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My new job - Problems with Boss

doobiesis_2
Posts: 246 Forumite
Hi All,
Just started a new job which I do enjoy! The work is very busy and I like it. My problem is the manager is sooooo scary. I've been there for two weeks and am still learning the ropes, as although I'm an experienced Administrator I have never worked in that industry before.
When she taught me and this other girl, she didn't show us the system or how to get into it, just bang, straight into the system and putting information on. When I make a mistake she shouts at me, twice this week she's shouted at me for no reason. I am also not allowed to ask for help off anyone else in the office as she wants me to do things her way!. I want to have a word with her but don't wanna appear like a baby. If I have a question I need to know I can approach her without fear of my head getting bitten off. The whole bluddy office is scared of her.
To my mind if I say summat to her then she can make my life a misery until I can find another job. If I don't say anything to her it's going to get worse! I've no idea what to do. :mad::mad:
Just started a new job which I do enjoy! The work is very busy and I like it. My problem is the manager is sooooo scary. I've been there for two weeks and am still learning the ropes, as although I'm an experienced Administrator I have never worked in that industry before.
When she taught me and this other girl, she didn't show us the system or how to get into it, just bang, straight into the system and putting information on. When I make a mistake she shouts at me, twice this week she's shouted at me for no reason. I am also not allowed to ask for help off anyone else in the office as she wants me to do things her way!. I want to have a word with her but don't wanna appear like a baby. If I have a question I need to know I can approach her without fear of my head getting bitten off. The whole bluddy office is scared of her.
To my mind if I say summat to her then she can make my life a misery until I can find another job. If I don't say anything to her it's going to get worse! I've no idea what to do. :mad::mad:


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Comments
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Sounds like she's ruling by fear...or whatever the phrase is!
I think if you decide you want to stick at this job, you have no option but to approach your boss to ask for help. How can she expect you to learn stuff when she hasn't even shown you properly?
I really feel for you and hope it improves!0 -
Get out, get out now, if you can't get out now start looking for a new job, she is not going to change, and extremely unlikely to listen to reason.Four guns yet only one trigger prepare for a volley.Together we can make a difference.0
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Do you have an HR department? What is the company's policy on bullying and harassment?We all evolve - get on with it0
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Echo ben500. I worked for someone like this and changed from a happy, confident and motivated person to someone who felt almost paralysed as almost any action would result in a bollocking. Get out, you cannot change a culture of fear, so I would get the hell out before your confidence takes a knock and you begin to accept her behaviour as normal.0
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I totally agree with MrsJ. I worked for someone like this for 6 months and I went from a confident, outgoing person who was happy to make stressful decisions (retail store manager) to someone who refuses to be anything but a minion (minimum wage) because my confidence is so shot. Please get out as soon as possible, Its not worth ruining the next 10 years of your life.:A:A:A:A:A:A0
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Hi
I agree that if you can take another job then you should, but in the mean time there are some things you can do that will help you feel you have some control - feeling you have no control over your life/work is one of the key causes of stress.
I suggest you keep a diary of the incidents that occur. As its so soon in, you can start from your first day. If you witness incidents of bullying and harrassment of other members of staff, put them in too. This has two benefits -
1) It gives you somewhere safe to vent (don't do it / take it to work) so work doesn't take over your whole life. You don't want to spend every evening winging at your flat mate / partner as this means mentally you never leave work
2) you can use it to produce an evidence file on the manager's behaviour
Perhaps you could invite / tag along with other people on a 'works drink' where you forget to invite her. As you don't know them well yet, don't bring up the topic of this boss yourself. If its as bad as you think, they will do so and you can ask questions to find out what people have tried to do about it in the past, which HR / senior managers are sympathetic etc.
Later on you could approach the people who seem most victimised and see if they will join you in the diary approach with a view to taking a group approach either to the manager herself (if you think she's likely to back down) HR person or managers' manager.
Do also bare in mind that not everything she does will be as a result of being a bully. So for example, the inadequate training at the beginning may be because she is poor in this area / busy - this is a common tale for new starters. Try to think of alternative causes for behaviour as this will make you feel less paranoid / victimised / helpless - you can still complain about the behaviour, but it will be easier to cope if you feel that 25% is malicious and the rest is her being carp at her job.
I hope this helps0 -
I was going to say everything that jennib says, but she said it much better than I ever would have done. I think the message from everyone is clear that you wouldn't be wise to stay working for this person, but jennib's approach is a good way to manage the process of leaving.0
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I totally agree with jennilb and was in a similar situation to you OP. I kept a diary of all the incidents and times i felt uncomfortable in my new job. My boss was sooooooo nasty and just totally unprofessional.
he asked (shouted) me one day what i was writing in and i said i was documenting incidents for HR relating to your behaviour on the desk.
He resigned within a month and left me well alone.
dont get me wrong it takes a massive pair of kahunas to do that and i had overheard him say he was already skating on thin ice with HR (re number of resignations and complaints).
I was also lucky in that my partner wrks in the same firm and is higher up than ex-boss so i felt more protected.
Either way do the diary (i originally did it becuz i thought ex-boss was goin to sack me for my mistakes - due to his lack of training me)
Good luck OP.0 -
Less than 1 yrs service - you will be terminated...This is the unfortunate reality. sorry0
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The only way you are going to learn your job is by approaching your manager. It sounds to me as though she is out of her depth and is afraid of being found out which is why she picks on more junior members of staff. If she won't train you then you need to approach HR or even your boss's overall manager. Also do what JennieB has suggested - keep a record of all incidents etc and keep them away from the office because things have a horrid habit of going missing especially if a grievance is in the offing.
How can you be expected to learn if you are not being taught and you are not allowed to ask questions - shouting isnt going to help the situation which is what makes me think that your boss is an incompetent buffoon who is insecure and hasnt had proper management training.
Good luck.0
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