I am stuck as a number-cruncher by accident. Everyone knows I don't belong here, and supposedly wants me to get back into the world of writing, where I belong, but they're too complacent and/or cheap to hire the numbers person.
It's okay, for the most part. I'm grateful to have a job, even if I hate it. And I'm relatively proficient at the numbers aspect, although I'll never be as good as someone who has that calling.
The standing rule is that my boss wants to sign off on orders over a certain volume. I understand that. We don't want to lose big orders, especially in this market. I also have a fairly comfortable understanding of what to do with the mid-range orders.
She's also told me how quickly I need to respond to requests, and I bust my butt to meet those deadlines. The problem comes on those large orders where I need her sign-off. She drags her feet for days. I don't understand it. If these large orders are so important we don't want to lose them, why would we run the risk of pissing them off? Or why not give me some limited authority, or a back-up, for when you're too busy?
Today, after 3 days of being ignored, I got snapped at. "I thought you could've figured this out for yourself by now" when the quantity was DOUBLE where my authority level is.
WTF? She slaps my hand for not getting sign-off. She slaps my hand for being slow, when I'm not missing my deadlines. Now she slaps my hand and treats me like I'm an idiot if I DO ask for sign-off.
I can't win. I'm tired of feeling like an idiot nearly every day at work. I'm tired of having my stomach in a knot tiptoeing around. I'm tired of getting criticized for not doing a stellar job on my writing job, when literally 90% of my day is spent crunching numbers.
I love working a mile from home and kindergarten. I love working 2 blocks from soccer. Hell, I love being able to pay my mortgage, at least for this month.
But something's got to change.


Salon.com
Comments
i wish i hadn't...just about every day she'd return home in tears - go into the bedroom and lie down and sob...because of something nasty that her immediate boss said to her that day
looking back i wish i'd been more of a comfort to her - instead i looked upon all this as ME being the victim of her silly dramatics..i'm ashamed to confess that it seemed like i was the one suffering here...ME
i told her to quit if it was that much of an ordeal...but she felt that this would make her seem an ingrate to the owner of the company that gave her the job out of kindness
i'm convinced that she only got pregnant so that she'd have an excuse to leave that place and never have to go back
damn..now i've made YOUR post all about ME
so back to you...i don't think there is anything that can be done to make your boss less of a bitch and appreciate you more...you need to get away from there...i sincerely hope that a new opportunity comes your way soon
rated
The only consolation I could offer you was my litany when I worked for a boss I disliked immensely: "I don't have to sleep with them, I only need to get through eight hours a day five days a week with them, only a third of a day five days a week".
Hope you find the resolution you so desperately need.
Thumbed.
There needs to be an anonymous service which shows up and smacks these people upside the head with a "DO YOUR JOB SO I CAN DO MY JOB!" bat.
Rated for perseverance.
Here's a semi-positive update: They've started interviewing for the numbers person. Which could mean that either I get to do my real job, or that I'll become expendable.
And after I nicely responsed that yes, I can figure it out, but YOU wanted to sign off on these ... "oh, I'm just tired of getting emails. But ask if you need anything!" Bitch.
http://open.salon.com/blog/trudi_jo_davis/2009/01/04/why_you_havent_heard_of_me
This is her problem. You are doing your job.
She likes to be snarky, could be for any reason. Maybe she has a painful sore on her backside.
Keep your chin up, continue meeting those deadlines and remember that she could be fired, promoted or hit by a bus at any moment. This thought should give you a warm feeling in your core.
There's nothing worse than working in a job you don't feel happy with for an idiot boss. Back in the day when I worked for idiot bosses, people told me not to personalize but I personalized like crazy because I tied myself up with what I was doing for work. HUGE mistake.
You know what you truly are; a super talented writer, a loving mom, and a temporary numbers-cruncher. You just happen to be doing this right now to pay the bills. Try to disassociate from the work-a-day dogmom, and focus on the fun dogmom with a dream she fulfills every time she sits in front of her computer to compose a new piece.
My answer was to find work where the emotional stakes weren't as high, and allowed me more time to write. Of course, I'm poorer than a snake, but I'm almost happy!
Hang tough!
I wish I could get you out o fthis situation. Sending good thoughts your way..(and remember-YOU are NOT your JOB and NOT what the Boss thinks of you..You are much better than that.)