Venting - You may ignore this!

[SeaJay's]

Well I just have to vent for a minute about my full time job. Please feel free to ignore this!

As many of you know my detailing business is only part time and I work in an office 40 hours a week.

Well my office job has gone completely down hill over the past year. I really use to think that I had a great job with a great company. I work in an inside sales team which I use to be the supervisor of for 2 years. Last year after a long string of incidents within the division and my mentor and boss was let go for stupid reasons. Long story I won't get into that now.

Anyway...after having 3 different managers in 4 months, a long with a lot of other things going on i.e. no support from upper management, no respect for me or the people that worked for me, and basically belittling everyone in my team. So after going to managment expressing my thoughts and opinions. They basically told me to screw and deal with it. So I attempted to deal with it for 3 months...after that time I was fed up with it and decided to step down from my supervisory position. This was Sept 2010. A few months back I get my annual review and they slap me with a does not meet and no raise. This is all due to 2 months that the new supervisor had supervised me and I had 1 incident where I got into with a sales rep. Nothing big just a little argument. Well, because of this 1 incident they give me no raise and say I have attitude problems etc. So I fought this 1st to the manager, and explained to him in our conversation that I was not happy here. Where he then suggested I go talk to a shrink. So then I went to HR. Who basically did nothing and told me to deal with it and this is a new year!

I am still in the team and things have only gotten worse, between the new supervisor, manager, and the sales reps I work with. The people here just seem to think they are high and mighty because a lot of them have their degrees in engineering, masters degree in business, etc.

Great example is this morning I have one of my sales reps contact me to look up a water system for him and give him some more info. Even though he could do it himself, he asks me because he doesn't want to have to spend the 5 minutes to do it. So I go looking up the info and there isn't any that I can give him. I explain this to him and he comes back to me telling me I'm wrong and we have to have something. Well I've been doing this job for 6 years and I think I know what I"m doing better than most people here. So, I explained to him why we have no records etc. He still isn't happy and goes to my manager. So, long story short I just got reemed out for absolutely no reason because we have no record of something...

It's getting harder and harder for me to come into this office every day and I'm really considering leaving this place and taking my detail business full time. But then I have to think about winter, and what I would do then. Plus can I make enough to pay my bills?! If my house sells then I might be able to because I won't have a huge mortgage over my head..

OK sorry I'm done venting now. I just get so fed up with this place some days that I just want to walk away from it all!

Back to reading the good detailing info in the forums! Im the MAN

 

[BobbyG]

Hey Jason,

Welcome to the new America!!

You don't by some chance work for Procter & Gamble do you? This is exactly how they motivate their employees as well.. Welcome to the Greediest Generation.

"Touching Lives and Improving Life" is their slogan...

However this is P&G on the inside...

Something to be proud of??

SEC Sues Ex-Goldman Director in Insider-Trading Case - WSJ.com

Unilever, P&G fined 315 million euros for price fixing | Reuters

 

[Meghan]

Jason that stinks, any chance of finding a job in same field with different company?

 

[SeaJay's]

Hey Jason,

Welcome to the new America!!

You don't by some chance work for Procter & Gamble do you? This is exactly how they motivate their employees as well.. Welcome to the Greediest Generation.

"Touching Lives and Improving Life" is their slogan...

However this is P&G on the inside...

Something to be proud of??

SEC Sues Ex-Goldman Director in Insider-Trading Case - WSJ.com

Unilever, P&G fined 315 million euros for price fixing | Reuters

I don't work for Procter & Gamble...I work for Millipore...now EMD Millipore. When I first started working for this company it really use to be a great company that work promote from within and really seemed to respect it's employees.

Now they prefer to hire from outside and show no respect to anyone and just treat us as we are another number and replaceable. Which I suppose I am, but that's not the point. I've worked here for 6 years working my butt off to become supervisor only to not have the support I needed to succeed. Which was I believe done on purpose by management because I was associated with my old boss.

On paper Millipore looks great! Considering we were just bought out by Merck Kgaa (based out of Germany, no the same Merck Co that we see here in the US). The company went from being approx 7,000 employees world wide to being over 40,000 employees world wide...

 

[SeaJay's]

Jason that stinks, any chance of finding a job in same field with different company?

I've been looking but really don't want to work in another office. That's part of my problem. Sitting at a computer and a desk all day is driving me nuts. I hate trouble sitting still which is one reason I love detailing so much.

So, only time will tell what will happen.

 

[CrownKote]

This is the entitlement generation... that sums it all up!

 

[maluminas]

That sucks. Now i kinda feel bad for using Millipore products in the lab i work at...

Did you do the math to try to do conservative revenu predictions from a full-time detailing job?

 

[Ted S.]

How far up the chain of command have you gone with your complaint?

 

[SeaJay's]

That sucks. Now i kinda feel bad for using Millipore products in the lab i work at...

Did you do the math to try to do conservative revenu predictions from a full-time detailing job?

Don't feel bad! Millipore does make great products. And not everyone that works with the company is bad. Just my personal experiences!

I have thrown around some numbers but nothing really in depth yet. I would really have to ramp up my business and get some fleets or maybe (*cringe*) some dealership work to at least make ends meet.

 

[SeaJay's]

How far up the chain of command have you gone with your complaint?

I've gone as far up as the VP of the division. Nothing...and in order for me to go up any further then him I have to go to France....which isn't happening. I fought it for over a month and finally just got fed up with being told the same thing over and over again.

 

[Ted S.]

I've gone as far up as the VP of the division. Nothing...and in order for me to go up any further then him I have to go to France....which isn't happening. I fought it for over a month and finally just got fed up with being told the same thing over and over again.

Any chance of emailing or an international call? If you could inform the companies heads what kind of assholes he/she has working in the company you will be doing the company a service.:xyxthumbs:

 

[SeaJay's]

Any chance of emailing or an international call? If you could inform the companies heads what kind of assholes he/she has working in the company you will be doing the company a service.:xyxthumbs:

I honestly think it wouldn't even be worth my time and effort.

 

[HeavyMetal]

SeaJay,

Get out. I've worked for a couple companies whose internal character changed - and not for the better. I simply left. The really nice part is you can usually realize some pretty large pay increases by going somewhere else. I've done it. In fact, it's pretty much of a business axiom that you're under-paid if you've been with a company more than 5 years. Get your resume out there and find another job. It's really not that tough if you're good at what you do. And since you enjoy detailing, keep building your business until you can be your own boss.

BTW, do give two weeks notice and be nice during that two weeks. People talk outside of work and word does get around. And do let them know you're leaving for better pay if you are offered more. That does make them stop and think. One company offered me more if I would stay. Of course I said no - this was one of the "bad" companies. I told them that I had committed and that I liked the opportunity offered by the change. Don't slam the company in the exit interview and don't make any effort to point out what you think is wrong. It's a waste of time.

 

[Ted S.]

I honestly think it wouldn't even be worth my time and effort.

Probably not.

I know it isn't a comparison, because I'm only 21 and still in college; I work for Arby's. I'm just a lowly crew member right now. I transferred locations earlier this year, and it took about a month and a half for this transfer to occur. My fronted reason for leaving was gas mileage, but a few of the muckrakers I worked with told the GM of that location I was leaving for all sorts of reasons. So about a week after I asked for the transfer I came in early to talk with the GM. I basically told the GM that her and her staff are screwed up, and I know they are gossiping about my transfer behind my back. I basically said that almost everyone at that location sucks at life.Im the MAN

So I had this conversation with the GM thinking the transfer would only take another week or two, but ended up taking five weeks. I basically told-off the whole establishment to the GM. Things got a lot better after that. I wasn't doing extra work for people who didn't want to do their job. I was treated halfway decent, and I received more hours. The GM was still a little pissed 'cause I had been in the process of getting promoted. Now I'm at the closer store and it ain't half as bad, and it's looking like I can still get that promotion if I choose.

For what it's worth: I also thought talking to the GM was going to be a waste of time, but I was wrong...

 

[diablojota]

Hey SeaJay,
I agree with HeavyMetal's advice (all of it, he makes some great points). Get out. Take another job. Often times you'll get a pay raise, but better yet, better work conditions. It can't get any worse, you know?
I have this talk same talk with my former students when they get into their careers. You may also want to consider a headhunter to help you at this point as well. Given your level of experience and some management background, you may find something that suits you quite quickly.
Even if you take a pay cut with a new job, you can supplement your income with your part time detailing gig.
If you aren't enjoying work, it affects everything (personal and career).

 

[Porsche Pilot]

Rent the house out, pack up the SS and Carrie and head to Florida. Maybe we can get you a job at Disney as one of the characters. I am really sorry to hear of the job straits. Bide your time, when the moment, take the leap...whatever that may be.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[Meghan]

You may also want to consider a headhunter to help you at this point as well. Given your level of experience and some management background, you may find something that suits you quite quickly.
.......
If you aren't enjoying work, it affects everything (personal and career).

Both great advise!:iagree:

 

[FUNX650]

I'm really considering leaving this place and taking my detail business full time. can I make enough to pay my bills?!

A lot of competition and it'll be tough out there for awhile...even dealerships are now getting more into the detail business. RE: Teph Seal is moving into your area (Conn., N.Y.,N.J., N. Hamp.) subcontracting its 'detailers' out for $8-$12 per/hr. Plus, every neighborhood has its share of the back-alley operators.

If my house sells then I might be able to because I won't have a huge mortgage over my head..

[As you know, with the housing market's current situation being as it is, it'll be difficult getting a genuine 'fair market price'---might have to wait for the pricing trend to go up.

I just get so fed up with this place some days that I just want to walk away from it all!

Back to reading the good detailing info in the forums! Im the MAN

Sorry for your trials and tribulations. Most of us have undergone similar situations. Keep the faith...life sometimes seems to go awry, but, overcoming and working through this ordeal will only make you stronger!

 

[SeaJay's]

SeaJay,

Get out. I've worked for a couple companies whose internal character changed - and not for the better. I simply left. The really nice part is you can usually realize some pretty large pay increases by going somewhere else. I've done it. In fact, it's pretty much of a business axiom that you're under-paid if you've been with a company more than 5 years. Get your resume out there and find another job. It's really not that tough if you're good at what you do. And since you enjoy detailing, keep building your business until you can be your own boss.

BTW, do give two weeks notice and be nice during that two weeks. People talk outside of work and word does get around. And do let them know you're leaving for better pay if you are offered more. That does make them stop and think. One company offered me more if I would stay. Of course I said no - this was one of the "bad" companies. I told them that I had committed and that I liked the opportunity offered by the change. Don't slam the company in the exit interview and don't make any effort to point out what you think is wrong. It's a waste of time.

Great advice and I have been looking for a new job for the past 8 months or so. I've gone on several job interviews, and nothing. Also, my current company actually pays me REALLY well for not having a degree. Part of which because they at least allowed me to keep my supervisor pay when I stepped down.

I think what is holding me back at this point is that I do not have my degree. Which I am going to night school to at least get my associates but it's slow going at this point working 2 jobs, my house, etc I only have time to take one course at a time. And even that is stretching it.

Hey SeaJay,
I agree with HeavyMetal's advice (all of it, he makes some great points). Get out. Take another job. Often times you'll get a pay raise, but better yet, better work conditions. It can't get any worse, you know?
I have this talk same talk with my former students when they get into their careers. You may also want to consider a headhunter to help you at this point as well. Given your level of experience and some management background, you may find something that suits you quite quickly.
Even if you take a pay cut with a new job, you can supplement your income with your part time detailing gig.
If you aren't enjoying work, it affects everything (personal and career).

Good info and I've talked to a couple "head hunters" and nothing. This was back in August/Sept, so I may try again.

Again it comes down to I really really don't want to sit at a desk all day and live in cubical world. I like detailing cause it's outside (or inside) and it's something different all the time. I'm not working on say a honda accord for 8 hours a day every day.

Rent the house out, pack up the SS and Carrie and head to Florida. Maybe we can get you a job at Disney as one of the characters. I am really sorry to hear of the job straits. Bide your time, when the moment, take the leap...whatever that may be.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

LOL thanks Ed. We actually looked into renting the house out but we wouldn't get enough money in rent to cover our mortgage. We'd still have to contribute at least $600 a month and maintain the house.

So, for now we are just hoping to get out of the house without owing anything. Hopefully we can. If not we are OK paying some to get out just not a lot. Once we are out of the house we will be saving probably about $2k a month between the two of us. So, Florida isn't out of the question in the near future! Of course at that point I'm going to have to worry about selling my gf's mothers house and taking her with us....that's a whole other can of worms!

I think I'm just in a bad place right now. I can't leave my job as I need it to pay my mortgage. I could risk taking the jump to make my detailing gig full time but my revenue isn't guaranteed and my gf couldn't pay the bills on her own if I didn't make ends meet one month. Which once my house is gone, that portion of it will be as well. So, making that leap wouldn't be such an impact other than going from making really good money to maybe not making much at all. Which I have to consider as well. Happiness in what my career is or money?! Sometimes I know it's better to be happy! Money can't always buy happiness but it certainly can buy a lot of toys! lol.

It's just one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong and it's frustrating me! Plus I have yet another sinus infection (on my way to the doctor in a few) which is not helping me out any. This is number 2 in the past 3 months...gotta love my allergies.

Anyway, I appreciate all the advice and I am definitely taking it seriously. I just need to get out of my house first and then I can seriously decide if I want to either find a job and take the pay cut for better conditions, or jump into detailing full time. I'm confident that while the weather is nice I can pull in enough money to make ends meet. It's when the winter comes that I'll be hurting.

 

[ScubaCougr]

I honestly think it wouldn't even be worth my time and effort.

Agree, SeaJay. In cases where an employee doesn't like the boss, I've virtually never seen it go well for the employee who takes it up the chain of command.

Your best bet is to wait it out. If the boss is truly an idiot he won't last long. If it looks like he will last, the other option is to transfer to another department, preferably one where you're known, so what your mgr/HR says will be discounted.

I feel for you. I've been cross-ways with a couple bosses who didn't understand the limitations on what we do/can do. I ended up leaving both those companies and was ultimately happier for it.