New employer has too many rules, not comfortable, need Advice

mgdavid

getmore4less wrote: »

I can't believe your only finding out some of this stuff now, the tools and working practices are things you find out at interview stage and as part of the company research you do.

4 jobs in 8 years...5 in.....

IF you'd have read the thread you'd know he specifically said he wasn't told any of this at interview and indeed on one subject was told the opposite.

mgdavid

OP, I'm with you completely.
I have no time for petty rules in the workplace, I've just retired from over 40 years in IT and have never come across such draconian nonsense from an employer. At my last place we had one geek who reported directly to the tech director who turned up in ripped jeans most days. He was there for his brain not how he looked. Personally I haven't worn a tie for 15 years or a suit in the office for 10.
If I were you I'd lump it for now, treat it as a short-term contract, and start looking for a better/different job straight away. Maybe even target specific employers who you hear have a decent attitude towards their talented people rather than treat them like worker ants.

gettingready

OP - there are rules for general office admin type of employees and there are generally very different rules to office based IT staff.

Frankly I do not think I have ever seen a well dressed IT person apart from IT Trainers (that would be me) as we face "public" pretty much on daily basis. Other IT staff (both private and public sector where I worked) - normally scruffy jeans and t-shirt and nobody had ever problem with that.

As for eating/drinking at ones desk - again, never worked anywhere where this was "not allowed".

Changing the code - that is quite a different story, you have been there for just 2 weeks so... calm down on this one.

Generally - some people suggested go contracting and I totally agree. I have been contracting for the past 2 years only (was always perm before) and never regretted the decision.

From what seems to be annoying you here now - contracting may be a great option for you.

BTW - comparing your job to factory work and its rules or other vocations does not make much sense really as IT was and always will be ermm different

duchy

IT bods are no different - the genuinely talented and creative people wouldn't be noticing there was a dress code to conform to ....and wouldn't care if they did happen to notice

The rising up and coming -talented but by no means superstars business casual -might include jeans but only certain designs and labels - and are discouraged from dressing like the superstars- too extreme and they'll get told.

Anything below that business dress /smart casual (and smart casual means different things to different people as the OP is discovering.)

Ignoring the petty stuff my feeling is the OP has made a poor move and is going to find fault with everything so may as well start looking now and get out ASAP as he has already tagged himself not a team player with his complaints and moaning to coworkers and in the more hierarchical businesses that tends to get noticed and remembered.

getmore4less

mgdavid wrote: »

IF you'd have read the thread you'd know he specifically said he wasn't told any of this at interview and indeed on one subject was told the opposite.

I have read every post.

You interrogate at interview to find out this stuff.
code control systems, automated build and test environments, team structures, equipment, work from home policy, dress codes, working practices on overtime and weekends, release cycles, coffee machines.

You get to see the work environment and look closely at desks and people.
Do they look happy is the start.

Interviews are for both sides to work out if there is compatibility.

TELLIT01

f1621688 wrote: »

I think I cringed a bit at the colour of jeans. They don't have a formal dress code btw and I have seen various coloured trousers so far and ladies with fancy bunny handbags. I mean what does it matter?

That's about the only thing you raised which I agree with. Arbitrary dress codes make no sense whatever. The summer before last, when it was so hot, some of the men started wearing tailored shorts to work - we have no air-con - and were told it was against the dress code. The dress code only mentions 3 items which are forbidden - jeans, shorts and leggings.
When the fact that the vast majority of women wear leggings there was no response whatever but shorts remained banned. Ridiculous.

CCFC_80

getmore4less wrote: »

I have read every post.

You interrogate at interview to find out this stuff.
code control systems, automated build and test environments, team structures, equipment, work from home policy, dress codes, working practices on overtime and weekends, release cycles, coffee machines.

You get to see the work environment and look closely at desks and people.
Do they look happy is the start.

Interviews are for both sides to work out if there is compatibility.

Interviews don't normally work like that at first stage and quite frankly many of those questions I would be afraid to ask as it would put the employer off on the basis of them saying " We might be employing a right awkward so and so here."


I would have left that line of questioning that you mentioned when the role was actually offered when you would be in a better bargaining position to ask those sort of questions.


Just a general point, I wish that all employers would show candidates around the working envirionment when they are being interviewed so they can get a better feel of the potential job they might be doing as very few do so.

darrensurrey

I get some of the rules. The others will restrict innovation and creative problem solving. I'd walk.

Kynthia

Every company has its own culture and you need to find somewhere that's a good fit for you or adjust to one that isn't. It's best to find out what you can before and during the interview, like visiting the building, seeing what employees and the interviewers wear, what does the website tell you (literally and whether it's creative or traditional), ask the interviewers a few innocuous questions, etc. Then realise it will take time to adjust and that you might still make a mistake and need to move on. Two weeks isn't enough, I think three months is a good time to reassess.

ohreally

CCFC_80 wrote: »

Just a general point, I wish that all employers would show candidates around the working envirionment when they are being interviewed so they can get a better feel of the potential job they might be doing as very few do so.

Not all interviews are conducted within the workplace, indeed I've had interviews in a different country.