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[Wellington]

I've been working on my current project for 7 months on Feb 7th. I work for a company named Turner Construction as a field engineer, basically I boss people around until the building is done. Near the end of the project, the architect walks and issues a punchlist for each floor, I am in charge of two floors, average for the building is about 1200 architect items per floor... with that said...

Last night we had a meeting about our progress and I got roasted because my floors are lagging on the rest of the floors by about 200 items combined, to the point where they assigned someone else to 'help me' (read: take over) with my floors. I took great, great offense to this considering I got my punchlist for my floors at the end of November while everyone else had there's before I even began at the site... Meaning that I have done in two months what it has taken others 7+ months to do. We recently had gotten a new project manager, the old one gave me a promotion and a pay raise based on my performance and my review from my direct supervisor. This muthafucka doesn't know the history of the project and basically decided to take away my piece of the project, which I had built out from the time I got there (we used those floors as the hoist areas for material for the rest of the building) to punchlist, and now I am whittling down the punchlist itself faster than anyone else, and gave it to someone else.

So basically, when I caught wind of all that was going on from the guy that was supposed to help me, I wrote a quick randomizing function in the program we use, so now, all of my lists are out of order and only I know how it all goes together. And, I told my direct supervisor that if they take away that piece of the project from me, or reduce my work load in any way, that they will have to fire me or move me to another project.

Maybe this wasn't in my best interest, but in my mind, I am trying to climb the corporate ladder as fast as possible and this would be a step in the wrong direction. Yeah, it's a gamble, but I am 22, have a proven track record already, and I think the job hunt would be short and painless for me at this point. I'm scheduled to be at the main office tomorrow so I won't even be there when my direct supervisor informs our boss of my decision, but hey I can't wait until Friday to see what happens, for better or worse. :|

 

[darscot]

Enjoy the EI line.

 

[bishoptl]

Stand up for yourself, CK - they can only fuck you if you let them. Frankly, you are young enough to take your skills elsewhere (from the conversations we've had before), as long as you're willing to deal with some short term pain should your showdown not go as planned.

That said, when it's time to talk with your boss on Friday, make the same points that you brought up here as clearly and calmly as possible, without yelling and waving a gun. Managers as a rule don't like that.

Good luck.

 

[Jdw40223]

Enjoy the EI line.

:lol

hmmmm.. maybe its just what u said: you're 22! THe new PM could have been testing you out and guess what? your age prevealed and proved his thesis correct. I think you should have brought the points you mentioned on your thread to the new guy or sup even. Either way this'll be a great lesson for you. Win or Lose.

 

[Lonestar]

"without yelling and waving a gun. Managers as a rule don't like that."

Dammit.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I don't think that randomizer things was the best idea. Sabotaging a whole project to get your own back probably isn't going to be looked upon it too great a light. I hate to say it but you may have screwed yourself over more.

And surely if your performance is as good as you say (I'm not doubting you, but hey, I can't verify for myself) then there'll be people (like your supervisor) who can vouch for you in your current action. You would have been better off consulting with him before rushing in an ultimatum. Now when he speaks to your boss, what he'll be passing on is a confrontation rather than expressing your concerns about your position and giving his positive impression of your abilities.

 

[keiichi]

So basically, when I caught wind of all that was going on from the guy that was supposed to help me, I wrote a quick randomizing function in the program we use, so now, all of my lists are out of order and only I know how it all goes together. And, I told my direct supervisor that if they take away that piece of the project from me, or reduce my work load in any way, that they will have to fire me or move me to another project.

So... If I read this correctly you went out of your way to sabotage your list right? If I was your boss and I found out what you did I would fire you so fucking fast. Yes, what they are doing is screwing you over but there are better ways to communicate to your boss any issues you may be having rather than acting the way you did.

Seriously, you're 22. It sounds like your very ambitious so I have no doubt you'll do well in the bussiness world, but there's not point in stooping to their level.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Doesn't HR handle all this stuff?

 

[darscot]

I just can't believe you did this. The more I think about it the dumber it sounds. The only hope you have is that your boss is a complete idiot. You have given him so many reasons to fire your ass.

1.) You clearly care more about you own ass then the project.
2.) You clearly are looking too move up and are way to obvious about it. Rule number one in managment: Never hire someone that is after your job!
3.) The whole sabotage thing is beyond stupidty.
4.) The way you handled it is just amatuer night stuff.

At know time did that light in you head blink on that makes you think "Maybe this is a bad idea"

 

[belgurdo]

 

[bishoptl]

From what I understand, the randomizer is something only CK knows about, am I right? While I don't condone that kind of behaviour, I do applaud you letting your manager know that you won't be stepped on, especially since your work to this point has been superior to others in a similar position (2 months in comparison to 7 months). That's patently unfair, and bad management on their part not to recognize this.

We'll see what happens come Friday.

1.) You clearly care more about you own ass then the project.

Way out of line. He's the one getting things done for the project, in a far more judicious manner than others in the same position.

2.) You clearly are looking too move up and are way to obvious about it. Rule number one in managment: Never hire someone that is after your job!

Here's a management rule you should consider: don't cut the feet out under your best employees by rewarding mediocre ones. Manage a few groups and you'll realize this.

3.) The whole sabotage thing is beyond stupidty.
4.) The way you handled it is just amatuer night stuff.

Agreed.

 

[Wellington]

I should have clarified, I itemize what I do on a daily basis and, well basically it's a to-do list. At the end of each day, after completing the list, I write in detail what happened and how it happened. Only I use it, and it would be so that in case at some point I am not willing to do my job for some reason, anyone else can jump right in with a bit of reading of my lists. I call it my "what if I get hit by a bus" insurance. THIS is what I randomized. It just so happens that I keep it in the program we use for the punchlist stuff so that it can be attached to the project database. My goal here was to have no one be able to replace me easily, not sabotage. :lol

Yeah it may have been immature, and my supervisor mentioned that I shouldn't let these things get to me, but I think I am worth more to the project than whatever this will cost me.

 

[Slo]

Wow.

 

[darscot]

It is very common practice to throw the new guys into the deep and of the pool and see how they react. I dump unfair workloads on my new guys all the time. Just to see how long they can go before they drowned. The good guys come to me right away and ask for help. The retards just sit on the bottom with the 500 pound weight I handed them. There is nothing unfair about getting more work then anyone else when your a rookie. That's life.

 

[Wellington]

It is very common practice to throw the new guys into the deep and of the pool and see how they react. I dump unfair workloads on my new guys all the time. Just to see how long they can go before they drowned. The good guys come to me right away and ask for help. The retards just sit on the bottom with the 500 pound weight I handed them. There is nothing unfair about getting more work then anyone else when your a rookie. That's life.

But... I am a rook that had three summers of internship experience, took care of the 500 pound weight, asked for more, and then took care of that as well. I think you missed the point where I said I got a promotion and a pay raise already. My ability to handle the pressure has already been proven.

 

[teiresias]

I still think before any kind of ultimatum was placed on the table that a meeting of some kind should have been requested where the circumstances surrounding your performance (how much less time you've had to actually get more work done than everyone else) could be discussed and the decision to assign a "helper" to you reconsidered. At that point if they were still being asses over it I say go for it, you're only 22, just be prepared not to put anyone in the management sector at that job as a reference later on.

 

[darscot]

I'm not a big believe in rule number 2. I have way to much ego for that . I have seen my fair share of people break it though. I used to work at a place that had this old bitter bag for HR. She actually hired this young enthusastic babe as her assistent. I almost laughed out loud when the old bag introduced her. The old bag was gone in 30 days.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

From what I understand, the randomizer is something only CK knows about, am I right? While I don't condone that kind of behaviour, I do applaud you letting your manager know that you won't be stepped on, especially since your work to this point has been superior to others in a similar position (2 months in comparison to 7 months). That's patently unfair, and bad management on their part not to recognize this.

What would be the point of randomising stuff if only he is going to know about it? For fun? It seems like the point of it was to make himself the only person capable of getting stuff done, therefore cutting out the person assigned to help him.

And while it may be bad of his manager not to recognise that he has worked above and beyond, he may be downplaying the fact that his floors are still actually behind, and perhaps he is being rash and possessive seeing the 'helper' as a usurper. Outside of his own sphere there are other forces and factors to consider.

 

[darscot]

Wellignton if you as good as you say you are I guarantee there are guys at work gunning for your ass. Nothing wrong with being ambitious but you have to be careful with the cocky. It'l make the old dogs nervous and you'll find youself with no job and a knife in the back.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I should have clarified, I itemize what I do on a daily basis and, well basically it's a to-do list. At the end of each day, after completing the list, I write in detail what happened and how it happened. Only I use it, and it would be so that in case at some point I am not willing to do my job for some reason, anyone else can jump right in with a bit of reading of my lists. I call it my "what if I get hit by a bus" insurance. THIS is what I randomized. It just so happens that I keep it in the program we use for the punchlist stuff so that it can be attached to the project database. My goal here was to have no one be able to replace me easily, not sabotage. :lol

Yeah it may have been immature, and my supervisor mentioned that I shouldn't let these things get to me, but I think I am worth more to the project than whatever this will cost me.

It's not as serious as sabotage but the point is the same. You're trying to barricade yourself into your job, when you're not really in the position of being able to make that call.

And not meant to sound insulting, more cautionary, but you sound a little full of yourself. And they say something about pride in relation to a fall. People like someone who works hard, they don't really like people who work hard then stamp their foot and start fishing for compliments.

As I said this may not be a personal thing against you. It could be simple that your boss has pressures on him to get your floors up to speed with everyone else, no matter whether you've done more work in a shorter time than anyone. But you've probably closed down any oppurtunity to find that out now.

Yes, you should stick up for yourself, but you should've been patience and seen how the situation panned out more, got people you trust on your side in case it did turn sour and most of all stuck your head down and make sure it doesn't affect your work.

 

[Matlock]

Words fail me, man.

First off, you're in a real shitty situation. I realize that, man.

But petty sabotage?

Jesus christ, man.

 

[Fresh Prince]

I thought Wellington got paid well for 'easy' work?

 

[Teddman]

Whatever happened with this, Wellington? Did you get your way with the boss?