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female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes: Hi guys, I work part-time in a firm. My job and my hours make it difficult for me to get to know my colleagues (I have tried!). I come, do my hours, and then leave. That’s just how my job is. The only people I know are the guys at the receptionist’s area, the director who hired me and the manager of my section. The director is always nice to everyone (it’s a very small firm). He even moved to a smaller office so that his office could be used as a bigger open space for people who don’t have their office. To facilitate communication and a better working atmosphere he even found a way to “build” a small kitchen with a sort of a living room area where people could meet and get to know each other.I started noticing little weird things at the beginning. For one, nobody was using this kitchen area. And I mean not a single person, apart from the director who made it. I kept seeing people eating in their offices, but not there. I never eat during the day, so I would go there to make a decent cup of coffee. Others just drink the horrible stuff from the machine. The director also found a way to secure a certain number of parking spaces and introduced a system so that everyone could use them according to a schedule. Personally, I think it’s fair. It’s only the beginning, he will secure more and more places so that everyone, visitors included can park near our firm. Needles to say nobody is using that as well! He uses public transportation, so he doesn’t need it, but 90% of my colleagues do. I see them park in the street when I leave my bike. Also, nobody was ever eating or having a cup of coffee with the director. But the weird thing is, he’s very sociable! He always comes by to say hi and see if everything’s ok. I’ve seen him do it with everyone even replacements. As I said, I don’t know anybody well, so I couldn’t pick up things in casual conversation. Although I don’t know all my colleagues by their names, I know them by sight, and I have noticed that some of them stopped showing up. Later I would learn that they have left the firm! The weirdest thing was, when a guy I have never seen in my life started casually chatting with me during break. It turned out that he was the successor of the manager of my section! Nobody told me he was leaving. Not even the manager himself. This is when I did some digging. It turned out that the director himself had been appointed only a week before he hired me (a year go!). I have no idea what happened to his predecessor. I think I’m not wrong when I think that maybe, just maybe, a lot of people were disappointed that an outsider was appointed director. If the manager of my section had been promoted, all the people bellow him would have been promoted as well. Anyway, I think there’s a silent boycott or something worse and I don’t want to be a part of any trouble. I am writing this because my manager, who is leaving, had made a mix-up (I believe intentionally). Some changes have been made. Not knowing anything about it, I rang him up to talk about other things. He then told me the director has completely cut my hours for August and September and that he would talk to him about it. Then he waited for his last day at work, not the last day, the last SECOND to send an email to the director and me, asking him to explain to me WHY my hours had been cut for two months. For one he made it look as if I had found out by myself and now am looking for some answers. As if I am stirring trouble. He made me sound angry. Secondly, he sent it when he knew that neither the director nor I would be able to see that mail, as we never check our business emails on Friday after hours. I’ve seen it by pure chance.I feel horrible. The director was nothing if not nice to me. I have no idea what will happen when I come to work on Tuesday. My manager will be gone, and I’ll have to try and explain that this whole thing has nothing to do with me. That’s one thing. The other thing is to really find out who cut my hours like that. My planning is my manager’s job. The only way that this could have happened is that my manager wasn’t doing his job and that the director stepped in and made a mistake. The problem is, once the hours are defined, they cannot easily be changed. Anyway. I feel horrible. I hate being manipulated like that.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (3 July 2022): (It’s the OP, I have lost the code)
Thank you WiseOwlE ! I’ll keep it simple and on point. The things I said about the kitchen and the parking was only so that you can get a better picture. I hate intrigues and drama. I live my life OUTSIDE of the office. I work hard and I make an effort to have good relations with my colleagues. I hope the director will be able to see this and appreciate it as he to comes off as someone who thinks that your workplace is just that – a place to work in the best possible conditions. The only good thing is that I won’t have to see this manager ever again.
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reader, anonymous, writes (2 July 2022): Corrections:
"[Send] an email requesting to speak with the Director."
"If he happens to bring other matters up in conversation; then and only then, should you make any comment about them."
P.S.
He's the director, so he knows everything going on. He will also know about the manager's outgoing-sabotage; which is pretty common these days, because people can be so nasty and vindictive. They disregard the repercussions of such stupid actions; and forget who gets to respond to inquiries from their prospective employers regarding their past performance. Any outgoing benefits they are expecting can also be suspended or cut. Burning bridges behind you like you read about or see on social media don't always go well. Stupidity can backfire.
Some people may have charges brought against them; and the new employer may fire them, if they catch what they did on social media, or their former employer notifies them of what happened.
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reader, anonymous, writes (2 July 2022): Sends an email requesting to speak with the Director. He is aware of the behavior of the employees; but don't expect him to discuss them with you. You're part-time, and could also decide to leave; so expect the discussion to be strictly about your hours.
In the memo section of the email, let your subject title be simple: Hours.
Stay on-topic. Don't bring-up matters concerning other employees, the kitchen, or parking. All those other issues are management matters, and it isn't likely he will discuss them with you. If he happens to bring other matters up in conversation; then on and only then, should you make any comment about them. You should feel comfortable discussing any misunderstanding or concerns you have about how you were notified about the cut in your hours. If the manager can't see right away, go immediately to your Human Resources Dept.; if you have one.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (2 July 2022): Thank you so much Honeypie!
Btw, I tried contacting the director directly, after my manager gave me the news, but I couldn’t reach him. Then he tried contacting me, but I couldn’t respond. Hopefully, I’ll be able to set the record straight.
You nailed it when you said “overcompensating”. I believe that he’s a decent guy, but he is certainly going out of his way to please people.
My colleagues are cordial, but it is a fact that I was hired by someone they obviously don’t like.
I’ll do my best to stay out of any drama.
Thanks again!
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female
reader, Honeypie  + ♥, writes (2 July 2022):
 Go directly to the Director. Figure out from the "horse's mouth" what is up with your job and hours. I would honestly have gone there as soon as you were told you had your hours cut and that the Director was "responsible" for this "mix-up". Just tell the truth. If you have anything in writing bring that. If not, do your best to give all the details and none of your speculations.
Yes, there might be some power play at hand that you have no idea about. That happens.
And the Director might be "overcompensating" by giving up his office and making a break room for people trying to show that he wants to do well for the staff and company.
It might also be that your company is in dire financial trouble. The Director might have been hired to "trim the fat" - fire unproductive people and well, that is never popular with people who have worked at a company a long time (regardless of their productivity).
As for all the "drama" I'd stay out of it.
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