the grease monkey who designs cars that don't break down

[sergebroom]

I just had a talk with my manager. Unlike the team's other programmers, I am seen as doing more implementation than design. In other words, I'm considered a garage mechanic while almost all my team members supposedly design cars. I objected that I do design and build 'cars' for this team and that mine seldom break down.

Fuck this shit.

Comments

[kouredios.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I'm sorry. Is this his perception, or was he relating the office's perception. Still not good...but better if the manager doesn't see you this way, right?

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

She said that Personnel made that decision. But the latter did so based on what was provided by management. Thus is is how my manager perceives me. It'd be disappointing if my co-workers did too. I hope that, if I am defined as just a handyman, my manager won't decide that some cheap kid can do what I do.

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Yuck! Nobody likes to be underestimated, particularly by management. Here, they're not just underestimating you, they're mislabeling you too.

What you do, see, is you get a couple of Sicilian "mechanics" to come by your managers' homes, and do some "hands-on training" or perhaps even a demonstration of "design" versus "implementation". They might suddenly have a change of heart, you never know. Then again, this might end up being a permanent change of heart, so to speak, if you know what I mean and I think you do. See?

Of course, I have no idea where to find these "Sicilians". Check with Bugsy down at the corner bar.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I have no idea where to find these "Sicilians"

Maybe I should ask some of my blogosphere buddies and buddettes who reside in the Bay Area. I'd see Kathryn from Sunnyvale as Wilmer, for example... I also need a Fat Man who laughs like a girl.

[xeger.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Sounds like you've got a blithering idiot for a manager. Then again, despite -also- doing design/implementation/engineering, I'm certainly not considered a designer; we have people that've never had to support a single scrap of the astoundingly maladroit creations they come up with being tagged as "Architects". Bah. I empathize (incoherently, even).

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

There is somebody I want to talk to before I politely ask my manager what is considered 'implementation' when I do it, and 'design' when others do. Mind you, I will say it in a very diplomatic manner.

[marydell.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sucks. Dumbassed manager.

[ohdawno.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain, Serge, seems like when one does something management doesn't quite understand, they go for a definition of the role that disempowers rather than the one that's deserved - must be low self-esteem on their part. I hope your manager removes his head from his posterior orifice.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I wish, but I've been dealing with her for over 2 years now and she has shown a propensity not to hear what doesn't fit in with what she wants to hear.

I guess I'll just keep on implementing projects after weeks not designing them. One thing is sure. Quality is not something that they'll be able to fault me over.

[redrose3125.livejournal.com]

[[Give raspberry to idiot manager/coworkers]]

Thibptt!

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

My team lead, who's between me and my manager, and yes, this group isn't that big and yes it has all those organisational layers and... and... Where was I? Oh yes. My team lead has indicated in the recent past that he was the sole person who'd determine what will go in my yearly review, but I'm as dubious about our manager's non-interference in that process as I'd be about Captain Kirk obeying the Prime Directive, especially if a beautiful female alien is involved. I am planning to talk to him soon about my function in the team. At least I am still in a position where I love my work and I take pride in it.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Also, what's your backup for a bad review? Do you go to her supervisor? There's usually some rule in the handbook.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I don't know what the backup plan would be. I guess I'll just whing it, as usual. On the bright side, if they see me as a grease monkey, I dare say I'm an excellent grease monkey. So there.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

No, seriously. A company as large as yours almost certainly has an employee handbook and there's likely to be something about disputed reviews.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

There probably is such a handbook. By the way, the superduper project I've been working on has had a breakthru today, which makes it likely that we will make our tight deadline. That'd be be a good weapon against any criticism of my work.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

All right!

[redrose3125.livejournal.com]

Woot!

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

And a few other less polite words that express pleasure!