OK. I am telling you to not volunteer for anything extra. It won't help it can only hurt you. I was excited about the opportunity as I am good at the subject. The leader of the project is a real pain. they are impatient, rude and mean. I did not remember this about them. I was told that I did not communicate with the leader in a timely manner and they would drop my ranking. I contributed great ideas and new ideas but the damage was done. I should have declined but did not. After I joined the team everyone told me about the bad leader. So the workers that don't contribute, leave early, sit around all day are fine but I am screwed. The more people you are exposed to the worse off you are all it takes is one bad comment and your screwed. Learn from my mistakes and don't do it.
7 replies (most recent on top)
Wow all these comments ring so true. I’m so glad I left that he-l ho-e. I have experienced most every bit of this mentioned here. It’s not worth it.
I agree. I volunteered to temporarily take over a role from someone who quit with little notice. I agreed to the job, but I made a point of saying 1) that without knowing all it involves, I can’t say if it is doable with my current workload and 2) I’ll do it temporarily.
Not surprisingly, management had no clue what exactly Joe did and how involved the job had become over the last few years. Because of all the people leaving, Joe had a heavy load and I suspect management’s lack of understanding & appreciation led to him quitting.
After a few months of doing my job, much of Joe’s job, and some of another person’s job (who quit this year), I was exhausted. I knew it was an untenable situation and every so often, I made sure to inform management. I always received praise & understanding for all I was doing and promises the situation is being evaluated.
A month or so ago, during my PDS discussion, my manager had the gall to ding me for not being Superman. I was so pi---d that a week later, I wrote up an email reminding them that I agreed to do the extra assignment TEMPORARILY and before I knew the extent of the role. Now it is clear and I cannot continue at this pace.
Not only did I receive no solution or indication they will reassign the job or alleviate me of other duties, I was told it was my job and I agreed to it when I volunteered.
That moment I decided I was going to retire early (at 57), but I gave them a mere 45 days notice. My last day is next week.
My manager acted shocked I would leave so early because I had always planned on staying until I was 65. I told him that I changed my mind when I realized I am expected to do the job of multiple people. He stammered and said something to the effect of - we could have worked something out and - we appreciate and value you and your work.
What a load of BS.
I tell everyone at EM, be careful what you volunteer for or agree to do. You may be stuck with the job and dinged if you find you can’t do it in addition to all your other duties.
@1fou I'm expat in same situation. LT at the affiliate is sh1tting bricks because they have no control over what's transpired and how people are pi---d. Attrition is bad and will get worse. Production and Safety impacted. Very bad situation
Yeah EM people always go over the top and take the fun out out of UW or other volunteer opportunities. Some dbag always makes it about them. I agree, it's voluntary f it and f them.
Judgement day is Dec when EM gives raises or doesn’t. Lots of people will retire or decide to retire next year and many will quit. Attrition will go through the roof. Currently on Expat assignment in a location that still requires testing and masks and with HR cutting benefits and project in distress many Expats are going to leave and elect retirement. LT has no control over HR and people with and without families are done with over 2 years of cr---y living conditions. Get out now and ride the desk!
Why spend your life being afraid of making mistakes and being judged? That’s no way to live. Who cares about the opinion of one person? Communications goes both ways. Perhaps it’s the problem of the bad leader who failed to set up an effective means for team to work together.
So true. In my opinion. That is why no one take risk and initiatives to do things. In a trap like this for a few times. But thinking back, I would still do the same because I don’t want to waste my time and life, even though I know I will be treated badly and not getting rewarded…