a diet consisting in large part of fast food fried chicken; he had a massive heart attack and almost died.
Because of his health, he couldn’t do his old job any more. Plus, they really needed to get rid of his management style there. But he didn’t want to retire, and I suspect that the powers that be couldn’t find out a way to get rid of him without a lawsuit. Who knows, there may even be vestigial consciences remaining in the people upstairs, although I usually see little evidence of it.
For whatever the reason, they re-assigned the guy to an office manager position. He’s in charge of keeping the building stocked and ship-shape, and watching for cost overruns in administrative maintenance.
The problem is that this old war horse won’t be put out to pasture. He has attacked the building maintenance and cost overrun shepherding with all the old enthusiasm he used to use to reduce sales representatives to tears and curses.
He has now decided that we spend too much on FedEx shipments, and that all FedEx shipments must be personally reviewed and approved by him before we allow them to go out. When I first started working for the company, FedEx required a supervisor’s approval. Next they all had to be reviewed by a VP. This is an office with over 300 people. Apparently we are all to be treated like 5-year-olds. This means that every time I want to send a letter overnight (which I do to all of my customers with balances over $5K, since I handle problem accounts) I have to get two approvals. Can you say “drowning in bureaucracy” boys and girls? Can you put in on a postcard? Lord have mercy.
Here are some other wonderful policy decisions this man has implemented:
We have a venerable old war horse who works here, and has been here from day one. The guy has paid his dues, and worked hard for the company. He is an ex-military guy who transferred the zeal he no doubt used to break unlucky privates to breaking unlucky newbie sale representatives. (For example: One of his management ideas was to make all the sales reps who didn’t make quota wear “Bob the Builder” hats every day at work for the next month. The company actually implemented this for a while.)
He was famous for the lectures he would drop by HR to give to new hires, one of which I was unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of (think old school “you should give prayers of thanks every day for having such a wonderful job” style management, and you pretty much have the tone). He has made his money, and started the trendy “second family” that so many executives are sporting these days. The problem is he has kind of outlived his usefulness. He is a sales manager of the Old Guard. He managed by threats, intimidation, and humiliation; but he did deliver results. Several years ago, due to the stress of the job, the overtime, and a diet consisting in large part of fast food fried chicken; he had a massive heart attack and almost died.
Because of his health, he couldn’t do his old job any more. Plus, they really needed to get rid of his management style there. But he didn’t want to retire, and I suspect that the powers that be couldn’t find out a way to get rid of him without a lawsuit. Who knows, there may even be vestigial consciences remaining in the people upstairs, although I usually see little evidence of it.
For whatever the reason, they re-assigned the guy to an office manager position. He’s in charge of keeping the building stocked and ship-shape, and watching for cost overruns in administrative maintenance.
The problem is that this old war horse won’t be put out to pasture. He has attacked the building maintenance and cost overrun shepherding with all the old enthusiasm he used to use to reduce sales representatives to tears and curses.
He has now decided that we spend too much on FedEx shipments, and that all FedEx shipments must be personally reviewed and approved by him before we allow them to go out. When I first started working for the company, FedEx required a supervisor’s approval. Next they all had to be reviewed by a VP. This is an office with over 300 people. Apparently we are all to be treated like 5-year-olds. This means that every time I want to send a letter overnight (which I do to all of my customers with balances over $5K, since I handle problem accounts) I have to get two approvals. Can you say “drowning in bureaucracy” boys and girls? Can you put in on a postcard? Lord have mercy.
Here are some other wonderful policy decisions this man has implemented:
- He decided we were spending too much on pens, so the company would no longer buy them. Since the vendors sometimes bring in pens as premiums, official company policy is that you have to stock up when the vendors bring them in, or buy your own.
- To save on carpet cleaning costs, he decreed that we would no longer be able to have open cups at our desks. All cups brought into the office have to have covers. The company does not provide paper cups for the water cooler. You have to bring your own cup from home.
- He decided that we could save cleaning costs by firing the cleaning staff, and having everyone “clean up after themselves”. The bathrooms and vacuuming were to be done by our mail guy, and our maintenance guy. The cleaning service was quietly re-engaged a month later.
- He campaigned (successfully) to have a dress code implemented, since he doesn’t like casual clothes in the workplace. This is a computer company. One of the main reasons I chose this firm was that we were allowed to wear casual clothes to work. I now dress like a corporate yuppie clone every day. Sigh. That one was hard to take.
It’s like the madness of King George around here. I just can’t believe they keep letting him DO this. What an ass.
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2 comments:
What's wrong with dressing like a yuppie clone?- it's not like they're planning on taking over your soul or anything.
When I'm dressed like this, I feel like they have already.
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