To mention in my next 1-2-1

[user1471503652]

The fact that the managers in my office do absolutely nothing?!

Smallish office, 2 banks of desks split into 4 management and 4 non-management. For most of the day the managers laugh, play games, prank each other, read weird stuff on the internet, chat loudly with people who pop in for ages and moan and say how bored they are. This is while the other desk (me and 3 colleagues) bash away at our keyboards like maniacs.

They are recruiting an admin at the moment and the source of entertainment this week has been reading out CV’s and wetting themselves laughing. The managers were also so busy the other day they had time to dress up a 5” snowman in the same uniform we wear and put it on the next spare desk next to me saying “this is your new job share” ...it was so hilarious. the whole exercise took nearly an hour. All while my bank of desks are working hard to get stuff completed by 5pm.

They also talk openly about HR issues which (although I don’t know the people involved) I find completely inappropriate to talk about openly? I have never worked in an office like this.

This is only a snippet of what goes on (I could bore you all morning) but the office feels so disjointed and I am left seething with resentment most afternoons. It’s also incredibly distracting. I’ve only been there a few months and ideally want to do a good year for CV purposes but not sure I can. They never want to take a call (I have to answer phones) and just tell me to take messages, even if it’s urgent.

I promise I’m not a miserable cow, I like to work and have fun together. WIBU to mention my complaints in my next 121? If so, how would I do this tactfully.

I would raise to someone in the HR/people team

Is the manager the one you have your 121 with?

Yes

That’s why I’m wondering even bringing it up, is it even worth it?

I'd make sure I have evidence and ideally have a sense that other have people noticed this and would be likely to agree with you if asked or would they back the managers?

I tend to be quite negative in my thinking, I admit, but if it was me, I'd be afraid that HR might support the managers against the troublemaking newbie unless you can demonstrate that this is happening. I'm so negative that I'd possibly handle it by finding another job and raising it as I leave - but rationally that is not the right thing to do.

Perhaps you could say you find the working environment rather distracting?

Also another thought - is there any chance they get their heads down and get through heaps of paperwork 7am-10 am and 5pm-8pm and muck about at other times. I've certainly worked in law firms with a long hours culture - the lawyers usually worked 7am-8pm but when it wasn't crazy busy, they still came into the office for long hours - but of course didn't have work to do for the whole day so there was quite a bit of timewasting in between the client work. Though as we were in a city centre this often involved disappearing for stupidly long lunches. This was nearly 20 years ago I hasten to add before anyone now working in a law firm picks me up on how much has changed.

I don't know if you can bring it up if one of the said managers does your 1:1

Could you bring up the fact that you simetimes find it difficult to concentrate due to office distractions? Could you wear headphones to block them out?

Could you join in and do f'k all work for the day and see what shit hits the fan?

I too am sick of managers.
The smell of toast and coffee coming from the office for the first hour of the day, the leisurely lunches, the fact that they spend most of their time socialising, are always available to chat. The truth is, EVERYTHING is delegated downwards. They are left with nothing to fill their time.

I don't think you'd gain anything out of it other than making yourself their new target. Do you talk to any colleagues on your bank about it? Have any of them been there long?

I would be job hunting. It sounds like a place where the office 'culture' is out of hand and won't get better any time soon.

What sort of business can employ people to do nothing all day. It doesn't sound like a very streamlined business. That would bug the hell out of me

I’m sure they do their bit, but to be honest I struggle to see it when every task is a forwarded email “please action below” or “for you to do when you get a moment” in the midst of a management game of truth or dare

My three colleagues definitely feel the same.

I work for a charity would you believe

I work for a charity would you believe

Yes, I do believe.
The amount on money wasted by charities is unbelievable.
They are delegating everything downwards and therefore do f'k all themselves.
Get a new job!

In that case, keep a diary and tell the CEO or trustees when you leave. If it’s that bad?

Does the company/charity have a whistle blowing policy? The talking about candidates and reading aloud of cvs is a breach of confidentiality asnd grossly unprofessional.

OP this is something to raise with your union, especially as all of you are experiencing the same issue. You need to collectively deal with this, the thing with the snowman is actually particularly nasty and belittling.

If you are not in a union do join asap.

I assume there is a higher managerial structure above these lot? They sound bloody awful and need challenging.

It does sound like it might be time to get a new job. Ideally you mention to your manager in the guise of its very distracting. See how that goes down. If nothing changes I would be inclined to look for work elsewhere/ sounds too demotivating!

I would do your year, get another job and tell the hr and ceo on exit

I’ve never worked in a charity, but none of the antics and behaviour you’ve mentioned would be tolerated where I’ve worked (private business).

You will never be thanked for any truth you share, it will fall on stoney ground especially if your manager is at the centre of it. In fact they may find a way to twist things round to make you look in the wrong. Just focus the discussion on your contributions and don’t over invest in the other crap, it’s just “noise”.

I personally wouldn't say anything. You'll never come off looking good doing stuff like that (I learnt this the hard way). In your one to one I'd focus on you, your performance and work. I'm sure all the managers know what they're doing and probably wouldn't appreciate being told by a newbie.

I would however start looking for a new job now. If asked why you're leaving your current post at interview you could say things like this job looked like such a great opportunity or that your current post is fixed term, proving difficult to get to, etc. Something that doesn't involve saying anything bad about your current workplace. If a potential new employer likes you they won't really care too much about one short length of employment in your work history.

Job hunting can be a long process So you might end up being there for a decent length of time anyway in terms of your cv not for your sanity!

If the manager is one of them, just don't. It won't go down well -I would look for another job and at my exit interview would explain why I left.
Can you stick a pair of headphones on while working to distract from the noise? Or "jokingly" offer up some of your work if they are bored?

Could you collectively raise the issue to the trustees? Donated money is being squandered and the HR stuff is bad too. You could also talk to ACAS. Nothing will change otherwise, so if you decide to do nothing you will have to put up with it, or leave.

Do you truly believe it will make any differences OP, especially if it's one of said manager's that you're bringing it up with?

I ask because I've been in an almost identical situation to yourself, and absolutely zero changes except for the fact that I became seen as the 'uptight moaning bitch'.

Also, watch out for the colleagues who agree with you; many times this will happen in a work place, everybody has a moan together and all appear to be mutually pissed off, but when it then comes to speaking up about the issues, you're left being the only one with anything to say whilst all other colleagues become silent and appear to have no issues at all.
This leaves you being labelled the 'difficult' one who always has something to moan about, again I'm saying this from personal experience.

If I was you, I would definitely consider reporting to HR about how certain matters are openly talked about when they shouldn't be, and also I'd mention that you're unsure of how professional the reading aloud and skitting of possible new staff's CVs is.

The lack of confidentiality re job applications should be mentioned to one of the trustees, or to HR. I am not sure that your manager who is part of the problem is the person to approach.