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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About this new supervisor calling me challenging.

58 replies

paintyapron · 27/11/2017 07:48

Hi

Before I complain this AM I just wanted to look at people's opinions.

I started a Christmas temp job lastnight for a few extra pounds for Christmas, I applied with two friends due to PND and thought it would help lift me a little.

I arrived to find I had been separated from my friends, ok I thought I'd just go out of my comfort zone. They said it was as friends aren't allowed to work together, my 2 friends are based together though! All of my floor was couples and friends chatting. I was on my own for 6 hours and no one in my bay said a word to me.

My manager told my friend ' I was brave to apply if this really was the case regarding my anxieties'

Secondly, it was supposed to be an induction evening but no induction was done, we were told to just start wrapping.

I did, loaded it up in the post trolley.
Manager came and had a go at me because she has OCD and I did it wrong apparently.

Tried again, super neat. Got in trouble again as the parcels weren't level. However I hadn't yet made enough parcels for it to be level.

She came back and said 'by god, aren't you challenging'

I finished my parcels and asked what I should do next, they made me go around collecting bins and tried to make me climb over boxes to take them out as the bin exit was restricted. I said no, I'd rather not.

Aibu to ask to move to another floor where I won't be treated like this. Just had to stop myself crying all night.

She's so nasty. When some people who came from Latvia arrived she shouted across ' the Latvians have arrived' I was horrified!

OP posts:
RebootYourEngine · 27/11/2017 08:27

What kind of job is it? Lack of training would put me off working there.

SoupDragon · 27/11/2017 08:28

Anyway, quitting after one session seems a bit silly. I would give it some time, especially as you did enjoy the first hour.

You say no one spoke to you but did you speak to anyone else?

Original poster
paintyapron · 27/11/2017 08:29

It's just doing picking and packing for a company.

I understand about the friends thing, and I wasn't wanting to be next to them to chat. Just to know that they were on the same floor pathetically made me feel safer.

It's also hard when everyone around you is chatting and laughing with friends and you're the one on your own being told off.

OP posts:
PippaSqueaks · 27/11/2017 08:30

Would you not just consider asking to be moved though? In the best outcome they'll say yes, and you'll get what you want; or else they'll say no and then you can quit knowing you tried.

I've learned from experience that there's some fairly bitter people out there who don't like their work or their lives and so they take it out on weaker people that they think they can bully. Don't let her completely win though and allow her to run you out of there.

catsarenice · 27/11/2017 08:32

It sounds really awful and they definitely shouldn't be asking you to climb over stuff and it's bad that they're expecting you to do everything perfectly with no training. Unfortunately you don't really have any employee rights yet and they can get rid of you very easily. You're kind of stuck because if you complain or ask to move they may we'll have you down as a trouble maker and if you stay where you are that awful supervisor will have it in for you. Are there any other seasonal jobs you could apply for? Shop etc? I really feel for you - good luck.

Original poster
paintyapron · 27/11/2017 08:32

The impression I got is that the main staff don't like the temps.

As when she showed me around she showed me the lockers and said 'make sure you put your stuff in here as you can't trust 90% of the temps'

OP posts:
LunasSpectreSpecs · 27/11/2017 08:32

to ask to move

Thing is as others have said it's not a social club. They clearly need a person doing your job, or they wouldn't have put you there. If there are no openings elsewhere you cannot expect to be moved, or to inconvenience other people by swapping with you.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time but you sound very unrealistic about the whole thing - have you worked before? Being with your friends, not asking for guidance or someone to show you, no-one saying a word to you but no mention of you trying to strike up conversations either.

TaylorTinker · 27/11/2017 08:32

Either you decide life is too short or you see it as a challenge to meet and both responses are fine. Are there any other seasonal opportunities for you?

Original poster
paintyapron · 27/11/2017 08:34

Not that I know of.

34 people who started Saturday didn't come back yesterday so that speaks volumes.

OP posts:
TaylorTinker · 27/11/2017 08:35

She was maybe advising you so you don't get stuff nicked?

Like I tell my kids not to take valuables into school as in the past thefts have occurred. It doesn't mean I dislike school kids in general.

Bluntness100 · 27/11/2017 08:35

Is the new floor you wish to move to where your friends are op?

I think if you don’t know how to do a task it’s better to ask. It’s also better to explain your reasons when declining task, so for example say “ I’m worried about climbing over things, as such can we look for a solution to prevent that please” rather than just “I’d rather not”. Alternatively you could simply have moved the boxes so you didn’t have to climb over them.

I suspect fault on both sides. You can ask to move, but they may not need you there, they may need you where you are. Your decision as to whether you continue.

As for the lativans I would not yet read anything into it. They could have a good relationship and it’s a standing joke between them but as you are new you would be unable to judge this.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 27/11/2017 08:36

Personally, I think you’re either good at wrapping or you’re not. In time someone can be taught to wrap better, but probably not to the stand required to do it for customers. If yours isn’t up to standard I’d give it one more shift then decide.

If you felt it was unsafe to go over the boxes to put the bins out, you werre well within your rights to say no, however, could you have moved the boxes?

As for saying ‘The Latvians’ have arrived, I fail to see the issue. I’ve lived in two countries, I stand out in both due to my accent. If I get ‘grouped’ by my accent (they’re always wrong), it couldn’t bother me less. So, unless they make ‘The Latvians’ do something different to the rest of you, I fail to see the issue. (Though as this is MN I’m sure someone will be along to put me straight 😂)

As for her saying you were challenging, is it possible she was making a bit of a joke? If not, it was well out of line. If she was, then it’s the kind of workplace banter I miss, but given people are such snowflakes these days it’s generally best avoided.

Your mental health is worth more than a few quid for Christmas. Do what’s best for you.

ColonelJackONeil · 27/11/2017 08:36

If you are only doing the job as a way to get out of the house and its turned out to be rubbish I'd pack it in. Most of this sort of jobs are pretty dull in themselves, and it makes such a difference if you get nice people working with you. If you are on your own most of the time and your boss is a little Hitler I'd get out.

Original poster
paintyapron · 27/11/2017 08:37

I would have moved the boxes but they are on crates ready to be collected. Lots and lots of them so I couldn't have moved them.

OP posts:
TaylorTinker · 27/11/2017 08:38

Maybe it was relief that the Cavalry (Latvian) had arrived?

EdmundCleverClogs · 27/11/2017 08:40

paintyapron, is there anything else you can do/have plans to do to keep you ‘busy’? You sound quite down and like you have low self esteem at the moment, are you getting support elsewhere in life? AIBU isn’t the best place to help with PND, but there are other (supportive) places around. Do what’s healthiest for you.

ColonelJackONeil · 27/11/2017 08:43

My Dh works in a warehouse, he always refuses to do anything that is (genuinely) dangerous in his opinion. People will take silly risks to save time and at the end of the day it's you who get hurt and you may not be entitled to any compensation if you are going against company safety guidelines.

extinctspecies · 27/11/2017 08:48

It sounds like a grim job to be doing if you don't need the money, and it's bad they didn't offer you proper training at the start.

But why not give it one more shot - you may find that once you are used to the new routine it gets easier and you enjoy it more?

EBearhug · 27/11/2017 08:50

She was maybe advising you so you don't get stuff nicked?

Yes, she probably was, but it would have been more professional to say, "You must use a locker, because we've had issues with security and personal belongings going missing," than, "you can't trust 90% of the temps," which says a whole lot about her prejudices and fosters a hostile environment from the outset.

Sounds like the bins could probably be reorganised so there's no climbing involved, as well.

All that and the lack of training - as you don't need the money, I'd probably not go back, but I would give those reasons why, because they are things which can be resolved with little effort.

munkynutts · 27/11/2017 08:55

Its possible she said she had OCD like a lot of people say it, as in "im anal about how things are done".

I will say to you, with kindness in my voice: you are BU. This is something you want to do for your depression, but this is a company, not a charity. It is a job, not volunteering. And you are a temp worker. Your issues, with all due respect, are not really the companys problem.

Your job is not to be placed with your friends, or enjoy yourself. Your job is to do what they ask you to do to their standards and get paid for it.

You should quit and do some volunteering instead

TaylorTinker · 27/11/2017 08:57

EBearhug:

It's an easy win to condemn poorer communicators, I was taught to listen with charity and one huge benefit ime is that it makes life far less hostile in my own head.

I'm not a great writer so that probably makes little sense!

Anyway good luck to op whatever her choice.

EdmundCleverClogs · 27/11/2017 09:04

Its possible she said she had OCD like a lot of people say it, as in "im anal about how things are done".

If she did, then she was both very wrong in doing so and offensive to anyone suffering genuine mental health issues. As I said, if anything is cause for complaint here, it’s the way the manager obviously is very flippant about MH, and has been discussing the op’s own health with her friends.

JamesBondsMrs · 27/11/2017 09:12

I would be Hmm at 'The latvians have arrived'. Not all appropriate. Nor is having exits blocked and expecting staff to climb over stuff.

Sounds like shit op. I would ring and address the lack of induction and go from there. But I certainly wouldn't feel bad about not returning.

extinctspecies · 27/11/2017 09:18

It is not unusual in work situations for the permanent staff to feel it's not worth their while to spend time to engage with the temps - sad but true.

redexpat · 27/11/2017 09:18

I don't quite understand why you're getting such a backlash. Being critised for doing something incorrectly when no one has shown or told you how it's supposed to be done is really annoying and demotivating. And actually I think it sometimes takes a great deal of courage to say no to doing something, like climbing over boxes, even more so when you have depression. It doesnt sound as if the company are a good fit for you.

Have you considered temping through agencies?

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