Targeted

[jah526]

Objectively, I am the most productive employee in my area, far and away. I have the stats, and the managers know this too. However, since I work for government, I am in a cliquey group and they despise anyone who outshines them. So when it comes time for awards or raises I am pointedly left out. It is very painful and it is affecting my health. I know I should find another job, and have tried to do so over the past few years with no luck. I am approaching my mid-50’s, and am about 6 years away from being able to retire. I am thinking that if I am passed over this quarter I am going to dial it way back on the work I’m putting in. Just sick and tired of being abused by these a**holes.

[LuckyM]

You are not popular it seems. Is the clique younger than you or a different race or gender? This might matter because people like others who are like themselves at jobs especially age gap. In my experience popularity trumps excelling at your job

Edited June 29, 2020 by LuckyM
clarity

[preraph]

Seems like the more of a competent threat you are in the workplace, the more people conspire against you.  Have you gone to the boss and flat out asked for a raise and reminded how long it's been?  I mean, you can put it in writing and justify it however you need to (stats you mentioned) and even copy your manager, his boss, and the boss's boss if you want to, which, yes, will make someone mad, but I've had to do it before and won that way. And first you have to try the chain of command.  And you have to make a good case.  

 

I can't imagine anyone not liking you, Jah.  You seem so nice.  

Edited June 29, 2020 by preraph

[Fresh_Start]

Have you ever considered opening your own business?  That's what I do when I've been in an industry long enough to realize that I can do it better myself and make significantly more money by doing so.  I'm currently in the process of opening my second business of my career after working for a string of marginally competent to fully incompetent employers and not being paid what I'm worth.  With your strong work ethic and what I'm assuming to be a significant amount of time invested in your field, I'm sure you've built an extensive network of clients, colleagues, and professional contacts that could serve as the foundation for your own company.  There are a lot of perks to being your own boss from making your own schedule to earning an income that is directly proportional to how hard you work and how good you are at it.  

If that isn't appealing to you and you have exhausted the efforts that @preraph outlined above, you could always reach out to some of your professional contacts in your network to help you with a change of employer or change of career.  There are plenty of examples of people who have successfully taken on new careers after age 50.

In any event, I would advise against "dialing it way back on the work you're putting in".  If you're already the office/company pariah, then a significant drop in your productivity could make you very expendable to them, especially if one or more of your managers receives some kind of bonus based on employee productivity.  It's also not going to get you any closer to obtaining the raise, rewards, and accolades you feel you deserve.  Just remember that your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth.  

[jah526]

I basically can't be fired. They would have to go before a board to prove their case and the paperwork is so massive that no manager wants to do that. All they can do is make my life miserable.

The fact is, they don't really need any of us. We have extremely high-paid contractors that are experts on their proprietary software to do the majority of the work. So they are able to give high raises to their favorites. Yes, I am a different race than most of the members of the clique, but not a minority.  And I am older than most of them. I think the biggest factor though is that I am better educated and have much more experience than everyone in my group. I don't bring that up, but they know that about me.

[d0nnivain]

The government doesn't work that way.  There are too many metrics in place so that people are only judged on their production & not any of the other stuff you mention.  The whole system is deigned to eliminate the favoritism  that you are griping about.  Sure those metrics can't make you popular or get your coworkers to include you in lunches & after work happy hours but if you numbers are so great you should be getting the merit raises.  

Take your stats & go to HR or the union rep & fight for your money.  

Then maybe get down off your superiority horse & try being more gracious to your co-workers.  You may be smarter, better educated & more productive but that doesn't mean you are a better person.  It seems to me based on the entitled tone in your post -- which may simply be self protection -- but it indicates you are not a nice person to be around.  People don't like snark or sourpusses.  Try being friendlier.  It may solve many of your issues.  

[jah526]

Federal government maybe doesn't work that way. Other types of government do.

[Pastypop]

You are so lucky of having the stability of working for government!  Congrats!  Dial back and coast on into retirement.  Go into Government contracting after if you want to contribute and be rewarded for your efforts.  You won’t have to worry about the contracts ending and being without a job.  Can’t wait until I get there in 6 more years!