Friday, May 16, 2008

Definitely NOT Friday Fluff

So, I made trainee cry yesterday.

Yes, cry.

It wasn’t intentional. It’s not like I yelled at her, or even spoke harshly. I didn’t tell her she stunk, or was lousy, or made me want to slice my throat with a letter opener.

No. I did none of those things.

But, I did say that it’s been over two months now, and soon, I’m not going to be able to do 70% of her work, nor review everything she does to check for errors. I told her that she will need to increase her speed in order to handle her workload and that if she can’t, we’ll have to come up with a plan because again, I can’t keep doing it. I have my own job.

And after I left, she started crying. And her officemate called in the assistant director of my department to handle her tears.

And eventually, it came back to me. “What more can you do, Liz, to help trainee?”

“Well, since I’m doing more than half of her work already, I’m not sure.”

“Let’s meet in my office on Monday to form a proactive plan.” says the asst. director.

“Okay.” I say, trying to now hold back my own tears. (I hate futile meetings.)

Later, trainee apologized to me and said she was really embarrassed to have cried. She just felt overwhelmed. I can understand that. I’ve felt (and feel) overwhelmed often.

But, I still do my job.

I don’t know. I’m just exhausted from having to deal with it all…




On a unrelated note, I’ve decided dreams are for ninnies. (Yes, ninnies.)

And I’m no longer going to have any.

I’m just going to be practical and boring.

5 comments:

Wendy said...

Maybe the proactive plan can be "Everyone do the work they were hired to do". What is wrong with people? Isn't there some statistic, or folksie saying, that says 20% of the people do 80% of the work? So true...and yet everyone is getting paid...the injustice of it all...

Gina said...

I'm having a hard time understanding how she got hired. Were the other candidates even more incompetent than she. Why would it be more than two months and she still can't do her job? You are a very competent trainer and incredibly patient, I might add.

What on earth?!

Amanda said...

Gina, she can't do her job, because she can't remember to double click. That really gets in the way.
P.S. I'm kind of concerned about the unrelated 'give up on dreams' sidenote.
Anyone else curious? You can't just say that and not blog about it. Or at least include in a Round Robin-ish type of email.
P.P.S or P.S.S. Where is the Round Robin?

Gina said...

I sent it to Sara a couplde of weeks back. Not sure after that.

I'm concerned about giving up on dreams as well. Hopefully it's in the pensive post that's coming.

Anonymous said...

...what on earth. Maybe this is touching a major nerve right now but R A H. Why is it that the personality of some people floods the synapsis of their bosses and makes said bosses believe that one task a day is overload?? And the other 6 squillion tasks then fall on our desks whom said bosses say aren't doing enough??????

Rah.

And ya I can't spell synapsis.