How to deal with a poor manager?

[moles]

Any advice for my work situation?.

I am doing a gardening job in a retirement home. We each have a area and a certain amount of public areas that we do as a group. My area is always kept up to shape as i am very efficient in what i do and generally manage myself.

The other 2 gardeners are a bit slower but have a good work ethic and we all get along great. Their areas are 80% there.

My manager has the 4th area and hes the slowest/lazy of us all and generally uses the rest of us as a dogs body and uses our efficiency for his own benefit.

The retirement complex has got good reviews and is one of the best for upkeep that has been noticed by the village manager and the companies gardening manager but they think it is all down to my manager who is in all honesty a very average individual. Not very efficient wont raise any concerns of ours with above management and gives us all the crap.

We haven't had a pay rise in years and our manager wont raise the issue for us as he doesn’t want to rattle any cages (he sees himself as head office material when reality he is already punching above his station)

What do i do resign?, work slower?, tell the village manager that my manager is not what they think he is?. I enjoy the job but feel like im being taken for a ride and its starting to grate and annoy me/us.

Im semi retired so its not so much about the money more the feeling that we are putting in 100% effort and not being remunerated for it. Im not interested in words from management as i feel thats too easy to dish out and the respect should be shown in our pay packet.

Any advice?.

Edited by moles on Wednesday 2nd April 05:24

[mikeiow]

No pay rise for years?
Presumably under the same manager?
Either have a conversation, probably with your managers manager or someone more senior in the management company (sounds like no point talking with him), or quit and find an alternative.

No point flagging up how useless he is: let them discover once you’re gone.

[moles]

Think head office set the payrises. We had a 10p an hour rise last year ive been there nearly 2 years. Apparently before i arrived they had no pay rise for the previous 3 years.

Thats what conclusion i came to regards outcome just wondered if anyone else had any better ideas. I like the job but didnt want to go for the nuclear option if could be avoided.

[mikeiow]

moles said:

Think head office set the payrises. We had a 10p an hour rise last year ive been there nearly 2 years. Apparently before i arrived they had no pay rise for the previous 3 years.

Thats what conclusion i came to regards outcome just wondered if anyone else had any better ideas. I like the job but didnt want to go for the nuclear option if could be avoided.

Well, it doesn’t sound like you can have a conversation with your boss….is going above them going nuclear, or did you mean handing your notice in?
Have you looked around for other similar roles?
Life is too short to feel undervalued. Maybe look around for other places who might value your work more.

[Chris Stott]

If you don’t need the money and you’re not happy, there’s no jeopardy in trying to fix the situation.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the individual, speak to his manager. Ideally with the backing of your colleagues.

I’m semi retired/don’t need the money… I work to give me something to do, a purpose… I don’t take on work I don’t enjoy… had enough of that when I needed to work. Life’s too short.

[moles]

Above my manager is the village manager and she is a vindictive bully who holds grudges!.

Broaching the subject of a pay-rise with her would be futile i reckon and i get the impression id have to say im leaving unless you give me a payrise which would have a slim chance of working but think the reality would be a burnt bridge.

Not any similar roles around at present.

Edited by moles on Wednesday 2nd April 06:14

Edited by moles on Wednesday 2nd April 06:19

[NDA]

It sounds as if you are in a bit of a no-win situation.

Making any sort of 'complaint' will obviously be remembered and will cause animosity - potentially terminal. Unless the person your manager reports in to is smart and really on top of things, you won't be able to change anything.

I would focus on the parts of the job you do enjoy whilst trying to ignore everything else. Keep an eye open for other roles and leave as soon as you find one.

[Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce]

What are you hoping to get out of this?

[moles]

Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce said:

What are you hoping to get out of this?

Not sure. The amount of work we have been given that is constantly increasing is just too much for the pay im getting.

I’m tempted to just stop working as hard and not bust my balls. Maybe just chat to the residents more and do less work.

I just find it hard to do as im used to working at a fast pace and finishing early each day when my works done.

[PRO5T]

“No pay rise in years” and yet you haven’t worked there two years yet and have received a 10p p/hour raise in that short time you have?

[moles]

Well i meant it as a non meaningful pay rise in years based on the last 5 years that the others have worked there.

[Time4another]

Pay rise won't resolve the issues with the manager. If the money is bad enough leave. If you enjoy the job then get over the money issue.

Going above the managers head might not go down well, wouldn't do it unless I was willing to leave over it.

Slowing down. Again if you enjoy the place and the people (apart from the manager) then slow down. Not always easy if you like to get stuff done.

Does sound like apart from the manager you do like the job. I would have a good think before pressing the nuclear button. Grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

[DanL]

My 10p. You’re doing manual work - they’re going to see you as reasonably easy to replace. I don’t believe there will be much mileage in trying to get a pay rise based on what you’ve written.

In your shoes I’d be looking to work elsewhere at higher pay. If you can, get a job and leave. If you can’t, then while you might feel you’re underpaid for the effort you put in, the job market would seem to disagree.

You can then decide whether to work at a rate you feel matches the compensation or quit anyway because it’s not worth your time for the money. I can’t see a third option based on what you’ve outlined - the managers aren’t likely to change any time soon, so your choices are to change where you work or how you work.

[Cupid-stunt]

moles said:

Not sure. The amount of work we have been given that is constantly increasing is just too much for the pay im getting.

I’m tempted to just stop working as hard and not bust my balls. Maybe just chat to the residents more and do less work.

I just find it hard to do as im used to working at a fast pace and finishing early each day when my works done.

This.
Slow down to the pace of your other 2 colleagues.
Then go to the rate the manager is - then they will notice.
As long as you are able to demonstrate that you have been doing more than cohorts, you should be good.

As for the pay rise - I think you know the answer to that. So instead of trying to consider the impact the wage in the wage/ effort ratio, have a look at what you can alter.

[cliffords]

I don't agree with that advice.
You don't want to sink to the managers level.
You work hard and have good results,you do it in exchange for the money ,and pride in what you are doing .

Lowering your output gains absolutely nothing ,except for loss of your own pride and good worth ethic.

[p4cks]

PRO5T said:

“No pay rise in years” and yet you haven’t worked there two years yet and have received a 10p p/hour raise in that short time you have?

My thoughts too. Pay rises are often done annually, therefore if you've worked there under two years then you'll likely have had one pay review which equates to pay rise you've already stated.

You've worked there less than two years and you're whinging about your manager already - you can either leave and find somewhere marginally better or you can play the long game. That being; find out who your manager's manager is and start impressing them by your work ethic and your willingness to get stuck in to things outside of your comfort zone/remit. Cream rises to the top in almost every work scenario you just need to play the game, without bad-mouthing or stepping on your colleagues/manager in the meantime.

[Jamescrs]

Worked for a lot of bad managers over the years and usually it ends up as I move or I wait out them moving, nothing comes of complaining, especially as you say op the next one up the ladder sounds worse.

Either accept it as it is and adjust your work rate accordingly or move on is the usual solution.

[DanL]

“Quiet quitting” is the phrase to look up, if you’re considering less effort. You’d be on trend.

[bennno]

moles said:

Not sure. The amount of work we have been given that is constantly increasing is just too much for the pay im getting.

I’m tempted to just stop working as hard and not bust my balls. Maybe just chat to the residents more and do less work.

I just find it hard to do as im used to working at a fast pace and finishing early each day when my works done.

How much early do you finish each day?

Will you be increased as a result of the min wage changes.

[thepritch]

bennno said:

How much early do you finish each day?

Beaten to the same question - it’s important. OP, I assume you’re on a fixed salary, not paid by the per hour as if it’s the latter, by working faster, leaving early. you’re then being paid less?