Bit of A Work Rant (Long, sorry)

"i86hotdogs" (i86hotdogs) 10/11/2019 at 18:45 • Filed to: None

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Although I have an engineering degree, I spent three years prior to this job not utilizing that degree whatsoever. I thought getting my foot into the auto industry some way some how would open opportunities to land the jobs I can excel at. Instead, my production supervisor job at my previous employer used little to no technical expertise. Problem solving was very ordered, and had no room for alternative solutions. (If this happens do that, no questions asked, no matter if there are easier or better solutions). It also was very stressful , and full of other stresses and tasks that should not come with a job like that. I threw my resume out to anyone who would read it for two years. Had a few interviews, others straight up told me I took the wrong career path to get to where I wanted to be.

Until I came across my current job. It checked off all the boxes. Technical as heck, creative freedom, non-managerial, ability to work with so many people inside and out of the company. I’ve been there for 10 months now, and 99% of it has been amazing. I have a ton more to learn and develop, and I always am eager to learn whatever I can in here. I also am rusty on a lot of what I learned in college. Nothing in general, just specific things like working my way around AutoCad. Everyone here has 20+ years of experience, and know so much more than I do. Those people, be coworkers in my department or not, are more than happy to help out. It blew my mind initially.

This brings me to that 1%. My direct counterpart works the opposite shift I do, so the only face to face interaction we have is 10-20 minutes when I arrive and he leaves. He has never been a personable person. Doesn’t do small talk, which is completely fine. I used to come in and say “Morning, hows everything going?” and he would say, “Fine, why is there something I should know about?” This turns into 5-10 minutes of convincing him that nothing is wrong. He also seems to have zero patience towards me. I started to notice this whenever I would send him e-mails informing him about changes made while he was gone, or if we need follow up on his shift. It is policy to include everyone in the process (lead engineers, maintenance supervisors, etc.) in t he e-mail so everyone is on the same page. He would question why it is necessary to include the lead engineer (our boss) in those e-mails. I assume he thinks I am keeping him accountable by including our boss in the note. Even though that’s how I was instructed to conduct any follow up e-mails, he makes me feel like I am doing him wrong. Which is never my intention.

I am not perfect. I have made mistakes at this job. Nothing seriously bad that necessitates termination. Today, I came in to a visibly upset counterpart. He is asking where I put the spare parts that came in last month (There is an e-mail specifying where they are, back then, he questioned why I couldn’ t tell him in person). I told him where they were, and he headed to go pick them up. I proceed to go do something else, when he returns and demands I show him where they are. So I walk out to the exact d rawer and pull them out and show him. He claims those parts are not correct. I ask him what makes them incorrect, and he answers, “You’re an engineer, you figure it out.” This is a popular phrase of his. I used to reach out to him with questions when I started here. He would be very unhelpful, and reply with, “You’re an engineer, you figure it out.” I ask him to show me exactly what makes these wrong. He now is yelling out on the plant floor. “You don’t know what you are doing! This clearly does not work! Anyone can see that!” ( I later discover that the vendor drilled two through holes in the wrong location; but this is after he leaves, and I can finally look at the part and compare it to what we have) This part did not have drawings, or at least none that I or the lead engineer could find. So when I ordered these parts with the vendor, they also included a new set of drawings. Apparently, he has drawings of this in his own files. I was not aware of this, and I would assume he would bring that up at some point during the order process. So he starts lecturing me on using drawings. Drawings that only he had. “You drive a car right? (now he’s ridicul ing me) Would you ever buy a car part for your car without looking at the drawings?” Which is a dumb example if you ask me. I most likely will not look at drawings for 90% of car parts for my daily driver. When I asked why he kept the drawings, he says “You should have asked.” So now it’s my fault he kept on to useful information. Here’s the last part, I promise. He asked me what I will do with these bad parts, I answered and said I will call the vendor, send them the drawings he has, and tell them what they did incorrect. He shook his head and said that’s not how you do it. When I asked what I should do then?

“You’re an engineer, you figure it out. ”

I kept cool through all of it. I’m an easy going guy. But I was at a loss of words. I haven’t told anyone else besides the fiance, I’ve kept her up to speed on our conflicts. She thinks our arguments are elementary. Which I agree. But I am not sure if I should talk to someone at work about it. I think I will take him aside in a room somewhere, and try to figure it out. My theory is he think’s I should be 100% immersed in this process, and should know what to do in any situation. And for some reason, he has zero room for error with me. He also does not know my background (not personable, remember?). So I think if I let him know where I came from, he might understand my learning curve. I will apologize to him. If for some reason that does not work, I then will reach out to our boss and explain the situation. I do not want anyone to get into trouble. I just want the 1% of my job that I am struggling with to be resolved.

I apologize for the length of this rant. Thank you if you read part of it, great thanks if you read the whole thing. A very tired Toby for your time

Annnnnnd hes asleep.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 18:54

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First thing... write down the issues.

Second thing... if it gets worse, have a meeting with your boss to discuss it.

VincentMalamute-Kim > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 19:00

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If your job is 99% ok/great, you are very lucky. Few jobs contain only 1% asshole.

He sure is living up to the engineer people person stereotype. I know he’s on the opposite shift but you must know other people that have to deal with him. How do they handle him?

I’m skeptical explaining yourself / apologizing will have any effect. Can’t hurt I suppose. Can’t hurt to record (write down ) his behavior although nothing so far seems to have risen to an HR level.

How’s the power structure at your job? If he’s on the night shift, he may be in a poorer position in that regard. Talking to your boss may or may not be good - evaluate your boss’s personality and his relationship with this person.

i86hotdogs > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 10/11/2019 at 19:01

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Writing them down is a good idea. It never really gets worse. Today was the worst encounter. But the other days are just nagging arguments. 

smobgirl > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 19:03

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I feel like this is at the point where the boss needs to be involved. If nothing else, this guys behavior and approach are COMPLETELY unprofessional and it shouldn’t be up to you to fix that.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 19:13

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Say hi to Toby for me.  Your approach to the issue seem’s reasonable.  I would probably try the same thing of approaching the guy and seeing if a conversation can be had and an understanding reached, and if not, getting the boss in the loop.  I’d certainly document the incidents as a memo for the record kind of thing to have on hand if it were ever to be needed later on, although I’d like to think this is the kind of thing a conversation (maybe even off-site over lunch or a beer) fixes.

Cash Rewards > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 19:34

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I agree with smobgirl. You did nothing wrong, his is the behavior that's unprofessional. Your boss needs to know as his lack of communication is costing the company money. Fuck all that

RacinBob > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 19:38

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Remember that in the span of a career, this is a blink of the eye. You may move on, he may move on. If you do involve your boss and he is aware it will get worse.

My counsel is this.

1. Act as if this is not a problem with the co-worker. Be the bigger man (0r woman) and let it bounce off your back. Don’t get even, b ring him donuts. This is like road rage, don’t invite it, smile.
2. You might try to go the extra mile and ask if there is anything you could do to make it easier to work together. You want this to work. what can you do?

3. If you go to your boss, you might ask in a general way if he has any ideas on how to get along better with xx. Say something like sometimes you can’t please him, have you ever had that problem, what do you do?

Manager’s hate conflict, so don’t look to him to solve your problem. Document what is happening but unless you feel your job is at stake, or your safety, first try to solve this your self.

I can’t guess what your workmate’s problem is , probably time (plus him seeing you are a serious, considerate person will make the conflict go away). If not, tolerate the 10 minutes or so you interract and plan that within a year he will get better, you will get better or either of you will move on so you no longer work together.

I had a parallel manager that it seemed to make it his mission to try to get me and my manager fired. Nicest guy in person, lethal with an email or in private. He flat said stuff that was untrue.

We just as politely rebutted what he did and kept as pleasant as we could i n this situation. People saw what was going on and collectively concluded he had issues. He couldn’t take take it and was gone in early retirement in a year.

That was 13 years ago. A blink of the eye. 

i86hotdogs > RacinBob 10/11/2019 at 20:07

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If I did talk to him, that’s exactly what I was intending on doing. I never wanted to go in there and start pointing fingers or anything like that. Something along the lines of, “I have a lot of work to do to get to where I want to be in this position. D uring that trek, I may struggle or even make a mistake. I want you to know that my efforts will never slack, and I only reach out for growth.”

I only will consider going to the boss if the first method ends up backfiring somehow. Like if he sees that as an attack on him. Then I’ll go to the boss for help with resolving the conflict. I agree, I don’t want the boss to handle our issues, but everyone there has worked with him longer than I have. So they may have a way to work with him. Thanks for the tips.

i86hotdogs > VincentMalamute-Kim 10/11/2019 at 20:12

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I was thinking him being on night shift and me being on days might be the reason. But I don’t think that’s the issue, because he was offered my shift, but turned it down. I was thinking the least I can do is apologize for the conflict. Tell him my intentions are good, and just need to continue to grow and learn. I don’t see him interact with others in the department too much. When they do, its strictly job related and brief.  

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 20:13

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Some people are just a-holes; “ everyone else is doing it wrong and is and idiot” is their motto. B ut when you reach out they have nothing substantial to say and no interest in helping. I’ve worked with a som e people like that, it’s not your fault you can’t read their minds.

Document everything going forward (I.e. put everything in writing) , follow up when necessary especially when you need to put a verbal conversation in writing (ex. “ as per our last discussion... ” ). This might tick him off a little further, but t he purpose of this is to protect yourself in case things go south and this guy throws you under the bus.

I also agree with extending olive branches, tread lightly but show interest when appropriate, and try to demonstrate respect for his knowledge and experience, there’s nothing like a good ego stroke to these guys like this.

Good luck man, salty coworkers can really throw a wrench in things while they go on their own merry way. Just keep your head down and keep moving forward.

i86hotdogs > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 10/11/2019 at 20:14

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Off-site meeting is tough when we work opposite shifts. Perhaps a day off maybe. Like I said in other threads, I only will get the boss involved if thing sescalade after the conversation with him. And even then, only ask if there is a way to reason with him. Toby says hi back

i86hotdogs > smobgirl 10/11/2019 at 20:17

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I’ve said this on other responses, but I would only get him involved if things escalate to worse outcomes. I don’t want him to get in trouble, I just want a way for us to work together professionally. It would be easier to ignore if he was say a controls engineer, and I only would have to deal with him on bigger projects, but he’s my direct counterpart that I have to work with frequently. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 20:17

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So I guess telling him to grow a pair or fuck off isn’t the right answer here?

i86hotdogs > Cash Rewards 10/11/2019 at 20:18

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Thanks for the advice, like I said to smobgirl, I don’t want anyone in trouble. He did not threaten me, or insult me severely. I just want to find a middle ground where I can work with him professionally and leave it at that. 

Snuze: Needs another Swede > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 20:24

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I’ve been in very similar situations, and I think you’ve got the right idea to handle it. Sometimes people like that forget their roots and what its like to be the new guy. I’d remind him of that (politely) and kiss his ass a little bit (just a bit).

Now if that doesn't work, then I think you should go to your boss. As engineers we need to be helping each other and training one another and all that good stuff, not tearing each other down. 

i86hotdogs > DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back 10/11/2019 at 20:25

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I plan on keeping everything in writing. Even if it is a quick memo. No matter how much he complains that I e-mail him, I’ll continue to do it. Thanks for the advice.

i86hotdogs > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/11/2019 at 20:25

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If I had a few months before retirement, maybe.

i86hotdogs > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/11/2019 at 20:28

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It’s tough to kiss his ass when he doesn’t talk to me. I am all for sucking up to him. But I can’t sup up to him if there is nothing to suck up. If that makes sense?

Snuze: Needs another Swede > i86hotdogs 10/11/2019 at 20:32

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I completely understand. I guess what I mean is build him up a bit, defer to his knowledge. Re mind him that hes been doing this way longer than you, and he must be pretty good at it, so thats why you’re coming to him with questions.

See how he responds and take it from there. 

i86hotdogs > Snuze: Needs another Swede 10/11/2019 at 21:35

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It’s worth a try, but I am not optomistic on the outcome. Whenever I used to reach out to him for help, it was inferred that he knew a heck of a lot more than me. I almost believe if I straight up praised him like you mentioned, he would take it as mockery.