Ok, I'm going to do it. I need to whine about my boss to somebody safe. I think that's you guys. If you don't wanna hear about a library boss . . . it's ok with me if you give this a pass.
I'm in my mid-50's and so is my boss, and it's a two-woman operation. I had to make a midlife career change, she had some related experience, that's why she's the boss, and I'm good with that. We both were new in this position last June . . . me, after over 2 years without a full-time job, so I NEED this job and I'm grateful for it. I'm educated, relatively bright, I learn quickly and I work hard. We get along passably well, or so I thought.
But today was six-month evaluation day. I went in with absolutely zero worries. I've had one sick day in the last 6 months, when I'm at work I WORK (except for making the occasional AF post). I have learned the job well enough to run the place when the boss is out, and she has had no complaints. The computer tracking system is an non-intuitive, glitchy, database-with-a-lot-of-modules beast, and there are no tutorials or manuals - - but I have made friends with the customer service techs. When I make a mistake, I make a call and fix it. No worries. But ah - - she HAD to be picky, you see. It's her job.
Last week (Feb. 15) she was clearly in a mood. She found an error in a record, and asked me about it. I looked at it, and told her that it was not a record that I had created. (In fact, that record has her name in the Properties - ) After I said that it wasn't mine, she left the office for a while. I fixed the problem while she was gone.
She came to the evaluation with a list of the mistakes that I had made. (I also fixed all of them, but she only noted that after running down the entire list.) Sure, it was correct. I'm working on a new computer system, and I reminded her that there are no manuals. Her response was "don't I know it! Yes, I make mistakes all the time too!" -- But then, she told me that she had gone to talk to HR on the 15th about my attitude and continued errors on the system.
Attitude? Errors? On the 15th, she had gone to them furious over an error that SHE HAD MADE, and I FIXED. Out of a 1-5 scale, with 5 being highest, she rated me a 2.5 on my evaluation. 2.5. For an employee that has given her no trouble, has nearly perfect attendance, and runs the place in her absence. The teachers we work with LOVE me. There was a meeting a few weeks ago, and a group of them gave me flowers and told the boss I did a great job. (I'm in charge of getting their textbooks and tools shipped to them.) I have never talked back or criticized, never even said a curse word. Attitude? I ask a lot of questions . . .
I need this job. I can't risk losing it at my age. I have to put in ten years here to be eligible for a pension. I didn't give her any grief. No, I didn't even point out the error that I fixed. It didn't seem like a good idea. But I'm still mad. For some reason she is holding me to a higher standard than she requires of herself. Argh.
Thanks for listening.
I'm in my mid-50's and so is my boss, and it's a two-woman operation. I had to make a midlife career change, she had some related experience, that's why she's the boss, and I'm good with that. We both were new in this position last June . . . me, after over 2 years without a full-time job, so I NEED this job and I'm grateful for it. I'm educated, relatively bright, I learn quickly and I work hard. We get along passably well, or so I thought.
But today was six-month evaluation day. I went in with absolutely zero worries. I've had one sick day in the last 6 months, when I'm at work I WORK (except for making the occasional AF post). I have learned the job well enough to run the place when the boss is out, and she has had no complaints. The computer tracking system is an non-intuitive, glitchy, database-with-a-lot-of-modules beast, and there are no tutorials or manuals - - but I have made friends with the customer service techs. When I make a mistake, I make a call and fix it. No worries. But ah - - she HAD to be picky, you see. It's her job.
Last week (Feb. 15) she was clearly in a mood. She found an error in a record, and asked me about it. I looked at it, and told her that it was not a record that I had created. (In fact, that record has her name in the Properties - ) After I said that it wasn't mine, she left the office for a while. I fixed the problem while she was gone.
She came to the evaluation with a list of the mistakes that I had made. (I also fixed all of them, but she only noted that after running down the entire list.) Sure, it was correct. I'm working on a new computer system, and I reminded her that there are no manuals. Her response was "don't I know it! Yes, I make mistakes all the time too!" -- But then, she told me that she had gone to talk to HR on the 15th about my attitude and continued errors on the system.
Attitude? Errors? On the 15th, she had gone to them furious over an error that SHE HAD MADE, and I FIXED. Out of a 1-5 scale, with 5 being highest, she rated me a 2.5 on my evaluation. 2.5. For an employee that has given her no trouble, has nearly perfect attendance, and runs the place in her absence. The teachers we work with LOVE me. There was a meeting a few weeks ago, and a group of them gave me flowers and told the boss I did a great job. (I'm in charge of getting their textbooks and tools shipped to them.) I have never talked back or criticized, never even said a curse word. Attitude? I ask a lot of questions . . .
I need this job. I can't risk losing it at my age. I have to put in ten years here to be eligible for a pension. I didn't give her any grief. No, I didn't even point out the error that I fixed. It didn't seem like a good idea. But I'm still mad. For some reason she is holding me to a higher standard than she requires of herself. Argh.
Thanks for listening.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
