What do you do for a living and what is your secret to workplace longevity?
- Thread starter Pokageek
- Start date
Tamglass operator (glass tempering oven) I just don't care really. There is no reason for me to care. When supervisors of other departments don't do there job and work and blame gets passed around I don't hold my tongue. I just make sure the quality of glass that I temper is as perfect as I can get it (and well with in spec), there is nothing else I can do.
Basically I go do my job, don't allow others to use me in any way shape or form, and stay to myself for the most part.
Basically I go do my job, don't allow others to use me in any way shape or form, and stay to myself for the most part.
Husky44
10 Year Member
I read every response here. Thanks for chiming in guys. Wow, building buildings must be incredibly rewarding and sounds challenging AND fun.
What happened with me? Well I usually dont post this stuff on the net lol but I'll give you the gist of it as its non-specific info. I was hired by a manager that I found out later did not want to hire me. Gotta love walking into that.More, he fired 5 other people before me cuz they "weren't a fit for the position." Then it was hush hush but in my o - he did not get along with my immediate supervisor and let that person go. And then talked about how he liked firing people cuz they dont live up to his expectations.
Then there was another guy who worked there on my same level who back-stabbed me every single chance he got and then denied it. On top of all that, he came in nearly every morning with a hangover. Unbelievable. I was told I was a not a match for the position and let go. My o they did a terrible job of interviewing me in the first place and were totally inflexible.
What part did I play? Prolly my sense of humor. Everyone of them was extremely serious and rarely smiled, laughed or even said hello in the morning. Two of them were this way and got along well with the a-hole boss. I wasn't like them. But sometimes I am kinda dry humor and I intend to just say less now in my new position. Sucks but what else can you do in our politically correct back-stab environment.
Oh yes, and when we would brainstorm about a potential computer issue, I was relaxed and gave some ideas as to what the issue might be - out-loud. This was used against me as they said I should know the answer to such complex problems right off the bat... well, no one knew the answer..isn't that what a team does??Work together to fix issues?? Now I want to clam up!
Oh yeah, and I have not had a problem anywhere else I've worked.
Sounds like a good place to NOT work. From what you described, be glad you're not there. As high-stress as my current job is, me and the three guys in my little cubicle corner are always cracking on each other. Truth be told, the rest of the people in the office get a laugh out of it too. Laughing relieves stress, and we need that around here. Otherwise you wind up like a guy down the hall who was in the hospital a few days last week with bleeding ulcers. Caught him in the breakroom yesterday eating baby food for lunch...I thought about being sensitive to his health. So I only crack sensitive jokes.
Seriously, you always gotta be sensitive to the other people around you, and I've certainly gone too far more than once, but I always went back and apologized. But if I can't have fun at work, I'll go somewhere else.
KamiKaziDK
Member
My dad is a pretty high-up financial systems administrator... his boss is the VP of the health care company... they were in a meeting a couple weeks ago and my dad and another guy got crossways in a meeting and it got pretty heated for a suit-and-tie meeting... the guy ended up having a heart attack that night... my dad felt really bad for a couple weeks. Anyway, that was the intro to his new philosophy... His boss, the VP came in and told him that his team needed to make some deadline that just wasn't feasible. My dad told him no way, it couldn't be done... his boss came back with "it better", and my dad said "or what, you wont pick me for your kickball team at recess?" His boss looked completely dumbfounded, and my dad told him, that if the deadline doesn't happen, people will still live, no one will die, and the world will not come to an end. He's come to the realization that you do what you can, but work isn't a life or death matter, other than trying hard and being focused, you really cant do too much more. My dad is a necessary component to that corporation and has been there forever... so i'm not sure i'd recommend that to everyone, but for him it works well..
I adopt the same theory as i have for roommates... i live/work with the person, they do not have to be my best friend... it works for me.
I adopt the same theory as i have for roommates... i live/work with the person, they do not have to be my best friend... it works for me.
Husky44
10 Year Member
Your dad's perspective is also a good one, that I left out of my earlier post. After spending 23 years in an environment where I did literally make life-or-death decisions, I've enjoyed the fact that "no matter how well or how poorly I do my job today, no one's going to die". Your dad's answer to the VP might have been a little too direct for some to get away with, but the perspective is right. I see a lot of instance in my current role where people have gone above and beyond, doing the impossible, and now that becomes the new norm. If you run any machine, person, or organization, at 100% capacity for extended lengths of time, it will fail. Not if, but when.
I work as a freight broker for a decent sized logistics company. I have to hire truckers to haul freight with more hassle than the norm, and with rates no higher than the norm. Its challenging and stressful, and I get cussed and laughed at a lot. Im not the best at leaving work at work, but Ive gotten better at it. Some days are smooth, most are not, but with others being laid off around me, I am grateful to still have a job and steady income. My wife and dogs put a smile on my face when I get home each afternoon, and the stang and my bike never hurt as stress relievers either. No matter what each of our situations are, we all have our ways of dealing with things. Like others say, its all about putting your best foot forward and being the bigger person (mentally) in difficult situations.
StadEMS3
20+ Year Stangneter 
Lets see, today is my last official day of Active Duty Air Force after 22 yrs. Last 10 of those was the lead flying Crew Chief on Air Force One. Now I'm a GS-13 working by myself most of the time with the FCC. Life is good!
I don't let people get to me, life is to short. I strongly believe in taking care of your people and they will in turn take of you. There is no need to be an ass to each other, where does it get you?
I don't let people get to me, life is to short. I strongly believe in taking care of your people and they will in turn take of you. There is no need to be an ass to each other, where does it get you?
Husky44
10 Year Member
Congrats! Retirement Rocks! Knowing you'll get a paycheck every month for the rest of your life, even if you choose not to get out of bed, is certainly liberating!
I didn't stay in the public sector, and I don't even miss it (much). Good luck in the FCC gig.
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