This all turns on whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market.

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Jan 25, 2023
8:40:53pm

Cougar Junkie Truly Addicted User

This all turns on whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market.

If companies are desperate to retain and hire employees, then management should bend over backwards to make sure employees are happy, including answering "why" to out-of-the-blue deadlines. If a manager is upset at answering "why", then that person is NOT a good manager.

If jobs are hard to come by, then companies can get away with the "my way or the highway" attitude. It won't make for happy employees, and may result in higher turnover. Pick your poison.

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Cougar Junkie

Bio page: Cougar Junkie
Joined: Oct 10, 2001
Last login: May 17, 2024
Total posts: 10,300 (12 FO)

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Messages

Author

Time

I’m having a work problem.

conetah

1/24/23 11:52pm

I have no idea. I am one of the other three

Archaea

1/24/23 11:54pm

Call cousin Eddie.

777

1/24/23 11:58pm

RE: Call cousin Eddie.

icecougar

1/25/23 10:41am

Bosses hate the constant “why guy”. Sometimes it’s nice to just have someone who

macdizzle

1/25/23 12:00am

I got that impression clearly today ha.

conetah

1/25/23 12:02am

Good managers wouldn't complain about that IMO.

1/25/23 12:03am

They won’t complain about it, but they won’t give bonuses for it either.

macdizzle

1/25/23 12:05am

I’m thick. Are you referring to me or my boss?

conetah

1/25/23 12:09am

Your boss.

1/25/23 5:22am

I HATE arbitrary deadlines.

Senora Featherbottom

1/25/23 12:15am

Sure but has the deadline ever changed after asking? Because if not then it just

palangi

1/25/23 8:03am

For sure, if you do it right.

Senora Featherbottom

1/25/23 8:34am

And there is almost never a good reason behind it, which is why the boss doesn't

Mitty

1/25/23 9:54am

Agreed. It’s also reasonable for the boss to be annoyed by it and dole out bonuses accordingly.

CrimWalCoug

1/25/23 4:09pm

I’m gonna guess it’s not just about asking for the reason behind deadlines, but because the other managers…

OPINIONS

1/25/23 12:02am

Quit.

Ten_Hour_Drives

1/25/23 12:03am

It all comes down to leverage and alternative options.

1/25/23 12:03am

Quitting:

conetah

1/25/23 12:12am

I disagree. It sounds like you need to have a radically candid conversation.

FatThor

1/25/23 6:31am

If the constant asking of why is because the manager is always dropping things at the last minute then it is unfair…

Tokolosh

1/25/23 7:11am

Perhaps, but that is why a conversation is needed.

FatThor

1/25/23 7:37am

This is great advice & thanks for the book recommendation, I’m going to read it.

brazilcoug

1/25/23 7:43am

It sounds like a reasonable trade off. If the hours you gained by not working

1/25/23 12:03am

Work-like balance doesn't have to mean that every day (or even every week) has

garyfan

1/25/23 12:11am

You could estimate whether the bonus makes up for the extra hours

Great38

1/25/23 12:16am

I don’t think a 50 hr work week is excessive if you are in a bonus eligible

Thrill

1/25/23 12:23am

In some ways - it may even be an acceptable tradeoff.

Eddie

1/25/23 12:30am

I will be honest as a manager that would annoy me.

cougarfann888

1/25/23 12:25am

Corporate America loves to preach work/life balance but at the end of the day, they want a work/work balance

TADOW

1/25/23 12:26am

Sure. But being an entrepreneur and small business owner demands just as much,

brazilcoug

1/25/23 5:17am

Exactly. I’ve had someone (a mother with college age kids) tell me “powerbait,

Powerbait DPM

1/25/23 5:36am

I agree with this. I worked at a company that preached work/life balance, and I

Boredname Checks Out

1/25/23 5:53am

Managers often exploit the fact that people don't like to move.

Mises

1/25/23 7:50am

Military is the exact same way

MojosDojo

1/25/23 6:09am

I have employees that work 40 hours and employees that work 70 hours a week

MyTwoCents

1/25/23 8:41am

My two cents is that is a you problem for setting those expectations

semicool

1/25/23 9:04am

sounds like he's counting hours spent and not actual productivity. Which is

Mayor of Cougartown

1/25/23 10:34am

You can rest assured I know the difference between 40 hours of hard work,

MyTwoCents

1/25/23 2:52pm

<< Deleted >>

The_ATL

1/25/23 10:39am

I've known guys/girls who come in at 6. Make coffee, eat breakfast, take a walk

Mayor of Cougartown

1/25/23 10:43am

To be fair, if you're not pooping on the clock, you're doing it wrong

Great38

1/25/23 10:54am

correct. My point is they come in at 6 and don't do a lick of work till everyone

Mayor of Cougartown

1/25/23 10:57am

I had a co-worker who sat in the bathroom 5 hours a day

porcupinetree

1/27/23 12:47pm

So glad I left it.

TailgateU

1/25/23 11:35am

Americans preach wanna-work-a-little-but-get-paid-a-lot. Unfortunately,

canofpicante

1/25/23 5:20pm

When they ask for biggest weakness I always would say work life balance

Bobmarleyjr

1/25/23 1:35am

If you don’t mind not getting bonuses, keep your current set of priorities.

PhilPete

1/25/23 4:20am

Isn’t the point of a bonus to reward people who go above and beyond?

ldssdl

1/25/23 4:39am

It's unfortunate sometimes, but some bonuses are for going above and beyond. It

vagabonder

1/25/23 4:42am

Taking a somewhat more cynical view, they may have not given bonuses to some people as a way to see if they can make

Mike Honcho

1/25/23 5:10am

Interesting perspective. I think there is some truth here.

conetah

1/25/23 7:17am

I think you need to look back at how the program is structured to understand this slight properly…

Tokolosh

1/25/23 5:33am

I'm with you. If the deadlines are arbitrary, work/life balance etc..if

semicool

1/25/23 5:35am

I’ve had lots of deadlines in my career

RiseUp

1/25/23 5:48am

It wasn’t like this until about 6 months ago when the company entered fire drill

conetah

1/25/23 7:44am

How your boss interacts with her boss probably reflects how she expects you to

ldssdl

1/25/23 8:17am

Likely.

conetah

1/25/23 8:57am

You have a bad manager. Not necessarily because of the bonus but this line:

MGM

1/25/23 5:51am

Also, receiving a bonus shouldn't be arbitrary or surprising - requirements need

MGM

1/25/23 5:57am

<< Deleted >>

The_ATL

1/25/23 10:44am

Dude, employees aren't children.

MGM

1/25/23 2:36pm

And bosses should not be jerks

semicool

1/25/23 2:42pm

My opinion is that when you question the urgency and deadline, you are questioning your manager’s ability to make those

Rhino84

1/25/23 5:52am

My main concern is that if they decided they had one too many employees, you

Fdnman

1/25/23 6:15am

For sure, not getting a bonus is a strong signal - I would be looking

MGM

1/25/23 6:17am

It's the little people...like you who make a difference.

coolblue

1/25/23 6:19am

Did you at least get to spend some time with your son?

Florwood

1/25/23 6:20am

Consistent fires is a sign of poor planning on her part. Sounds like a poor boss

1/25/23 7:15am

Or department / boss’s boss / company…

NYC and Japan

1/25/23 7:28am

You have a good head on your shoulders.

VenomFarmer

1/25/23 7:21am

Just reference how much is the average bonus? Would it have been significant

PKCoug

1/25/23 7:35am

I hate it when subordinates question me. Just do what I say. You make my life

flyzag

1/25/23 7:41am

I wouldn't want to work for you

porcupinetree

1/25/23 10:03am

If a manager can't properly explain the reasons

porcupinetree

1/25/23 10:05am

99% of the time it comes from above.

flyzag

1/25/23 10:26am

Perhaps you could shift your inquiries to simple: "how hard is that deadline?"

Mises

1/25/23 7:45am

Good idea.

conetah

1/25/23 7:59am

I wouldn’t do this. Clarification from time to time is fine but the optics are

FatThor

1/25/23 8:05am

My go to now is to not ask. With that said, if I feel the absolute need to ask,

conetah

1/25/23 8:58am

It’s a signal they are not pleased with your performance. All other same level

TeeKaa

1/25/23 8:07am

And if this isn't the case, your manager isn't smart.

1/25/23 10:41am

Do you get paid for the work you do complete? For the hours you work? Are you

King of Y

1/25/23 8:34am

If you are hourly, then you a properly remunerated for your time. Salaried

King of Y

1/25/23 12:18pm

Conversations like this are the best part of CB. Great discussion

ssa

1/25/23 8:42am

Agreed. Lots of knowledge and good, unbiased, thoughts on the thread.

conetah

1/25/23 10:53am

I know this isn’t a decision to be taken lightly but I found it’s time to

Your Royal Blueness

1/25/23 8:59am

I agree. I have owned my own business for 5 years. I can’t imagine ever working

King of Y

1/25/23 11:25am

Rule #1 of bonuses. Never count on getting a bonus.

Broda

1/25/23 9:31am

I learned this lesson the hard way, when I was in my young career and planned

flyzag

1/25/23 9:48am

I made down-payment on a large in-ground pool for my family for Christmas.

Great38

1/25/23 10:36am

I think I know you... Do you have the big Christmas light display every year?

flyzag

1/25/23 10:38am

Your manager sounds like an entitled moron that plays office politics. Good luck

Mitty

1/25/23 9:51am

Is there a red stapler on your desk?

niqmadu

1/25/23 11:31am

My recommendation...

Hill4Heisman

1/25/23 11:55am

Good advice. This is the way. And I agree with others, no bonus means first on

The_Cuss

1/25/23 12:08pm

I manage 15 engineers. 2 aren't getting bonuses this year and they know why...

Bee Chunder

1/25/23 4:16pm

meant for OP 🙁

Bee Chunder

1/25/23 4:16pm

When doing the prioritization exercise, phrasing is important.

DirtyWater

1/25/23 11:29pm

You shouldn't question why every time, but if she can't be bothered to share a

OldFogey

1/25/23 12:13pm

Bonus

rickybobby

1/25/23 12:31pm

I will say that a bonus requirements should be defined explicitly even if some

semicool

1/25/23 2:19pm

RE: I will say that a bonus requirements should be defined explicitly even if

rickybobby

1/26/23 12:41pm

I received valuable wisdom from a friend. He is an academic that at the time was

TailgateU

1/25/23 1:15pm

My kids ask me the "why" behind things all the time. If I don't have a legit

semicool

1/25/23 2:44pm

I just say "I'm the dad and don't have to explain why". I'm so tough

OldFogey

1/25/23 3:35pm

I'll take a stab at my version of the advice. I've seen a lot.

DirtyWater

1/25/23 3:37pm

And thus the "no bonus" signal.

TeeKaa

1/25/23 4:47pm

This right here needs to be in some Workforce brochure and for anyone

Your Royal Blueness

1/25/23 5:11pm

True, and few people will accept it though because

stoils

1/25/23 5:43pm

You have communication issues at work. I’d recommend the following:

canofpicante

1/25/23 5:41pm

This all turns on whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market.

1/25/23 8:40pm

Companies only go above and beyond when they absolutely have to

porcupinetree

1/27/23 10:21am

You are absolutely right. 100%. Companies are in the business of maximizing

flyzag

1/27/23 10:36am

That makes sense, unfortunately. I'll keep that in mind the next time my

semicool

1/27/23 12:01pm

That's why I never feel bad for leaving a company for greener pastures

porcupinetree

1/27/23 12:20pm

Companies do not fire at the drop of a hat

stoils

1/27/23 1:09pm

Uh, I have 25 years of professional experience. Yes they do.

porcupinetree

1/27/23 2:17pm

Introspection and self awareness might be worthwhile in this situation

stoils

1/27/23 2:27pm

Some do actually care about their employees, many don't

semicool

1/27/23 3:32pm

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