Handling workplace unfairness / little Hitlers

top_drawer_2

Hello,

I've got a bit of a situation at work and I'm wondering how to deal with it best. The place I work at could be described as having "weak and incompetent management" and this has given rise to many "little Hitlers" who use their power as Acting Supervisors to lord it about using hours / tasks / lunch periods etc as a way to play power games. Over a period the organisation has become nepotistic beyond belief and favoritism is rife.

Each time one particular person is acting supervisor they put a load of hours (double and triple shifts, often) through for their relative who often then cancels them as she struggles to manage her time. She also has other sidelines in supplementing the income of her friends / relatives for services we must procure, nothing huge but there are definitely differences in costs. Again the manager is not interested as the money doesn't come from his pocket. I have brought all the above to the Managers attention and they say that it is "not their responsibility" to deal with day to day issues of rota'ing and no real response to the other points.

Anyway the point is this person is apparently keen to "catch up with me" as I have apparently said that "X always looks after Y (her relative) in doing the rota". She has replied in effect that she also does the same for TD too - I resent the implication that I am involved in this lack of fairness / owe her something. At the same time I know that EVERYONE is playing the game. I need to work and I dont want to upset the applecart too much as the manager is seemingly happy as long as someone is doing the job.

Recently there have been many discussions regarding how the shifts are distributed with this relative receiving a lions share - something this person will be well aware of. How would you handle it, if you were me in a assertive way when / if she approaches me?

TD

j.e.j.

Just be truthful. Try not to get into he said/she said, just state the facts if she asks. Otherwise just ignore her. There's nothing attention-seekers hate more than being ignored

thorsoak

The facts, ma'am - just the facts. Not what you think, not what someone else says - just the facts. Let them speak for themselves.

meer53

I'd keep out of it. If something is being done wrong, they will be found out without your help. Better to stay in the background and not be involved when the SHTF.

top_drawer_2

meer53 wrote: »

I'd keep out of it. If something is being done wrong, they will be found out without your help. Better to stay in the background and not be involved when the SHTF.

I've worked in this place several years and the normal "rules" of behavior seem to be suspended. This is something that has been an issue to a lesser / greater extent the whole time I have worked there.

meer53

top_drawer wrote: »

I've worked in this place several years and the normal "rules" of behavior seem to be suspended. This is something that has been an issue to a lesser / greater extent the whole time I have worked there.

Does anyone else have an issue with it ? If you are approached, i'd simply say that as your manager seems ok with this situation, then you are too.

There isn't much else you can do really unless a manager gets involved. Not without "upsetting the applecart" as you say. I've worked in departments where people don't pull their weight, everyone moans, but unless it's affecting me directly, i stay out of it.

If you're asking for extra shifts but being told there aren't any then i'd say this to your manager, if you aren't then i can't see what your issue is ? If it's affecting other people, let them speak for themselves.

top_drawer_2

meer53 wrote: »

Does anyone else have an issue with it ? If you are approached, i'd simply say that as your manager seems ok with this situation, then you are too.

There isn't much else you can do really unless a manager gets involved. Not without "upsetting the applecart" as you say. I've worked in departments where people don't pull their weight, everyone moans, but unless it's affecting me directly, i stay out of it.

If you're asking for extra shifts but being told there aren't any then i'd say this to your manager, if you aren't then i can't see what your issue is ? If it's affecting other people, let them speak for themselves.

Others do have issues with it, but as I said the response was that "its not his responsibility" as long as the hours are covered they aren't too bothered.

I ask for shifts but they generally go to the same people, days that are paid better or where there is a better task to do are also the same.

This person plays a lot of games and I am mainly worried about handling this conversation in an assertive manner i.e not denying that I'm unhappy or trying to avoid the fact that she is playing games with the rota but all without being to confrontational.

AcidHouse

When she speaks to you, respond with 'I'd like to see a copy of the process you have to follow in relation to rotas/additional hours & the staff selection process to work these.' If she says there isn't one, say 'I know, that's why it seems others are getting the lions share - so if there isn't a process, how do you decide who gets offered what??'
They should put a system in place but it sounds highly unlikely that they will.

top_drawer_2

There is supposed to be a policy - with fairness and workplace needs supposedly part of it. However, how fairness is defined is different for each person, it seems. For instance, who works hardest / who is most or least available or reliability. I score high on working hard / being available and being reliable but somehow being less available in this situation is the strongest argument; this person is less available so is entitled to expect to have double / triple shifts at all the best paid times of the year. I work for normal rate every day.

TD

paulineb_2

So who gets the shifts if this person's relative cancels?

Are you saying that relatives do with and invoice the company and get paid more in cash than is on the invoice?
Surely the company must get audited at some stage.

I've seen it happen, job I worked in the managers wife got the pick of extra shifts, he did the rota, lots of very unhappy staff.

unholyangel

paulineb wrote: »

So who gets the shifts if this person's relative cancels?

Are you saying that relatives do with and invoice the company and get paid more in cash than is on the invoice?
Surely the company must get audited at some stage.

I've seen it happen, job I worked in the managers wife got the pick of extra shifts, he did the rota, lots of very unhappy staff.

I think OP means company A quote £1000, company B (who friend/relative works for/owns) quotes £1200 and gets the contract.