Tony_Tarantula on 26/7/2014 at 23:53
Welcome to corporate America.
Quote:
In 1988, Robert Jackall wrote a book called Moral Mazes published by
Oxford University Press. He said organizations today follow this code:
You never go around your boss.
You tell the boss what he wants to hear, even though your boss claims that he wants dissenting views.
If your boss wants something dropped, you drop it.
You are sensitive to your boss's wishes so that you anticipate what he wants; you don't force him, in other words, to act as boss.
Your job is not to report something that your boss does not want reported, but rather to cover it up. You do what your job requires. You keep your mouth shut.
Most experienced employees know these rules. They figured them out for themselves. They even take pride in having figured them out and in following them. They regard themselves as shrewd. I cannot write for those people. I neither respect nor understand them.
SubJeff on 27/7/2014 at 00:01
Quote Posted by ZylonBane
Find a job where you're so valuable to the organization that you don't have to play politics.
Just buy the company.
Kolya on 27/7/2014 at 00:10
With employees like that? I don't know.
Shocked_ on 29/7/2014 at 20:00
You go to your boss' boss and explain the situation. That guy needs to go.
Tony_Tarantula on 29/7/2014 at 20:04
Quote Posted by Shocked_
You go to your boss' boss and explain the situation. That guy needs to go.
Article #1 from the code of conduct:
* You
NEVER go around your boss
Shocked_ on 29/7/2014 at 20:32
Quote Posted by Tony_Tarantula
Article #1 from the code of conduct:
* You
NEVER go around your boss
Yes, and that list describes the code of conduct for the ideal and productive workplace!
SubJeff on 29/7/2014 at 21:14
So Tony, if your boss is being totally unreasonable who do you go to?
Tony_Tarantula on 29/7/2014 at 23:58
Quote Posted by Shocked_
Yes, and that list describes the code of conduct for the ideal and productive workplace!
Not the intent. It's from a book that studied the way corporate America function in reality. It's a fairly good read and it explains some of the problems that America has been experiencing lately(bureaucratization of formerly productive institutions). In fact I'd go so far as to say that it's a must read if you are serious about advancing yourself in a bureaucratic organization.
Quote:
So Tony, if your boss is being totally unreasonable who do you go to?
If your boss is being completely unreasonable, someone who is honest about how to advance yourself in corporate America or in government(same thing if you ask some people) would give you some advice that you aren't happy with.
They'd say that it doesn't matter. Do whatever he wants you to do, no matter how stupid or unreasonable, to make him like you better than he likes your peers.
Al_B on 30/7/2014 at 00:15
That isn't exactly answering the question. In the UK, at least, there should be a formal grievance procedure for employees which covers how to deal with issues with your immediate manager, your rights of representation and who you need to talk to.
That being said, nine times out of ten you should be able to sort things out without going that far, particularly in a smaller company environment where there isn't the same management hierarchy and political gameplay.
Gryzemuis on 30/7/2014 at 14:35
Quote Posted by Shocked_
You go to your boss' boss and explain the situation. That guy needs to go.
Naive.
I used to think that would be the way to fix problems. But it's not. It will fix the problem for your boss, and end your career at that company.
You waltz into your boss's boss office. Your bossboss thinks "Who is this guy ? Why is he bothering me about some futile details ? Something must be wrong at Department X (or (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlbcNvlseVI) S). Let's check with Department S".
So how does he follow up on your story ? He goes and talks to the guy who is in charge of Department S. That's your boss. So now your boss and your bossboss sit and chat for 10 minutes. Your boss tells your bossboss some bullshit story. But if satisfies your bossboss. You boss promises to take care of the situation. Your bossboss is happy. Problem solved. For your bossboss and for your boss. Not for you. The situation is probably worsened because your bossboss and your boss know each other from meetings, offsite management brainstorm weekends, and what not. Your bossboss doesn't know you. So what does he care ?
Even if you were right, it's not worth it for your bossboss to acknowledge it. In the interest of the company it's much more important to keep your boss happy, and keep your boss in the company, than it is to act in your favor. You're new, you're low level. Whether it is true or not, you are seen as more expendible than your boss.
There is no way you can win.
The only thing you can do is make sure there are no losers. By keeping your mouth shut.
