Story 2 - This reminds me of a great quote I heard when I was just starting my career: "Never be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted."
Story 1: The first time a boss said to me that I could be working at a grocery store stocking shelves and get paid the same as what I made at my current job, I'd start applying at grocery stores. Because holy crap, it's not a flex for a boss to say he's paying his workers the bare minimum required by the government. At least grocery stores tend to be compliant with labor laws.
Don’t forget that he’s making them work through their required breaks, making them stay late (most likely without overtime because the boss seems to be the type to screw his employees over) and demanding they arrive a hour early. OP should have left much earlier
Add to that ‘never kill the golden goose’ and to keep it happy. The boss could have just give OP a pay raise or something else to keep him happy but no he assumes he can keep where OP is without any more benefits.
While true, if you do become irreplaceable, make sure your pay is worth it. If they aren't going to pay you to stay where you are properly, don't stay with them.
Yeah if he couldn’t promote should have given them a raise. Like I can’t give you a title but I really need you here so here is the pay you would receive.
“Too valuable to promote.” Then give a raise equal to the number of workers he’s worth. If he is worth 3 $15 minimum wage workers, give him 3 raises; if a raise is $0.50, give $1.50.
I had a job like this myself, manufacturing bespoke medical products in a 50+ employees company. Running technically a 4 people department, but because of a sucky supervisor who liked messing with people, mostly doing the job alone or with only one more guy, staying sometimes 12-14 hours a day with a 1hour commute. The company hadn't had a skilled and dedicated employee for at least 8 years before I worked there for that position, and had immense turnover, I made the department running like a charm, optimised workflows, designed new products and processes to reduce customer complaints and returns (on my end ) to only 1~3 % from 15-25% regularly before I worked there . I put in all the effort, because the big boss emphasized it a lot at my hiring, that he is willing to train and even pay the masters degree (which is a big thing in my field, costing almost 30k €) for his best employees in order to keep his company successful... Well, after working my butt off for 3 years, dealing with the dickhead supervisor, even finding out he tempered with my overtime sheets and basically never being home in time in those 3 years, I asked my boss about the masters degree a couple of times, until he dropped this gem, because he wanted me to stop pestering him about it. It stuck with me even after several years, word for word: "Alright, put yourself in my position for a Moment: You are in the most useful position for this company you could possibly be in: You do excellent work, the department is running, customers are Happy. Why would I spend my own money, to move you into a higher position, where I can pay you even more afterwards and risking that the department doesn't run as smooth afterwards, or even worse, that you leave after finishing your degree?" My dry answer was: "To keep employees like me in your company." He just said: "Well, no one is irreplaceable " I wasn't upset about his reply anymore, half expecting it would be something like this already, working with him for several years already, seeing many skilled people leave before me for the same reasons. I then asked for at least more money, which he turned down, "Because you take too long toilet breaks ..." I left after another year, even leaving the country because too many bosses in my field share the same mentality already. Making good money in a different country now, missing home though... Edit, the aftermath: Boss had to replace me with 3 unskilled laborers afterwards, they constantly change, department never ran as smooth again after I left, and he keeps losing money and business. I guess not just everyone is replaceable, as he always used to say.. 😅 Oh my.. There is an update: As of last week, I was told the boss sold the company to the competition to stop himself from losing money 😅
Story 1: Boss clearly sees retail workers as subhuman which is why he points out the pay is the same as stocking shelves. In his eyes he was saving them from the fate of being filthy subhumans
I'd just like to point out that stocking shelves is not low stress. It's physically demanding, you usually have a really crappy boss with unreasonable expectations who insists that you do things in such a way that it makes it more difficult and a lot of retail places have the shelves stocked while they're open which means dealing with rude customers while you're trying to juggle all this other crap.
Have you ever actually worked retail stocking shelves? I seriously doubt it as you would not be saying "...usually have a really crappy boss..." if you had. Stop conflating YOUR work experience with ALL jobs! I have been in and around enough retail jobs to know that most people are NOT going to work for a crap boss for very long. Don't give me that "it's the best they can do" bullshit! You ALWAYS have choices.
@@protoborg I have. I spent thirteen years stocking shelves. And yes, most of my bosses were pretty terrible. And everyone I know who currently works stocking shelves or has done it has had a similar experience with crappy bosses. And the reason people stay is because they need money and retail places frequently pay better than other jobs with low qualifications. Plus you get people who have stayed at the retail place for a long time and feel like they can't start over somewhere better. I literally had multiple Co-workers who said they'd invested too much time into the company or they would quit due to the crappy bosses while I was working as a stocker at Sam's Club. Why not go back to school and get a degree? Because higher education in the USA is prohibitively expensive. So you tolerate the crappy bosses and do your best to work around them.
@@Apolloscleric Exactly this. My boss for twelve of those years was the type that always skirted the line between self-righteous dumbass and being completely ineffectual. A little bit of creep as well according to some of the women who specialized in softlines. The only reason I stuck it out was because of the time investment and starting over somewhere else would have meant not being able to cover my rent.
@@protoborgevery boss I had working retail sucked. To the degree I muddied my own reputation by just walking out. I had to solo lift generators, 12' carpets, ac units, ellipticals, and many other things that ON THE BOX say it needs at least two people. I had to stay until 2 am because OTHER workers were too sick to work their own departments. Every single one.
I also once had a job where someone with less experience than me was promoted over my head. I asked my boss why and he said that I was worth more to him doing the job that I was hired for rather than promoting me. I threatened to quit and was offered a wage increase, equivalent to the higher wage of being promoted, to continue doing the job I was hired for. Suited me, I got the extra money without the extra responsibility..
I was taught when I was in the military that the way to get promoted in the civilian sector was to just be bad at your job. I thought it was a bunch of bs but after about a year I saw that was definitely the truth. It's frustrating but unfortunately true.
How else will they replace such a good worker who does the job of two, four, or more people? Keeping a good employee in the same position helps keep the costs low and efficiency high for the company. 😂
Same in state employment. We had an incompetant "noload" in my IT department. Wouldn't do his job. Slacked off constantly. But was a member of a certain "untouchable" demographic, and he knew how to complain to HR of "discrimination". So, when he put in an application to another department for a higher paying job, our supervisor gave him a glowing recommendation. I am sure the new boss ended up cussing ours. 😂
The owner in stovry 1 probably just did a “Phoenix” - “Illegal phoenix activity is when a company is liquidated, wound up or abandoned to avoid paying its debts. A new company is then started to continue the same business activities without the debt.”
Yeah...once, talking to someone who was one level up from me (not a direct report), I began a sentence with "I think...". I was interrupted with "You're not paid to think, that's why they hired me:.
Either Shirley was Friends with her Boss and/or Shirley's Boss was just as Lazy as Shirley was and was also hiding Problems from the CEO... I suspect the CEO figured out how Lazy and/or Incompetent Shirley's Boss was and Fired them which removed the Shield Shirley was hiding behind leading to CEO discovering just how Lazy and Incompetent Shirley was leading to her getting Fired...
Story 2: I was in this position before. All my coworkers were getting promoted, while I was constantly passed up for promotions (I stopped counting after the third time). I had written at least half our system by myself (there were four of us at the time) and even then, still passed up. I ended up leaving and nobody was really surprised
About the first story and what the boss said concerning people stacking stuff on shelves, there is absolutely nothing wrong about people working at a grocery store, or a drug store, or any kind of store. What is wrong is the kind of idiots who put down those jobs and the people who are working hard to make a living.
Because they hated being on the other side of the fence just as much as their workers are now. "Ignorant, unenlightned, self-interest doesn't impress me." - George Carlin And now that they're on the greener side of the fence, THEY can happily look down on them, THEY can relax and enjoy the benefits that THEY never had. I doubt they've had an original thought in their lives. And to add on to your point, typically those hard workers will be working two jobs even up to full-time on BOTH to make ends meet.
Story 2: OP's definitely a great employee, going beyond, and deserves the promotion, yet is getting pushed aside while all new hires are being promoted. For what reason? Like, the boss' reason isn't justifiable. I guess Fluff's reason and the comment are the most likely, because OP is doing so well that nobody can replicate that role, but the boss is too stubborn to admit it
Then OP should raise objection. Bosses are not your parents (well, mostly). They will milk you for all your worth with as little pay as possible. Raise objection, show your worth, dammit.
Fluff, Regarding the story about the hair salon, when you said "I can't pay today, but I will pay tomorrow" immediately reminded me of Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons. His catchphrase was "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
Story 2: employees like op should be given raises in lude of promotions "oh your too valuable in your position to promote, so instead lets talk compensation for your current position, how does a 20% raise sound?" Boom loyal happy employee
a bad boss and supervisor told me to drive a fork lift, i said not got a ticket too drive one they told me to JUST DO IT 30 seconds after i had half the shelves down (causing over £100k of damage) when the insurance found out from fellow workers i was ordered to drive without a licence claim got rejected i got fired and won tribunal award for unfair dismissal, company went bust 6 months later
Story 3: Yup, I can attest there really are people like that, even at large well-established companies. Unfortunately they can be very difficult to get rid of sometimes, as they tend to complain about every little thing, and do not hesitate to threaten lawsuits for wrongful termination, which justified or not can be a lot of trouble for a company.
For People who have Bosses or are Bosses, learn from story 2 that if you have an employee that too great at something that you want to keep them there, Raises for that extra effort are great, and if they want to be promoted then do it but ask them to teach the people taking on there role everything that let you do an amazing job, turn these people into teacher and that great work become the normal and show of doing a good job.
17:18 sounds like that idiot boss needed to be strapped in with a diaper, the way he made a SH it Show with OP, the Loader. That boss sure bought the barn with his job.
The flight captain: "Surely you can't be serious." Leslie Neilsen as the in-flight doctor: "I am serious and don't call me Shirley." Airplane the Movie
In the third story when Shirley was hired she observed bosses to see what she could get away with, that’s how she got away with not knowing what she was doing for so long
Story 4: Some people just refuse to listen and are suddenly surprised when their demands end up having consequences. Add the fact that the idiot boss would then proceed to try to throw OP under the bus when called out for it. Welp, enjoy unemployment for a while
i’m thinking that that jackbag idiot ‘supervisor’ is going to have an extremely difficult time finding/getting another job , because i’m thinking that the higher ups are going to put a huge “black mark” on his job performance
Even if you don't want to promote a valuable employee, you really should pay them what they're worth. If you don't, they'll just leave the company entirely, and then you'll have to hire 3 people in their place.
Off story two. I had this same problem when I worked security. I was smart paid attention and did my job so well that people I had trained became managers but I was never promoted cause they needed me where I was and didn't want to have to train someone new at that job. So I quit and they had to replace me anyway.
I had a boss who griped about the chair I required due to my disability. She was telling the district manager that she thought I was using my health to get away with sitting down. (FYI, i always stood up when a customer approached. ) The district manager looked at me in my chair, looked back down at the manager, and said, "She's outstanding at what she does. Leave her alone and let her do her job." I heard every word. It was wonderful. 😁
Love the stories from you Fluff. Thank you for all the stories and thank you Steveo for the great editing! I hope everyone is having a great day/afternoon/night! Peace ☮️, hugs 🤗 and love 😘!
Story 2 is one reason why I hate it when people try to give those “you need to be indispensable at work” tips. The justification is that indispensable people are never fired, but the problem is that they are not promoted either. Since their role is indispensable. If you are paid to give your 100%, give only 100%. If you excel at work, your boss will think that your excellence is normal. Only your mistakes will be noticed, not your efforts.😅
The owner being livid at the excessive 'on holds', only to realize it's her own daughter was just fantastic. The fact she relented on the threats of payroll deductions once she realized they weren't abusing it after all was also a point in her favor. You could do worse than a boss who can be reasonable, even if it takes 2-3 tries to get through.
Story 2: I really don‘t get why such people don‘t just get paid better without a promotion. If someone on „the lower end of the food chain“ is the one keeping the apartment or the whole company alive, and can’t be replaced easily they really should be payed better…otherwise they might just leave and do a much simpler job for the same wages. Wouldn’t it be REALLY favourable for the company just to pay them better and make sure they stay?
Companies and bosses are always trying to minimize costs of payroll. A couple of years ago after we had a change in ownership I heard another department was told they had to find $60,000 in savings. One of the things they did was layoff a couple of people permanently.
Any career must have three things: 1) The ability to learn new things and grow your skill set (training) 2) The ability to improve your career prospects (promotion) 3) The ability to increase your standard of living (raises/wage increase) Each of these leads to the next one in the list, if a job doesn't have one, a couple, or all three of these then you must try to find a job that does.
Story 2: OP did what I call "screwing up in reverse" and became to valuable to that particular boss to ever be promoted away from him and his department.
Story 2 - I was also in OP's position, where after progressing for several years I ended up in a position where I became the only person who could do my job. I got zero respect there, so I left after 13 years. Best thing I ever did.
For the 1st story it would have been better if op had seen her former owner stocking selves in the supermarket. In the 3rd story it is extremely likely that Shirley was sleeping with her boss.
That 2nd story is hard to pull off these days because usually in the contract they put under responsibilities like 'anything requested of you within reason' after the usual responsibilities which they can fall back on to give you extra responsibilities
This exact wording is part of why I left my previous job! I got sick of being asked to work literally every phase of the warehouse except Order Taking, Customer Returns and Forklift Driving to the point I literally couldn't do any part of the job well because they were constantly dragging me off to help in other areas.
For story 2: I actually do understand why a boss won’t promote you. But I will never understand why they won’t at least give you a raise to cover for it and keep you happy. Being honest from the beginning and giving some incentive would’ve gotten better results.
As some others have said, if you don't want to promote an employee because they're amazing in their position at least give them a generous pay raise. That way they'll be content to stay. No one wants to keep working the same exact job for the same exact wage forever. That time spent should earn them either a promotion or raise because without it they'll find that opportunity somewhere else.
Story 2: Hey, if someone is very good in their current position in the company - no problem. What the manager should do is explain the person's value, give them some praise, increase their salary and give them the tech support they need to do their job better. The point is to appreciate what that person contributes to the company and reward and support them accordingly.
For those not in the UK, the Job Centre is a government run body where companies can advertise for workers. Now the reason companies use this service is because in the UK you must be actively looking for work and attending interviews to receive unemployment benefits, this also means if you are offered too many jobs and turn them down you can lose benefits, which makes it perfect for predatory companies to look for and underpay employees. Advertising with them is free. Now being cut off from advertising with them means you have to advertise in local publications, all of which cost money. The other option is paying over the odds for temp workers from employment agencies, so the OP getting them banned from the Job Centre likely had a massive part to play in their downfall. As someone who worked in recruitment staffing positions that close to the holidays is extremely difficult, pretty much everybody on the books is already placed, and usually well ahead of time.
Story 4. My younger brother drives a B Double interstate out of Brisbane to Sydney, 1,200 kms each way. He has to leave at a precise time so the freight con be unloaded at the other end and on forwarded. You are late and the trucks at the other end have left on their runs. You are late and the company gets penalized because it is overnight delivery, not some time in the future.
Ask for a pay raise, and not to be promoted. Promotion only adds more to your duty. A raise is suitable for situations where you handle more than your task at work. If you're denied both, prepare an exit policy... It's a red flag!
Response to story 2: A coworker was passed up for promotion in favor of a guy who had been with us for 6 months, but done the same job at a different location for 5 years. Coworker threw an absolute fit. The reason he was passed over? He's an insufferably arrogant narcissist. So much so that he can't even tell HE'S the problem! God willing, he never gets that promotion, no matter how far he sticks his nose up the boss's arse. Moral: Sometimes a person is passed over because they're too valuable to take out of their current position. And sometimes for much more legitimate reasons.
I work in a restaurant that unless you were a manager you worked part time hours, and if corporate found out that an employee was working a second over the 40 hour mark, there would be hell to pay for the RGM and then the scedualing manager
In my country we have an interesting saying, if you do a job well, charge the price for it. And if you do good work that isn't yours, you'll only get more work, not more recognition.
Story 2: "too valuable to promote" is corporate speak for "we're getting way more than our money's worth, and screw this guys career advancement". It's a sleazy corporate stooge tactic, and it's the biggest red flag a company can have
Story 2: I can totally relate. I'm a call in (?) Caretaker for old people, I can take day, evening and nightshifts no problem. I've been employed like this for 7 years. Finally asked if I could get a full time employment so I wouldn't have to worry about getting enough shifts each month, but my boss literally told me that I'm the ONLY of the call ins (?) That can take every kind of shift and Im too valuable like that.
Something similar to Story 2 happened to me and then the place i left there for did the opposite, the people who had been there for a while nonstop bullied and complained about me until i quit because i was actually expecting them to do their jobs. As soon as i left, the biggest complainer got the place to lose their tobacco license by not catching an obvious minor trying to buy cigarettes (the place was literally next door to the police station, so there isn't any reason to think you'd get away with letting them slip by)
*Story 2:* The advice by fluff and the comments is extremely true. It's something that has happened to me at my current job and the only reason I have not quit is because I'm planning to move away soon and its not worth keeping a new job for only a few months. After 5 years of working at this company at a bottom peg position, they offered me a promotion to supervisor. Every time I worked my promoted position after that, floor productivity went DOWN. Not because I was allowing people to slack off more or anything like that, but because I had the highest numbers in regards to productivity while also having the least amount of damaged items & customer complaints associated with the orders I fulfilled. I was *demoted* because I was too good at my bottom peg postion to be replaced. I now am only a fill-in supervisor and have to work below the most pathetically incompetent people because they don't work as fast or as organized as I do.
Here's a thought. Rather than LETTING PRODUCTIVITY DROP, why not train the people work for you to work as well as you did? How stupid are you that you never figured that out?
Quit job story: OP, you probably weren't the "sole" reason, but it's likely you were the nail in the coffin, at least one of them. Given your long list of reasons to quit, I suspect the unemployment office checked with former employees (who likely also filed for benefits) and verified your statements. That's what resulted in the no-hire from their office. And likely got the labor board involved for the various labor law infractions. Be proud of standing up for yourself and others! Not promoted story: That boss was an idiot. Maybe OP WAS too valuable in his current position. If that was the case, you find ways to make him happy there, such as raises and benefits, possibly a more expansive job title that INCLUDES the extras OP was doing outside of his job description. Strap story: Yep, b***h wasn't very smart. Not only did he violate direct instructions from his boss, he ADMITTED to violating the union contract in front of management and the union rep. Being that stupid, it's amazing he hasn't won himself a Darwin Award! On-hold story: Well mom won't fire me. Later... maybe I'd be better off if she did?
Story 2 Boss obviouslly wanted op to stay where they were but didn't do anything to make it worth while for them. I would've offered a decent raise to equate to a promotion but let them stay put. Or even a raise of any kind. OP probably wants a promotion to earn more, maybe for a new title. Create a new position and make them feel promoted if you want to keep them so bad, but don't force them down into a stupid little frame and expect them to WANT to stay there.
I can 100% guarantee that no Australian employee would ever address a Shift Manager/Boss/Owner in a warehouse or factory as “Sir”. Unless you’re massively pissed off and being sarcastic as
Hair salon story. Props for the owner for holding her daughter accountable. Once her brain rebooted.
That supervisor got PEGGED as incompentent, when he made that driver put a STRAP ON that trailer.
Bars
Story 2 - This reminds me of a great quote I heard when I was just starting my career: "Never be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted."
Story 5: if 90% of services on hold are the daughter's, that means that 2 or 3 are other employees. That's much more reasonable.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that was like "Wait so like 20 of them were the daughter and only 2-3 other employees put services on hold?"
Getting asked 3 times "are you sure?" is the equivalent of "can you send me that in an email?"
Story 1: The first time a boss said to me that I could be working at a grocery store stocking shelves and get paid the same as what I made at my current job, I'd start applying at grocery stores. Because holy crap, it's not a flex for a boss to say he's paying his workers the bare minimum required by the government.
At least grocery stores tend to be compliant with labor laws.
Don’t forget that he’s making them work through their required breaks, making them stay late (most likely without overtime because the boss seems to be the type to screw his employees over) and demanding they arrive a hour early. OP should have left much earlier
Not the grocery store I worked at complied with said laws aka dollar general and food land
Story 2: There’s a saying that feels relevant here.
“Never be irreplaceable. If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.”
Add to that ‘never kill the golden goose’ and to keep it happy. The boss could have just give OP a pay raise or something else to keep him happy but no he assumes he can keep where OP is without any more benefits.
While true, if you do become irreplaceable, make sure your pay is worth it. If they aren't going to pay you to stay where you are properly, don't stay with them.
Learned this hard. Never be too good at your job. Or else you end up doing everyone else’s.
Sounds a bit like military. The bigger you f up the more you get promoted
I soon learned in my state IT department, the more you do and better you do it, the more you are given to do. Been there, done that. 🤨
Story 2: the boss is really stupid to think he can abuse the golden goose and OP would continue to lay the golden eggs without consequence.
Yeah if he couldn’t promote should have given them a raise. Like I can’t give you a title but I really need you here so here is the pay you would receive.
And stupid boss is left with "egg on his face"! 😂
“Too valuable to promote.” Then give a raise equal to the number of workers he’s worth. If he is worth 3 $15 minimum wage workers, give him 3 raises; if a raise is $0.50, give $1.50.
OP brought it to himself. He stayed there for years and watching people leap over him without ever raising any single protest.
I had a job like this myself, manufacturing bespoke medical products in a 50+ employees company. Running technically a 4 people department, but because of a sucky supervisor who liked messing with people, mostly doing the job alone or with only one more guy, staying sometimes 12-14 hours a day with a 1hour commute.
The company hadn't had a skilled and dedicated employee for at least 8 years before I worked there for that position, and had immense turnover, I made the department running like a charm, optimised workflows, designed new products and processes to reduce customer complaints and returns (on my end ) to only 1~3 % from 15-25% regularly before I worked there .
I put in all the effort, because the big boss emphasized it a lot at my hiring, that he is willing to train and even pay the masters degree (which is a big thing in my field, costing almost 30k €) for his best employees in order to keep his company successful...
Well, after working my butt off for 3 years, dealing with the dickhead supervisor, even finding out he tempered with my overtime sheets and basically never being home in time in those 3 years, I asked my boss about the masters degree a couple of times, until he dropped this gem, because he wanted me to stop pestering him about it. It stuck with me even after several years, word for word:
"Alright, put yourself in my position for a Moment:
You are in the most useful position for this company you could possibly be in:
You do excellent work, the department is running, customers are Happy.
Why would I spend my own money, to move you into a higher position, where I can pay you even more afterwards and risking that the department doesn't run as smooth afterwards, or even worse, that you leave after finishing your degree?"
My dry answer was:
"To keep employees like me in your company."
He just said:
"Well, no one is irreplaceable "
I wasn't upset about his reply anymore, half expecting it would be something like this already, working with him for several years already, seeing many skilled people leave before me for the same reasons.
I then asked for at least more money, which he turned down,
"Because you take too long toilet breaks ..."
I left after another year, even leaving the country because too many bosses in my field share the same mentality already.
Making good money in a different country now, missing home though...
Edit, the aftermath:
Boss had to replace me with 3 unskilled laborers afterwards, they constantly change, department never ran as smooth again after I left, and he keeps losing money and business.
I guess not just everyone is replaceable, as he always used to say.. 😅
Oh my.. There is an update:
As of last week, I was told the boss sold the company to the competition to stop himself from losing money 😅
"Yes, I am serious. And don't call me Shirley."
🤣✈
One thing I've learned from working at many places. Never do more than the bare minimum of your listed job responsibilities
Story 1: Boss clearly sees retail workers as subhuman which is why he points out the pay is the same as stocking shelves. In his eyes he was saving them from the fate of being filthy subhumans
I'd just like to point out that stocking shelves is not low stress. It's physically demanding, you usually have a really crappy boss with unreasonable expectations who insists that you do things in such a way that it makes it more difficult and a lot of retail places have the shelves stocked while they're open which means dealing with rude customers while you're trying to juggle all this other crap.
Yep. Fifteen years in that mine. It sucked.
Have you ever actually worked retail stocking shelves? I seriously doubt it as you would not be saying "...usually have a really crappy boss..." if you had. Stop conflating YOUR work experience with ALL jobs! I have been in and around enough retail jobs to know that most people are NOT going to work for a crap boss for very long. Don't give me that "it's the best they can do" bullshit! You ALWAYS have choices.
@@protoborg I have. I spent thirteen years stocking shelves. And yes, most of my bosses were pretty terrible. And everyone I know who currently works stocking shelves or has done it has had a similar experience with crappy bosses. And the reason people stay is because they need money and retail places frequently pay better than other jobs with low qualifications. Plus you get people who have stayed at the retail place for a long time and feel like they can't start over somewhere better. I literally had multiple Co-workers who said they'd invested too much time into the company or they would quit due to the crappy bosses while I was working as a stocker at Sam's Club. Why not go back to school and get a degree? Because higher education in the USA is prohibitively expensive. So you tolerate the crappy bosses and do your best to work around them.
@@Apolloscleric Exactly this.
My boss for twelve of those years was the type that always skirted the line between self-righteous dumbass and being completely ineffectual. A little bit of creep as well according to some of the women who specialized in softlines.
The only reason I stuck it out was because of the time investment and starting over somewhere else would have meant not being able to cover my rent.
@@protoborgevery boss I had working retail sucked. To the degree I muddied my own reputation by just walking out. I had to solo lift generators, 12' carpets, ac units, ellipticals, and many other things that ON THE BOX say it needs at least two people. I had to stay until 2 am because OTHER workers were too sick to work their own departments. Every single one.
I told my step son years ago when he took a job "never be irreplaceable because if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted"
Story 4: we all have seen the videos on youtube, I personally would never ever mess with a forklift driver. Those guys do important jobs.
I also once had a job where someone with less experience than me was promoted over my head. I asked my boss why and he said that I was worth more to him doing the job that I was hired for rather than promoting me. I threatened to quit and was offered a wage increase, equivalent to the higher wage of being promoted, to continue doing the job I was hired for. Suited me, I got the extra money without the extra responsibility..
I was taught when I was in the military that the way to get promoted in the civilian sector was to just be bad at your job. I thought it was a bunch of bs but after about a year I saw that was definitely the truth. It's frustrating but unfortunately true.
How else will they replace such a good worker who does the job of two, four, or more people? Keeping a good employee in the same position helps keep the costs low and efficiency high for the company. 😂
@@anastasiaangelikova yeah unfortunately it's a good way to pigeonhole yourself into a dead end job.
"Screw up, move up."
@@Tyrunner0097 Exactly!!
Same in state employment. We had an incompetant "noload" in my IT department. Wouldn't do his job. Slacked off constantly. But was a member of a certain "untouchable" demographic, and he knew how to complain to HR of "discrimination". So, when he put in an application to another department for a higher paying job, our supervisor gave him a glowing recommendation. I am sure the new boss ended up cussing ours. 😂
How incompetent people end up in charge of other people is called the Peter Principle. People tend to rise to their level of incompetence.
The owner in stovry 1 probably just did a “Phoenix” -
“Illegal phoenix activity is when a company is liquidated, wound up or abandoned to avoid paying its debts. A new company is then started to continue the same business activities without the debt.”
Yeah...once, talking to someone who was one level up from me (not a direct report), I began a sentence with "I think...". I was interrupted with "You're not paid to think, that's why they hired me:.
Either Shirley was Friends with her Boss and/or Shirley's Boss was just as Lazy as Shirley was and was also hiding Problems from the CEO...
I suspect the CEO figured out how Lazy and/or Incompetent Shirley's Boss was and Fired them which removed the Shield Shirley was hiding behind leading to CEO discovering just how Lazy and Incompetent Shirley was leading to her getting Fired...
Story 2: I was in this position before. All my coworkers were getting promoted, while I was constantly passed up for promotions (I stopped counting after the third time). I had written at least half our system by myself (there were four of us at the time) and even then, still passed up. I ended up leaving and nobody was really surprised
About the first story and what the boss said concerning people stacking stuff on shelves, there is absolutely nothing wrong about people working at a grocery store, or a drug store, or any kind of store. What is wrong is the kind of idiots who put down those jobs and the people who are working hard to make a living.
Because they hated being on the other side of the fence just as much as their workers are now. "Ignorant, unenlightned, self-interest doesn't impress me." - George Carlin
And now that they're on the greener side of the fence, THEY can happily look down on them, THEY can relax and enjoy the benefits that THEY never had. I doubt they've had an original thought in their lives.
And to add on to your point, typically those hard workers will be working two jobs even up to full-time on BOTH to make ends meet.
@@TheAbsolutistsCreed just like you, I love George Carlin, he was such a wise man!
Story 2 is also a perfect example of 'Quiet Quitting'. Love it!
Story 2: OP's definitely a great employee, going beyond, and deserves the promotion, yet is getting pushed aside while all new hires are being promoted. For what reason? Like, the boss' reason isn't justifiable.
I guess Fluff's reason and the comment are the most likely, because OP is doing so well that nobody can replicate that role, but the boss is too stubborn to admit it
but even than, you can give a payrise without changing the job description
Then OP should raise objection. Bosses are not your parents (well, mostly). They will milk you for all your worth with as little pay as possible. Raise objection, show your worth, dammit.
I wouldn't call Shirley TOTALLY useless. She was pretty useful.... in giving hands on experience dealing with Karens!
Fluff,
Regarding the story about the hair salon, when you said "I can't pay today, but I will pay tomorrow" immediately reminded me of Wimpy from the Popeye cartoons. His catchphrase was "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
Just like when the dungeon/game master says, "Are you sure?" a boss should be questioning everything when his subordinate asks, "Are you sure?"
Almost as much of an alarm as "can I get that in writing?"
Great stories! That last one was extremely well-written and revealed the key information at exactly the right time.
Story 4. I love how "bitch" threw himself under the bus and got ran over. Hey "bitch", good luck with your future endeavors🤣
If he ever finds more endeavours
Story 2: employees like op should be given raises in lude of promotions "oh your too valuable in your position to promote, so instead lets talk compensation for your current position, how does a 20% raise sound?" Boom loyal happy employee
a bad boss and supervisor told me to drive a fork lift, i said not got a ticket too drive one they told me to JUST DO IT 30 seconds after i had half the shelves down (causing over £100k of damage) when the insurance found out from fellow workers i was ordered to drive without a licence claim got rejected i got fired and won tribunal award for unfair dismissal, company went bust 6 months later
Story 2: It's called acting your wage.
Story 3: Yup, I can attest there really are people like that, even at large well-established companies. Unfortunately they can be very difficult to get rid of sometimes, as they tend to complain about every little thing, and do not hesitate to threaten lawsuits for wrongful termination, which justified or not can be a lot of trouble for a company.
Congratulations on pronouncing Brisbane correctly! Well done. ❤
Fellow Aussie here. You did a ripper job, mate.
For People who have Bosses or are Bosses, learn from story 2 that if you have an employee that too great at something that you want to keep them there, Raises for that extra effort are great, and if they want to be promoted then do it but ask them to teach the people taking on there role everything that let you do an amazing job, turn these people into teacher and that great work become the normal and show of doing a good job.
1:08 if that's the case, then count me hired for that position instead!! And I will hire him to flatten boxes, in case I get a high enough position to
The last story. Yeah i can see both sides. But i do agree. At least when she realized. That she calmed down.
First story.... OP should visit around the stores. Maybe exboss is stacking shelves! 😂
17:18 sounds like that idiot boss needed to be strapped in with a diaper, the way he made a SH it Show with OP, the Loader. That boss sure bought the barn with his job.
12:27 this is true, just because a task is simple to understand, doesn't mean it's easy to do
The flight captain: "Surely you can't be serious." Leslie Neilsen as the in-flight doctor: "I am serious and don't call me Shirley." Airplane the Movie
A.k.a. _Flying High._
In the third story when Shirley was hired she observed bosses to see what she could get away with, that’s how she got away with not knowing what she was doing for so long
Story 4: Some people just refuse to listen and are suddenly surprised when their demands end up having consequences.
Add the fact that the idiot boss would then proceed to try to throw OP under the bus when called out for it. Welp, enjoy unemployment for a while
i’m thinking that that jackbag idiot ‘supervisor’ is going to have an extremely difficult time finding/getting another job , because i’m thinking that the higher ups are going to put a huge “black mark” on his job performance
Story #2 Dilbert principle
Not a matter of refusing to listen, a matter of being stupid and not reading the union agreement for such.
Even if you don't want to promote a valuable employee, you really should pay them what they're worth.
If you don't, they'll just leave the company entirely, and then you'll have to hire 3 people in their place.
Off story two. I had this same problem when I worked security. I was smart paid attention and did my job so well that people I had trained became managers but I was never promoted cause they needed me where I was and didn't want to have to train someone new at that job. So I quit and they had to replace me anyway.
Story 2: That’s called being a victim of your own success. 8:19
Hello from 11 months later. That manager is really short-sighted. He could have had the guy train people just like him. His loss!
I had a boss who griped about the chair I required due to my disability. She was telling the district manager that she thought I was using my health to get away with sitting down. (FYI, i always stood up when a customer approached. ) The district manager looked at me in my chair, looked back down at the manager, and said, "She's outstanding at what she does. Leave her alone and let her do her job." I heard every word. It was wonderful. 😁
Love the stories from you Fluff. Thank you for all the stories and thank you Steveo for the great editing! I hope everyone is having a great day/afternoon/night! Peace ☮️, hugs 🤗 and love 😘!
Story 2 is one reason why I hate it when people try to give those “you need to be indispensable at work” tips.
The justification is that indispensable people are never fired, but the problem is that they are not promoted either. Since their role is indispensable.
If you are paid to give your 100%, give only 100%. If you excel at work, your boss will think that your excellence is normal. Only your mistakes will be noticed, not your efforts.😅
Story 3: Likely Shirley only had the jib because her Boss was covering her incompetence. Good riddance to bad rubbish
Word to the wise... never go above and beyond unless you know ahead of time that there will be a substantial reward in it for you.
I’ll be surprised if the owners daughter doesn’t still try to get stuff on credit. And then try to get you in trouble for not giving it to her.
The owner being livid at the excessive 'on holds', only to realize it's her own daughter was just fantastic.
The fact she relented on the threats of payroll deductions once she realized they weren't abusing it after all was also a point in her favor. You could do worse than a boss who can be reasonable, even if it takes 2-3 tries to get through.
The reward doing hard work is getting more work on your plate.
If you vaule your employee so much that you don't want them to leave, pay them more. Period!
😂😂😂
*I LOVE story #4! That shit was UH-MAZING ❣️*
When a person is too valuable to promote and replace, that person should get raises and bonuses. Otherwise, why stay?
6 bucks says daughter went right back to getting things for free and mommy paying for them
"Any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king" apparently applies to bosses, too.
Story 1, I would've quit the day before Christmas lmao
Story 2: I really don‘t get why such people don‘t just get paid better without a promotion. If someone on „the lower end of the food chain“ is the one keeping the apartment or the whole company alive, and can’t be replaced easily they really should be payed better…otherwise they might just leave and do a much simpler job for the same wages. Wouldn’t it be REALLY favourable for the company just to pay them better and make sure they stay?
Companies and bosses are always trying to minimize costs of payroll.
A couple of years ago after we had a change in ownership I heard another department was told they had to find $60,000 in savings. One of the things they did was layoff a couple of people permanently.
Any career must have three things:
1) The ability to learn new things and grow your skill set (training)
2) The ability to improve your career prospects (promotion)
3) The ability to increase your standard of living (raises/wage increase)
Each of these leads to the next one in the list, if a job doesn't have one, a couple, or all three of these then you must try to find a job that does.
Story 2: OP did what I call "screwing up in reverse" and became to valuable to that particular boss to ever be promoted away from him and his department.
Story 2 - I was also in OP's position, where after progressing for several years I ended up in a position where I became the only person who could do my job. I got zero respect there, so I left after 13 years. Best thing I ever did.
Here’s a riddle for you, if you had liked and commented on a video but nobody else saw you doing it, are you still the first to do so?
You’ve made my day, Fluff & Steve-o. Thank you for the difference you make. ❤
For the 1st story it would have been better if op had seen her former owner stocking selves in the supermarket. In the 3rd story it is extremely likely that Shirley was sleeping with her boss.
Stress free. No working at retail is very stressful. Probably not as stressful as this office but still pretty stressful
Yay!! I need this pick me up today. Not feeling well.
That 2nd story is hard to pull off these days because usually in the contract they put under responsibilities like 'anything requested of you within reason' after the usual responsibilities which they can fall back on to give you extra responsibilities
This exact wording is part of why I left my previous job! I got sick of being asked to work literally every phase of the warehouse except Order Taking, Customer Returns and Forklift Driving to the point I literally couldn't do any part of the job well because they were constantly dragging me off to help in other areas.
Story 2. Never be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
My only regret being in that same position of op as being too valuable is not leaving sooner.
For story 2:
I actually do understand why a boss won’t promote you. But I will never understand why they won’t at least give you a raise to cover for it and keep you happy.
Being honest from the beginning and giving some incentive would’ve gotten better results.
As some others have said, if you don't want to promote an employee because they're amazing in their position at least give them a generous pay raise. That way they'll be content to stay. No one wants to keep working the same exact job for the same exact wage forever. That time spent should earn them either a promotion or raise because without it they'll find that opportunity somewhere else.
Story 4: This is how a union protects you and gets rid of corporate managers who try to throw you under the truck.
"Are you sure?" should be the three scariest words in the English language. Ignore them at your peril.
Story 2:
Hey, if someone is very good in their current position in the company - no problem.
What the manager should do is explain the person's value, give them some praise, increase their salary and give them the tech support they need to do their job better.
The point is to appreciate what that person contributes to the company and reward and support them accordingly.
Honestly, fair play with the story 5 owner, $400 AFTER a *50%* discount is a ridiculous amount, I'd have been just as pissed off.
For those not in the UK, the Job Centre is a government run body where companies can advertise for workers.
Now the reason companies use this service is because in the UK you must be actively looking for work and attending interviews to receive unemployment benefits, this also means if you are offered too many jobs and turn them down you can lose benefits, which makes it perfect for predatory companies to look for and underpay employees.
Advertising with them is free. Now being cut off from advertising with them means you have to advertise in local publications, all of which cost money.
The other option is paying over the odds for temp workers from employment agencies, so the OP getting them banned from the Job Centre likely had a massive part to play in their downfall.
As someone who worked in recruitment staffing positions that close to the holidays is extremely difficult, pretty much everybody on the books is already placed, and usually well ahead of time.
It should be illegal to fire someone for getting sick. Also, if the employer requires a doctor’s note, then they should have to pay for it.
Shirley proves the Peter Principal
Story 4. My younger brother drives a B Double interstate out of Brisbane to Sydney, 1,200 kms each way. He has to leave at a precise time so the freight con be unloaded at the other end and on forwarded. You are late and the trucks at the other end have left on their runs. You are late and the company gets penalized because it is overnight delivery, not some time in the future.
Ask for a pay raise, and not to be promoted.
Promotion only adds more to your duty. A raise is suitable for situations where you handle more than your task at work.
If you're denied both, prepare an exit policy... It's a red flag!
Story 4: I just imagine OP and the Union Rep highfiving like Chris Tucker and the nun from Rush Hour 3.
Response to story 2: A coworker was passed up for promotion in favor of a guy who had been with us for 6 months, but done the same job at a different location for 5 years. Coworker threw an absolute fit.
The reason he was passed over? He's an insufferably arrogant narcissist. So much so that he can't even tell HE'S the problem! God willing, he never gets that promotion, no matter how far he sticks his nose up the boss's arse.
Moral: Sometimes a person is passed over because they're too valuable to take out of their current position. And sometimes for much more legitimate reasons.
We found the boss!
bosses cant tell their best workers they are the best cuz then they ask for raises
" Don't threaten me with a good time"
Fluff is a SWIFTIE!!!
I work in a restaurant that unless you were a manager you worked part time hours, and if corporate found out that an employee was working a second over the 40 hour mark, there would be hell to pay for the RGM and then the scedualing manager
In my country we have an interesting saying, if you do a job well, charge the price for it.
And if you do good work that isn't yours, you'll only get more work, not more recognition.
Story 2: "too valuable to promote" is corporate speak for "we're getting way more than our money's worth, and screw this guys career advancement". It's a sleazy corporate stooge tactic, and it's the biggest red flag a company can have
Story 2: I can totally relate. I'm a call in (?) Caretaker for old people, I can take day, evening and nightshifts no problem. I've been employed like this for 7 years. Finally asked if I could get a full time employment so I wouldn't have to worry about getting enough shifts each month, but my boss literally told me that I'm the ONLY of the call ins (?) That can take every kind of shift and Im too valuable like that.
In the last story, I expected to be the boss herself.
Well done pronouncing Brisbane correctly 😁👍🏻
Something similar to Story 2 happened to me and then the place i left there for did the opposite, the people who had been there for a while nonstop bullied and complained about me until i quit because i was actually expecting them to do their jobs. As soon as i left, the biggest complainer got the place to lose their tobacco license by not catching an obvious minor trying to buy cigarettes (the place was literally next door to the police station, so there isn't any reason to think you'd get away with letting them slip by)
Story 2: OP made themselves too valuable in their current position
*Story 2:* The advice by fluff and the comments is extremely true. It's something that has happened to me at my current job and the only reason I have not quit is because I'm planning to move away soon and its not worth keeping a new job for only a few months.
After 5 years of working at this company at a bottom peg position, they offered me a promotion to supervisor. Every time I worked my promoted position after that, floor productivity went DOWN. Not because I was allowing people to slack off more or anything like that, but because I had the highest numbers in regards to productivity while also having the least amount of damaged items & customer complaints associated with the orders I fulfilled. I was *demoted* because I was too good at my bottom peg postion to be replaced. I now am only a fill-in supervisor and have to work below the most pathetically incompetent people because they don't work as fast or as organized as I do.
Here's a thought. Rather than LETTING PRODUCTIVITY DROP, why not train the people work for you to work as well as you did? How stupid are you that you never figured that out?
Quit job story: OP, you probably weren't the "sole" reason, but it's likely you were the nail in the coffin, at least one of them. Given your long list of reasons to quit, I suspect the unemployment office checked with former employees (who likely also filed for benefits) and verified your statements. That's what resulted in the no-hire from their office. And likely got the labor board involved for the various labor law infractions. Be proud of standing up for yourself and others!
Not promoted story: That boss was an idiot. Maybe OP WAS too valuable in his current position. If that was the case, you find ways to make him happy there, such as raises and benefits, possibly a more expansive job title that INCLUDES the extras OP was doing outside of his job description.
Strap story: Yep, b***h wasn't very smart. Not only did he violate direct instructions from his boss, he ADMITTED to violating the union contract in front of management and the union rep. Being that stupid, it's amazing he hasn't won himself a Darwin Award!
On-hold story: Well mom won't fire me. Later... maybe I'd be better off if she did?
I'm surprised that the woman that quit because of broken products in report them to the better Business bureau from the beginning.
Story 2 Boss obviouslly wanted op to stay where they were but didn't do anything to make it worth while for them. I would've offered a decent raise to equate to a promotion but let them stay put. Or even a raise of any kind. OP probably wants a promotion to earn more, maybe for a new title. Create a new position and make them feel promoted if you want to keep them so bad, but don't force them down into a stupid little frame and expect them to WANT to stay there.
I can 100% guarantee that no Australian employee would ever address a Shift Manager/Boss/Owner in a warehouse or factory as “Sir”.
Unless you’re massively pissed off and being sarcastic as