The wonderful world of work

So, I did 30 hours over the weekend working in a bar. Came into today to do my voluntary work to be told off by the head of the research group for doing exactly what the post-doc I’m helping asked me to do, he wasn’t about so I got it in the neck. It wasn’t what the head of the group wanted us to be doing, I’m hiding in the office trying to figure out how he wants it done, as he’s stalking up and down between labs red in the face.

Is this normal and does it ever get any better or am I just cursed in terms of picking departments to work in?

In that kind of place, make sure that when you get briefed you write everything down, and date it. Then when you get bollocked, bring out your notebook and go back over it with them. Always confirm back what you’ve been asked to do and get their agreement that your understanding is correct. Potentially petty, but saves lots of grief.

**** sake, if that’s the case it’s exactly like the place I was at be before, I came here because I thought it wouldn’t be like this. My sodding hearts going at like 160 and I’ve gone red in the face.

I’m paying 300 quid a month just to be here, so it’s a bit of a disappointment.

Mehhh.

Pretty standard. Usually stems for management having no idea what is actually going on or changing the plan without telling anyone as well as people lower down the chain doing what they feel like. TBH he sounds like a poor manager, which is common in all industries.

Your paying for a bollocking?!
Find the exit, go through it.

I don’t want to though, it took me so **** long to find somewhere that had the time to train me up or could be bothered to return my e-mails. My last place was similar so I wanted to find a nice department I could work hard for, develop a good reputation and either move internally to a paid position or at least get a decent reference.

If I **** off I’m going to feel like a job hopping floating about the system **** and I need the reference to find paid employment in/around January so that my wife can stay here.

arghhhhh

research can be a nightmare ime, budgets are poor and someone who can publish well is most definitely not necessarily a good manager! especially when financial pressures mean that every penny counts

its tough, trying to get everything arranged by email can help, so you have proof of what youve been told

and walkings not such a great idea without something good linedup, 6 months without a job now after being messed around over my latest position which im now having to reapply for despite already being interviewed and offered the job!

Sounds like he just needed to moan at someone. Always best to get requirements in writing of course as you know.

Can we just assume that you explained to the guy that you were doing as directed by the person you support, and that if he has an issue he has to take it up with them? I used to be quite passive in the workplace but being more assertive has almost always led to a quieter life not a worse one.

What NW says – posher version of shout at the organ grinder not the monkey [ no disrespect meant ] as they know you were not the decision maker
or yes sir nor sir three bags full sir to get the reference

Can we just assume that you explained to the guy that you were doing as directed by the person you support

I did and then I scuttled off before the fire I lit turned into a thermobaric bomb.

If anyone on here can offer me a job for 18.6k in anything (I can put my mind to just about anything I want to) and in any part of the country including Northern Ireland, I’ll gladly walk. Just want my missus to stay here, that’s all, research work can wait till she’s here permanently. You’ll be getting someone who’s willing to do 60 hour weeks, spend money to get work experience and generally get on with the job in a trustworthy manner. If you can appreciate that then I will gladly do anything right now.

Why do you keep getting shat on? What positive action can you take to make your work life a better place to be?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-have-cold-hard-evidence

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/i-have-my-resignation-letter-in-my-hand

That’s my lesson for today then.
Just googled Thermobaric Bomb.
They look quite nasty/awesome.

Not sure? Bad luck? There was nothing I did wrong here for sure, I turn up, I smile, I do the job I’m asked to do, I don’t leave before the works finished, the work I’ve been doing here is good.

It’s not like I’m not used to it, worked with chefs in good restaurants for a long time, just had enough of it.

What’s life like where your missus comes from? Could you get work or start a business there?

The Philippines is a bit mental and I’d be on about 300/400 quid a month in the same job, although I guess the work experience would count.

I think the 3 months in Europe workaround to dick over the UKBA still works, so maybe I’ll just go and get a bar job in the south of France for a bit.

Couples do quite well finding work in ski resorts. Does your missus have papers that allow her to work in Europe? When in business I had a preference for employing couples for seasonal work as they can find and pay for accommodation more easily, and generally stay the course. Madame and I worked for the same schools when teaching abroad and many colleagues were couples.

I am afraid you need to manage the manager or he will give you hell.

Having said that you can always deck him Kray brothers style.

😈

+1 for work being a less-than-wonderful experience ATM. Suffering from new broom syndrome here.

I am afraid you need to manage the manager or he will give you hell.

Having said that you can always deck him Kray brothers style.

Read the post, it was his manager’s manager.

If anyone on here can offer me a job for 18.6k in anything (I can put my mind to just about anything I want to) and in any part of the country including Northern Ireland, I’ll gladly walk.

OCADO driver.

Pretty much that with quarterly bonuses.

chakaping – Member
Read the post, it was his manager’s manager.

Deck your manager first (him not taking up his responsibility by blaming you) then deck your manager’s manager (for micro managing subordinate two level down) … Kray brothers style.

The order should be … Big manager manages smaller managers and smaller managers manages micro people.

If big manager manages micro people then there is no need for smaller manager.

😛

Doesn’t sound normal. I think in some industries & academia people end in charge because they good at what they used to do. That guy shouting at you probably longs to be stuck in a basement doing research and not going to funding meetings and “managing” a group of people.

The scenario is of poor communication and expectation from your managers. They need to sort themselves out first before sorting out others. 😯

Is this normal and does it ever get any better or am I just cursed in terms of picking departments to work in?

Pretty much. Everyone gets bollockings they don’t deserve now and again. Understanding that helps to grow a thicker skin (unpleasant though it is at the time).

You’re in academia. It’s the only place with worse people management than law firms IME.

Used to being bollocked, head chefs screaming “you cahhhnt, do that again”….followed by crockery flying across the kitchen and me saying “yes chef, no chef” etc. After 5 minutes you’re back to cracking sick and twisted jokes with your boss or making shockingly perverted comments about waitresses.

It’s worse with academics though as I don’t trust them not to carry it on and stew like **** teenagers.

making shockingly perverted comments about waitresses

I’m sure you didn’t deserve the bollocking earlier but maybe it’s karma doing its job. I’ve worked in plenty of kitchens and known the kind of “banter” that does the rounds – couldn’t wait to get out and see the back of it. Bunch of arseholes.

Let me clarify, mostly other chefs, that’s kind of the culture in kitchens. Part of the reason why I never want to work in one again. You end up joining in otherwise you become the target of the “banter”, usually banter that questions your sexuality.

The point being (except when kitchens get violent) is that despite kitchens being giant clownwagons they seem to deal with things better than academics. On the surface they seem childish but really, the kinds of people who stew on things and stalk up and down the corridors all day in a bad mood are far, far worse people at heart. I can’t understand people like this.

There was me expecting better from people who held doctorates.

The point being, is that despite kitchens being giant clownwagons they seem to deal with things better than academics.

Big brains don’t equal big management skills.

But because academics are used to being experts, they all assume they’re expert at leading people. My observations of Dr North’s world tell me the opposite is almost always true.

despite kitchens being giant clownwagons they seem to deal with things better than academics.

Sounds more like the 2 industries are offering the same thing in different ways. Do you want to be kicked in the balls and crapped on or crapped on and kicked in the balls. With the greatest respect to the skills of academics I’d never work for one, you are also the bottom of the food chain, they give you shit and you keep turning up. Is there a reason you can’t find a job doing what you want to be doing?

the kinds of people who stew on things and stalk up and down the corridors all day in a bad mood are far, far worse people at heart. I can’t understand people like this.

As opposed to what, saying nothing about it and whinging about your job on internet forums?

Sounds more like the 2 industries are offering the same thing in different ways. Do you want to be kicked in the balls and crapped on or crapped on and kicked in the balls. With the greatest respect to the skills of academics I’d never work for one, you are also the bottom of the food chain, they give you shit and you keep turning up. Is there a reason you can’t find a job doing what you want to be doing?

First job in research didn’t go so well, so I’ve just been trying to get a decent reference to make up for it. Everywhere asks for experience.

As opposed to what, saying nothing about it and whinging about your job on internet forums?

Hi Gary, I like to learn from other peoples experiences, as it helps me understand my own thoughts.

Kimbers for example, is a postdoctoral researcher I believe. So his post was pretty informative (thanks for that btw kimbers). This thread will be useful in deciding whether I want to carry on in university based laboratories. I might start looking at corporate roles that need people with good analytical/quantitative skills now.

Stay cheerful though mate.

Yep cheerful here, enjoying my job. If I didn’t I wouldn’t moan about it on the internet though, as you do. Thanks for the tip.

From 4 months ago
that my immediate superviosr/boss person thingy has been gaslighting me. Written documentation with my tasks to do, that conflict with what she says she told me to do. I’ve now been told I don’t listen to her, can’t remember what she said or can’t follow verbal tasks (seeing as I worked in ktichens for 5 years, I’m pretty sure that I can). I do not remember her telling me to do these things differently.

Is this the same employer, or a different one now?

ourmaninthenorth – Member

But because academics are used to being experts, they all assume they’re expert at leading people. My observations of Dr North’s world tell me the opposite is almost always true.

I don’t work in research but I work daily with academics, tbh they mostly seem very aware of their specialisations and limitations. Course, that doesn’t stop them from exceeding their abilities, but it tends to make them less annoying when they do it. There’s a lot of peter principle but I think not as much dunning-kruger as I’ve tended to find in other fields.

(I get to boss around some of my old lecturers when they come on my turf, obviously I take no pleasure from this at all)

You see at the top there, I was asking some questions. I’m glad you enjoy your work, I like scientific work as well, I’m just new to it. This thread has been useful, even badnewz managed to be polite and I know he doesn’t like my brands of politics.

See what I mean, the shallow pettiness of it all.

To be honest having a look at your previous work whinges I suggest you have a problem with taking instruction from people.

How many ‘jobs’ have you had this year?

Two. Well three if you count the second one I am working at the same time as this one. And one before those for five years whilst I balanced studying.

People struggle to deal with his amazeballs Verbal IQ skills, innit 😈

I think you are fairly young and it is hard to judge from a smattering on the internet but you are either unlucky or they have a point

Hah! Fair play Junky, also sorry about that. Sense of humor breakdown that day.

This place is loads better than the last place, but it’s on the other end of the spectrum. The last place was very very organised to the point they were drowning in paperwork and were rushing around all the time, this place is very laissez faire. On the whole I’m having a much better time here and I feel more confident that the lab is the right place for me, I just still don’t feel entirely used to how the real world of work operates (eg not kitchens).

Are the reception staff any more in awe of you at this new place?

No, there’s no reception girl to be in awe of my awesome personality and good looks.