ironpony Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 My supervisor came up I noticed was timing me on how long it takes to do things. In my job I operate tools and machines. As he was timing me, the machine broke down, and had to be repaired. So I helped repair it, with the mechanic. He said that I am taking too long to do things, and losing money for the company. He said that my co-worker is four times faster than me in comparison. I said that my machine was down, and I was repairing it when he timed me though, compared to my co-workers, who's machines were running fine when timed just now. He said that it shouldn't have been done and I am doing something the co-worker isn't and I need to figure that out. I don't know what it could be, I think my machine just runs poorly, compared to the co-worker, that's all. I don't think it's anything I am doing, I am just operating it as instructed. But then another day, he timed me for something again, when the machine was also down for a lot of that time. I mentioned that the machine was down, so am I being timed for that as well, and she said that it's being taken into account. But I feel that it's the machine's performance that is losing money and not me. But he says I am causing the company money, and working for times slower to my co-workers in comparison. What do you think? Is this going to be a problem, and is it me likely? Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Yes, it's a problem. Can you ask him to time you on one of the machines which is working fine? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 18, 2019 Author Share Posted October 18, 2019 Well I feel that when I mentioned that the machine was down, both times, he just said, that it's because of me, compared to them, and that he is aware that he is doing it when the machine is down, and asking to him to do it, not when it's down, is like I'm falling on deaf ears. So I didn't bother to ask cause I can tell he won't do it, other than whenever he decides to time you. Link to post Share on other sites
ajequals Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 I agree ask to be timed on the coworkers machine. if it breaks down on the coworker then that works in your favor Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 No, I mean to use the coworker's machine. If it breaks down when you're using it, it indicates that you're doing something wrong. These things happen...I use a sewing machine and it is possible to jam them up if you're not careful. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
schlumpy Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 Two explanations: You are slower then the other workers. That's pretty easy to determine. You produce x amount parts and your coworker produces x+30 parts during the same time and under the same conditions. The other reason is that they are building a file on you that will justify your firing. That is a problem. Show an interest in improvement to counter their testing. Observe your coworkers and try to determine if they are working in way that are more efficient. If so, try to duplicate. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 18, 2019 Author Share Posted October 18, 2019 No, I mean to use the coworker's machine. If it breaks down when you're using it, it indicates that you're doing something wrong. These things happen...I use a sewing machine and it is possible to jam them up if you're not careful. Okay thanks, well while the co-worker went on his break, I switched to his machine as well. It does seem to work faster than mine even, the mechanics are actually faster. Whether he is actually faster than himself, I am not sure, cause I cannot watch him and do my work at the same time. But the mechanics of his machine are faster so far. The breakdown was because the product we were producing was faulty though, and the product that was coming through when I switched was better to quality, so that should be taken into account as well probably. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 start looking for another job, they are about to fire you 2 Link to post Share on other sites
RecentChange Posted October 18, 2019 Share Posted October 18, 2019 A manager telling you that they are not happy with your performance is never a good sign. Honestly I would either be doing everything in my power to really step it up (like arriving early, being extra proactive etc) and / or be looking for another job / conserve spending with the understanding that my job was at risk. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Oh well I don't see what else I could do to step it up though. If the machines are not going to work at the capacity that the bosses want, what can I do to make them work faster. Me working faster won't effect the machines though, will it? Also I have been trying to step it up and making the products faster, but when I do that, I make mistakes, cause there is no time to double check everything since I am trying to rush out as many products in the time that they want. So working harder and faster, just causes my mistakes to be made, and more errors in judgment it seems. Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 You are about to be fired and they are building a case for the firing and so you don't get unemployment.. time to get another job 1 Link to post Share on other sites
schlumpy Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Also I have been trying to step it up and making the products faster, but when I do that, I make mistakes, cause there is no time to double check everything since I am trying to rush out as many products in the time that they want. So working harder and faster, just causes my mistakes to be made, and more errors in judgment it seems. That is true. Everybody has an optimum rate of production where the minimum error rate is related to the speed of fabrication. Go faster and the error rate climbs geometrically where the error rate doubles for the same unit of speed. The only way to improve is training and the success thereof depends on your skill with eye and hand coordination as well as your ability to concentrate for long periods of time. There is a chance that no matter how much you practice you are at your peak right now and will go no further. Your best bet is to observe Co-workers that have figured out a strategy to speed up their production. It might be the way they organize their work load or reducing the number steps in the process of making a part. No sense in reinventing the wheel. Link to post Share on other sites
elaine567 Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 start looking for another job, they are about to fire you You are about to be fired and they are building a case for the firing and so you don't get unemployment.. time to get another job ^^^ this. I guess the fact you will not do the overtime they want either is not doing you any favours. Employers want dedicated workers, your focus is elsewhere, so you need to go. As far as they are concerned, they want to replace you with a faster more efficient worker who is hungry for overtime. Link to post Share on other sites
Eternal Sunshine Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 I agree with others = they are about to fire you. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 As far as they are concerned, they want to replace you with a faster more efficient worker who is hungry for overtime. or replace him with a robot 1 Link to post Share on other sites
The Outlaw Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 No job is worth that kind of grief. Time to find another one. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 ^^^ this. I guess the fact you will not do the overtime they want either is not doing you any favours. Employers want dedicated workers, your focus is elsewhere, so you need to go. As far as they are concerned, they want to replace you with a faster more efficient worker who is hungry for overtime. Oh well a few weeks ago, the higher ups, told my boss, that he has been spending too much money on the overtime and is not allowed to work any of the employees on overtime anymore. So we haven't been doing overtime since then, but they want me to get just as much work done it seems, as we were getting done with overtime. As for looking for a new job, it's just the doctor told me to get therapy for some personal issues I was going through, and I wanted to use the work benefits to get it, rather than wait for a new job to do so. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
elaine567 Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Oh well a few weeks ago, the higher ups, told my boss, that he has been spending too much money on the overtime and is not allowed to work any of the employees on overtime anymore. OK, that sounds like in their desire to improve overall productivity without paying extra in overtime, they have identified you as a weak link in the chain. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 well if i don't want to be fired, whats the best approach? Link to post Share on other sites
gaius Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 I would just do your best to speed up. If you make a mistake that you can get away with but it increases your productivity then do it. At my old job they placed much less value on quality work then they did on speed and a few other things. So I gave them what they wanted. Fast, **** work and ended up at the highest pay tier in the company. Go figure. Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 Okay thanks, that is what I've been doing but the ratio of flawed ones being outputted is greater so it depends on whether or not they like that ratio. They say I am four times too slow, so if I make four times as many products, that probably means that 50 percent of them could have errors in them compared to before, where it was more like 5%. But maybe that huge increase in errors is worth it if you are putting out more good ones as well? Link to post Share on other sites
clia Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) I have no idea what you are making, but I really don't see how a 50% error rate would be acceptable. What are your co-workers' error rates and speeds? If you are an anomaly, then this just might not be the right job for you. I agree with the others that it looks like they are building a case to fire you. Edited October 23, 2019 by a LoveShack.org Moderator quote removed 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author ironpony Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 I'm not sure what their error rates are, I don't have time to study all their products that they make, compared to mine. I would have less errors if I didn't have to rush the products out the door so fast, without doing checks, but I have to to in order to meet their quota it seems. Link to post Share on other sites
clia Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) My point is that they probably told you what the expected quotas and acceptable error rates are for your job, so if you aren't meeting those numbers and all of your co-workers are, then you are an anomaly. If, however, no one can reasonably meet those numbers, then you are not. How far off are you from where you should be? Have you talked to your supervisor for advice about how to meet your quotas? Would additional training help? Edited October 23, 2019 by a LoveShack.org Moderator quote removed Link to post Share on other sites
ChatroomHero Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Accepting BS means you will continue to get BS. You are accepting BS. Being nice and sheepish is not going to make the boss like you are evaluate you differently. I personally would not be afraid to tell the boss that his evaluation of your work time is not fair and you need him to re-evaluate you on another machine or else you will have to take it up the chain. What's the fear, the boss isn't going to like you and isn't going to be fair to you? Too late, you are already there. You are allowed to stick up for yourself when it comes to your job. If you don't, you will get screwed over. Every time. If you do, it may go your way or you may...get screwed over. What do you have to lose? Don't think your boss necessarily has the full power to just dump you. They may have to pay unemployment and they don't usually want to pay you to not work there when they are cutting overtime. For all you know others have complained too and maybe your bosses boss has some idea and will side with you. At the very least it is a reasonable request (document it) that you were timed twice when the machine broke down on the same machine and your co-worker's worked faster. In the very least you should be able to force the boss to agree that if they timed you on another machine and it didn't break down and was faster, it would point to a problem with your machine. If he is complaining about production and refusing to fix or replace a machine that is cutting into production, I have a feeling his boss would not be thrilled with his refusing to address it. Basically in the nicest possible way, you need to grow a pair and just handle the situation like an adult. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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