Tayla Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Okay so tonight after my dinner with my family, my business phone rings. Its a co- worker. She is furious! Wants to know where the company's spare key is the vehichle. I explain. Locked up after hours. It must be signed out when needed and she isnt due to receive the use of the vehichle til tomorrow. She has her own company car that will go into for safety check tomorrow. She literally screams and rants that she will NOT be treated like a five year old! She wants the keys !!! I offer to appease this genteel whiner by driving thirty mins to the job site and have her sign the vehichle out. SHe again screams, NO!!! Stop treating me like a five year old and Hiding the keys. THey werent hidden, they were locked away securely. I then told her I could have the vehichle at her first appointment location so she had it when she came out. Bear in mind this is a 48 year old who behaves extremely childish when she doesnt get her way. No matter what solution you offer her she lets you know that ITS NOT good enough for her! She is my boss's pet right now and I am sure tomorrow I will hear it and be reprimanded. Yet the Entire Company Vehichle policy is, : You must request it in advance, you must sign it in and out, You must return it filled and no major problems (once she returned it and all her grandkids toys were spilled over the back seat) We had to clean the fries and cheerios between the seats not to mention the Hay bail she tossed in the trunk to use for her horses. DUring Non Office hours all keys are to be securely locked. So Lucky me, tomorrow I get to contend with her ...and my boss. ANy suggestions? Link to post Share on other sites
ecm Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Fair is fair. Does your boss allow exceptions to the rule? If not, then you shouldn't have to defend yourself. You were doing your job. Also, are you a 24 hour employee? Why should this woman be able to call you after business hours? I don't like her and I haven't even met her Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Fair is fair. Does your boss allow exceptions to the rule? If not, then you shouldn't have to defend yourself. You were doing your job. i agree..... if she is a pet- then she should ask the boss for a special skeleton key i would make it very clear to her and the boss that you do not appreciate the total lack of respect the she exhibited on the after hour phone call to you. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Tayla Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share Posted October 20, 2009 Thanks for your replies! Today I did get reprimanded. (no this isnt a 24/7 operation- Its 8 AM to 5 Pm). She won. My boss is NOT a policy kinda guy and he can make the rules as they go and change them at whim. So He sided with her and basically told me I should be grateful she didnt call his house and drag him in. That would have been the end of my job. Live and Learn. I learned the rules only apply to my job position and everyone else is an exception. So arent I lucky ? (sorry my sarcasm is a flaw I really need to work on) Link to post Share on other sites
Double Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Holy crap are you serious? Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Unfortunately, if she's well connected or most often, if she's a high producer, most bosses will weigh revenue against breaking company policy. Did your boss give you anything in writing, about not locking up vehicle keys overnight? Link to post Share on other sites
Angel1111 Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Thanks for your replies! Today I did get reprimanded. (no this isnt a 24/7 operation- Its 8 AM to 5 Pm). She won. My boss is NOT a policy kinda guy and he can make the rules as they go and change them at whim. So He sided with her and basically told me I should be grateful she didnt call his house and drag him in. That would have been the end of my job. Live and Learn. I learned the rules only apply to my job position and everyone else is an exception. So arent I lucky ? (sorry my sarcasm is a flaw I really need to work on) That's completely ridiculous. You mean, even after you offered to meet her at the office? Uh, they're sleeping together. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 Hold it. I just thought of one reason why your boss would have supported this woman. Are you the only employee who has a key to the lockbox for vehicle keys? If so, is it possible that there's concern over something happening to you, like getting hit by a bus or family emergency, and then no one onsite has access? As a possible solution, have more keys made of the lockbox and keep one in a spot where no one knows where it is except your boss. This way, there's always one onsite, in case something happens to you. Link to post Share on other sites
Lucky_One Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 That's completely ridiculous. You mean, even after you offered to meet her at the office? Uh, they're sleeping together. Yep. For sure. That's why she has the complete mental freedom to have a hissy fit - she knows that she's safe. And he knows that he has to protect his access to the cookie's nookie, so you are expendable. Start looking for another job. Link to post Share on other sites
ecm Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Please let me get this straight, too. -The "rule" is you are supposed to lock up the keys. (Like TrialbyFire, I'm also curious if this is "in writing", an why you might be the only person with the key). -You followed the rules. -This woman/ baby called you AFTER HOURS when you followed the rules, to make an exception for her? -And YOU got in trouble??????? Maybe I'm missing something. I would tell them to keep the key. Is this your career or just a job that can be easily replaced? I wouldn't want to work for a company that allows people to change the rules as you go. Is your state a right to work state, where they can fire you and not even have to tell you why? I would start documenting this, or better yet, get out of there. It sounds like you work with a bunch of lovely people. (guess I have to work on my sarcasm, too) I'm all fired up by this right now. I can't believe people and I'd love to backhand both of them. Link to post Share on other sites
Angel1111 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 If I were you, I'd go to my boss and say, "Please explain to me what I did wrong in that situation. I need to know because I don't understand." And see if he has a good explanation. Regardless of what he says, the one thing you need to get clear is, "If this happens again, what should I do? What do you expect of me?" Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Hold it. I just thought of one reason why your boss would have supported this woman. Are you the only employee who has a key to the lockbox for vehicle keys? If so, is it possible that there's concern over something happening to you, like getting hit by a bus or family emergency, and then no one onsite has access? Fair point in general, but if this is a policy issue that needs to be resolved, it still doesn't justify her hissy fit or the boss' support of her hissy fit. If there's a systematic/policy problem in the organization, then change the policy/procedure and make it known. Unless the OP has made herself the automobile key queen and declared that the rest of the company has to abide by HER policy, there's no justification for hissy-fit-girl's behavior OR the boss' support of her. I can see the boss sympathizing with her plight, but if that raises an awareness that such a situation needs to be handled in a different way in the future, it should happen through a policy change, not by "supporting" and beating on the OP for following procedures. But yes, at least the OP has a better feel for the lay of the land now. If I were you, I'd go to my boss and say, "Please explain to me what I did wrong in that situation. I need to know because I don't understand." And see if he has a good explanation. Regardless of what he says, the one thing you need to get clear is, "If this happens again, what should I do? What do you expect of me?" I agree - just to keep the emotional temperature at a cool level, you may not want to take the offensive in that situation, but you do want to communicate: "how could I have done that right?" especially since "right" seems to be counter to the policy you thought you understood. Sounds kinda like one of those marriages where one person is supposed to read the other person's mind, and "just know" how to do the right thing, without clear communication. Link to post Share on other sites
Trialbyfire Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Trimmer, I agree that there's no excuse for the woman's behaviour or that her boss backed up the hissy fit. If he breaks policy, ideally, she should be given something to CYA. But...if she wants to be seen as a team player, she should try to come up with a way that policy can be met, while still giving everyone, everything they want. And yes, it's unfair, but she's in a no-win situation so she might as well get a win out of it. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Tayla Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share Posted October 21, 2009 (edited) Seriously I do get some of the perspectives here. And I need to read such views. SO thanks for the feedback. 1: My boss has a set to the lock box as do I. He just likes to conveniently forget this when his associate is tossing tirades about me. 2: My boss is faithful to his wife. That is not his style one bit. 3: This associate is his bread & butter thus why he'll basically chose money over employee policy any day. The associate had a business record quarter sales record. She is not attractive, intelligent or figure minded, she is just conning and shrewd. Mind you she has her own company car but wanted the spare VAN for her own personal use on her farm to haul hay bails! Imagine cleaning that up before the next associate borrows it?? 4: Yes My boss is the type to reflect on how things could have been handled differently. He didn't care for my response of "Gee maybe IF she would Inform someone earlier in the day the key could have been left in her office drawer!" I have a slogan at my desk that reads "Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part" (Maybe that had something to do with her going off!-she wants everything NOW!) My boss instead mandated the Key be kept in public view for any member to retrieve day or night. - YET I am to know who took it! Short of taking a psychic course I dont think I'm going to be up for this new idea! I washed my hands of it and pretty much told him he can have the key in his office and see how that fairs. He vetoed that. 5: I live /work in a state that allows firing without reason. They just fire ya. Period. Edited October 21, 2009 by Tayla Link to post Share on other sites
Trimmer Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 (edited) Well, I'll tell you what. If it's de facto company policy that she gets to do what she wants, and it's your job to make things work, then you'll have to get used to the idea that she gets what she wants, and you need to make things work. I don't mean that in a harsh, "in your face" way, but you will just need to realize that this is the company and the man you are working for. I get your points - I don't like people who always assume they are a special case, and I especially hate people like that who throw their weight around. However, it's becoming clear that the truth of your employment situation is that bad planning on her part does, actually, constitute an emergency on your part. This is pretty much what your boss is (clumsily) communicating to you. So railing against it on philosophical principle is certainly your right, but it sounds like the only leverage you have is to vote with your feet. This is the job - take it or leave it - or in the middle-ground, continue struggling against it and be miserable. Bottom line: unless you are in a more powerful position, that sign on your desk is probably working against you. So, if you have run out of ways to get them to act the way you think they should, and it seems like this is "the deal," how about figuring out clever ways of making things better so you can work within the environment in a way that works (somewhat) the best for you? How about this: You propose that you keep the keys in a "lockbox," as it sounds like you do now, but instead of a keyed box, it's a lockbox with some kind of a combo lock on it for which you can change the combination. The box is bolted down at some location, and you are the keeper of the combination. Now, if anyone has a desperate after-hours need for the keys, they can call you, and you can give them the combination over the phone. They get the keys right away, and since they have to go through you, you will know who is responsible for the vehicle. Next morning, you change the combo, and lock the keys up when they come back to you. Each time you change the combo, you write the new combo on two cards; keep one yourself and give one to your boss, or whoever is the designated alternate combo-person, just to keep the "what if she gets hit by a bus" scenario covered. This way, they still have to go through you, so you solve the requirement that you are kept aware of who has the vehicle out. BUT, you have also provided a mechanism to help hissy-fit-girl do what she wants, and (more to the point) what the boss has declared shall be "the way." And, when you suggest this to your boss (actually, you don't "suggest" it, you develop it as a completely ready-to-implement plan to address the unfortunate problem that occurred with the keys...) you sell it to him in a positive light - as a solution and a way to provide hissy-fit-girl with the tools she needs to do her job, while still meeting the requirement that you keep track of the vehicle(s). Otherwise, if the message is that she can just do what she wants, why not suggest (again, in the positive vein of giving her the tools to do her job) that she be given a duplicate set of keys, just for her. Either way, sell it as if you are a team player, looking for ways to solve the problem, give her what she needs to produce effectively for the company, and still meet your requirements of tracking vehicle use at the same time. (Go to Amazon and search for Master Lock 5401D for an example of such a product. For around $16 plus shipping, you can probably have it on Monday. Alternately, if you need more capacity for more keys, another extreme is the GE Security 001795, also on Amazon...) Edited to add: I realize that this is just a slight modification of the good suggestion TBF made to keep an additional key to the existing lockbox on site. My way, once you have given out the combination (which solves the immediate problem, but also breaks the security of the box) you can recover and reset by changing the combination. Edited October 21, 2009 by Trimmer Link to post Share on other sites
Taramere Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 (edited) Bottom line: unless you are in a more powerful position, that sign on your desk is probably working against you. Agreed. A sign like that is fine in some circumstances. If, for instance, there aren't going to be visitors to the office (potential clients who might think "what kind of place is this? Bad planning a common problem here, is it? Hmmmm"). The sign is also fine if you have a team of people who get on brilliantly together. Such a message could just be dismissed as a joke amongst friendly colleagues. In this case, the team does not gel particularly well...so a sign like that becomes less a joke, more a statement about the absence of positive, co-operative relationships within the team. Ideally, a boss would do something to improve that dynamic...but conflict resolution isn't something bosses necessarily have the time or skill to carry out effectively. If they don't (have that time and skill) then they might be more likely to respond by coming down on one person's side against the other's. It sounds like a classic "rainmaker" versus "keyholder/gatekeeper" conflict - which probably lots of people have either participated in or observed at some point. The successful, dynamic but at times chaotic rule-breaker versus the more conservative, organised and reliable rule-follower. There's no predicting which side the average boss would come down on. It depends, I suppose, on his personal temperament and preferences combined with organisational needs and his perceptions of which of the two would be harder to replace. At the moment, the rainmaker seems to have his ear. Even if the OP is able to present a very clear and reasonable argument re making the rainmaker go through her if she wants to use the office car, he's going to know that there's personal animosity between these two. The "not my emergency" sign in the OP's office only serves to emphasise that and remind the boss continually that there's a problem within the team. And who's creating that problem? Well....the shoot the messenger reasoning will probably apply. The person who keeps a sign up in her office which serves as a constant reminder that there is a problem in team cohesion is liable to be the main problem in the boss's eyes. How about this: You propose that you keep the keys in a "lockbox," as it sounds like you do now, but instead of a keyed box, it's a lockbox with some kind of a combo lock on it for which you can change the combination. The box is bolted down at some location, and you are the keeper of the combination. Now, if anyone has a desperate after-hours need for the keys, they can call you, and you can give them the combination over the phone. They get the keys right away, and since they have to go through you, you will know who is responsible for the vehicle. Next morning, you change the combo, and lock the keys up when they come back to you. Each time you change the combo, you write the new combo on two cards; keep one yourself and give one to your boss, or whoever is the designated alternate combo-person, just to keep the "what if she gets hit by a bus" scenario covered. That's a good idea, as it recognises and balances competing needs. On a personal (for the OP) level, if the OP wants to retain some degree of power as a gatekeeper/keyholder then it meets the OP's need to retain some degree of power in the workplace as a gatekeeper. As far as being helpful in a more general and neutral sense goes, it promotes the need for a system of checks over the car usage. It also meets other colleagues' need to have access to the car at odd/non-office times (and as long as the boss is happy for people to do this then that's a valid need) without having to jump through hoops to get it. And if the rainmaking saleswoman and the OP dislike eachother to the point where they have a problem communicating verbally, the key combination could always be passed on via texts when necessary. Edited October 21, 2009 by Taramere Link to post Share on other sites
ecm Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Why is there even a need for a lockbox if people are allowed to go in after hours to use company vehicles for carting around hay bails? The fact that you got reprimanded when it was for her PERSONAL use just made me even angrier. I think the ideas about another lock box are good, but she'll mess that up somehow, too... and it will be "your fault" again. What a snot. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Tayla Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 (edited) Trimmer and Taramere, You both really did give suggestions that I will consider presenting. I carry the company cash flow for business items so maybe it will get approved to buy the lock safe. FOr a few days its best that I let the flames simmer to ash before coming back with ideas. I'm still whirling from the double standards and need time to get grounded to the True realities of the circumstances. I can say I am burnt out and frustrated . I have a vacation coming up and it may fair well that I take such time to regroup and re-access if the career that has served me well is worth the troubles. The company (from a third person perspective) doesnt need employee conflict and I really dont want to be "labeled" a trouble maker when working to perform delegated duties. So thank you , a third person objective commentary is what was needed and the comments really are going to be taken to mind. As a sidenote: The sign was actually given to us by our company lawyer. Its an inside joke to keep things as planned and we wont need his services to dig us out of matters. Sorry that it was interpretted in away that seems negative, its actually the same as saying "be prepared" .Which any of our clientele would appreciate in knowing we ARE prepared to handle their needs Edited October 22, 2009 by Tayla Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan John Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Let this be a lesson to you. Turn your phone off when you leave the office like the rest of us. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Tayla Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Cute Trojan, I'll leave it to you why my duty might require after hours contacts. Hmmm....security alarm , fire, floods (water pipe breaks). Yeah silly of our company to have a contact for after hours should that happen. Yes I am compensated for these duties. On my vacation times then someone else gets delegated to be called at odd hours Today was a better day work wise. Again thanks for the ideas!!! Link to post Share on other sites
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