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does a good job exist?

does a good job exist?

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belgianfreak
stitching you up

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I'm fuming. I do a damn good job and the people who are close enough to me can see that I do. A problem cropped up 2 months ago on profitable & high profile contract (rare!) that so far has cost us $200,000. I have worked solidly, whilst handling my normal load, for a month and then I found the cause of the problem. I wasn'r alone in this effort but it was my breakthrough that cracked it. I then implemented 4 different corrective actions as temporary fixes to the problem and 2 stages of analytical checks to make sure that the fixes where working. For the past 3 weeks my work has succeeded while I've worked on finding a perminent solution and worked on rescuing the $700,000 of currently ususable product (which I believe I have found).

This work load has made me lose track of friends, physically ill through stress and has landed me in hospital once, but I thought it worthwhile because I was doing a good job. But because an operator made a mistake last Friday, a mistake that my other 3 corrective action prevented from ruining the product and my 2 analytical check levels would have prevented the product reaching the customer, I have been verbally attacked by my bosses bosses boss, my collegues and peers given the 3rd degree (which they will internally blame me for getting), and all my work that has saved the day in the first place instantly forgotten.

My question is - is very job like this? I perform mini miracles on a regular basis while handling a massive workload. But the first time that something goes wrong (something someone else not under my cmmand did yet mywork meant that no harm was done!) all that is forgotten and I'm regarded as incapable. Should I resign myself to this for life or should I be looking elsewhere?

C
Moderately Offensive

All up in yo' face!

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Originally posted by belgianfreak
I'm fuming. I do a damn good job and the people who are close enough to me can see that I do. A problem cropped up 2 months ago on profitable & high profile contract (rare!) that so far has cost us $200,000. I have worked solidly, whilst handling my normal load, for a month and then I found the cause of the problem. I wasn'r alone in this effort but i ...[text shortened]... regarded as incapable. Should I resign myself to this for life or should I be looking elsewhere?
Look elsewhere. Watch Office Space if you need inspiration or
courage, but take action soon. Life is too short to spend busting
your ass to make other people rich.

Dr. Cribs

pradtf

VeggieChess

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Originally posted by belgianfreak
Should I resign myself to this for life or should I be looking elsewhere?
one of the problems of bureaucratic organizations is that there is little organization.
people who do the good work don't always get to make the decisions and unfortunately, often the ones who make the decisions didn't get there by doing good work.

it doesn't have to be that way and it is tragic that this has happened to you.

whether you leave or not depends on whether you think your organization is worthwhile enough to salvage despite the people in charge. if it is and can be done, then it may be worth it. if all that is going to happen is this 'blame that guy, so i can look good, since it's all screwed up anyway', you have better things to do.

i thought you were heading into medicine anyway though - so may be something has just given you a little push 😉

in friendship,
prad

tonytiger41

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sorry to hear about your situation.
the most important job characteristic is having the manager acknowledge your contributions, and a manager who will defend your actions when you're wrong.
tiger

T

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Nope. Not unless youre the boss.

r

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Originally posted by belgianfreak
Should I resign myself to this for life or should I be looking elsewhere?
I recommend getting out while you can. Fate can sometimes help us take actions that we know - deep down - are better for us. Prad stated something similar in his reply.

I once had a sniper-type employer; always ready with a smart-ass comment. After one particularly juvenile outburst from this employer, I promised myself that I would quit at the first opportunity. Looking back, I have to say that is was a very good decision.

-Ray.

Mat Kelley

all at sea

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Look to leave and tell them why - life is too short. If they know the reasons you never know his boss might have something to say. Don't get ill because of work though otherwise what are you working for?

Good hunting

Mat

w
Stay outta my biznez

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Originally posted by Cribs
Look elsewhere. Watch Office Space if you need inspiration or
courage, but take action soon. Life is too short to spend busting
your ass to make other people rich.

Dr. Cribs
Bingo. Well said doc.

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

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Originally posted by belgianfreak
I'm fuming. I do a damn good job and the people who are close enough to me can see that I do. A problem cropped up 2 months ago on profitable & high profile contract (rare!) that so far has cost us $200,000. I have worked solidly, whilst handling my normal load, for a month and then I found the cause of the problem. I wasn'r alone in this effort but i ...[text shortened]... regarded as incapable. Should I resign myself to this for life or should I be looking elsewhere?
It serves you bloody right!
You shouldn't be slaving your guts out to make someone else richer.

Anybody who works themselves into ill health needs psychiatric treatment. Seriously!
If you seriously think you're going to be rewarded you are misguided beyond belief. The lad (it's usually a lad, sorry Pradtf, that's sexist society for you) one rung on the ladder above you is going to claim all the credit anyway.

Before any feats of greatness are injected upon an organisation, it serves well, within capitalist society, to contact the bosses bosses boss first, just to make sure you get the recognition you deserve.

And yes, all jobs are the same. Whilst climbing within an organistion is more important than doing a good job (and just see which reaps the greatest financial rewards...and finacial rewards are what our society is all about), your good work will either go un-noticed or will be rewarded to your boss. Or his boss. Or their boss.

D

Brisbane, Australia

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Originally posted by shavixmir
It serves you bloody right!
You shouldn't be slaving your guts out to make someone else richer.

Anybody who works themselves into ill health needs psychiatric treatment. Seriously!
If you seriously think you're going to be rewarded you are misguided beyond belief. The lad (it's usually a lad, sorry Pradtf, that's sexist society for you) one rung ...[text shortened]... d work will either go un-noticed or will be rewarded to your boss. Or his boss. Or their boss.
I have to agree with Shavx...Shavix...Klingon-Avatar...you need a different job.

z

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I have experienced nonsense like this almost everywhere I have worked (22 years in software). I find most bosses are overworked, and too busy "putting out fires" to define and implement realistic plans that look forward more than one month. I have never had a boss who will make sure they know what I am working on! So I keep them informed and make sure their expectations are in line with mine (I call this "managing up" ). This has worked well for me.

[I don't know how old you are or how much experience you have, so forgive the advice if it seems obvious.]

I agree with those who say you should not sacrifice your health or personal life. But I also think that your bosses should not ask you to. In the end, unless you were threatened, it was your decision to work yourself ill. Do not fall into this trap, as it rarely is rewarded. No one will respect you if you don't respect yourself.

Before you look elsewhere, decide what you want to be different. Then decide whether that can be accomplished where you are. If not, look elsewhere. Find another job before telling others at work what you are doing, other than your references. Do not do anything to retailiate at your current company, other than leaving.

I have had my own business for about 14 years, but I still have bosses: my customers. And they are harsher and less forgiving than any boss I have ever had.

Best of luck to you.

c

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PD

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A timely post by belgianfreak. I was commenting to a co-worker today about how stressful my job has been for the last three weeks, and how the boss, who could have been far more helpful in getting things wrapped up for this client, is mainly just whining that I am taking too long and we are over-budget. The dollar amounts are not nearly as large as in your case, but the stress is there for me. On my drive to work in the mornings, I can feel my body tighten up as I approach my workplace. In the back of my mind I keep calculating how long I could coast without employment before my savings would run out....

PD

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Question to shavixmir: Do you have go-getters in your family? The sort they call "Type A"? If you are the one in your family (parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins) who is the least materialistic, and who maybe has accrued the least wealth, do they try to make you feel inferior to themselves? Maybe in a subtle way?

S
Shut Gorohoviy!

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In every company I ever worked it is the same.The ones working hard,doing a good job get nowhere.The ones doing nothing,but know which butt to kiss climb the ladder quickly.Step out of the rat race.Do like me,I work 4 hour night shifts and I earn enough for my needs.Of course,if you have to support a family,4 hours isn't enough.Still,this job is making you ill,look for something better.Or talk to your boss about it,you never know,it may change things for the better.
Whatever you do,something has to change!

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