How's work been?

Yeah WFH with no outlet for kids is pretty stressful.

Stele wrote:

Yeah WFH with no outlet for kids is pretty stressful.

A-f*cking-men.

Our son's school just started using Microsoft Teams with them and it's been a godsend...not for learning, but because he can find other students to chat with.

On the topic of mentorship, I got promoted in December and now manage a group of first time managers (they're all fantastic and hand selected for the opportunity).

I meet with them each for 30 minutes every week. I try to pass down all the things I've learned. If I learn something on Monday, I'm passing it down on Tuesday (when relevant). They're getting really great info 10 years earlier in their career than I did. It is by far the most rewarding thing I've done at work.

One of my career goals, which I've expressed to my team, is to one day work for someone who used to work for me. I think it will hurt my ego in the moment but would be fantastically rewarding and affirming.

With this promotion, I now report to the person who was formerly my boss's boss's boss. I get to attend his staff meetings, and I get to regularly chat with him. It's been an incredible learning experience. Getting way more insight into how we're managing this pandemic than I would have a year ago.

Well just got f*cked at work. Sold off our division and our jobs are gone today or in coming weeks. Don't know.

Anyone know of good account management opportunities I could apply to? Strong in data analytics, client management, and more. Live in MN but can WFH anywhere if that works. Great time company to fork us all over. Appreciate it in a global pandemic!

Hobear wrote:

Well just got f*cked at work. Sold off our division and our jobs are gone today or in coming weeks. Don't know.

Anyone know of good account management opportunities I could apply to? Strong in data analytics, client management, and more. Live in MN but can WFH anywhere if that works. Great time company to fork us all over. Appreciate it in a global pandemic!

Craptastic, sorry buddy, that sucks. Here is the job openings we have currently, not sure what we have open in Minnesota at the moment that you are qualified, but take a gander. While the office is in Minnetonka off 494 & 7, everyone that can work from home is.
Trimble Transportation.

Thanks Rainsmercy!

My company told us yesterday that our Canadian employees get this Friday, in addition to the normal Monday holiday, and the US ones get next Friday in addition to Memorial Day.

Nice little extra mental break for everyone.

I'm wondering if this weekend is when I finally walk out on my job.

The company I worked for was bought out a couple years ago. Since then our wages have been frozen, we have lost all of our vacation days, they started denying all time off requests, they continue to have payroll dependencies (usually overtime which takes us weeks to finally get paid, but occasionally I will have a random half-hour missing from my check), and they have cut our anniversary bonus by over 80%. And these are just the problems I can easily quantify.

I've already been stressing out about working through this pandemic, particularly since I'm currently renting a room from my 70-year old parents. This last week one of my coworkers, who lives with a maternity ward nurse, told me that she found out one of her recent patients had covid-19. she was off work while waiting for test results. My company's response to an employee potentially being exposed? Schedule him for more days.

I've been coughing up a lung the last couple days. Pretty sure it's just a cold since it has been steadily moving from a cough to a runny nose. I called off last night and recently called my supervisor to let him know I'll miss tonight. His repose was to complain that he was working today because we are short handed and tell me he would "try to get my shift covered, but no promises."

So, yeah, they continue to peeve me off and I really don't think I can take much more. I don't want to burn my savings on being unemployed, but it's better than losing my health from stress and illness for this lousy company.

Having someone work your shift when you are sick is management’s problem. Don’t let them put it back on you or feel guilty about it. Sounds like you should be looking for another job anyway. I hope things get better!

Y'know those bosses who never give you any credit for doing a good job, but are ALWAYS there to criticize you when you make a mistake? (In my case, always with a nice snide comment to go with it?)

Love those guys.

Hobear wrote:

Well just got f*cked at work. Sold off our division and our jobs are gone today or in coming weeks. Don't know.

Anyone know of good account management opportunities I could apply to? Strong in data analytics, client management, and more. Live in MN but can WFH anywhere if that works. Great time company to fork us all over. Appreciate it in a global pandemic!

Here are the open jobs where I work. They are def looking for sales/account managers. I suspect that they would want you to be on site in Atlanta when the pandemic ends, but if any of these look interesting, let me know and I'll reach out to the recruiter/hiring manager.

So I have a doctor appointment later this week. It is in an area near our protests. I know I can get to the docs office but to get to work I would have to drive right through the protest zone or the looting area.

Choices choices.

PWAlessi wrote:
Hobear wrote:

Well just got f*cked at work. Sold off our division and our jobs are gone today or in coming weeks. Don't know.

Anyone know of good account management opportunities I could apply to? Strong in data analytics, client management, and more. Live in MN but can WFH anywhere if that works. Great time company to fork us all over. Appreciate it in a global pandemic!

Here are the open jobs where I work. They are def looking for sales/account managers. I suspect that they would want you to be on site in Atlanta when the pandemic ends, but if any of these look interesting, let me know and I'll reach out to the recruiter/hiring manager.

Thanks. I'll check that out. Almost forgot I made that post in anger last month.

You may have heard, my employer is having some issues.

I’m a senior officer and this has me curious about what my prospects would be in the private sector.

My job now is basically to interview people and review evidence to determine if they’re eligible for the benefits they’re seeking under the immigration laws, which are notoriously complex. I’ve been at it for almost 7 years and I’m very good at what I do. I handle the most complex and/or sensitive cases and develop training for less experienced employees, presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Any ideas for some private jobs my skills would translate to? Coworkers have suggested insurance adjustments but it would be tough jumping in at the ground floor. As a level 3 officer I make $104k per year and I couldn’t afford much more than a cut to $90k, at least without probably selling our house.

Would that be applicable to immigration law? Not sure if there would be a position but something along the lines of a checker for a law firm that offers immigration services for people entering the country.

Yeah, I know immigration law better than most immigration lawyers. The problem is I believe there’s a regulation prohibiting someone in my position for working privately in immigration until two years after separation from federal service. Also typically firms that need immigration assistance use actual attorneys, not out of work immigration officers.

I’ve had a few immigration attorneys ask me if I’d be interested in jumping the fence but I’ve always planned to stay in the government to get a pension when I’m done.

Now would certainly seem like a good time to reach out to the immigration attorneys who'd asked your interest in jumping the fence previously. It can't hurt to shake those trees and see what falls out, may be they are aware of the regulation you mention and either know of a reason it doesn't apply to you or have some loophole or workaround or have some work for you that is not subject to that regulation. Good luck!

mrlogical wrote:

Now would certainly seem like a good time to reach out to the immigration attorneys who'd asked your interest in jumping the fence previously. It can't hurt to shake those trees and see what falls out, may be they are aware of the regulation you mention and either know of a reason it doesn't apply to you or have some loophole or workaround or have some work for you that is not subject to that regulation. Good luck!

Agreed - it seems to me that there's probably a market for internal consultants on immigration at an Attorney's office. They'd also be able to review your employment agreement to determine if there's any issues working for them.

Spoke to the one I’m friendliest with earlier. They’re facing the same issue and not in the position to even begin exploring hiring new folks.

My job is starting alternating Friday's off next week. No end date given. Some extra time for us to deal with family, mental health, groceries, appointments, etc. in these stressful times.

Man I am so glad I switched jobs in early 2019. My old job is furloughing everyone in IT for 1 week a month from May-Aug, in rotating shifts, without pay. Better than a layoff but personally just more reinforcement that I made the right move.

WOOOOO f*cking HOOOOO I got a job offer! At least one, I have four open interviews I can notify that if they are interested they best bring the bacon now.

What a weight off my shoulders....Thankfully I was one that they kept employed through the transition so I never truly lost my job but it would only extend a few weeks at a time. Nothing like a drip feed to keep you slightly sane.

Does anyone have experience of productive narcissists? We hired someone about 6 months ago, they initially proved extremely hard-working and technically competent.

Fast forward to now and they seem to have alienated most people they have to work with, have received multiple complaints for obnoxious behaviour and harassment, act up in meetings when people disagree with them in a reasonable way, and are generally very demanding and a pain in the ass.

Because they're very good at what they do if they do leave it will be problematic. On the other hand there's real damage being done to working relationships and morale.

Players win games but teams win championships. Trite, I know, but it’s as true at work as in sports. Keeping bad people because they produce good results will send the wrong messages to every one else.

We kept a guy like that around for far too long. He wasn’t even that good it just got to the point that we’re such a specialized industry that someone with experience is a huge boon. Found out we didn’t actually lose anything when he left.

babakotia wrote:

Does anyone have experience of productive narcissists? We hired someone about 6 months ago, they initially proved extremely hard-working and technically competent.

Fast forward to now and they seem to have alienated most people they have to work with, have received multiple complaints for obnoxious behaviour and harassment, act up in meetings when people disagree with them in a reasonable way, and are generally very demanding and a pain in the ass.

Because they're very good at what they do if they do leave it will be problematic. On the other hand there's real damage being done to working relationships and morale.

Technically proficient but horrible interpersonal skills? Sounds like management material.

Humans are emotional creatures*, and will probably be more than happy to cover the extra work (hopefully temporarily) after (s)he leaves if they no longer have to deal with her/his shenanigans and stress that comes with it.

*which is a feature not a bug

Yup, been on multiple teams with toxic Deva Devs, and it has universally been a positive thing when they've left or been fired (and the longer it takes the worse their effect on general morale). No-one should be irreplaceable anyway and if that is the case there's no time like the present to remedy the situation and start upskilling the rest of the team in the wake of the bad apple's departure.

babakotia wrote:

Does anyone have experience of productive narcissists? We hired someone about 6 months ago, they initially proved extremely hard-working and technically competent.

Fast forward to now and they seem to have alienated most people they have to work with, have received multiple complaints for obnoxious behaviour and harassment, act up in meetings when people disagree with them in a reasonable way, and are generally very demanding and a pain in the ass.

Because they're very good at what they do if they do leave it will be problematic. On the other hand there's real damage being done to working relationships and morale.

Coach them up or coach them out. Refer them to an EAP if you have one.

Negative attitudes and harrassing behaviors have no place in work.

This person's technical skills and work ethic are not a free pass to treat your other staff like garbage.

Also, I’ve found very few instances of someone who was terrible with co-workers and was actually that good technically. Frequently, they turn out to be more wind than anything else, and examination of their work after their departure is rarely pleasant.