To be absolutely dreading work tomorrow?

[TheCherryTree8]

I’m absolutely dreading work tomorrow. We have a cost cutting person (a member of the finance team from head office) in from head office doing a full audit of our site to find ways to cut cost, he’s already been at our site for 2 weeks and he’s here for another 3 weeks yet. I don’t understand why he needs to be here for a full 5 weeks to be honest, he’s already struggling to find ways for us to cut cost that aren’t completely ridiculous! They are sending the finance team around all sites to try and cut cost, not just our site. I’m the member of staff at our site though that has to deal with him all day everyday whilst he’s on site. He doesn’t understand how the business runs day to day either, his only focus is how to cut cost, most of the things he is suggesting that we do to cut cost are completely impractical and most of his suggestions would only save small amounts anyway and not a lot! He’s given us 25 suggestions already and only 2 are actually practical for us to put in place day to day and only 1 would actually save the business a significant amount of money!

He might even force us to put the completely impractical recommendations in place yet, it won’t be up to us. The report he is writing will go to head office and they will decide if we have to follow everything in his report, not us.

Some of the suggestions he’s made are also completely ridiculous! And some would only save the business a tiny amount of money already. He’s struggling to come up with many good or practical suggestions because our site is already run quite lean but he’s under pressure as the finance team have been to cut costs at all sites by a certain % which is probably not possible as we are already running quite lean!

I’m absolutely dreading work tomorrow and having to deal with him all day again. I feel like I could cry just thinking about it. He dismisses any suggestion that some of his recommendations are impractical or ridiculous as well, it’s like it’s his way or the highway!

AIBU to be dreading work tomorrow? I’ve cried myself to sleep every night for the past 2 weeks whilst he’s been at our site.

Well the easiest way to cut costs is cutting staff so surely it’s better to try and look for alternatives first?

He has a task and he is doing it, it’s not personally aimed at you so the crying about it is dramatic

Let him focus on what he needs to do, give him the feedback as you are doing and what will happen will happen. If you show you are a robust member of the team then that’s all you can do when there is extreme cost cutting going on (my company are going through the same right now and we have already had redundancies and likely to have more)

This happens everywhere. Sometimes it’s better to work with them and think of how you could do things differently or more effectively. I know your upset but don’t waste your energy crying, use it to think up ways to improve things

@TheCherryTree8 if the business is sending finance people on-site to multiple sites to look at cost cutting then it's highly probable that they have money issues. You don't spend that sort of money on a whim. If enough money can't be found in this exercise, then they will look to cut jobs. It's the last resort to remain profitable. Instead of looking down on suggestions the site needs to look at what can be done to reduce costs.

Sorry, you’re crying and dreading work because one person is making daft suggestions about how to cut costs and nobody’s job is at risk?

Honestly sounds like you need to develop some resilience. This seems mildly irritating at best.

They have already ruled out cutting jobs.

You sound a bit dramatic. I get it's stressful and you feel powerless.

Tbh I wish my local council would bring in cost cutters. No idea what they're spending money on but they've cut services by half & barely mow our parks. They're are about to raise our rates (taxes) by 14% as they're drowning. Then add £240 equivalent to our water access charge. We're the most expensive in the country as it is. Sometimes cost cutting is needed. Even if it's painful for the staff.

It’s horrid isn’t it! Some of the suggestions to cut cost that he is coming up with are absolutely ridiculous as well.

If he doesn’t really understand your department and his suggestions aren’t realistic- given that he’s got another 3 weeks with you, why don’t you spend a dedicated day with each other where you walk him through your department, explain everything and everyone? Might help him make more appropriate suggestions and you’ll feel better.

I’d suggest you do whatever it takes to work with him. Show flexibility and adaptability. Willingness to try new processes.

if they don’t work out, then you’re proved right. If they do, then you’ll be seen as onboard.

if each of those 25 suggestions save £1000, then that might help avoid a cut of 1 member of staff if money is tight. You say they’ve discounted cutting jobs, but that’s never completely off the table.

and I have to say that while I can see this is a draining and stressful experience, crying to the extent that you are could be seen as extreme and a symptom of something unrelated to the work situation.