CEO’s Post On Micromanaging Goes Viral And Many Agree How Toxic For Any Company Micromanaging Truly Is
Perpetual connectivity has brought amazing benefits to our lives; we can catch up with friends and family anywhere in the world at the push of a button, access the entire sum of human knowledge at our fingertips or have a 3-course meal delivered directly to our doors if we so choose.
But there are downsides too. The fact that we can find and reconnect with our first crush at high school means that your boss can certainly find you too, and escaping from the daily responsibilities of work is getting harder and harder. More of us are foregoing a healthy work/life balance as that small favor you once did has quickly become a general expectation, and our physical and mental health is suffering for it. But what can be done?
Enter Ian Sohn, president of creative tech agency Wunderman Chicago. Ian believes in trust and respect for the space of his employees, emphasizing that they should never need to “apologize for having lives.” He wrote an emotive open letter on Linkedin recently which has since gone viral for its honest and supportive tone, eschewing the increasingly common culture of micromanaging in the workplace.
Ian often addresses his thoughts and professional concerns in words, and this particular issue has been on his mind for some time. “At any given time I’ve got a bunch of topics rattling around in my head. Some are personal, some professional, many a combination,” he told Bored Panda. ”
Usually some spark — a conversation or article I’ve read — will remind me of one of those topics and I’ll very quickly try to capture, in words, my thoughts. In this particular case, it was a stew of factors including a particularly hectic time at work for myself, a conversation with someone who works for me and quite honestly a palpable anxiety in the world about how to manage all the moving parts of our lives.”
Image credits: Ian Sohn
“Why do I think it has resonated with so many people? It’s a universal topic. Finding balance is as relevant to me as it is to you as it is to everyone who has a life and a job.”
“It also seems — based on the thousands of messages I’ve received in the last week — that people appreciate someone in a leadership role speaking like a human rather than a robot. I’ve been told the message was important, but so was the tone.”
Most comments were supportive of Ian’s view
But others believe that things are not quite so simple
What do you think? Do you consider yourself to have a good work/life balance? If not, how could it be improved? Are Ian’s words a good example of leadership? Let us know in the comments below!
The only one I really question is the coming in late/leaving early one. That might work for some office settings, but in many places that would not. While it might not need to be said that it is for your kid's soccer game, at minimum a "hey, I have to leave early on Thursday" is usually required.
I love this post so much. I left my last job because our time was constantly micromanaged. We have to tell our boss when we went on lunch, used the bathroom and I had to ask permission to leave work when I was done my 8 hours.
This is not new, alas. About 25 years ago (yeesh) my hubby was fired for not requesting permission for an EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY. Hello? How do you schedule an emergency ahead of time?! ANother boss called him knwoing he was out of the country on vacation and expected him to return.. to do one thing. ONE thing... But don't kid yourselves. Clients are as awful as bosses. "Why didn't you answer my e-mail at 3 AM?"... Uh, I was asleep! Duh! ... Basically, we need courtesy and sense to be COMMON again. IMHO, of course.
Your work should not be judge on where you are or when you are but what you accomplish.
Well, no. Most jobs get paid by the hour. So it's reasonable from the employer to expect that you are on time on the job.
Load More Replies...When we were at our first daughter's first pediatrics appointment (less than a week old, I had just left hospital), my husband's employer asked him: "why aren't you answering my calls? Who is breastfeeding? YOU?". I still can't describe what I felt.
As an American, I find the overall brevity of maternity leave in this country alone to be appalling, and to find an employer than gives paternity leave is next to impossible. Breaks my heart. How can a nation with so many pro-lifers in power, not provide these accommodations to new parents??
Load More Replies...Clearly, the above replies from people who thought things "were not quit so simple" were from people severely lacking in understanding and reading comprehension. Particularly Mz.Thiess, who doesn't grasp that Mr. Sohn's "strategy" is the balance to how things are typically done. The fact is that, for the most part, he is talking about what goes on outside of the work environment... outside of work hours. Of employer expectations that an employee should be at the employer's beck and call 24/7. Of managers/bosses/business owners who haven't heard of the the 13th Amendment.
The one with the emergency heart surgery really shocked me... But some bosses are like that. A co-worker asked me today if my department was hiring student assistants. A friend of him lost her grandmother the other day and was dealing with it badly. When she sent an email to her bosses saying she couldn‘t come to work, they had a go at her because she had the audacity to send a email rather than calling. Needless to say she was devastated. I don’t get things like that. We had numerous student assistants losing their grandparents and in one tragic case even their mother, and some of them left in the middle of their shift because that was when they got the respective call. The people in my department are far from saints, but not once did anyone make a negative comment about someone leaving early for such reasons. How cruel can you be? And I don’t care if shifts have to be filled, that’s the problem of the company, not the person who‘s grieving. You can’t simply postpone your feelings!
I called out sick earlier this month, and my last unscheduled absence was in July of last year. When I returned the following day you would of thought that I had ran over someones beloved pet. I was reminded of the company policy on attendance, and told to be mindful going forward. Mind you we have a supervisor that is late every day, and they love to micro manage us. I love the company that i work for but not the dept that i am in. Sadly they block you from moving up within the company and going to another dept. So this point I will be looking for other employment, wont leave without a new one though.
I am sorry to hear your story, and can completely relate. I was the general manager of a privately owned coffee shop for 5 years, and was fired for having the flu. I knew I couldn’t serve the public while demonstrating symptoms of a communicable illness, but apparently the owner did not want to work (for a couple days) so badly that he thought I deserved to be sacked..for being a responsible person. (Upside, I collected unemployment from him and went back to school- and now in a career that I find personally fulfilling!)
Load More Replies...This is all fine and commendable behavior, but we all know people on our jobs that would willingly and constantly abuse privilege like this. Work form home, nope, be sleeping all day. Showing up late once a month, nope, show up late and leave early every single day. Those poeple ruin it for people who could normally be trusted to get their work done.
My boss is like this. In return I give him the respect and dedication he deserves. I take the time to respond after hours and give him extra time when needed. He never expects it from me, but I'll do it because I know I won't be turned down when I need a favour. And if anyone in the office takes advantage of his generosity they have to deal with me because I'm extremely protective. I've worked in a company where the boss was Satan and I won't allow this job to become the Hell that my previous employment was.
I am a boss, and I hate micromanaging. It wastes time and my resources. It p***3* off my guys. I expect them to push boundaries and eventually and occasionally screw things up. After all, however else are they to learn, gain wisdom and understanding of what works and what not? My job is just to keep them not making the mistakes that really hurts. I trust my guys, I tell them what need done, by when, but I leave it to them to sort the rest out. I they get stuck, I'm there to lend a reason or guidance, whenever I can, but usually, they are clever enough to figure it out themselves just by explaining the problem to me... (!) Give your subjects your trust, guide them, and when things go south, never ask - who fsxked up, but - how do we fix it, what do we learn, and how do we stop this from happening again? Everyone wiser, with a bigger understanding of what works and not, to draw on for the future events.
I went to work for two lawyers in a big firm. After one week, my dad has a stroke, will die in a few days. Left my husband to explain where I was, figuring I'd need a new job when I got home. Was with my dad when he died, got to say goodbye right. Stayed 3 weeks till mom was okay. Got home -- to flowers and a sympathy card. Amazing place! Then I was honest on my timesheets about often being 15 min. late, but stayed late voluntarily and often. HR was shocked by my honesty but okay with it because my bosses were happy. EHR even found a way around the raise 3.5% limit and gave me 10.5% for my work. I could have stayed there forever! But husband was transferred. Now I just work for myself. Will never find other bosses that great!
I had a boss who just couldn't grasp that the perimeters of the accounting software wouldn't allow for certain reports to be generated. I had to create an Excel spreadsheet, import data and then rearrange it into the format he wanted. And then he wanted to know why it took so long for 1 "simple" report. I explained it to him - repeatedly. He thought I was just trying to get more hours (I am a contractor, not an employee). I finally had one of his clients (CFO of a hospital, using the same accounting program) explain it to him. THEN he understood. F*****g jackass. I wasn't at all upset when I left that place.
If you do. not trust your employees to work do not hire them. If you trust them leave them to do their work it will be better work.
Just left a job that I was approached to do and came with "flexibility" in work from home hours. I'm a single mum and my daughter was put into hospital for severe low heart rate as a result of anorexia. My micro managing boss couldn't deal with not knowing what I was doing w Rey second, kept telling me to tell the doctors to just let her out as I needed to be at work and literally told me she couldn't deal with me working from home as she couldn't see what I was doing. Amongst other things. I'm a grown woman and a capable, efficient worker. But I don't need that s**t. I left.
I wish your daughter all the very best in her recovery. I'm glad you got away from the awful boss and hope you have a more compassionate workplace now.
Load More Replies...I have a friend who works for the Red Cross. He said he's been through Malaria infested places, war-torn countries, extremely poverty-stricken villages with rampant crime - he's even been held captive once, just the worst... but he said if there's anything that made him think of leaving, it's not the nature of the job but the attitude of some people he worked with in the organization.
My job (at a small family owned company that I've been with for over a decade) gave me three berevement days when my husband died.
I had two when my father died - yet senior staff got five. Apparently your grief is more serious when you are higher up the ranks.
Load More Replies...I don't need to know that you're "just popping into town and you'll be back soon". You work through lunch often enough, it all balances out. I don't need to know your trip to town is to have a pint with a friend. I trust you to know if there's a meeting scheduled when you're out and I trust you to make a decision about if it's worth going to.
I sure would appreciate having a boss like this. I have excellent work ethic, am always 15 minutes early so I can begin working at my start time, I don't screw around on my phone or computer during work hours, I don't abuse my lunch hour, I don't waste resources, I'm friendly and helpful to my coworkers and get lots of compliments from our clients. However, last year I went into renal failure and had to have a kidney transplant. When I was was waiting for the transplant, I asked my boss if I could shorten my days temporarily until the transplant (about 3 months). He said no so I had to force the ADA on him. Then he called me into his office after the donor fell through and I was devastated. Instead of recognizing that, he asked how much longer am I going to need to do this because he hired me for 8 hours a day, not 6 (I did not slow down my workload, I just completed it in 6 hours instead of 8 by skipping lunch every day. Non of my coworkers had to pick up any of my duties). (cont)
(cont from above post). Then another donor came through and my surgery date was scheduled. I had the transplant surgery and was in the hospital for 10 days, out of work for 12 weeks. I never heard from my boss the entire time. No text, calls, emails, nothing. After 3 weeks I asked to work from home and was told no, so my salary was reduced the entire time I was out. I went back to work after 12 weeks at my full 8 hour days and he was pissed because 1x per week I had to come in an hour late because I have to get my blood tested (immunosuppressants have to be timed exactly 12 hours apart and the blood test has to be done before the morning dose). I've missed very little work since then but if I do, he gets very upset. He targets me, while others miss work to go to kid sports events, long lunches, leave early, etc. It feels really bad :(
Load More Replies...Having been driven out of work by an abusive AND micromanaging supervisor, I fully support the kind of management where employers allow employees to be HUMAN. Most employment and most employers are f*****g scum any more. Is there any wonder why so many people can’t work any more? I’m on disability due to workplace PTSD and sleep disorder. I have regular stress dreams that still include remixes and repeats of my last employer’s abuses and unethical, illegal behaviors (including the corrupt union that did more for the HR department than for me).
I have renal failure and narcolepsy without cataplexy/severe insomnia. But I don't have the luxury of going on disability - I have to drag myself to work every day regardless of how exhausted I am, stressed out, sick to my stomach, aching body, incessant itching. However, I don't want to live off other people's tax dollars, especially since I have a blind coworker who takes 3 buses to work each way every day (takes him a total of 3 hours to commute) and he manages to get there and not take disability. The woman who cleans for us lives in a motel room and works 12 hour days cleaning, even though she'd be eligible for assistance if she didn't work.
Load More Replies...Your supervisor does need to know you won't be in at 9 am tomorrow - but I agree, they don't need to know WHY. Let them know if you can or can't be in, or have to leave early, or whatever, that is correct. Bosses, the rest is nunya bizniz.
I also hate that employers think that their vaunted "loyalty to the company" should work only шт щту вшкусешщт. When you need an urgent day off - well, dude you are on your own, find a replacement yourself. But if you refuse to work on your absolutely legal day off - you are disloyal, unreliable and unprofessional, shame on you.
Reward via Meritocracy - if that happened this behaviour would always work. Unfortunately... a past employee who knew they were a "favorite" abused their/our manager's treatment like the above - WE (the colleagues) ended up asking this person about it ... essentially I think... let's see... their grandfather died 3 times... oh and they were sick and needed to go to hospital *every single time a long weekend* ended... and of course it had NOTHING to do with the bender they had every time (or the fact that they would show up heavily inebriated) - so the manager decided to start micromanaging... US. NOT THAT PERSON - we apparently weren't helping that person "hard enough"...
I have to say the HMO I worked for in CO was pretty understanding about family stuff, as long as it wasn't abused. (Of course, some personell took advantage when they knew they could.) I only had one instance where I felt they could've been a little kinder- when my BF (now spouse) had to have major abdominal surgery, I wasn't permitted to take leave to take care of him when there was no one else. I had a meltdown at work the day after I brought him home, he was in such bad shape- they did let me leave, but it was so painful at the time. The bottom line is, if you have an understanding boss, don't take advantage. If you leave early, it affects all those left behind.
Some people cannot work without tight structure. They will be happier working somewhere else. You don't have to set yourself on fire to keep them warm.
U dont need to know someone will be there doing the job and if u pay them for that time? I dont liek micromanaging but thsts not it
Working in retail situations being late or leaving early aren't really workable. If we have 2 doctors in (I work in optical retail) and we're short a person on the floor it can make a day really difficult. In an office where the time can be made up I get it though. Some managers seem to lose their trust in people through bad experiences though. I was a manager at an optical, and I had to fire a guy for never coming in and just calling in sick to every shift without ever bringing in or faxing me a note. Found out later he'd gone to the store where I work now after I fired him and done something very similar- but with them he was "stuck up north" for over a week. It had initially made sense as we'd had a big snow storm and northern Wisconsin is quite rural- but this guy was just lazy. There's a reason why I'll never be in management again.
Of course, as a CEO, he doesn’t care. He has some conversations, delegates some work which then magically happens in time for his arbitrary deadline. However, try being a worker delivering that when your colleagues all turn up and leave at different times half way through the day, aren’t reachable or dump their work on you at short notice.
Yeah, our CEO likes to use big words too. Actually, in their own eyes, almost every manager is a philanthrope. They just happens to be ignorant a******s every time when they actually have to put their nice ideals in practice.
Don’t tell me let me guess....you don’t have a job right now...
Load More Replies...The only one I really question is the coming in late/leaving early one. That might work for some office settings, but in many places that would not. While it might not need to be said that it is for your kid's soccer game, at minimum a "hey, I have to leave early on Thursday" is usually required.
I love this post so much. I left my last job because our time was constantly micromanaged. We have to tell our boss when we went on lunch, used the bathroom and I had to ask permission to leave work when I was done my 8 hours.
This is not new, alas. About 25 years ago (yeesh) my hubby was fired for not requesting permission for an EMERGENCY APPENDECTOMY. Hello? How do you schedule an emergency ahead of time?! ANother boss called him knwoing he was out of the country on vacation and expected him to return.. to do one thing. ONE thing... But don't kid yourselves. Clients are as awful as bosses. "Why didn't you answer my e-mail at 3 AM?"... Uh, I was asleep! Duh! ... Basically, we need courtesy and sense to be COMMON again. IMHO, of course.
Your work should not be judge on where you are or when you are but what you accomplish.
Well, no. Most jobs get paid by the hour. So it's reasonable from the employer to expect that you are on time on the job.
Load More Replies...When we were at our first daughter's first pediatrics appointment (less than a week old, I had just left hospital), my husband's employer asked him: "why aren't you answering my calls? Who is breastfeeding? YOU?". I still can't describe what I felt.
As an American, I find the overall brevity of maternity leave in this country alone to be appalling, and to find an employer than gives paternity leave is next to impossible. Breaks my heart. How can a nation with so many pro-lifers in power, not provide these accommodations to new parents??
Load More Replies...Clearly, the above replies from people who thought things "were not quit so simple" were from people severely lacking in understanding and reading comprehension. Particularly Mz.Thiess, who doesn't grasp that Mr. Sohn's "strategy" is the balance to how things are typically done. The fact is that, for the most part, he is talking about what goes on outside of the work environment... outside of work hours. Of employer expectations that an employee should be at the employer's beck and call 24/7. Of managers/bosses/business owners who haven't heard of the the 13th Amendment.
The one with the emergency heart surgery really shocked me... But some bosses are like that. A co-worker asked me today if my department was hiring student assistants. A friend of him lost her grandmother the other day and was dealing with it badly. When she sent an email to her bosses saying she couldn‘t come to work, they had a go at her because she had the audacity to send a email rather than calling. Needless to say she was devastated. I don’t get things like that. We had numerous student assistants losing their grandparents and in one tragic case even their mother, and some of them left in the middle of their shift because that was when they got the respective call. The people in my department are far from saints, but not once did anyone make a negative comment about someone leaving early for such reasons. How cruel can you be? And I don’t care if shifts have to be filled, that’s the problem of the company, not the person who‘s grieving. You can’t simply postpone your feelings!
I called out sick earlier this month, and my last unscheduled absence was in July of last year. When I returned the following day you would of thought that I had ran over someones beloved pet. I was reminded of the company policy on attendance, and told to be mindful going forward. Mind you we have a supervisor that is late every day, and they love to micro manage us. I love the company that i work for but not the dept that i am in. Sadly they block you from moving up within the company and going to another dept. So this point I will be looking for other employment, wont leave without a new one though.
I am sorry to hear your story, and can completely relate. I was the general manager of a privately owned coffee shop for 5 years, and was fired for having the flu. I knew I couldn’t serve the public while demonstrating symptoms of a communicable illness, but apparently the owner did not want to work (for a couple days) so badly that he thought I deserved to be sacked..for being a responsible person. (Upside, I collected unemployment from him and went back to school- and now in a career that I find personally fulfilling!)
Load More Replies...This is all fine and commendable behavior, but we all know people on our jobs that would willingly and constantly abuse privilege like this. Work form home, nope, be sleeping all day. Showing up late once a month, nope, show up late and leave early every single day. Those poeple ruin it for people who could normally be trusted to get their work done.
My boss is like this. In return I give him the respect and dedication he deserves. I take the time to respond after hours and give him extra time when needed. He never expects it from me, but I'll do it because I know I won't be turned down when I need a favour. And if anyone in the office takes advantage of his generosity they have to deal with me because I'm extremely protective. I've worked in a company where the boss was Satan and I won't allow this job to become the Hell that my previous employment was.
I am a boss, and I hate micromanaging. It wastes time and my resources. It p***3* off my guys. I expect them to push boundaries and eventually and occasionally screw things up. After all, however else are they to learn, gain wisdom and understanding of what works and what not? My job is just to keep them not making the mistakes that really hurts. I trust my guys, I tell them what need done, by when, but I leave it to them to sort the rest out. I they get stuck, I'm there to lend a reason or guidance, whenever I can, but usually, they are clever enough to figure it out themselves just by explaining the problem to me... (!) Give your subjects your trust, guide them, and when things go south, never ask - who fsxked up, but - how do we fix it, what do we learn, and how do we stop this from happening again? Everyone wiser, with a bigger understanding of what works and not, to draw on for the future events.
I went to work for two lawyers in a big firm. After one week, my dad has a stroke, will die in a few days. Left my husband to explain where I was, figuring I'd need a new job when I got home. Was with my dad when he died, got to say goodbye right. Stayed 3 weeks till mom was okay. Got home -- to flowers and a sympathy card. Amazing place! Then I was honest on my timesheets about often being 15 min. late, but stayed late voluntarily and often. HR was shocked by my honesty but okay with it because my bosses were happy. EHR even found a way around the raise 3.5% limit and gave me 10.5% for my work. I could have stayed there forever! But husband was transferred. Now I just work for myself. Will never find other bosses that great!
I had a boss who just couldn't grasp that the perimeters of the accounting software wouldn't allow for certain reports to be generated. I had to create an Excel spreadsheet, import data and then rearrange it into the format he wanted. And then he wanted to know why it took so long for 1 "simple" report. I explained it to him - repeatedly. He thought I was just trying to get more hours (I am a contractor, not an employee). I finally had one of his clients (CFO of a hospital, using the same accounting program) explain it to him. THEN he understood. F*****g jackass. I wasn't at all upset when I left that place.
If you do. not trust your employees to work do not hire them. If you trust them leave them to do their work it will be better work.
Just left a job that I was approached to do and came with "flexibility" in work from home hours. I'm a single mum and my daughter was put into hospital for severe low heart rate as a result of anorexia. My micro managing boss couldn't deal with not knowing what I was doing w Rey second, kept telling me to tell the doctors to just let her out as I needed to be at work and literally told me she couldn't deal with me working from home as she couldn't see what I was doing. Amongst other things. I'm a grown woman and a capable, efficient worker. But I don't need that s**t. I left.
I wish your daughter all the very best in her recovery. I'm glad you got away from the awful boss and hope you have a more compassionate workplace now.
Load More Replies...I have a friend who works for the Red Cross. He said he's been through Malaria infested places, war-torn countries, extremely poverty-stricken villages with rampant crime - he's even been held captive once, just the worst... but he said if there's anything that made him think of leaving, it's not the nature of the job but the attitude of some people he worked with in the organization.
My job (at a small family owned company that I've been with for over a decade) gave me three berevement days when my husband died.
I had two when my father died - yet senior staff got five. Apparently your grief is more serious when you are higher up the ranks.
Load More Replies...I don't need to know that you're "just popping into town and you'll be back soon". You work through lunch often enough, it all balances out. I don't need to know your trip to town is to have a pint with a friend. I trust you to know if there's a meeting scheduled when you're out and I trust you to make a decision about if it's worth going to.
I sure would appreciate having a boss like this. I have excellent work ethic, am always 15 minutes early so I can begin working at my start time, I don't screw around on my phone or computer during work hours, I don't abuse my lunch hour, I don't waste resources, I'm friendly and helpful to my coworkers and get lots of compliments from our clients. However, last year I went into renal failure and had to have a kidney transplant. When I was was waiting for the transplant, I asked my boss if I could shorten my days temporarily until the transplant (about 3 months). He said no so I had to force the ADA on him. Then he called me into his office after the donor fell through and I was devastated. Instead of recognizing that, he asked how much longer am I going to need to do this because he hired me for 8 hours a day, not 6 (I did not slow down my workload, I just completed it in 6 hours instead of 8 by skipping lunch every day. Non of my coworkers had to pick up any of my duties). (cont)
(cont from above post). Then another donor came through and my surgery date was scheduled. I had the transplant surgery and was in the hospital for 10 days, out of work for 12 weeks. I never heard from my boss the entire time. No text, calls, emails, nothing. After 3 weeks I asked to work from home and was told no, so my salary was reduced the entire time I was out. I went back to work after 12 weeks at my full 8 hour days and he was pissed because 1x per week I had to come in an hour late because I have to get my blood tested (immunosuppressants have to be timed exactly 12 hours apart and the blood test has to be done before the morning dose). I've missed very little work since then but if I do, he gets very upset. He targets me, while others miss work to go to kid sports events, long lunches, leave early, etc. It feels really bad :(
Load More Replies...Having been driven out of work by an abusive AND micromanaging supervisor, I fully support the kind of management where employers allow employees to be HUMAN. Most employment and most employers are f*****g scum any more. Is there any wonder why so many people can’t work any more? I’m on disability due to workplace PTSD and sleep disorder. I have regular stress dreams that still include remixes and repeats of my last employer’s abuses and unethical, illegal behaviors (including the corrupt union that did more for the HR department than for me).
I have renal failure and narcolepsy without cataplexy/severe insomnia. But I don't have the luxury of going on disability - I have to drag myself to work every day regardless of how exhausted I am, stressed out, sick to my stomach, aching body, incessant itching. However, I don't want to live off other people's tax dollars, especially since I have a blind coworker who takes 3 buses to work each way every day (takes him a total of 3 hours to commute) and he manages to get there and not take disability. The woman who cleans for us lives in a motel room and works 12 hour days cleaning, even though she'd be eligible for assistance if she didn't work.
Load More Replies...Your supervisor does need to know you won't be in at 9 am tomorrow - but I agree, they don't need to know WHY. Let them know if you can or can't be in, or have to leave early, or whatever, that is correct. Bosses, the rest is nunya bizniz.
I also hate that employers think that their vaunted "loyalty to the company" should work only шт щту вшкусешщт. When you need an urgent day off - well, dude you are on your own, find a replacement yourself. But if you refuse to work on your absolutely legal day off - you are disloyal, unreliable and unprofessional, shame on you.
Reward via Meritocracy - if that happened this behaviour would always work. Unfortunately... a past employee who knew they were a "favorite" abused their/our manager's treatment like the above - WE (the colleagues) ended up asking this person about it ... essentially I think... let's see... their grandfather died 3 times... oh and they were sick and needed to go to hospital *every single time a long weekend* ended... and of course it had NOTHING to do with the bender they had every time (or the fact that they would show up heavily inebriated) - so the manager decided to start micromanaging... US. NOT THAT PERSON - we apparently weren't helping that person "hard enough"...
I have to say the HMO I worked for in CO was pretty understanding about family stuff, as long as it wasn't abused. (Of course, some personell took advantage when they knew they could.) I only had one instance where I felt they could've been a little kinder- when my BF (now spouse) had to have major abdominal surgery, I wasn't permitted to take leave to take care of him when there was no one else. I had a meltdown at work the day after I brought him home, he was in such bad shape- they did let me leave, but it was so painful at the time. The bottom line is, if you have an understanding boss, don't take advantage. If you leave early, it affects all those left behind.
Some people cannot work without tight structure. They will be happier working somewhere else. You don't have to set yourself on fire to keep them warm.
U dont need to know someone will be there doing the job and if u pay them for that time? I dont liek micromanaging but thsts not it
Working in retail situations being late or leaving early aren't really workable. If we have 2 doctors in (I work in optical retail) and we're short a person on the floor it can make a day really difficult. In an office where the time can be made up I get it though. Some managers seem to lose their trust in people through bad experiences though. I was a manager at an optical, and I had to fire a guy for never coming in and just calling in sick to every shift without ever bringing in or faxing me a note. Found out later he'd gone to the store where I work now after I fired him and done something very similar- but with them he was "stuck up north" for over a week. It had initially made sense as we'd had a big snow storm and northern Wisconsin is quite rural- but this guy was just lazy. There's a reason why I'll never be in management again.
Of course, as a CEO, he doesn’t care. He has some conversations, delegates some work which then magically happens in time for his arbitrary deadline. However, try being a worker delivering that when your colleagues all turn up and leave at different times half way through the day, aren’t reachable or dump their work on you at short notice.
Yeah, our CEO likes to use big words too. Actually, in their own eyes, almost every manager is a philanthrope. They just happens to be ignorant a******s every time when they actually have to put their nice ideals in practice.
Don’t tell me let me guess....you don’t have a job right now...
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