What are your biggest frustrations about work?
What are your biggest frustrations about work?
(OP)
For me sometimes I find that I dislike the rigid 40 hour week work schedule. I almost always work more hours (closer to 50), but the grind just gets to me at time.
I wish there was incentives for completing your work efficiently. As it is the work never stops. I leave many days wore out, unless I was smart enough to sneak in a quick lunch time workout.
It just seems like your day is shot pretty quickly, unless you are one of the lucky few that can get by on very little sleep.
Alas, don't expect any changes here in the US.
I often dream of the shorter work weeks and longer vacations that our European counterparts have.
I wish there was incentives for completing your work efficiently. As it is the work never stops. I leave many days wore out, unless I was smart enough to sneak in a quick lunch time workout.
It just seems like your day is shot pretty quickly, unless you are one of the lucky few that can get by on very little sleep.
Alas, don't expect any changes here in the US.
I often dream of the shorter work weeks and longer vacations that our European counterparts have.





RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
However, I am very lucky, we flex time off in lieu of hours worked, so that makes up for it. I am completely aggressive about this, if I work 1 hour extra I take 1 hour off, no quarter is given.
The biggest frustration to me is when people don't meet their timing commitments, so we are waiting for a few files to turn up. I have the option of shaking the management tree, which is (a) rarely productive and (b) sours future working relationshsips, or nagging them directly, which does at least get some communication going, or grinning and bearing it, and cover up for them.
In a more existential sense I suppose I am frustrated by my likely future career prospects, since in almost every way I lke my current lifestyle and job, but in order to progress will mean I either have to move, accept a long commute, or go into management. Bad, worse, and ridiculous.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
my biggest frustrations are upper management lacking appreciation what is accomplished by those beneath them.. and listening to them even when they disagree...
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Does anyone else ever feel like a mushroom? That is to say: 'kept in the dark and fed a bunch of #@!*'.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Coka
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Being told we have no money for improvements but always seeing money to fix all the screw-ups.
Band-aid fixes to get the shipment out the door without ever trying to address the root cause of the problems.
No bonuses, no retirement plan, lousy benefits - The really frustrating part is not so much that but the many tens of thousands of dollars that I've seen wasted in my 10-month tenure, all due to poor planning or poor systems. Even worse is that no effort has been to fixing the systemic problems that result in the waste.
Lip service to safety.
Fear of OSHA fines being the driver of safety rather than the well-being of the people.
CAD drawings where the designer has manually overridden the dimensions and they don't match the actual entity size/length.
CAD drawings where lines don't intersect at a corner and the overidden dimension doesn't match the location of either line end point.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Above is, of course, just my perspective and I don't know all the facts. I'm told it's a valid business decision to aggressively push the development and production schedules but have a tough time believing it.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
However I will have my MBA in a few months and can join the ranks of idiots
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Alan M. Etzkorn

Product Engineer
Nixon Tool Co.
www.nixontool.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
How many holidays do you have in the US?
MVD,
Holland
What frustrates me is that some engineers always say that they are so good and, if repeated long enough, others start believing it ... (Until you get feedback through other channels).
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
People who point at the guy / girl with balls who do hold up their hand!
Worst of all knee jerk reaction managers who don't think before allocating blame.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I have 11 holidays a year. Started the job 6yrs.ago with 3 wks. vacation (a year), that's not to shabby.
I agree with MVD about employees always lying about how good their work is and the management beleives them. The management doesn't see how much of this work I have rejected. If a person is a good employee the company can see it, you don't have to go to the boss and tell them you are good.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
3rd this damn economy or maybe this is a good thing. Regardless of how bad it gets at least I have a job.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Lack of willingness to change when change is needed, and insistency on change where none is needed, objectively of course!
People who refuse your idea at all costs, just because THEY didn't think of it! And actively use politics in making sure quotations for said items support their ideas. IE: over-speccing, under-speccing, "ball-park feel good" quotes, etc.
Shall I go on?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Some one that tells you "just give me an idea of what it will take, I won't hold you to it", the next week when all the numbers are done, they say "you said...".
An employee that knows so much that he/she refuses to ask questions, then blames someone else for their mistakes.
People that only tell half truths, or give misleading information.
People that hear everything, however, do not listen to what they are being told.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
When some work was assigned "We will do it" He actually meant "YOU DO IT"
When some work was done and credit was to be claimed "I did it" What actually happened was "WE DID IT"
When some work was not done correctly he claimed "You DID it" What actually happened was " WE did not do it"
Wish all forum users a very happy and un-frustated new year with many paid holidays....
Thanks and regards
Sayee Prasad R
Ph: 0097143968906
Mob: 00971507682668
email: sayee_prasad@yahoo.com
If it moves, train it...if it doesn't move, calibrate it...if it isn't written down, it never happened!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Ok, let's see: No idea exactly what it's supposed to do. No idea when it needs to be delivered. No idea how much money will be available for the project (or when, or even if...). And I'm supposed to do this in two PowerPoint slides that, presumably, will be presented by someone who will never have spoken to me about it. And of course, no direction as to what I'm supposed to do with my existing commitments or what I'm supposed to charge my time to while I work on this little exercise. The best part: 9 times out of 10 I put something together and don't hear anything for three or four months. When I ask what happened, I usually get, "Oh that, yes, well, there was a meeting two months ago and it got turned down." Lovely. And then of course there's my annual performance review, where I'm told I need to learn to manage my time more effectively so I'm not earning so much comp time. Right.
-MC
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I am rapidly losing patience with an employer that won't spend the money to renovate part of our building in accordance with building code - and he calls himself a P.ENG! Currently there are a dozen lights in the back powered through an extension cord hot-wired into the switch. This is typical of the state of the business in general.
During my first year here, I had a rare chance to take a 2 week holiday through Ireland, free airfare. The boss was okay with it at the time, even though I'd already used up my holiday allotment for the year (2 weeks). He even gave me an advance on my paychecque before I left. Two years later, he's tightened the belt on holiday time, and I still haven't got out of the deficit.
CARF, you're one lucky fellow - I'd like to be in your shoes.
STF
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Dunno, I've always prided myself on being able to spend faster than I earn... Just buying one decent technical book costs 6 hours of earnings that is spent in about 10 seconds...didn't take much time at all
TTFN
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Thinking about this I could go on for ages.
Out of date hardware (and boy do I mean out of date).
Ignoring staff. (only talking to you when he/she wants something).
Always assuming you have no life outside of the office (Just because he/she doesn't).
As someone else wrote - WE got that right. YOU got that wrong.
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Hope this helps.
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maybe only a drafter
but the best user at this company!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Moaning when you are 2 minutes late and then expecting you to stay late to finish off some unimportant task.
Moaning when you are 2 minutes late and then popping home because someone needs to be there to let a service engineer in. THen not making up the time.
Inadequate training for new staff, who then create problems for others, although not really their fault.
Blimey I could go on for ages.
Maybe there should be a poll for the worst frustrations.
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Hope this helps.
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maybe only a drafter
but the best user at this company!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
So, I see it as a case of being the scapegoat if things go wrong while my boss laps up the credit if things go well. I am responsible to make sure that the drawings and associated database are accurate while I have NO authority to expect co-workers to make changes.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
(2) Seeing inconsistencies in the managers above you - say one thing today, then another tomorrow - you try to apply the change and they change back - ruins your credibility.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Normally, the micro-managers do so to draw attention away from their inability to understand a complete problem, much less the solution.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1.) Upper level supervisors and vice presidents who by-pass my boss to hand me assignments directly. These people tend to dump loads (and I mean big loads) of work on my desk and then expect me to ignore everything else until these "priority" projects are completed.
2.) Unions. They are are an antiquated form of worker representation that protect the dead wood and hold back the useful and productive employees. I just returned from working a strike at one of our sister plants. I hope to never cross another picket line again. My next position will be in a non-union facility, god-willing.
3.) Arbitrarily lax rules that are used to discipline employes due to their personal connections, race, and/or gender. I have seen employees commit acts of deliberate sabotage on specific projects and others who have physically threatened co-workers. Such acts would have certainly lead to my immediate termination had I committed them. Yet these people continue in their jobs without even a reprimand.
4.) No raise for the last three years running, even though I have rated near or at the top in the performance reviews for my department. And if raises are ever handed out, we will all recieve exactly the same percentage, irrespective of our individual performance.
5.) Being told that I'm overqualified. When I was a student
6.) The difficulty in finding another job that pays at least as well as the one I have now. It's hard to believe that there aren't more of them out there. If you review the salary charts posted by any of the engineering societies, I fall below or just barely within the average pay range for my discipline, taking into account my degree level and years of experience.
7.) The statement by upper level management that we must change the way we do things to become more cost competitive, while at the same time receiving no support from these same individuals when we run into roadblocks while attempting to implement these changes.
8.) Pointy-haired bosses. Scott Adams had it right - they're everywhere.
Maui
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Is there anything at work that causes you great delight for which you count your blessings? It can't all be bad. Let's hear fom some of you closet optimists.
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
EngineerDave, also posted a thread related to your question.
See --- Thread731-82110
Have a Great Day
ietech
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Oh wait am I in the right thread ....
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
6.) The difficulty in finding another job that pays at least as well as the one I have now. "
You are serious? Do you understand the implications of those statements when read together? You mean when people from outside your company assess you they wouldn't pay you more, and neither will your current employer?
I'd be hanging on to the current job, or improving my interview technique.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
EngineerDave, also posted a thread related to your question.
See --- Thread731-82110"
A pity, 36 replies on this thread and only 5 on the Thread731-82110 on satisfaction......Looks like all of us engineers {at least on this site} {including me
Thanks and regards
Sayee Prasad R
Ph: 0097143968906
Mob: 00971507682668
email: sayee_prasad@yahoo.com
If it moves, train it...if it doesn't move, calibrate it...if it isn't written down, it never happened!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
BigH (Geotechnical) Jan 11, 2004
(1) Working in another country and all the engineers speak English but do all their discussions (with me present) in their language - then say, "Oh, by the way, what do you think?!!"
Big H, this exact thing happened to me while working in Mexico. It motivated me to learn Spanish. Even though I'm fairly fluent in it now, when they talk at full speed instead of too me I can't keep up.
Fun isn't it!
Of course my new job doesn't require travel there and I only get to practice with our Spanish speaking employees here in the US.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I had an interview last year at a local company for a position that paid 25% more than my current salary, but lost out to one of the two other finalists. Yes, there are companies out there that are willing to pay more, but there are very few of them in my area of the US.
Maui
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Thank You Scott Adams!!!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
p.s. There are a lot of great feelings I get from engineering - helping others on site (younger "green" engineers), finishing a job and doing it well - but you know, a thread like this helps in that it lets us "get it out". Now, relieved, I can go back to enjoying my work - today is signing off some 400 RFIs!! using carbon paper!.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Some of my frustrations:
a) Wondering if so much engineering is outsourced to other countries that I won't be able to hold/get another job.
b) Wondering what the next generation is going to do for work if everything ends up outsourced.
c) Wondering why the great political leaders of the USA aren't doing anything about a & b.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
There should be a few openings coming up in NASA soon if the USA are going to be increasing the space program with a base on the moon.....
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
My biggest frustration is not having the necessary tools to do the job productively.
Can't worry about what my frustration was at my last job, I am the engineer here.
Alan M. Etzkorn

Product Engineer
Nixon Tool Co.
www.nixontool.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I am almost certain that every Engineering student knows how to use Windows! Maybe you were unlucky with a rare case. I graduated two years ago, and let me tell you that every lab report that I did had to be done on the computer, sometimes using special softwares that not everybody is aware of. As for not knowing where files are saved... well until I was shown how my team works, where documents are saved, and what document format the group likes to use, I had no clue either. Just imagine yourself working for a new company, and nothing is the way that you are used to... wouldn't you ask where to save the files? Also, bear in mind that new Engineers are more then happy that they have a job in these hard times, and are probably very scared because they want to make a good impression and not make a mistake and so on. And don't forget, it takes a year or two, depending where the new engineer gets a job, to be really familiar with everything and at the same time stop asking "stupid" questions. And you know what, no question is inapropriate, specially at the entry level!
And to continue on the general topic of this post, what frustrates me the most is when junior Engineers are not given the chance that they deserve to prove that they can do a very good job!
Coka
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
This time it was even more over the limit than before. A few times I had noticed on the printer that he printed out job ads and left them laying around. I had a return confirmation from one of the online job companies in my Microsoft Outlook. So not only did he use my computer and apply for a job, he must have mistakenly used my e-mail account as well.
I was really angry. But as I am one to avoid confrontation I didn't say anything about it, I just password locked my computer instead.
I couldn't just tell my boss about it though, because we are so understaffed now, it would be even worse if they fired him!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
You should document the inappropriate computer usage somehow, or you may be the one fired when the computer histories are checked.
Just a thought, I know I would.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I told one of my co-workers, but you are certainly correct. I put a password protect on it, but alas I need to set it for only a few minutes. I noticed he got on the computer because he uses Yahoo for his e-mail and I don't.
It really made me mad that one day a confirmation from Careerbuilder about a job he applied to came back to my Outlook account.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
case in point i went to visit a jobsite yesterday were a contractor had started construction with out submitting any shop drawings. he actually told me
"how am i supposed to build the building if i have to wait for shop drawings"
i might not mind if they built it right but i had to spend the rest of the day writing a 4 page report about all the things he has to fix
i hate morons
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
This leaves me all of his responsibilities without any of the authority. I'm one of the few Management Reps for ISO thats not a Quality Manager. He hasn't even read the quality related procedures since we converted the Quality System to ISO 9000:2000 in Nov. (But he was good enough to sign off on them).
Fortunetly for me I have the backing of the rest of the department. At least when he's gone we can get the job done!
The icing on the cake is his half witted statements
QM: "You dont have to follow the procedures" speaking to an inspector/auditor?
QM: "Don't be so critical on those dimensions" speak to someone completing a first article on a $150,000 die.
I do find it gratifying that I know more than my boss and that I out work him on projects he cannot do.
Being a Quality Engineer sucks anyone know someone looking for a Prod. Manager? LOL
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
2. People who'd rather work long and late days instead of working steadily throughout the morning. (Get it done, and get on out!)
3. Extra taxation for overtime. Shouldn't extra work be rewarded?
4. Two hours of commute on top of the 9 hour workday.
5. Only getting home just in time to kiss the kids good-night.
6. What's excersize?
aspearin1
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
To know there will always be at least one brown-nosing back-stabbing ..... wherever you work.... and you are destined to be his particular target...
To give 110% commitment to the company for 1% in return.
To wonder how management manage to get their shoe laces tied (their wives do it for them, I guess) or find their way to work every day (if they are particularly stupid they get a chauffuer), to wonder just how stupid you'd have to be to be a manager and why educators don't teach you how to look and act stupid as this is a much better way to a secure future than science or engineering....
To see all your hard work of two years destroyed by two minutes false brain activity by a business manager with just enough brain to make a bird fly crooked.
What the hell, if i just say "MANAGERS!!!!!!" i can spare you the next ten pages.
There is a plus side: most all of the people you work with (except managers).
The satisfaction you get from doing a good job, of making a client richer by CAN$8million a year even if you do have a problem making ends meet on your salary.
Doing something no one else has been able to do.
Best of all, peer recognition.
I wouldn't miss it for the world.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1) The feeling that I have way too many bosses. This is due in part to my willingness to help others and my laidback personality. In the end It is my own fault that I can't say no and as a result I end up helping out others even when it conflicts with my own work plan at times.
2) Being constantly interrupted which is related to the people who are giving me more work to do!
TGIF!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1. A boss that's supposedly an engineer but doesn't know how things work in our company...or what we do. I guess for safety's sake, he's management now. He also askes for a ROUGH ESTIMATE on when a project will be done and takes it as when it should be done.
2. A boss that pulls you off of projects constantly to do things that were mentioned in a meeting, then wonders why the other stuff isn't done yet.
3. Project managers that promise unrealistic delivery dates just to get the job. Of course the parts won't get there till a week after a product is due.
4. When I put in my request to have the day after Thanksgiving off in May, and that week, they tell me they need me to come in.
5. I "play the game", working 2nd shift now to handle the overflow of problems from another engineers project, it has interrupted my family life. Yet, I've been there longer than any of the new engineers and they are making more than me. I didn't ask for this info, an hr rep that thought I was being treated unfairly I guess told me this. Yet, I can't use this info, because it's something I'm not supposed to have.
6. Referring to number 5...sub par salary.
7. Making process improvement suggestions only to have them all shot down or not having managements support for time need to do them.
8. A boss that doesn't stand up for his department. He would make your typical "yes man" cringe.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I would guess we ought to have thread on management defects but I don't think there is enough server capacity.
Managers. In 30 years I have only ever seen one decent manager. He lasted the best part of a year before someone took him out of there. He got fast tracked.... i guess he is now senior management somewhere but no one knows where.
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1,2 & 3 you have a communication problem. Set your jobs up on Project, sit down with him weekly and let him assign priorities, but don't budge on your estimate of task duration. Switch auto schedule on. First he'll give everything a priority of 1. He'll figure it out eventually, with a little gentle prodding.
4 S... happens
5 Tricky. Did you get paid for the second shift? Why did you agree to do it?
6 As I've written elsewhere, negotiating for higher pay once you are in a company is very difficult.
7 Find out why they are being shot down. Sounds like you may not be presenting a good economic case for them. On the other hand some companies require an 8 month payback for any process changes, which is a bit hard.
8 Exactly why I'd prefer an effective manager who is politically adept rather than a techie. My ideal manager is my voice in the organisation, whose primary role is getting me the resources (which I identify) that I need to do my job. His secondary role is deciding what that job is.
However the majority view seemed to be that most people here seemed to think their manager's technical abilities were important.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I took this job at significantly lower pay after I was unexpectedly laid off after completing a masters degree.
I have been there one year. No raises for anybody this year. I just figured out even If I was lucky enough to get a 5% raise every year, it will take me 7 years to get back to what I was earning at my previous job.
Any chance of me staying there long term
Not likely
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Of course, if managers are technically aware that helps but it is sometimes a hinderance if they were actually an engineer at some time. For one thing, managing means they are no longer current in their discipline and then they try to show they are at least as good an engineer as you, or better (which is why they think are a manager) and try to second guess you.
Actually, I don't know who makes a good manager, I have never met one. On the other hand i am an authority on bad managers, so much so that i could be a really rotten manager, given half the chance and twice the money.
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
As for ability to manage, I respect a manager that can and will do the work beside you when he/she needs to. I always have.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Those who complain about facilities, equipment, and things requiring capitol investment. Until you are spending your own money on items people think they need to get the job done, ask yourself, would I spend my own money on this and get a return on investment. If the answer is yes, offer to loan the company the money, with terms, and retained ownership or the item. If you are not willing to invest don’t ask someone else to.
Am I completely satisfied with my new job? NO, but it is better than being totally responsible for everything.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
It is so easy to be a "Monday morning quarterback" and to know for certain the best way to spend other people's money! But how many people who complain about how their company is run would risk any of their own savings?
I think that very few people can honestly say they have never had a miserable boss. If you are happy with your current job/boss, do everything you can to keep your company profitable because you might have a long search to find another situation that is as good.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I left my last job because the people I worked with started to suck more and more. Our manager never got a diploma from anywhere... not even high school. However he did accel to be the worst manager & engineer I have ever known.
Anyway, at my new job the idea is to get your work done, done right, and have free time to do education, training, testing, etc. all in 40 hours. Difficult? Sometimes, of course, but the point was to be flexible. And I'm happy cause it works.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Either you have never suffred through the pains of an ill-equiped and under-educated manager who gets through life by his brown nose or you have forgotten.
Having spent most of my career managing people and forced into an Engineering postion due to this Republican led economy I can tell you one thing that most of the managers mentioned above have in common. DISRESPECT for the people that make them a living.
I understand budgets are tight at times but someone has to have the brass nuts to go in and ask for bare essentials. They also need to support those under them and praise them when they do something right not just glory grab.
My wife is one of those few people who has a great person to work for. He takes the time to get to know his employees. Even takes time to show up and some of his employees kids sporting events. He undrestands that people make mistakes and rewards them greatly for their hard work. That is why his company has expanded by 50% last year alone. People want to work for this man and make a profit for the team.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
If you have good managers, or are one, you are a rare person.
OK, i have a down on managers, possibly because they are an easy target. In every walk of life there are those that are good at their jobs and those that are bad. managers are uniquely placed that a bad manager can have a more profound effect than one bad worker in a group of many.
Anyway, if i can't criticise managers, who can, some of my best friends are managers
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I have been the under-educated, ill-equiped manager. I only have a high school education and stared my business at 19 years old with a net worth of -$500.00 because I couldn’t find a job in 1974 (last one out of Seattle turn out the lights). Customers are your boss when you are looking for work for your employees. The people you work for and think are jerks can be worse if you are a subcontractor. Brown nosing buy other sales people can exceed anything you will see at your job.
As I tell people, when you do sales, you are looking for a job several times a day. When you are the owner you will work for jerks, get beat out of money, pay to work, pay people to make mistakes, pay people to fix their mistakes, and pay for your own mistakes.
I never had an employee make as large of mistakes as I made, one cost over $100,000.00, and damn near broke me. I have worked with some excellent people, and continue to look for these type of people to work with. You do not have to work in a bad environment for ever if you are willing to take some risks!
Remember, until you have done the job, you don’t know what it takes, and you were looking for a job when you found your current one.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I'm sick of constant interruptions that are pointless and prevent me from getting my work done.
I'm sick of bad attitudes. While I have one myself, I keep it internal (except for perhaps this message board!). I don't let people know I'm in a bad mood and I don't typically complain about others at work.
OK now I'm done venting. Time to finish my lunch, which I prefer to take offsite, so I'm not interrupted.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
You are the exception to the rule you have the brass nuts to put it all on the line and I commend you but most of us do not have that luxury.
When I was hired it was for a specific job as an engineer not to design the entire system for someones lack of knowledge. For the last three years My Boss turn my accomplishments into bonus and rewards for himself.
I have done the job in the past as a manager. Many of the people that worked for me in the past are still dear freinds. But I took the time to lift them up not just weight them down with my work. I was always the first to praise their accomplishments to them and their peers. I never started a project without the resources to fulfill my department goals. I knew/know them their families and what made them tick.
PS: Risk is easy when one is young.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Type 1: The owner entrepreneur.
and,
Type 2: Someone who is simply a senior employee of a large organization.
Type 1 managers are putting themselves at risk, so they either manage well or go bankrupt. Type 2 managers have power but no accountability. They can do a lot of damage and still coast happily to retirement.
If you can be your own boss that is of course the best situation. But if not, try to find a Type 1 boss.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I've never claimed it, but always remind them that I could and should.
Cheers
Greg Locock
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I can go on with specific examples but it wouldn't serve any purpose here. Like I said though, it was a good experience because it grounded me. I know how "bad" bad can be. When I have a "bad day at the office", I look back to those days and realize that it could be a lot worse.
The experience would help as I was trying to become a DER. At that time, I worked under a senior engineer that refused to teach me anything. I learned to rely on myself for my education. I also discovered that they had extensive documentation of prior projects. By studying those documents, I got the education that he wouldn't give me. There was one engineer in particular who was particularly thorough, but worked there about 2 generations before me. Nonetheless, I used to tell people at the time that I was getting my training from him.
Eventually, I gained a reputation for being the "go-to" person for solving unusual or complex problems. Over time, I got the attention of someone who offered me a better position. Meanwhile, my boss was in the process of passing me over for promotion. Needless to say, I took the outside offer. My exit interview was pretty glowing - they tried to talk me into staying. However, I had already made up my mind.
Based on these experiences, I've made a personal decision that I will always share what I know with other engineers and will tend to associate more with engineers who are willing to extend to me the same courtesy.
....boy, this was longer than I though it was going to be.
--
Joseph K. Mooney
Director, Airframe Structures - FAA DER
Delta Engineering Corporation
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1) Being told that my salary is based on 45 hours/week, not 40. I get OT after "congressional approval", but even then I have to work 55 hours/week just to equal a straight time OT rate!
2) Along with the above, the constant undercurrent that we (employees) should be working harder for less money. We should be working harder to get rewarded with "better" projects". I watched a former manager take a job out of country for 6+ months, barely come home to visit his family, come in underbudget and finished ahead of time with glowing reviews from the customer. His reward? All his OT for those 6 months was *denied*. Are these the "better" projects that I should come to expect? If so, no thank you!
3) My current frustration is a backlog that continues to grow while the maximum number of hours I'm allowed to work is decreased. Wait, I should rephrase that to "the maximum number of hours that I can work and get PAID for" is decreased. When working 55-60 hours I couldn't keep up with the workload, and now I'm limited to 50 hours/week (paid for 47.5 of that) with several large projects looming in the distance yet I'm expected to get all of it done regardless.
4) As mention by others, the withholding or excluding of information by upper management until such time that nothing can be done by the time we're told. I'd appreciate a more open architecture from a management standpoint.
I'm very glad to have a job in this economy, however, I would prefer to work for a company who is much more willing to recognize hard working individuals and take a more even and well mannered stance in treatment of employees.
Erik
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
If you work in the United States you may want to contact an Attorney knowledgeable in the US Fair Labor Standards. Your current employer may be violating some Federal laws.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
According to what resources I can find, it's not illegal to require an X hour workweek as long as working less than X doesn't results in a penalty. It stinks since it's not written anywhere (my electronic time cards are based on 40 hours), it's just "expected" and "understood".
Erik
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
As i understand it, its main function is to reduce the GDP and make production even less competitive than before.
There is, i believe, an opt out: I successfully evaded the issue by not signing the requisite forms when it was introduced and presented to the workforce to sign; consequent on the usual efficiencies of large companies, the issue never raised itself again. Just as well as i never understood what was its intent (as opposed to its actual function)
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
The US Fair Labor Standards Act does address hours worked. That is why Wal-Mart is in trouble.
Your employer cannot require you to work without compensation, even if you are salary.
If your time cards are based on 40 hours, then there is room for negations. Be sure to ask the person you are negotiation with if he knows how his hourly wage is diluted when working more hours, then show him how yours are.
Remember you were looking for a job when you found your current one!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Curiously, engineers don't seem to figure much in either group.
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Poor employees represent poor management.
When employees are not challenged in their job, directed toward the companies goals and rewarded for their efforts then what do you expect?
Managers salaries continue to rise while the guy that made it happen in the back cubicle is forgotten.
Better companies have direction and all the players are marching to the beat of the same drum. If some slackers can not keep up they are removed after being given oppurtunities to improve though job evaluations.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Your employer cannot require you to work without compensation, even if you are salary.
If your time cards are based on 40 hours, then there is room for negations. Be sure to ask the person you are negotiation with if he knows how his hourly wage is diluted when working more hours, then show him how yours are.
Remember you were looking for a job when you found your current one!"
The excuse around that is that we, the engineers are paid for 45 hours/week and thus, that's what our salary is based on. That appears to be the reason that my employer can get away with it.
What piques my interest is that when I pulled my detailed timecard data, it's based on 40 hours and shows 5 hours of premium time if I've worked 45 hours. It seems to me that on the books I'm a 40 hour employees, but verbally, I'm told its a 45 hour/week job and that's what I'm paid for. I haven't pursued this subject any further than water cooler talk, and doing so seems to me to be biting the hand that feeds me. I will research this subject more in my free time (HA!)
Erik
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Our Managers began a lean presentaion stating "anything other than parts is a waste". They went on to detail how much waste is involved with the Quality Department. So basically It seemed all of the tasks I have as a Quality Engineer from PPAP through ISO are a waste. Then he had the nerve to ask us for suggestions on how to reduce waste.
Without a thought I raised my hand and said I think we need self managed teams.
After this our Customer Service Manager had the results of our most recent customer survey which stated that the customers valued quality over all other aspects of our company and that we are exceeding their expectation.
Then to top it all off we had three customers in who stated we have done a complete turn around in quality over the last three years. I was hired three years ago
Hmmm What will they do when I'm gone due to lean????
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
"He who is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."
There is no logic to management.
Incidentally, quality improved as the result of a management initiative. It has nothing to do with you.
However, had quality not improved, you can bet management would have noticed you then.
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
My first ISO implementation upper management had a ISO flag raising ceremony and had the Production Manager both say a few words and raise the flag. He was not involved in any of the procedure or work instruction writing????? But I did get my Bonus!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Rather than make any-one redundant and payout big redundancy money they suddenly announced that in future the company would pay private mileage on company cars, not just business mileage. Sound generous? well since most used their own cars for private mileage the cost to the company was minimal but the sales guys were now faced with a huge increase in tax on this "perk". No amount of compaining could reverse the decision.
A short while later one of the field sales team quit, following which they "relented" and allowed everyone to revert to the old system.
Of course, some of these managment ideas backfire. Within a few months all but one of the field sales team and the sales manager had resigned. Now they are busy trying to recruit a new team. I wonder how much that wil cost them in agency fees, training, lost revenue etc?
Glad I'm out of there too.
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
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RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
"Ok. Here is brief legal overview of labor law. If you fit within the three exempted employees that do not receive overtime, then they do not have to pay you. They are administrative, executive and professional. You would classify as a professional (most likely). Now if they base you salary on production, such as quality or quantity, then you would probably not fit within the exemption. Now, they cannot as an exempted employee, dock your pay if you show up a few minutes late (up to one full day). If they did then again you would probably not classify as an exempted employee.
With out knowing more, I cannot give you a specific answer. Do not construe this as legal advice, since I am only giving you a broad over view. I do not know enough to really tell you if you are or are not exempted. There are a lot of loopholes."
E-
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I go to work in the morning like the rest.
Through the day I maintain a constant effort to get things
done.
I then leave at 5:00 like I should.
But I am cornered by managers who work 60+ hr/wk about
whether my project is all it could be since i leave every
day on time.
I then remind them of the time they spend small talking and
browsing the web and generally not applying themselves
during the work hours. They allready know that to be
succesfull you must appear to suffer long hours on the job.
Project results don't count for much just percieved effort.
Good work done in a 40 hr week is less valuable than
a poor result from 65 hr weeks
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Nice idea but is it effective?
PS I suggest that pointing out to management that they waste most of their day is not a good career move.
The simple answer is to make sure you have a laptop and tell them that you work at home. Also, when asked near the end of the normal working day for something, and you have it done already, say instead that you will let them have it in the morning and deliver it first thing when you arrive.
There is a down side to this. "Life imitates art". Pretty soon that laptop you take to and fro will suddenly start being used for work at home. Take care and stay in control.
Management weren't at the front of the queue when brains were handed out or they didn't remember to keep all the bug fixes current. A little subtelty will do no harm, a direct and honest answer that serves no value may be laudable but suicidal.
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
Eng-Tips: Pro bono publico, by engineers, for engineers.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
I used to work at a company that had flex time. Since I had a 1 hr commute each way, I decided to get in early. Inevitably as I tried to leave my boss would corner me. She was on the get in late, work late flex time schedule. It is very difficult to work a different schedule than your boss and thrive!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
It's a fact.
tg
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1. Being at the top of the pile in technical knowledge (not that I know that much; the rest of them just know less) while being at the bottom of the pile in seniority and authority.
2. Incompetent co-workers that everyone knows are incompetent but that management does nothing about.
2A. Incompetent co-workers that management treats badly in reprisal without any formal accusations, so said co-workers think they're being treated unjustly, so now I'm dealing with someone who is not only incompetent but disgruntled.
3. Boss who was hired for management and not for engineering and who wasn't given the time to catch up on the tech side, and who really hasn't been given the time to manage us because he still has all the tasks he had before he became manager--and who doesn't seem to have a problem with this.
4. Admin and computer people who, not being "core function", feel the need to establish their importance by throwing their weight around, looking for ways to say "no" instead of looking for ways to say "yes", and generally treating us all like criminals who are trying to get away with something instead of providing us with a service.
5. Occasional lack of backup from supierors, or outright pulling the rug out from under me.
6. Superiors operating on a "need to know" basis for no good reason.
My boss is well aware of all of the above (I don't keep much to myself). (And this is a public forum.)
My first boss was wonderful. He approached every task as a learning experience for me, and he knew his stuff. My job was built around my skills. He created amazing opportunities for me. I miss him.
Now I'm a little stuck, because for all my complaints, I've still built myself a nice little niche, which doesn't transfer elsewhere very well. And yet I can't take dealing with people I don't have enough respect for, and I also really want to live in a different part of the country.
A wishful thinking gripe:
I am a night person. Left to my own devices my bedtime migrates to around 6 AM. No one seems inclined to let me work, say, 1-6 PM and then 2-5 AM--especially not in my government job!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
my first thought was that we must have worked for the same company, but I see not...
JMW
www.viscoanalyser.com
Eng-Tips: Pro bono publico, by engineers, for engineers.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
1. Managers who lack "vision".
2. Know-it-all's.
3. Self-promoting types, "horn blowers".
4. Slackers.
5. Chaos and/or disorganization.
6. The "sky is falling", types.
7. "Dictatorial" management types.
8. People who gossip.
9. Suck ups.
10. Cliques.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Hg's #2. It doesn't matter how much you know, it's how brown your nose is.
Procrastination on the part of management, or giving me a project that is past its due date before I get it.
Lack of mentorship or mentorship abilities and qualifications.
Lazy people who pass the buck to those who aren't. Lazy period.
Office politics.
Making empty promises to shut someone up concerning something he or she needs.
Arrogance misplaced in those who can't back it up.
People who aren't nice or considerate. Always be nice until it is time to not be nice.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Managers who think it is acceptable to ask us to work all weekend, day and nightshifts (we're all weekday workers) while they trot off to Praque. And then expect respect? Ha!
People who wander from pointless meeting to pointless meeting where they see all the same faces from the previous meeting wher they can discuss why they did nothing about anything. Parasites, siphoning resources and money from the company.
Anyone from HR. They are all serpents.
Those who insist on having a point of view on things about which they clearly know absolutely nothing at all, just so they can be seen to have an input in front of the management. I treat them as cannon fodder, shoot 'em down, fire at will.
Hg, are we separated at birth? We have scarily similar views of our workplace. Your company must dredge managers from the same cesspool we do.
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If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
They have their moments.
Hg
Eng-Tips guidelines: FAQ731-376
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
" The man below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 42 degrees north latitude and between 58 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist.
"I am," replied the man, "but how did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost."
The man below responded, "You must be a manager."
"I am," replied the balloonist, "how did you know?"
"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are exactly in the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
2. The refusal to try to understand what an Engineer can provide.
3. 40 non-engineers doing design work and then asking me to fix all of their screw ups after the customer has the product.
4. Management supporting and encouraging the 40 other non-engineers doing the design work.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
People who schedule meeting after meeting the whole day and are still surprised that there is no time left for working.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
----------------------------------
If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Paid Vacation time accrues at a maximum of 4-weeks per year after four years of employment at the University. You must use your vacation time or loose it, however you are allowed to have a maximum of 1.5 times your annual accrual on your anniversary date. Employees are allowed to donate vacation or sick-time to another employee, usually in the event a catastrophic illness would cause the coworker to use up all paid vacation or sick leave.
Presently, my work week runs Sunday through Tuesday. Since most holidays in the US fall on Mondays, I receive double time for the holidays. Today happens to be one.
I could make more money working in the private sector, however, when you factor in that my wife, daughters and I attend the University for a greatly reduced tuition, I get an employee discount on the text books and various other perqs, it all comes out even. Now, when my youngest gets her PHD, I might consider going back into the private sector, but I have YEARS to make that decision.
I remain,
The Old Soldering Gunslinger
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Managers paying for a report from a consultant engineer, then demanding that the report be edited to change the truth.
Handing out the title 'engineer' which to any cretin who wants to play at engineering.
The appraisal process. A great demotivator.
Phoney recruitment drives, when a job is advertised but the decision is already taken about the appointment before the process begins. In fact anything to do with HR is frustrating.
Badly managed and poorly implemented ISO9001 systems. Good ones are great. Bad ones are bloated paper-munching dinosaurs. Guess which one I endure?
----------------------------------
One day my ship will come in.
But with my luck, I'll be at the airport!
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Well the appraisal I had today confirmed my worse fears. My boss thinks I'm an idiot and now it's gone up to the level of my bosses boss.
I work my ass off there. But the one person I didn't influence in the right manner was her. I'm not sure why or how it went bad, but it is bad now.
I have been working on a variety of projects in a variety of areas and she wants me to slow down. She even had me go through some more training today on stuff I know quite well.
Between that and what I thought would be a increase in salary to match the market value, but instead turned out to be a very miniscule raise, well I am demoralized.
Then again it could have been worse, it could have been no raise.
On the flip side, my sense of accomplishment on a personal level is high, it is just that I have failed to convey this to my boss. From now on she will know precisely all the stuff I have been working on.
See it was a failure to market myself that led this. Now it's up to me to market myself out of it.
But it is nonetheless extremely frustrating to work harder than many of my coworkers but get very little credit. I'm a bit upset, but then again I know i won't stay here forever.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
When my staff thank me for extra time off work.
Hearing that my staff defended my reputation in my absence.
The gobsmacked look on my managers face when he realised we were £25,000 under budget.
Things I hate,
Same manager telling me there is no money available for pay rises or bonuses.
Telling my staff that despite their hard work and huge savings on costs, yet again there will be no pay rises.
Having unrealistic time scales and procedures imposed from above with little thought as to how it is going to be complied with.
In reality I love my job, managing the managers above me generates as much job satifaction as managing the staff under me.
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
Frustration @ job is a universal scenario and also a never ending fuss. My experience is that you can beat the frustration by being aggressive at your job. By aggressive, i don't mean being rebelious, i mean that we need to make an extra effort to put across our viewpoint.
I have also faced some really frustrating time at work. I feel that about 90% of the time frustration is caused by the response of the people around you and not by the work itself. We need to devise some tact to circumvent the tough people. I agree that it might be a difficult one, but forget not, it is a one time job. The guy who has been tamed, stays tamed. That's my opinion. Any takers...
Thanks and regards
RE: What are your biggest frustrations about work?
That and the fact that I as the low-man on the totem-pole (engineer-wise) get stuck performing the remedial designs that even the newest of new designers should be able to do because the Sr. Designers always seem to screw them up. All this while my engineer colleagues get to 'play' with more advanced problems that would spark my creativity, intelligence, and interest FAR MORE than these simple, stupid sheet metal shields...