How patronizing is your boss and/or your workplace policies?

[Maine Mary]

I spent 12 years working in shoe factories and I bet there are VERY few (if any) jobs more demoralizing to one's autonomy then non-union factories. At least not in this country. We had to seek permission to go to the bathroom for Gawd's sake!

Thankfully I no longer work in shoe factories, so the situation is much better. Nonetheless, I do still have issues with one of my 2 part time jobs. For example, last week I was made to go into great detail about why I planned to leave work a half hour early. I gave them a reason- bad weather. Shouldn't that have been enough? Was it really necessary for them to make me explain that I was nervous about the 30 mile trip through twisty, turny, critter infested rural roads on a sleety night without winter tires? Shouldn't a simple "I'm worried about the drive home" have been enough?

Or how about this new policy they made us all sign?... One of the stipulations includes that we have to report to "The Company" within 5 business days ANY type of violation in which the police were involved. This policy in and of itself wouldn't be an issue for me (and is potentially a good thing IMO) EXCEPT for the fact that their idea of what must be reported borders on ridiclous. SPEEDING tickets are included for example. I kid you not. Nobody drives a company car so what business is it of "The Company" if one of their employees incurs a traffic violation on their own time?

Is it just me or would this type thing seem somewhat insulting to you? :shrug:

[pasadenaboy]

1. I don't know if that's legal.

But it clearly would bother me in either case. Sorry to here that.

I'm very fortunate to work for a great boss and a good company. Good benefits and they treat me like an adult. There are still some places like that out there, I hope you can find one.

I've also found that sometimes you have to pay your dues. After a few years, you get a lot more freedom and autonomy.Also, sometime the procedures are not really followed. We have a lot of procedures where I work that we ignore (vacation roll over, etc) as long as the job gets done well.

[Occulus]

2. I work for USPS.

Do *NOT* get me started.

Prime example: Today was the end of my workweek; we got hit with the first substantial snowfall of the year. Having lived in MI my entire life, I know from experience that the road crews are usually unprepared for the first snowfall.

Temps have been unusually warm late into November this year, and as a result, the ground isn't completely frozen yet. Tonday, we got about 3" of snow- not much as a single snowfall goes in MI, but enough to raise my alarms.

There were no travel advisories, which I found to be a tremendous oversight on the part of the National Weather Service. Upon leaving home at 4pm, visibility was reduced to about 100 feet, the roads were covered with wet, melting, slick snow, and traffic was moving at about five miles per hour.

It took me and my ride nearly fifteen minutes to travel a single mile. We could have gotten that far faster by walking and nearly wrecked twice. At that point, I told him to pull into a store, I used the payphone, and told them I wouldn't be in today.

I was thinking more of what would happen by 1 AM, at the end of my shift. The snow has partially melted, and is now freezing. There's a nick, good ice slick over the roads.

Now, the sick part is, for my enlightened self-interest, I'll probably get a letter of warning; my attendance record shows about one absence a month (clinical depression can do that, and yes I'm in therapy and on meds, as I mentioned in another thread tonight).

I could tell a couple other stories, but as the snow abated into the evening, I started to feel guilty about calling in. However, going to work isn't worth risking my life to do so.

edit: it really doesn't feel so hot to be programmed like this. The USPS is a fundamentally mismanaged company, from the direct local supervisors right on up to the Postmaster General. How any company can sign a contract with a union and then repeatedly and predictably violate it (even though that's not the issue here) and NOT be sued by that union is a total mystery to me.

[TXvote]

3. Reagan's first executive order

was to require federal female employees to wear skirts while on duty unless they had express, written permission from thier supervisor. I have a framed copy. It was issued before he stepped off the podium after swearing in. Talk about priorities!

Hope you find a work place that can treat you like the human you are. Times are tough, but some bosses make it MUCH worse.

Hug.

Peace,
Teresa
www.votervirgin.com

[mastein]

4. Reporting transgressions

Hi Mary,

I am an occupational health professional by trade and training. Been doing the job now for about 8 years and I am sad to report that though it seems ridiculous what they had you sign was probably (having not seen it I can't say for sure) legal. As a matter of policy at most firms, especially larger deep pocket firms, they have their legal staff check that stuff out to see if it is compliant with the state and Federal labor laws.

I could give you all sorts of reasons why a document like that is a good thing for both you and company, but I also think it shows a certain measure of desperation on the part of the company and their need to control their risk. Feel free to contact me off board (via email) for more info.