am i being a sissy about this? ("that's my job")

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so, i'm the "trainer" at my job. a tim hortons for those of you that don't know.

i'm 'responsible' for new staff - pretty much i'm made as available as possible to spend my time working with the new people for the first few days of employment. and then i make the ones that slipped through the cracks (while i wasn't working fulltime) get trained up on anything they misssed.

last summer we had this checklist of all the duties you have to do on storefront, and it was pretty much going through and finding out if everyone knew how to do everything. we haven't done this since last summer, and i brought it up a week ago since we have so many new staffers.

our new manager (i say new because she wasn't head manager last summer) said that that was something a different supervisor had started (whom they cut ties to) and she wasn't interested in bringing it up again, but we could make a new list if we wanted.

so today i'm at work - and this other dude, who i'm willing to accept may be factor in how annoyed i was, is doing some sort of training sheets.

i didn't say anything right away, but a few of the new kids were talking about it - and it was exactly what i had brought up last week.

i poked my head into the office on my way out - and i asked the manager and owner if i was going to get the chance to do my training sheets. and they said "what training sheets?", and i mentioned the ones that this other guy had been filling out.

the owner guy goes, "well its a bit of project that he's working on - (the owner lady) made up a list of all the little problem areas - and now we're just working on reinforcing all the things that aren't getting done".

and i says "isn't that what i asked to do last week?"

at which point the manager clues in and goes "no no, that was different - that was carols thing last summer".

at which point i'm a bit confused as to how their distinguishing between the two. making sure people know what to do, and reinforcing it. and having checklist sheets that say "training" on them, that aren't being handled by the trainer.

i guess i'm a little bummed out because for one -
it is my job. it's really the only bit of prestige i get (since i'm not supervising anymore) and it *is* important to feel needed when pretty much anyone can get hired there.

for two - i'm a bit annoyed with spending my time training people and not getting the proper time with them. i can't work the till and train someone on coffee at the same time (or vice versa). that happens about 50% of the time. (cuts back on costs of having an extra staffer on to let me "float")

and three - this guy is already a supervisor, and we work very differently (which makes it a bit tough for me to accept what he does, but i know he does his jobs right - but we have conflicting styles). i admit it's probably a bit more annoying because it's him, but i get mad when other people do the training too.

all in all, i guess i'm just a bit annoyed that it seems i'm always hitting bumps and snags with my training. i don't know why you'd put trainer on my nametag if you're not going to let me do what i have to do, or listen to my suggestions, or get other people to do other training projects. i think the owners are getting a little bit out of touch with the job (as he says it'll make my job easier - how? by dividing up my position with other people?)

i'm a bit embarassed to admit how much it mattered to me - i feel like a sissy about it. but i really did feel shafted. i'll probably talk to my other manager tomorrow (she's cool like that).

to top it off - i had a bad run after (which was a venting run), and then slept for four hours only to have 2 dreams in which my coworkers taunted me.

needless to say i'm so excited to work tomorrow.

(ps. no i'm not worried about someone taking my job, i'm the only one with the patience to do it - so says them - i just want "trainer" as mine)

my boys could swim

blue, from what you wrote, all I can gather is, the people you work for are idiots.

You had a good idea.

Oompa Loofah

You did have a good idea and it is difficult to find people who are really willing to go above and beyond like you do. It's a shame that that is how the "reward" your efforts.

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i'm not trying to paint them out to be inept - they are pretty decent people overall - i'm just wondering if i'm overreacting to not getting jobs i've been looking for, or by definition of my position - i should be doing.

considering the lack of "extra" training stuff kicking around - i would've assumed i'd get to do it... otherwise it feels kinda meaningless to hold the position..

Bounty Hunter

PRESIDENT

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so we followed up today...

the owner dude asked me into the office to kinda further explain what happened yesterday - since it was just briefly and all. and he went on this spiel about managing a business and all that and there being different things to work on etc, etc. not really sure what it had anything to do with, but he's a good talker when he needs to be.

he was talking about how the other guy had been looking for extra stuff to do, and that they were going to broaden his skill set because training and communicating isn't a strong point of this other guy.

i explained to him as a trainer, i kind've thought that it would be my job to do that and that i was looking to round out the total package for training. he said that it would still be the total package - and acknowledged that i needed more time with my trainees and all that - but that this other thing would be handled by the other guy just to give him something to work on.

he raved about my training skills, and how all the new people always feel comfortable, and understand what i'm saying, and that i'm clear and patient and all that jazz. and how the owner lady wants me there as long as she can keep me there.

which is all fine - but it didn't seem to click in that i was still wanting to get the work done.

he apologized for not communicating with me better about it - and not getting me involved with something on the training front like that (at least talking with me to see how it should be done).

after all of it - it's still not my job to do. and i'm not really sure how much got accomplished other then the fact that he admitted messing up.

i'm still annoyed with it - i'm left to wonder what else i can do at the store. i had my chat with the other manager, and again later on in the day - and it would appear that our other manager (the head one) is now calling all the shots as she wants (as the owner put it). which puts me in a tough spot. as much as the head manager loves me - she's hard to talk to.

anyway, kind've a tough situation. they are still going to have me train the staff for their new store - but i think i might put out some ground rules for that before i agree to do it.

otherwise, i might start shopping for a new job (since my position is redundant and the job doesn't provide much satisfaction in the way of accomplishing anything). and i'm really not sure if i'm interested in resuming my supervisor position (which includes a few 5am-1pm shifts).

we'll see where it all goes. it's a bit upsetting, i wish i was better with confrontation (maybe i need to flush out that skillset). not quite sure where to go with it.

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oh for the record - it's not so much that i want the credit as it is i want to be involved in the process and to actually get to do my job.

that would be super.

Oompa Loofah

Unfortunately I have the opposite end of the spectrum. A new person was hired and I found out that I am supposed to be training her. (I was never told this or I would have set up a plan)

Now, my issue is, she doesn't do what she is told.

How do you solve that?

I've told her the first things that need to be done EVERY AM. She comes in and surfs the net first thing and I have to remind her EVERY AM.

Do you have any recommendations, Blue?

I'm not her boss, so I can't "tell" her what to do. I have tried suggesting...but she doesn't seem to "catch" it.

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what is she supposed to be doing in the morning (i don't know what your job is...)?

any particular way your telling her each morning?

sometimes it's fun if you've been working with them to ask them "ok, so what are we doing first today?" and they tell you what is supposed to happen...

if they have the answer to the question they'll probably do it... or she could just be a lazy arse.

but pretty much i keep politely, jokingly, and sternly reminding them to get it done right. although if it looks like it's going to be a major problem (little problems tend to be indicative of future bigger problems) then maybe you can bring it up with a supervisor or whoever calls the shots.

i guess i'd need more info. (and damned if i'm an expert - i train people in a coffe shop/donut store Wink

)

Oompa Loofah

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[quote="airehead']

I work in an office at a chocolate factory and it's mainly paperwork first thing. She has to be reminded EVERY day.
This paperwork determines our trucks getting out on time, though.

It's getting old.[/quote]

never send a woman to do an oompa loompa's job. Mr. Green

in all seriousness - if she's just flat not doing it, and it's important (even if it's not important) - tell a soup, get her taken care of. because she's only gonna cause problems. some people are just naturally dumb - and on occasion you have to can someone to cut your losses. it is a business.

on that note - one of my trainees got fired today. that's always discouraging.

Oompa Loofah

crazy cat lady

Here's what is sad to me about this: that so many of us start out with such ambition and pride in a job well done and then we get jaded by corporate stupidity and apathy begins. Its sad that you, a smart guy, want to work hard and have ideas to contribute to the team, yet you're being squelched while there are so many lame brained do-nothing people out there. Hang in there blue. Try not to let them break you. I can't say it gets any better, but I can say that eventually your hard work gets recognized.

signed,
jaded by corporate america

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and for the record - i appreciate all the support folks Smile

my dad said it's a genetic trait for me to have issues with people that don't work hard...

am i being a sissy about this? ("that's my job")

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