Pardon my IQ.

[HeadachesAbound]

I have worked at this company for nearly 2 yrs. During this time I have seen some pretty wacky requests and even wackier responses. 8 months ago a shift in management resulted in both myself and my supervisor reporting to a different management team. A management team that claims to have tons of vision but can't see beyond the edge of the keyboard.

Any advancement (even simple ones) that are easily justified are always delayed due to this lack of vision. I have on several occassions been told that "it is not my place to ask why" when some kind of absurd request is made. I have been demoted from Peon Level 1 to Peon Level 33 (somewhere below the rats I think). My input is no longer valid even though I am the one responsible for the system in question. My opinions no longer matter even they are usually founded on the business practices and make more sense than the alternatives.

I have reached the conclusion that if I wish to be happy I must do one of two things.

Write a Business Summary Plan and send it the CEO or Quit. I think I will spend my weekend spewing forth the ideas that have so far been beneficial and have provided at least a solid foundation that has so far withstood the ineptitude of current managers into the BSP. If the CEO dislikes plan, then I'm fired for speaking out, otherwise I might finally get recognition for some of my ideas.

Did I mention that my manager took credit for something that I had done? I have witnesses for this one because I had discussed during a team meeting the week before as an advancement that would allow us to be more productive.

Please pardon my Inquisitive Questions.

[Budfred]

If the organization is as you describe, you will likely be fired when you submit your report, so you may want to start looking for another job while you are working on it....

Hopefully I am wrong, but if the CEO is competent he/she is already aware of the issues you raise and you don't need to make a point of them. The fact that the CEO doesn't seem to be aware would argue in favor of incompetence and a tendency to want to kill the messenger.

[mjc]

Option 3....the CEO is a mushroom (kept in the dark and fed lots of bull), and telling him what is really going on will get others fired (ready for an new cubicle...maybe it will be the one by the window and you can get the giant magnifying glass?)

I have always believed that most middle management are about as intelligent as your average box of rocks, especially those that continually do nothing but spout some mantra..."vision, vision, vision"

[gracious]

Ah the world of Corporate BS. They get so caught up in their own rules and regulations that they forget about the people who are actually doing the work and who are actually interacting with consumers...sickening isn't it.

Headache, you know how good you are and you know what your abilities are and you know what works and what doesn't. Corporations always feed the "Open Door" Policy but I have yet to see where this actually works and the managers you are speaking about always find out that you opened your mouth. I would encourage you to remember your skills and your level of competence and start looking for those open doors. I truly believe where one door is being closed there is another one opening. It is truly not like it use to be where loyalty from an employee meant something, now all they look at is the bottom line and what they can do to increase it. If you have tried the chains of command and that didn't work then what alternatives do you have. Those same managers might be gone next week, you just never know. Don't let them be the measuring tool of your success! I was working for such a corporation where the rules became so absurd that it made you want to break them.:D Then there are those good managers who know and understand where you are coming from but even they have no power to do anything. Just remember, it is not you that is the problem it is them and you are worthy of something better!:p

[HeadachesAbound]

I have heard the CEO Speak several times. If he doesn't fit into option 3 then he has very good speach writers and even better telepaths that help to anticipate every possible question that might be asked and then provide on the spot eloquence.

I am very aware of what I can do and what I am worth. The problem being that without a degree (8am was just too early in college) I have a difficult time competing in such a flooded market.

Should the company choose to terminate me then I would most likely be better off for it and many of my co-workers might see it as sufficient reason to follow me out the door.

I can only say that it is quite sad to see such talented people (my co-workers) be used and abused in this fashion.

Quite illogical me thinks.

[setoguro]

I'm thinking that you should start looking for something new. Your future there doesn't look so good. Either your going to get yourself fired by going over the heads of your new over lords or they are going to screw things up enough to draw the attention of the CEO and when the finger pointing starts well I think you know were they are going to be pointing. Right to you and the other peons. If they are slimy enough to steal your idea then there is no way they're going to take blame for anything.

So set up a safety net before you present you ideas to the CEO. Your most likely damned if you do and damned if you don't. But be of good cheer this just could be the best thing that could ever happen to you.

[HeadachesAbound]

I have chosen to terminate my employment relationship.

I finally had my fill of the place and advised my manager that I was terminating my employment relationship. I confronted my supervisor this morning with several issues that I have had to deal with over the last 6 months and was basically told to stuff it. I was informed that even though I was unable to do any work for a week and a half since the hard drive on my development machine burned up that I had caused more of a project delay by leaving 3 hrs early for an emergency.

I know that at least one of my co-workers has the brain power needed to deal with some of my stuff, however, I do expect for many of the projects I have been working on to be dropped or ignored once I am gone. I have given a two week notice but I'm almost certain that they won't let me stay that long since my position gives me access to numerous amounts of secured information.

Anybody need an overworked, underpaid guru?

[gracious]

The future is ahead of you! It is their loss! Good Luck Headache!:)

[BigBlue66]

Headache, you made the right decision. Life is too short to put up with that kind of crap.

[malcore]

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." (or pulled)

Praise to the nail that frees itself to search for a finer board with a superior grain. ;)

Best of luck Headaches. Stay sharp.

[HeadachesAbound]

Or in my case...draws blood.

Neither my supervisor, my manager, or even the vp over my department has spoken to me about my decision. I know that they are all aware because at least 2 of the people that I deal with on a regular basis have been notified. I'm already training my replacement.

I'm not sure if what I smell is panic, fear, or something else.