The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Should I tell my boss?
SeñorAmor
!!!Registered User regular
!!!Registered User regular
A bit of a backstory:
I work for a small-ish company as the sole IT guy, and my job duties mean I interact with everyone here. While I'm technically part of the administrative group, I have more contact with the other two groups than I do with the rest of the administrative group (my boss and his brother and two office staff) -- mostly because there are more employees in the other groups (who I support as IT) and also because my boss(es) grant me the independence to do my job as I see fit without them hovering over me.
My primary boss does the day to day operations and management while his brother is there mostly for consultation (he has his own company and we share the building) and is rarely involved unless he's brought into the situation. My boss has a nasty habit of getting easily frustrated and talking down to people (I think he may be bi-polar). He also has a nasty habit of siding with our customers over our staff, oftentimes prior to hearing an employee's point of view. It's frustrating to say the least, and he and I have had several discussions about it over the years. It's hard for me to be completely unbiased, but I'd be lying if I said he hasn't made some progress on this front, slight as it may be. He's a good person, but a less than stellar boss. He actually said to me the other day (after getting off the phone and being upset with an employee, in my presence), "You'd think at my age, I'd be better able to control my emotions. Ugh." He seemed genuinely sincere and called the employee back and apologized. His brother is typically more calm and collected and will genuinely hear people out if they express concerns, but my last conversation with him about my concerns and thoughts went absolutely nowhere. I have heard similar stories from other coworkers.
That said, one of my fellow coworkers is actively pursuing other job prospects, and losing her would be a huge blow to our company. She's a supervisor and knows the ins and outs of her department, and I fear her leaving would cause a domino effect whereby some of her subordinates would leave, too, in an act of loyalty. They have no reason to stay, really. The pay isn't very good and a hyper-sensitive and often condescending boss aren't exactly quality traits in a job.
I want this supervisor to stay, but I can't fault her for wanting to leave for a better work environment and for more pay. Is this something I should tell my boss so he has a chance to rectify the scenario or do I keep my mouth shut? I don't want to go through the fallout that will almost surely happen should she leave, but I also don't want to betray her trust by saying something to my boss.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
*Edit*
I should also mention there have been two employees so far that have left because of him and how things work around here. One was directly under him and the other in a different department. He seemed unphased by either of them leaving.
I work for a small-ish company as the sole IT guy, and my job duties mean I interact with everyone here. While I'm technically part of the administrative group, I have more contact with the other two groups than I do with the rest of the administrative group (my boss and his brother and two office staff) -- mostly because there are more employees in the other groups (who I support as IT) and also because my boss(es) grant me the independence to do my job as I see fit without them hovering over me.
My primary boss does the day to day operations and management while his brother is there mostly for consultation (he has his own company and we share the building) and is rarely involved unless he's brought into the situation. My boss has a nasty habit of getting easily frustrated and talking down to people (I think he may be bi-polar). He also has a nasty habit of siding with our customers over our staff, oftentimes prior to hearing an employee's point of view. It's frustrating to say the least, and he and I have had several discussions about it over the years. It's hard for me to be completely unbiased, but I'd be lying if I said he hasn't made some progress on this front, slight as it may be. He's a good person, but a less than stellar boss. He actually said to me the other day (after getting off the phone and being upset with an employee, in my presence), "You'd think at my age, I'd be better able to control my emotions. Ugh." He seemed genuinely sincere and called the employee back and apologized. His brother is typically more calm and collected and will genuinely hear people out if they express concerns, but my last conversation with him about my concerns and thoughts went absolutely nowhere. I have heard similar stories from other coworkers.
That said, one of my fellow coworkers is actively pursuing other job prospects, and losing her would be a huge blow to our company. She's a supervisor and knows the ins and outs of her department, and I fear her leaving would cause a domino effect whereby some of her subordinates would leave, too, in an act of loyalty. They have no reason to stay, really. The pay isn't very good and a hyper-sensitive and often condescending boss aren't exactly quality traits in a job.
I want this supervisor to stay, but I can't fault her for wanting to leave for a better work environment and for more pay. Is this something I should tell my boss so he has a chance to rectify the scenario or do I keep my mouth shut? I don't want to go through the fallout that will almost surely happen should she leave, but I also don't want to betray her trust by saying something to my boss.
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
*Edit*
I should also mention there have been two employees so far that have left because of him and how things work around here. One was directly under him and the other in a different department. He seemed unphased by either of them leaving.
SeñorAmor on
0
Posts
My gut says not to interfere due to the potential negative impact on her but that is just purely my opinion.
Why not? Because there is no financial or career upside for you. You'll be the person who ratted, to everyone who remains. Your boss might fire her before she has another job. She might change her mind and you won't have heard. Your boss might already know and you'll just look like a snitch who proved he can't be trusted.
Even if all goes well for you, you still get nothing out of it and the critical factor in making job-related decisions is how does it benefit me and my career in the long term? There is literally no upside for talking to your boss apart from problems in the organization, which he can solve by hiring or promoting someone.
Don't do it, it screws the other person with no benefit to you for doing so, and significant downside risk to yourself regardless of how it plays out.
It wasn't discrete or anything and I'm sure there are whispers going around about it (and probably the same whispers about other employees doing the same), but my boss is so far removed from these people that the whispers would never reach him.
I don't know what would happen if he found out. I suspect it would be the same when I threatened to quit (a weak-ass attempt to bargain), but I can't say for sure.
I would rather he attempt to keep her before he gets the two week notice and the damage is done, but as much as I want to tell him to get his head out of his ass and not be a shitty boss, it's not my place and I would like to keep my job.
You can't make that decision for her.
*It can work. I did once get a 25% pay raise from saying I wanted more money or else.
This. You can try asking her to speak with the boss herself, but ultimately, it is her decision whether or not she does. Additionally, it is her decision as to whether or not she tells the boss she is looking for another job or not. Absolutely do not tell your boss that she is looking for another job.
No, she's a pushover.
The majority of the people here are. It's why he's able to act the way he does.
When I started here, he tried the same shit on me and I planted my boot firmly up his ass and told him that wasn't going to fly. He doesn't do it to me any more.
Everyone else is just too far gone and/or they just don't care.
Other than the pay, I quite like my job. I have a ton of flexibility, and that's the real reason why I'm still around. If my kid gets sick and I need to leave, it's not even an issue. "Ok, Senor. See you when you're able to come back." Never a hassle, but I earned that type of freedom. My wife makes good money, so that part isn't an issue, but if it was, I'd be out of here too.
Everyone else has just resigned themselves to "this is how it is" and I feel like I'm the only one fighting for something better, but at the same time, everyone bitches to me. I can't make them vent to the boss (it's been tried, nothing happens, he comes off as unreachable).
I guess I really don't know what to do about the situation as a whole. I'd love to be able to say something to him, but then I enter a "shoot the messenger" scenario if I catch him on an off day.
I guess this is my turn to vent. Sorry.
Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.
If your concerns are about business continuance then talk to her about educating colleagues and subordinates about how to do some of the stuff she does. It's good training for them anyways.
If it's about her staying there, then that's her decision. Maybe you could talk to her about having a discussion with the boss about how to make things better for her but it sounds like she may be seriously looking to jump, and in that sit it is very unlikely she can be made happy short of massive pay increase (maybe hlthat won't be enough).
This will negatively impact you if you say anything to anyone.
Not just your boss, if you say something to a coworker, if you are saying this at work and someone reads it over your shoulder if you tell your boss. This will negatively impact you. Career steps are often based on relationships. You never know when you need to reach out to someone you worked with before (it happens to me quite often). You will be burning multiple bridges, and your coworkers will isolate you, because your name will leave your bosses mouth at some point, and then everyone knows you as the person who if told something will blab. Small offices are the worst, and management are some of the worst gossip queens.
I guess if they're not willing to say anything themselves, then their displeasure is on them.
Thanks again, everyone, for being my sounding board.
No. Don't say anything. Cross that bridge when it comes.
Doc: That's right, twenty five years into the future. I've always dreamed on seeing the future, looking beyond my years, seeing the progress of mankind. I'll also be able to see who wins the next twenty-five world series.