Work problems

[N Florida Mike]

Gonna vent a little.Hope yall can understand- this forum is like facebook to me.

Anyway,Ive worked at the same place since 1993.I have never been written up for discipline for any reason.I have one minor accident, when the owner pulled in behind me when I was backing up.I have consistently promoted the company esp. With the customers.It has overall been a good place to work and has generally met our needs.I have been there 10 years longer than the next employee.I get plenty of positive feedback from the customers.etc.

The problem is, I feel mistreated by the management( of which I used to be one).Now I do bids on the services we do.Love the job.

But I am 100% commision.Thats fine.But they are continuing to add micro management( forms for forms, meetings, follow up for follow ups.My time is being eaten up for things that guys on the clock could do.

So I stood up and complained because I feel it violates a principal.I spend so much time with all these additional things that it cuts into my sales time and personal time.So now im told that some of my biggest revenue will be given to the other guys ( who are brand new ) .So I pled my case to no avail.

Im sitting there thinking about that and the big boss comes in and rudely tells me to get my feet off her new table.And my feet werent even on her table!!

I have been the top producer in sales for 4 years every month but 2 .But I an treated like a red haired stepchild.I love work and am very thankful to have a job.I try and pray every day for patience.But this kind of thing is really bothering me Any thoughts?

 

[Dwight Hottle]

When you are unhappy at work it shows. I think you need to consider a new job versus dealing with being unhappy at your current situation. It doesn't sound like management is in your corner. Good luck with your decision.  

[quanjig]

Feeling under appreciated at a job you enjoy is not good and like Dwight said will start to show at work. How you discuss your thoughts with your employer is very important. Try not to be that person that's a complainer. Maybe calmly explain that while you understand that the redundancy of the paperwork is required, it could be handled by someone else familiar with the job, freeing you up to generate more monies for the company??!!

[OCdockskipper]

Typically, top sales producers are given more leeway by owners/management than others for the simple fact that they are more valuable.  If the reverse is happening, than something has changed.  It may be of your making (you have pushed too far) or it may be out of your control (a manager/owner has a non-business reason for favoring others), but it will affect you either way.  The tough part is getting an honest answer as to the impetus for the change, especially in a larger, more political company.

[Turkey sandwich]

I've had terrible sales jobs and have been lucky that for the past 7 years have found an amazing and supportive company to sell for, so I know both sides of the coin.  My suggestion is to find someone in management you trust, put your ego aside (can't stress this enough), and have a rational discussion about your situation.  Ask questions, but don't do it in meetings.  Do it privately and politely.  

[lo n slo]

start looking 

[N Florida Mike]

Thanks everyone.Been mad all day.And the ironic thing is that I sold everything I quoted today.

The worst thing is that they want me to follow up after the sale.This isnt a phone call.They want us to go back out to the job site( which sometimes can be 30 miles away) TWICE after the sale to see how the contracter did the work.We dont get paid an extra penny to do this.

We used to do this service in-house.Now i do the bid and the contracter does the work.I think if they mess up they should have to deal with it, not me.And even if I go out and find a problem, the contracter has to go back anyway.

The company I work for even withheld some of my pay because They said I didnt take a picture of the jobsite.Are you kidding me?.I have 2 kids A wife and elderly mother to support and theyre worried about a picture.Its all just incredible to me.

[quanjig]

I guess it depends on how much you enjoy your work, and if you enjoy that company enough to continue doing so. Could you go elsewhere and earn the same money? Would you take a pay cut to work somewhere that doesn't require you to do the things that are being asked of you at your current job?? 

I don't mean to be disrespectful but couldn't you schedule your drive by's to coincide with another sales call?? Seems a little petty that just because they want you to be making an occasional appearance on a job site where you sold the job, you believe that's overstepping your job description. 

[N Florida Mike]

Good point.I have tried doing that but they schedule it for a certain day and it always seems to be on a day when my regular sales calls are far away from there.They want me to meet the contractor at the site when the work is being done, then go back AGAIN the next day to make sure the job was done right.

I understand the need and if theyd pay me for the time it woudnt bother me.But with this system I go out there 3 times and get paid the same as I used to for going out once.

They used to employ a manager for the quality checks.After the last one left, they want us to do for free what they paid the manager to do.Im not sure if its legal or not to require this

Im not gonna go postal or anything like that.I just want fair pay for the time involved.Thats all.

[deaknh03]

Sounds like your company is cutting costs by getting rid of positions and delegating that work to the employees that kept their jobs. It happened at a salaried position I held around ten years ago. I worked more and more for the same pay..until I escaped and never looked back.

[A-Jay]

There's a very good chance your employer is very aware of what they are asking you to do. 

When changes are made that obviously adversely affect productivity (not to mention disrupting employee morale) one has to ask Why ? 

Doesn't sound like your employer is interested in keeping you happy, only getting this new procedure going.  Also doesn't seem like you're  interested in riding it out either.

Maybe you could go work for the "Competition" ~ sometimes that's a nice way to level the playing field.

Either way, sounds like the writing's on the wall -  . . . . .

Good Luck

A-Jay

[bigbill]

Before I retired I was the worker while two guys who worked with me warmed there butts on chairs. Inside I was upset but I was the highest paid guy on the floor. I had a family to feed and I laughed all the way to the bank. Since most raises weren't that good I kept my part time job ready to go full time on my own. But I retired in 2002 at 52yo. I had the doctors evaluations to back me up. I was smarter than they were. I knew my health was failing. I stayed there to build up my social security. My doctor wanted me to retire ten years sooner. Now I say he was right.

years ago I learned life is a game, play to win. If I was going to work eight hours a day I was going to make as much money as I could. Low pay or high pay its the same bs. Ride the wave.

my boss asked me what I thought of unions. I told him in the shops I worked in the union guy didn't work. I'm non Union, a worker and could eat my lunch anywhere.

[N Florida Mike]

I actually love the job.And we do high quality work, have a very good reputation, its close to where I live.I especially enjoy meeting with the potential customers.Im never asked to do anything dishonest.Its the best paying job Ive ever had.

But its becoming one new burden to bear after another.I reckon it could be worse.

 

 

[S. Sass]

Been there before myself. The moment I knew I wasn't coming back It was a huge burden off me. 18 years in the same building is not a good thing. Change is a good thing sometimes even if you didn't realize you needed it.

People/management forget what you did for them it's a all about what can you do for me now. I've seen it first hand. And as long as they can keep piling it on you and you keep selling like mad it just proves they were not getting all they could from you. Seems in their mind it justifies their move even more.

So at this point you get to make the choice basically be quiet and be a number receiving a check each week. Looks like what they want. Or find new employment before you either get fired or ruin your stay enough you are forced out with bad marks on your records. 

[Turkey sandwich]

What type of contracting do you bid?  I work for one of the largest home remodeling companies in the country and may be able to help you out a bit in terms of dealing with the inefficiencies.  PM me.  

[RAMBLER]

When you get to the point you don't like your job, you have two choices.  Change your attitude or change your situation.

[.ghoti.]

I've had work problems in the past, and there is nothing good about the situation. But, if you approach them about your concepts about logistics; making  repeat calls  to coicide with sales calls in the same  area; they may realize  there  are more efficiencies  to be had with a  little  planning.  It wouldn't  hurt to bring  the  isea up.

However, whenever I got hit in the paycheck, I packed up my skillset and went elsewhere.

[N Florida Mike]

I have tried telling them but they are immoveable.If you disagree at all with anything, you are " whining ".There is no one in management who will hear me.

And the funny thing is, after trying something for awhile they sometimes go back to what I suggested but they dont remember or care that I originally suggested it!!.

When this has happenned before, I just try to stay away from the office( and managers) as much as poss.I try to do an excellent job in the field so hopefully they leave me alone.Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

 

[S. Sass]

4 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I have tried telling them but they are immoveable.If you disagree at all with anything, you are " whining ".

Pack up your skillset. No need in fighting a battle you can't and won't win.

 

[deaknh03]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzGoDtmTllg

[Bass Turd]

Don't let them steal your joy. If you let them they have won. Maybe for whatever reason they don't want you there anymore and are trying to get you to walk away voluntarily so you can't claim unemployment. You've been there a long time. Do you have special expertise you can take to the next level? Work for a supplier to company's like yours? Can you consult industry wide? Sometimes it's just time to move on. Most of the time one looks back and says why didn't I do this sooner? Good luck. Keep us posted.

[N Florida Mike]

I try not to take it personally.I really dont think its about me.But I have mouths to feed, bills to pay and just have to draw the line somewhere with all this extra time they want.I dont think they want me to leave, they just want compliance.Ive already complied with other things that slow me down but I cant seem to go along with this one.And then they act amazed that I see it this way.And put pressure on us to sell more.( but less time to sell because of all the micro management.

Aaarggh.sigh.

[bigbill]

On my last job I heard my new boss say he was going to ride my butt till I quit. I made it to the end and got $25k severance pay. I was all set up for disability all my ducks were lined up. The company couldn't believe it.

[frosty]

Sometimes you just have to say no, granted you better be prepared when they tell you to take a hike, but sometimes you have to say no. I figured out the company I work for likes to push you to the edge of quitting, then calm things down, keep you happy for awhile, then do it all over again. It's like a sick game they don't even know they are playing. Good luck!

[N Florida Mike]

Just a report on the job situation.

I decided to wait it out for awhile.Things have calmed down again.Check has been up.I haven't had any more conflicts.( except a few nutty customers).Reasons for waiting 1. It's my nature.Ive been waiting for something all my life so I'm better at it than the average bear.2.The pay IS good.Even with the extra hours and hassles.3.My flexible schedule allows me to help my elderly mom with Dr apps.etc.and allows me to pick up and/or drop off 2 G- Kids I'm raising from school.4.My commute to the office is only 10 minutes.5. I actually love working with the customers.6. It's an outside job mostly,so I'm not cooped up in an office all day. I work alone so It's me and God all day.7.When work slows down and I'm passing a pond,I can get my pole out and try it,since I'm not on the clock.

So I guess the good still outweighs the bad. I'll try to behave and ride it out.

Mike