From what I can gather, you are the equivalent of my boss's boss.
A couple weeks ago I was sent home for being insubordinate.
The day prior I replaced a non-critical sensor that failed because it was fucking cold outside. My boss wouldn't let me take the 12 mile round trip to get proper gear from home to work in -25 F wind chill, so I did the job in my work clothes and light jacket.
Guess what? It was fucking cold again and the new sensor failed that night.
My boss told me to put the original, failed, sensor back up on the 30' silo (it was 10 degrees colder that day) and I told him no.
I got sent home for being insubordinate.
Was I out of line?
This is why I lurk.
Quote from: rong on February 09, 2012, 10:36:31 PM
This is why I lurk.
Tell me that you're not all butthurt because you addressed a post to a specific person, and he hasn't responded to you within an hour. He hasn't even been logged in since you posted.
As a former Supervisor of Electricians I never would have asked you to put a defective sensor back in place without damn good reason, but if I had asked I would have much preferred dialogue instead of outright refusal.
I get the feeling I'm generally ignored.
Youve been annoying in the past but youve been pretty quality as of late. Just gotta learn patience.
Quote from: rong on February 09, 2012, 09:45:22 PM
From what I can gather, you are the equivalent of my boss's boss.
A couple weeks ago I was sent home for being insubordinate.
The day prior I replaced a non-critical sensor that failed because it was fucking cold outside. My boss wouldn't let me take the 12 mile round trip to get proper gear from home to work in -25 F wind chill, so I did the job in my work clothes and light jacket.
Guess what? It was fucking cold again and the new sensor failed that night.
My boss told me to put the original, failed, sensor back up on the 30' silo (it was 10 degrees colder that day) and I told him no.
I got sent home for being insubordinate.
Was I out of line?
Nope. Parts don't heal. We had two air compressors, one busted, one working (this was when I first took the job). The control solenoid failed on the running one, and after troubleshooting it, I told the I&E techs to change the solenoid. My predecessor - who was still there with a week til retirement - told them to grab the solenoid off the old compressor. They did, and the compressor still didn't work. The useless old bastard looked at me in triumph, until I pointed out the record that showed they'd already swapped those parts in the past. So my first rule for the crew became "Use known good parts, not scavenged crap".
Now, as far as insubordination goes, what matters is HOW you told him "no".
Quote from: rong on February 09, 2012, 10:36:31 PM
This is why I lurk.
Sorry, I have an old Cabal member from Illinois in visiting, so I'm only gonna be online here & there.
fair enough - and, that's true - the HOW is important. although, its not like I flipped out and told him off or anything.
Quote from: rong on February 10, 2012, 11:05:16 AM
fair enough - and, that's true - the HOW is important. although, its not like I flipped out and told him off or anything.
Sounds like your boss is a fucking douchebag.
When I tell my crew to do something, and they have an objection, the very least I'm going to do is hear them out. I may tell them to do it anyway, but it doesn't cost a dime to listen, and it may save me considerable grief.
One of the very worst things that can happen to a maintenance foreman or manager is to have his crew suddenly get all dumb and do
precisely what they're told. It's a nasty form of revenge that can sink a supervisor in a matter of days or weeks.
I heard a story about the French railroads, where they weren't allowed to go on strike. What they did instead was to enforce literally every rule from the government regulations, which made everything grind to a halt.
Might be urban legend, but there you go.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 10, 2012, 03:34:28 PM
I heard a story about the French railroads, where they weren't allowed to go on strike. What they did instead was to enforce literally every rule from the government regulations, which made everything grind to a halt.
Might be urban legend, but there you go.
Thing is, it doesn't pay to be a douchebag boss. Sure, you can get short-term results that way, but within a few months, all the good techs leave for other jobs, and all you have left are sheep with no initiative.
So, I ended up having a meeting with my boss, his boss and the plant manager. They seemed to take my side for the most part.
I'm considering putting together a presentation on the dunning-kruger effect for the management. You know, for SCIENCE!
Quote from: rong on February 11, 2012, 12:12:03 AM
So, I ended up having a meeting with my boss, his boss and the plant manager. They seemed to take my side for the most part.
I'm considering putting together a presentation on the dunning-kruger effect for the management. You know, for SCIENCE!
I'd advise against that.
Once they know it exists, you can't use it as a handle to manipulate them, and frankly, manipulation is THE key to survival in the maintenance field.
I hear what you're saying, but I am and always will be at the bottom.
I kinda figure I have nothing to lose, and who can fault a guy for sharing information?
Quote from: rong on February 11, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
I hear what you're saying, but I am and always will be at the bottom.
I kinda figure I have nothing to lose, and who can fault a guy for sharing information?
Damn straight you will always be at the bottom with that attitude.
Quote from: rong on February 11, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
I hear what you're saying, but I am and always will be at the bottom.
I kinda figure I have nothing to lose, and who can fault a guy for sharing information?
Until you stop being beaten in your own mind, I can't give you much advice.
I admit, it sounds defeatist. I'm trying to operate based on "keep doing what you're doing and you'll keep getting what you're getting"
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 10, 2012, 03:34:28 PM
I heard a story about the French railroads, where they weren't allowed to go on strike. What they did instead was to enforce literally every rule from the government regulations, which made everything grind to a halt.
Might be urban legend, but there you go.
The British Trade Unions often used to this in the 70's. Work to Rule.
Quote from: rong on February 11, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
I hear what you're saying, but I am and always will be at the bottom.
I kinda figure I have nothing to lose, and who can fault a guy for sharing information?
Everyone will find fault with someone who offers problems without solutions. Especially when the problems are generic.
Use the insights to get yourself into a positive position. Then offer direct solutions without mentioning what methods or insights you're using.
Quote from: rong on February 11, 2012, 01:58:48 AM
I admit, it sounds defeatist. I'm trying to operate based on "keep doing what you're doing and you'll keep getting what you're getting"
I think it's the English that say, "Keep being their cunt, and they'll keep fucking you."
Quote from: BadBeast on February 11, 2012, 03:35:04 AM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 10, 2012, 03:34:28 PM
I heard a story about the French railroads, where they weren't allowed to go on strike. What they did instead was to enforce literally every rule from the government regulations, which made everything grind to a halt.
Might be urban legend, but there you go.
The British Trade Unions often used to this in the 70's. Work to Rule.
thanks for the input. given the circumstances, i think i will try this sort of approach.
Quote from: rong on February 11, 2012, 12:35:49 AM
I hear what you're saying, but I am and always will be at the bottom.
I kinda figure I have nothing to lose, and who can fault a guy for sharing information?
Nothing but your job, anyway...
This thread occurred 3 weeks before I learned WHY Rong will always be at the bottom. :lulz:
I kind of wish I still had a job, but hey, I'm ignorant and untrained, willing to learn, sure, but who has the patience? I'm autistic, bipolar, and have other mental messes cohabitating this meat-sack I call a brain (including parts of my brain that are just jelly from trauma). About the only thing of note I have are bandit instincts and temperment, and those do not translate so well, but apparently I'm excellent at customer service, and infantry work... unsure what to do.
EDIT: Also I'm ex-Infantry, not like I'm proud of it, I got kicked out for being mentally slow. It sucked ass and injured my pride a good deal, not like I deserved to have pride, but I wanted to have some and it just wasn't in the cards.