Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bad Day At the Office

I don't talk a lot about my job here on the blog. For one thing, I have known other bloggers to get in trouble with employers for doing so. For another thing, I feel that I have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to my career. I work for a great company that is well-respected. If I told you which company, every single one of you (regardless of country where you live) would know of it by name.

I love what I do itself. I have great customers and fabulous products to sell. I believe 100% that what I do matters.

But sometimes, having a job sucks. No doubt, half of what I am upset about is reality and the other half is comprised of the hormonal overload that I am experiencing right now. Little things seem to get blown out of proportion and the bigger things get even bigger. I always have taken my job seriously and I take pride in doing it well. So, when I get called on the carpet for something that I haven't done right, it gets to me under the best of circumstances. But when I get in trouble for something that I actually took care of. . . Well, grrr.

My company is a large company and most of its sales force works from a home office. This means that in order to keep everyone happy and accounted for, there are a lot of Lists. Lists of calls made, calls entered, compliance tests taken and scored, the List of Lists goes on and on. One of my main objectives is to never be on a bad list. There are a lot of bad lists, so from time to time, I have found myself on one. It just happens.

However, yesterday, I ended up on two Bad Lists. The worst thing is that I completed both of the activities that the lists say that I didn't do. One was a compliance test and one was a survey about my personal competencies. They were both time-consuming and I made sure to do both of them before the deadlines, yet I show up on lists of people that did not do them. It is beyond frustrating.

Luckily, I have proof that I did one of them, but the other is kind of a "they said/I said." And the they saids are winning. It just irritates me that I have to defend myself when I work hard and make an honest effort to get things done.

This also was brought to my attention at the beginning of the day-long conference, which has me on my feet for hours on end. It was also brought to my attention in front of my colleagues. This combined to make it even worse than it would usually be.

I am proud that I didn't end up in tears in front of everyone, but I am still upset about it. There is just something about not being trusted that really gets to me.

9 comments:

HereWeGoAJen said...

I don't blame you! I hate being blamed for things that I shouldn't be! I believe you!

Fat Girl said...

I'm sorry you had such a bad day! Not being trusted at work is VERY difficult and frustrating. And, to be called on the carpet in front of your collegues, especially when it is unjustified... That would get me boiling mad! Congratulations on being able to hold back the tears! That can be difficult to do! I hope you can get these situations straightened out.

Geohde said...

Urgh....

That's no fun at all,

J

Anonymous said...

Katie, sometimes one just needs to know that you did what you needed to do and let go of the fight. In big corporations it often happens where being one of the little guys fighting against the flow of the bigger guys, it is just not worth the effort and time spent stressing about it. YOU KNOW YOU DID IT, and that is what really matters.

sara said...

Thanks for the encouragement and Happy Birthday! Now you have another job to do. You must eat cake, a lot of cake. And ice cream, lots of ice cream!

Yetty said...

I understand the frustration of the rat race. The best thing is that you didn't end up in tears in public. I always hate it when I get so upset that tears come to my eyes even when I don't want them too. To paraphrase Lily Tomlin, "the problem with the rat race is win or lose, you're still surrounded by rats" :)

Jen said...

Bursting into tears at work is the absolute worst. I'm so glad that you avoided that even if the whole experience was upsetting.

Adriane said...

Sorry about the work lists! I would be really upset at the entire situation. And I understand takig your job seriously, but also having some difficulties right now because of pregnancy/hormones/etc. (I have a hard time being 100% focused anymore. I wish it weren't true, but it is.)

Hang in there - hopefully, the truth will prevail with all the lists!

Me said...

I think it was inappropriate of them to bring it up in front of your colleagues. Regardless of it was true to or not. Shame on them.