What can I do about this, if anything? (long)
Discussion
What can I do about this, if anything?
I have a bit of a possible 'situation' at work, that I am not happy with at all.
Basically, I work for one of the local councils around here, in the IT section. My job is an IT Support Officer, or in other words, desktop support. There is a relatively small team of us to do this job, probably around 10 or so IT Support Officers. Above us, we have what are known as Network Development Officers. This sounds posh, but they basically do the same job as us, but get more money - perhaps the best title for that job would be "backside licking officers". There is also a 'service desk' which is basically a helpdesk, which means answering the phones and putting calls in.
Now, above all of us, we have the team leaders, or perhaps more specifically, team leader, since the other one left. I have to say that in the past, I have had a relatively good relationship with the team leader, but I have to say of late he has gone down in my estimations, and previous stories about how he was a total tosser I generally ignored, due to 'speaking as i find'. In other words, he was always alright with me, so I had no reason to fall out with him.
The first thing that has annoyed me, was last week. The situation I find myself in, is that I am technically on a desktop support team, but I am being loaned quite often to another team, a project team, where I am helping them roll out this plan for the future (which, the management hope, will ultimately lead to needing no more support staff, so effectively I am working for my own downfall).
Communications between these two team leaders, i.e. team leader of desktop support and team leader of this project team, frequently break down, to the point where sometimes I am not aware of what I am supposed to be doing on a given day, or who I am supposed to work for.
So, I get bollocked the other day, because I am sitting there not knowing what to do, and they say I should be more pro-active. Right, ok, but surely their jobs as managers is to give me work to do? Why do I have to come and seek it? I am effectively just a trained monkey, and I dont see why I should go and chase them up all the damned time!!! OK, that one is in the past, but I would still like your opinions on that situation, honestly, if I am in the wrong, tell me... but I dont really think I am, but am perfectly prepared to be corrected.
The situation today is the one I am most seeking advice about though. As skivvies, part of our job is to cover the help desk, i.e. sit on the phones. Now, fair enough, I am sure it'll be written into my contract somewhere, so I cant exactly argue against it, but what I would say is that I certainly did not take this job to sit on phones all day....
However, what gets my goat, is that I am one of only four people who gets asked to cover this helpdesk, when there are at least twice as many potential candidates. Why is this? This seems like favouritism to me?
So, I am out all day, setting up dozens of monitors and bringing old ones back to site, back breaking work. While other people happily sit there on the internet all day I shouldnt wonder.... although dont get me wrong, I am not getting on my high horse about that, I do it myself sometimes, but in our office, who doesnt? When I return, I find that I have been scheduled for covering the helpdesk all day on Thursday and Friday. Not only that, but he wants me in from 8 till 5pm (I am on flexible hours).
I looked in everyone elses Calendars, but no, its just me who has to do it. So I look in the calendars for people on the helpdesk, and as far as I can tell, only one person out of 5 is off work that day, and being thats its easter week, it'll be quiet anyway.
I have to say, I am absolutely sick of it! It always seems to be me primarily, but he has 3 other people who he ALWAYS picks if not me.
Is there anything I can say to him about this, because I really am not pleased about it, and its causing animosity towards him from me, because I am starting to think he is very much the w*nker that everyone said he was before I knew him. I had planned on saying that I was not happy about it, and that I would not work 8-5 but I would only work my day (7 hours 24 - in other words, 9-5).
The thing is, as implied earlier in the post, I dare say in future they *may* try to make more redundancies, but the way things are going, I feel I can safely predict that will not happen!
So, what do you guys think I should do? I am very, very unhappy about this: What I want to know is, why is it always me or 3 other people and not all the rest? I love the way he didnt actually bother to ring me up and tell me or see me face to face, no, he has to sneak it in my calendar - which surprises me a bit because he is quite a 'forward' person anyway. I really need advice here, because I dont really know what to say for the best, and to be honest, I am quite a gobby and forward person myself, so I dont want to go too far....
HELP!
I have a bit of a possible 'situation' at work, that I am not happy with at all.
Basically, I work for one of the local councils around here, in the IT section. My job is an IT Support Officer, or in other words, desktop support. There is a relatively small team of us to do this job, probably around 10 or so IT Support Officers. Above us, we have what are known as Network Development Officers. This sounds posh, but they basically do the same job as us, but get more money - perhaps the best title for that job would be "backside licking officers". There is also a 'service desk' which is basically a helpdesk, which means answering the phones and putting calls in.
Now, above all of us, we have the team leaders, or perhaps more specifically, team leader, since the other one left. I have to say that in the past, I have had a relatively good relationship with the team leader, but I have to say of late he has gone down in my estimations, and previous stories about how he was a total tosser I generally ignored, due to 'speaking as i find'. In other words, he was always alright with me, so I had no reason to fall out with him.
The first thing that has annoyed me, was last week. The situation I find myself in, is that I am technically on a desktop support team, but I am being loaned quite often to another team, a project team, where I am helping them roll out this plan for the future (which, the management hope, will ultimately lead to needing no more support staff, so effectively I am working for my own downfall).
Communications between these two team leaders, i.e. team leader of desktop support and team leader of this project team, frequently break down, to the point where sometimes I am not aware of what I am supposed to be doing on a given day, or who I am supposed to work for.
So, I get bollocked the other day, because I am sitting there not knowing what to do, and they say I should be more pro-active. Right, ok, but surely their jobs as managers is to give me work to do? Why do I have to come and seek it? I am effectively just a trained monkey, and I dont see why I should go and chase them up all the damned time!!! OK, that one is in the past, but I would still like your opinions on that situation, honestly, if I am in the wrong, tell me... but I dont really think I am, but am perfectly prepared to be corrected.
The situation today is the one I am most seeking advice about though. As skivvies, part of our job is to cover the help desk, i.e. sit on the phones. Now, fair enough, I am sure it'll be written into my contract somewhere, so I cant exactly argue against it, but what I would say is that I certainly did not take this job to sit on phones all day....
However, what gets my goat, is that I am one of only four people who gets asked to cover this helpdesk, when there are at least twice as many potential candidates. Why is this? This seems like favouritism to me?
So, I am out all day, setting up dozens of monitors and bringing old ones back to site, back breaking work. While other people happily sit there on the internet all day I shouldnt wonder.... although dont get me wrong, I am not getting on my high horse about that, I do it myself sometimes, but in our office, who doesnt? When I return, I find that I have been scheduled for covering the helpdesk all day on Thursday and Friday. Not only that, but he wants me in from 8 till 5pm (I am on flexible hours).
I looked in everyone elses Calendars, but no, its just me who has to do it. So I look in the calendars for people on the helpdesk, and as far as I can tell, only one person out of 5 is off work that day, and being thats its easter week, it'll be quiet anyway.
I have to say, I am absolutely sick of it! It always seems to be me primarily, but he has 3 other people who he ALWAYS picks if not me.
Is there anything I can say to him about this, because I really am not pleased about it, and its causing animosity towards him from me, because I am starting to think he is very much the w*nker that everyone said he was before I knew him. I had planned on saying that I was not happy about it, and that I would not work 8-5 but I would only work my day (7 hours 24 - in other words, 9-5).
The thing is, as implied earlier in the post, I dare say in future they *may* try to make more redundancies, but the way things are going, I feel I can safely predict that will not happen!
So, what do you guys think I should do? I am very, very unhappy about this: What I want to know is, why is it always me or 3 other people and not all the rest? I love the way he didnt actually bother to ring me up and tell me or see me face to face, no, he has to sneak it in my calendar - which surprises me a bit because he is quite a 'forward' person anyway. I really need advice here, because I dont really know what to say for the best, and to be honest, I am quite a gobby and forward person myself, so I dont want to go too far....
HELP!
I'm no expert on these things, but it strikes me you've got to be straight with this guy and ask him out right why some of you get picked to do the dirty work and not others. If you have had a good relationship with this bloke in the past, then it might be a sensible thing to talk to him and try to get him on your side. You need to show willing though.
Don't approach him with a chip on your shoulder, just ask him what is going on, and what you can do to ensure things run smoothly. The guy is only human - I suggest you talk - not rant - but talk to him to see what can be done. If you are unhappy in your job, but are a loyal and hardworking employee, then I can't see why he would have a problem with you approaching him.
Perhaps he has had orders from above, but doesn't know how to deal with them. Building a rapport with the guy will certainly not get you fired any quicker, as long as you go in with the right approach.
Don't approach him with a chip on your shoulder, just ask him what is going on, and what you can do to ensure things run smoothly. The guy is only human - I suggest you talk - not rant - but talk to him to see what can be done. If you are unhappy in your job, but are a loyal and hardworking employee, then I can't see why he would have a problem with you approaching him.
Perhaps he has had orders from above, but doesn't know how to deal with them. Building a rapport with the guy will certainly not get you fired any quicker, as long as you go in with the right approach.
titiany said:
For a start go and talk to your Union rep. That's what they are there for.
>> Edited by sparkythecat on Tuesday 29th March 19:33
would this not irritate matters/people? Or can you head for the union rep with complete confidentiality?
The Union rep should be able to offer confidential advice as to the best course of action. He or she will spell out what sort of options you have and what the company policy is on bullying and victimisation and what procedural safeguards exist to protect employees.
At least then you know what alternatives are available to you and can talk through the pros and cons of those alternatives with someone who should know what they are talking about, rather than relying on the opinions of some perhaps less informed but well meaning cyber friends.
That way you can make some reasoned and informed judgement as to the best way forward.
sadako said:
As far as I am aware there is no union for tech support. Across the pond in the states any tech support worker, if not already downsized and job outsourced, mentions the word "union" they will be downsized and outsourced.
If our friend is employed by the local Council,ie on staff and not a subcontractor, he will probably be a member of Unison, which IIRC is the UK's largest Union.
My suggestion is that our friend should seek confidential advice from his union rep, not threaten his manager with the Union!
Thanks for the advice so far.... yes I am permanent and a member of Unison, so perhaps I should have a word with them about it. I am going to express my displeasure at what he is doing, and politely enquire why certain people get picked for this, and to remind him I didnt come here to work on the phones (which I truly hate, I have had jobs in the past that involve lots of phone work, never again).
I'll just put it to him in the friendliest manner possible and wont issue any threats, but if it goes on, then I will take your advice and go to the Union.
As someone said already though, support jobs are probably plentiful, but even though my job isnt great pay, I used to really enjoy it, but its gone downhill of late
I'll just put it to him in the friendliest manner possible and wont issue any threats, but if it goes on, then I will take your advice and go to the Union.
As someone said already though, support jobs are probably plentiful, but even though my job isnt great pay, I used to really enjoy it, but its gone downhill of late
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