Telling a client, boss or teacher to

[trinacriabob]

As a kid or young adult, I didn't have the nerve to do this. Now I do, though I use it sparingly.

Our office/firm just lost a bunch of people after the new year. Some picked up their year end bonuses and went to new companies or started their own. When the job market (in a field or in an area) is short on help, job hopping goes up and loyalty goes down.

I handle my own client projects and now I "inherited" a few more from the departees. Everybody has been just awesome in understanding and is allowing us more time to complete projects. Except one client who is in the "inherited" batch. In 6 days of working with him (and I jumped right to it to servicing his project), I have received 5 nasty e-mails on how we must do this and that and what happened is no excuse for any tardiness...all with exclamation marks. In short, a real dick-head. Those above me are supportive of the fact that I have to work on all the client projects as time (with some OT thrown in) allows.

I may not tell him what I would like to because I shouldn't, but you can let someone know in other ways they don't rank. Those around me hear me raise my voice to him in a firm but still professional manner.

Have you ever told a client, a boss, co-worker or teacher to PUT IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE? What happened?

[funkypunnk]

Have you ever told a client, a boss, co-worker or teacher to PUT IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE?  What happened?

I have told 4 companies and 3 bosses. The best was the last when I sent out a voicemail and copied everyone in my division calling management on the carpet for selling more service contracts than they had the physical manpower to fulfill. They had taken Reduction In Force to an extreme. I actually had prepared a spreadsheet that clearly showed they were in breach of contract. I sent the voicemail and email with spreadsheet on the Monday that I was starting training with the new company. I ended the voicemail informing the company that they had 3 days to pick up the company car from in front of my house before I call the police to have it towed.

Managers were putting out fires all day, over 7 conference calls were executed all the way up to the director level telling all of the engineers that my numbers were flawed and I had old account lists. After a week, they released the newest account lists, and they were the same as the one I had used!!!

They added 16 new engineers within 4 months and my ex-coworkers still love me.

When I leave I don't tend to burn bridges, I nuke the entire place!!!!!!!

It feels real good!!!!!!

[regfootball]

As a kid or young adult, I didn't have the nerve to do this.  Now I do, though I use it sparingly.

Our office/firm just lost a bunch of people after the new year.  Some picked up their year end bonuses and went to new companies or started their own.  When the job market (in a field or in an area) is short on help, job hopping goes up and loyalty goes down.

I handle my own client projects and now I "inherited" a few more from the departees.  Everybody has been just awesome in understanding and is allowing us more time to complete projects.  Except one client who is in the "inherited" batch. In 6 days of working with him (and I jumped right to it to servicing his project), I have received 5 nasty e-mails on how we must do this and that and what happened is no excuse for any tardiness...all with exclamation marks.  In short, a real dick-head. Those above me are supportive of the fact that I have to work on all the client projects as time (with some OT thrown in) allows.

I may not tell him what I would like to because I shouldn't, but you can let someone know in other ways they don't rank.  Those around me hear me raise my voice to him in a firm but still professional manner.

Have you ever told a client, a boss, co-worker or teacher to PUT IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE?  What happened?

two words buddy....

DESIGN BUILD

40 hour weeks

home at nights and weekends...ok, virtually none

much less client hassles

specs? let the CM's do that

consultants? let the CM's worry about that

no need to pander to designers-buy the designs from willing firms and throw away whatever you don't like about it

high billables

reliable employment

not as exciting, but oh well, its good for your sanity

Edited January 12, 2006 by regfootball

[Cory Wolfe]

Never done it... but I've wanted to and thought about it many, many times.

[trinacriabob]

two words buddy....

DESIGN BUILD

You and I need to talk...let's hold off on that until things cool. (We have some D-B clients and they are not perfect either). By the way, D-B means design-build, not douche bag as some of us around here use that abbreviation.

[trinacriabob]

When I leave I don't tend to burn bridges, I nuke the entire place!!!!!!!

It feels real good!!!!!!

I've done the same. My candor and honesty in being a watchdog, or muckraker, has gotten some execs fired...a total of three over my career. They deserved it and, like your friends, people were happy that it happened because these bastards were abusive and, unfortunately, the "abusees" weren't willing to take the issue to the very top.

Gotta stand up for what's right. My dad, who is not around any more, taught me not to take crap. If I listened to my mother, I'd be a door mat. Father knows best.

[funkypunnk]

Gotta stand up for what's right.  My dad, who is not around any more, taught me not to take crap.  If I listened to my mother, I'd be a door mat.  Father knows best.

Got it from my Dad as well, great man!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My Mom gave me some of the strength as well, but it was more in a manipulative strong personality direction while Dad gives me the Integrity and Values strength. Edited January 12, 2006 by funkypunnk

[cmattson]

As a side topic to this, let me tell you guys something:

Today's business world looks out for the almighty dollar first and ONLY. They'd replace you or me in a heartbeat if they could get it cheaper somewhere else. When I hear managers or owners bitch about how there "is no loyalty" anymore (usually when a co-worker leaves), I remind them that THEY fostered this climate. They created a climate where a worker has to constantly look for the best-deal available. They could be gone tomorrow, which means they need to get as much as they can today. That being said, I'm fortunate to work at a business that has rewarded me well over my years of service (it'll be 12 years this Aug). Most business's you work for don't care about you. There is no longer a sense of partnership or responsiblitybetween a business and employee. There is no sense of loyalty either way.

[funkypunnk]

As a side topic to this, let me tell you guys something:

Today's business world looks out for the almighty dollar first and ONLY.  They'd replace you or me in a heartbeat if they could get it cheaper somewhere else.  When I hear managers or owners bitch about how there "is no loyalty" anymore (usually when a co-worker leaves), I remind them that THEY fostered this climate.  They created a climate where a worker has to constantly look for the best-deal available.  They could be gone tomorrow, which means they need to get as much as they can today.  That being said, I'm fortunate to work at a business that has rewarded me well over my years of service (it'll be 12 years this Aug).  Most business's you work for don't care about you.  There is no longer a sense of partnership or responsiblitybetween a business and employee.  There is no sense of loyalty either way.

This is exactly the reason I quit the way I did. When my ex-boss asked a close friend/co-worker why I didn't have the professional courtesy to give two weeks notice, he gave him the canned reply that I had prepared in anticipation of that very question. He informed the boss that when the company lets somebody go it is policy to have security watch as he gathers a small box of his belongings and then escort him from the building and confiscate all company property. They then ship the remainder of his personal effects to him. He then told him he was looking at it all wrong. He told my old boss that I had in fact FIRED the company and escorted them from MY building, and that their remaining property, if left on my property, would be confiscated by the police tow truck and impounded. He couldn't argue this point as it makes sense, even though he didn't like the way I did it. Edited January 12, 2006 by funkypunnk

[regfootball]

You and I need to talk...let's hold off on that until things cool.  (We have some D-B clients and they are not perfect either).  By the way, D-B means design-build, not douche bag as some of us around here use that abbreviation.

i dunno, the two terms are interchangeable at times.

[regfootball]

As a side topic to this, let me tell you guys something:

Today's business world looks out for the almighty dollar first and ONLY.  They'd replace you or me in a heartbeat if they could get it cheaper somewhere else.  When I hear managers or owners bitch about how there "is no loyalty" anymore (usually when a co-worker leaves), I remind them that THEY fostered this climate.  They created a climate where a worker has to constantly look for the best-deal available.  They could be gone tomorrow, which means they need to get as much as they can today.  That being said, I'm fortunate to work at a business that has rewarded me well over my years of service (it'll be 12 years this Aug).  Most business's you work for don't care about you.  There is no longer a sense of partnership or responsiblitybetween a business and employee.  There is no sense of loyalty either way.

sadly, a 100% true post.