To start, I’m a manager in this company. I know a lot of what I say may be taken with a grain of salt because there’s a broken idea of “Union vs Management” but I figured I would be honest to avoid the “This must be a manager” or “Here’s Randy” comments. Also, I’m a fan of the Union. In a backwards way I have always been a firm believer that the Union still gives me job security. It protects the frontline employees and where there are employees, there will be managers. Lately I have been reading a lot of negative posts about management. Some of the comments are tough to read. I get it though. Yes there are trash managers out there. And to those managers, I have nothing positive to say about them. However, for a lot of us (and I mean a lot) things are equally as difficult. If you think for one second that we aren’t on the same sinking ship as you are, you’re wrong. Our job security is far less secure than yours. Our bosses? They speak to us how they want to speak to us. I have been a part of MANY meetings where I am cussed at, told how bad I am at my job, and judged. This is a normal thing for some managers, me being one of them. I was placed on a CAP (Coaching Action Plan) recently, then pulled off of the CAP without even discussing the content/progress of it with my boss. We had one conversation, which was to tell me I’m was going on it. Then my Boss left for a two week vacation. Then two weeks after being back and not even mentioning it again, documentation pops up and later that evening during a visit I’m told I completed it? Being additionally told if in the next SIX MONTHS I go back on a CAP, it will be a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan). With that in mind, this same boss has previously told me that if I EVER go on a PIP, I need to start looking for another job because I won’t be coming off of that and will be fired... So who do I call? HR? No. My HR point of contact was on a conference call with myself and a few other individuals weeks ago regarding a WRONGFUL termination and said something to the effect of “Well, do you care if the employee comes back or do we not want them?” “Okay cool, we won’t take them, just offer them some money if they don’t take it let it go to court.”.... so basically I have the next SIX MONTHS to live in fear of losing my job for something I STILL don’t fully understand. I see so many posts explaining “management did this” or “management doesn’t understand”. You may not see behind the curtain often, but I’m not the only one with stories like this. I have peers in different states that I’ve made over the years with T living the same life I do. It’s rough. How do I get by? I start every shift with my morals in-tact, and leave for home every day with those same morals. I’ve received accolades for my performance in the past doing this. My work ethic is impeccable. I know right from wrong. I trust my frontline and ensure clear and concise messages are delivered to them. If T wants to fire me? It’s their loss. I’m posting this as a word of advice for all of you out there going through rough times. Do not let this company change you. Do not stoop to the level of lying and cheating to keep your job. Buckle your belt the same way you’ve been buckling it you whole life. If this company chooses that you’re no long valuable? Salute them for the money you made and walk away with your head up. I’m not fighting for this. I’ll fight for my family. I’ll fight for my life. I refuse to fight for a broken company that has NEVER fought for me. Don’t make it difficult on the people above you. You never know what they may be dealing with. If they take it out on you? Let them. Keep doing what you feel is best. Try to learn to do better if you see fit. And if it doesn’t work? If they still keep trying to fire you? Let them. They don’t value your time and someone else WILL. Sorry for the rant. Just felt that of all the posts some people out there may value a brutally honest opinion from a manager’s perspective and personal experiences.
10 replies (most recent on top)
I have always appreciated those managers who put humanity and ethics before abusing their technicians over metrics and productivity. Unfortunately, here in the permtech world those managers have been the exception, not the norm.
I would NEVER want to be a manager for this company. You guys are in a very bad spot, you get dumped on by the sociopaths above you and you have to motivate and deal with your worker's attitudes when they're fed up with this company's BS.
The sad fact is that this organization is a completely toxic work environment, from top to bottom.
There’s a waiting list for management to go back to a craft job. You may have to accept a wire tech position.
Also, I’m a fan of the Union. In a backwards way I have always been a firm believer that the Union still gives me job security.
thx for your service. you are now surplussed. but, your union bosses gets to keep their sweet gigs!
Good post....I’ve seen good and bad managers and good & bad techs! I let what ever flavor of the month the company puts out and don't concern myself about how stupid it is! And just go out and try to do my best and treat the the customers with respect! Because Lord knows the company doesn’t and if we didn’t didn't do that we would lose even more customers! And what I’ve learned is max out your 401k work as much OT as possible take as much of there money for their stupidity as long as possible!!
HR exists for company not employee. PIP is next movement out tool w/ no survival.
in Northern California it is a rare instance a Manager gets to go back to the tools as a demotion.
That’s the policy now in Pacific Bell and Nevada Bell. Been that way for at least 10 years. Once you take a management position there is no retreating back to craft.
@10NShQp2-tkx - in Northern California it is a rare instance a Manager gets to go back to the tools as a demotion. Last time I seen it was early 90’s. It isn’t an option. Laterals happen but they still take a Management position. The Union does not allow Management to supplant a potential Craft Position.
To the Original Poster - at first when I started to read your diatribe I thought “this guy needs to write a Reader Digest Version ... this is way too long. What’s he crying about?” But I stopped to read in its entirety. I get you. I get the message you are trying to convey. I’ve been there, lived your experience except I had never been put on any programs. For those that have read this far, bottom line is your 1st Level is under heavy stress that you don’t see. Nor do you really care about. Level 2 and above send the message and instructions that this is what the Company wants, at any cost. It’s about the end result. The main objective is to stay off of any Statewide Reports which are tallied twice a week. Every Region, State, Crew in the District is in fierce competition against each other. The directives are issued and at every level added pressure and expectations are added. The evilness is a personal touch of the preceding management level. In the end it’s about “get it off my desk and is it done before stated due date.” Here’s the best part “NOBODY CARES!” The Original Poster still cares which is an attitude that will be beaten out of him every moment of the day. As the lowest level Manager, 1st Level Field Supervisor’s with 12 to 25 direct reports get HAMMERED by their 2nd Levels with their Direct Reports waiting for their turn to pummel them. The Direct Reports don’t care, don’t know their 1st Level battles for them but loses at every effort. The battle cry is “us against them”, an adversarial confrontational attitude. Craft will say flippantly “that’s why you get paid the big bucks” tough luck. I’ve been on both sides. You don’t care that Managers put in long hours, at least the ones that care. I was a top performer as both Craft and Management. Yet no one cares. The got the Extra effort bonuses, even earned Top Performer increases up to 11% bump but that was we weren’t SBC/AT&T. In the end years the raises dwindled 4%,3%, 2% .75% to my last year 0%. That’s how the Company works. The previous year was .75% with a extra effort cash bonus of $500.00. Yet nothing changed from my part. Go figure. To the OP, hang in there. To the Craft, have some compassion and empathy. It’s just a job, no need to smash the person that is on your side, in the same boat. Here’s some advise I gave my Techs “As bad as you think I am, one day I’ll be gone and the guy that replaces me will not care. Will hold you to the metrics and will make every effort to make you conform or fire you.” Good luck everyone.
Again, most comments here show absolutely no comprehension that the majority of "managers" at T are not supervisors. They are programmers, project managers, accountants, and so on.
Managers have this false "it's business" moral justification for treating others badly
There's a special place waiting for those
Some in management and executives need to rethink their wicked evil ways
Not all but some - and it's the reason we have these issues that are brought up over and over
This all starts at the top - bring positive change and save this company
Treat people with respect and be considerate -don't justify your bad behavior with the needs of the business
Well like I have heard before, which hasn't always been true, especially for the guy who watched p–n on his computer at work, "They can't fire me I am union".
I have seen and heard of managers go back to craft if they were surplused or fired.