About Last Night
We attended a birthday party for my boss last night. It was ok. It was really hot. It's October and we're still in the 90's here in Louisiana. The cold fronts can't seem to make their way down south this fall. I don't think their air conditioner was working at max capacity either. That or they need a bigger one to cool off that huge house. Anyway, I invited the work people to the party for by bosses husband via a FB invite. While being with all these people - all of whom have been invited to my home on several occasions - it occurred to me how much more of a burden my job has become to me, and why.
Our state agency has been run by a man for the the last few years who recently turned forty. My boss just turned forty.(Hence the party.) However, our office chief of staff, who was in attendance at the party, still has a few years to go to hit forty. My point here is that our office is run by kids. Kids who are paid quite handsomely. They aren't dumb people. They are very intelligent. But they couldn't manage their way out of a wet paper bag. Managing an office full of people requires other skills besides just being smart, understanding the policy first or having attended an ivy league school. I discovered last night that our COS didn't know some basic things about some of us at the party. For example, that one attendee was 80 years old. So I threw out my age and discovered she didn't know that either. She used to work in our section. (Big story there; Cliffs notes in a later paragraph below) She probably doesn't have a full grasp on what we all do, except for the guy who took over her old position. (She also had a relationship with him...:/)
The COS bored by husband. He literally said, "I find her to be boring." All she did was talk about her recent trip to Kenya and how next weekend she's going to New York to celebrate her one year anniversary with her most recent pic-a-singles-website boyfriend. (Maybe this one will work out. None have lasted this long.) The weekend after that she's going to Colorado. Her conversation was so self-centered. How could she possibly know anything about anyone else in the office? She really doesn't give a shit either. It's all about her.
I read a couple of articles posted on LinkedIn about leaders. Many articles state that people don't leave their jobs because they hate their job. They leave their boss because that's the problem. One of those problems is that the "leader" doesn't know the employee and therefore lacks empathy. We have a bunch of young people who have moved up, or directly into, very high management positions due to being part of certain organizations that hire each other wherever they go in management positions. They've never actually managed anyone, but the titles and the pay are fantastic for someone who wins this jackpot in their late 20's/early 30's.
This includes my boss, who used to be a good friend. She probably thinks we're friends but I don't. I appreciate being hired but now I'm stagnant and learning nothing. You see, the COS used to work for my boss but got herself hired in a position above my boss. My boss is jealous and angry, along with several others who don't think they should have to answer to her. My boss believes the COS was secretly working behind her back with the department head and that's how she got to her new position. Now, our boss keeps a foot on our necks so we don't jump her in work rank like the new COS did. It's miserable. I used to enjoy my job but now I'm basically a "gopher" for my boss. There's little independence and never an opportunity to show off skills or shine on your own. Your work isn't even always credited to you; particularly if it appeals to others.
I'm in government relations and it's a cut throat field. I can be cut throat to people who deserve it, but I don't just do it to anyone. I've lost the ability to visit with legislators on my own, especially if that requires renting a car to do so. I don't get to speak in front of committees or attend big meetings. I've attending meetings, but don't always get to. I'm promised I'll get to do things, like visit a site that was doing well. Alas, when that time came, someone else in the office was invited, and I was lied to about where my boss was going that day. However, I found out from an elected official who was in attendance, all about the site visit, including who from our department was there. So how do you consider your boss a friend when they lie to you? I see no need for sneaking around and lying about these things at work. If you have a good reason as to why I shouldn't be there - SAY IT!
So last night clarified my feelings about where I work. Did I mention I live in Louisiana? So there's the problem. We suck. Big time! People get jobs here by who they know, not what they know. I've applied for other government relations jobs only to find out they were going to someone else as a favor to another politician or his/her staff. The question becomes, what do I do? I like what I do, just not where I am and how I'm being treated at work. I'm feeling very lost about my work life. I'm stuck here cause the husband won't leave. He's scared of change and switching jobs in the same state is terrifying for him, so leaving has been out of the question. I let that boat sail years ago. It's ok here. There are good things. There just aren't good, decent paying jobs. Last night put my mind in a tailspin and I hate it!
Our state agency has been run by a man for the the last few years who recently turned forty. My boss just turned forty.(Hence the party.) However, our office chief of staff, who was in attendance at the party, still has a few years to go to hit forty. My point here is that our office is run by kids. Kids who are paid quite handsomely. They aren't dumb people. They are very intelligent. But they couldn't manage their way out of a wet paper bag. Managing an office full of people requires other skills besides just being smart, understanding the policy first or having attended an ivy league school. I discovered last night that our COS didn't know some basic things about some of us at the party. For example, that one attendee was 80 years old. So I threw out my age and discovered she didn't know that either. She used to work in our section. (Big story there; Cliffs notes in a later paragraph below) She probably doesn't have a full grasp on what we all do, except for the guy who took over her old position. (She also had a relationship with him...:/)
The COS bored by husband. He literally said, "I find her to be boring." All she did was talk about her recent trip to Kenya and how next weekend she's going to New York to celebrate her one year anniversary with her most recent pic-a-singles-website boyfriend. (Maybe this one will work out. None have lasted this long.) The weekend after that she's going to Colorado. Her conversation was so self-centered. How could she possibly know anything about anyone else in the office? She really doesn't give a shit either. It's all about her.
I read a couple of articles posted on LinkedIn about leaders. Many articles state that people don't leave their jobs because they hate their job. They leave their boss because that's the problem. One of those problems is that the "leader" doesn't know the employee and therefore lacks empathy. We have a bunch of young people who have moved up, or directly into, very high management positions due to being part of certain organizations that hire each other wherever they go in management positions. They've never actually managed anyone, but the titles and the pay are fantastic for someone who wins this jackpot in their late 20's/early 30's.
This includes my boss, who used to be a good friend. She probably thinks we're friends but I don't. I appreciate being hired but now I'm stagnant and learning nothing. You see, the COS used to work for my boss but got herself hired in a position above my boss. My boss is jealous and angry, along with several others who don't think they should have to answer to her. My boss believes the COS was secretly working behind her back with the department head and that's how she got to her new position. Now, our boss keeps a foot on our necks so we don't jump her in work rank like the new COS did. It's miserable. I used to enjoy my job but now I'm basically a "gopher" for my boss. There's little independence and never an opportunity to show off skills or shine on your own. Your work isn't even always credited to you; particularly if it appeals to others.
I'm in government relations and it's a cut throat field. I can be cut throat to people who deserve it, but I don't just do it to anyone. I've lost the ability to visit with legislators on my own, especially if that requires renting a car to do so. I don't get to speak in front of committees or attend big meetings. I've attending meetings, but don't always get to. I'm promised I'll get to do things, like visit a site that was doing well. Alas, when that time came, someone else in the office was invited, and I was lied to about where my boss was going that day. However, I found out from an elected official who was in attendance, all about the site visit, including who from our department was there. So how do you consider your boss a friend when they lie to you? I see no need for sneaking around and lying about these things at work. If you have a good reason as to why I shouldn't be there - SAY IT!
So last night clarified my feelings about where I work. Did I mention I live in Louisiana? So there's the problem. We suck. Big time! People get jobs here by who they know, not what they know. I've applied for other government relations jobs only to find out they were going to someone else as a favor to another politician or his/her staff. The question becomes, what do I do? I like what I do, just not where I am and how I'm being treated at work. I'm feeling very lost about my work life. I'm stuck here cause the husband won't leave. He's scared of change and switching jobs in the same state is terrifying for him, so leaving has been out of the question. I let that boat sail years ago. It's ok here. There are good things. There just aren't good, decent paying jobs. Last night put my mind in a tailspin and I hate it!
Comments
Post a Comment