I just got thrown under the bus by my co-workers

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E

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,582
3,791
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We had a meeting this morning to discuss how things were running. With only 1 Dept Manager, 1 senior and 1 junior (me) network admin, 1 Helpdesk Manager and 3 helpdesk guys for 1500 employees there are issues getting projects done on time. We have discussed this many many times among ourselves. (I don't think we have met an internal deadline for our projects once during my time here - often going over by 6 months or so. We just go from fire to fire as issues continue to build on the backend. For example: We have 1500 employees and >1000 custom groups - our AD is a mess. We run at 98% of phone line capacity and we have new switches to replace slowly failing ones but don't have the time to re-wire everything - the com closets are a spaghetti mess) So at the meeting I make mention that with the daily work we have from the Users time for our projects suffers and we are sometimes unable to get things done as quickly as we would like.

Much to my suprise, when our CIO asked others they said it was not problem at all. I was shocked. We had discussed our inablility to complete projects in a timely manner many many times. We have a reputation within the company as being a department unable to make timely transitions. I made mention of a particular instance of an issue a Helpdesk guy and I had. He responded with 'Yeah it was a pain but I used to work at a Comcast Call center and this is nothing compared to that'

Neither the Dept Manger or Helpdesk manager seem willing to bring up any of these issues and our CIO was a software developer who has no AD, server, network protocol knowledge and has no desire to learn it.

So do I stick my neck out again as the new guy to try and make this place work better (and eventually make my job better) or play damage control since it seems as I a guy on the team who can't deal with the pressure of the position?

Cliffs:
Poorly managed IT Dept
I try to bring up issues
Everyone says they are not issues
I look like I am not a team player
Do I continue the good fight or roll over and deal with it?

(Sidenote: With few jobs in Michigan I am stuck here for the time being)
 
Last edited:
OUCaptain

OUCaptain

Golden Member
Nov 21, 2007
1,522
0
0
Make sure your concerns are well documented. That's about all you can do. You may be able to take initiative little by little to begin solving the problems. Stick to the chain of command though. IT folk can be very territorial of their positions.
 
IHateMyJob2004

IHateMyJob2004

Lifer
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
68
91
If you ware willing to loose your job, try to bring change in. if you need money, your only option is to crawl int oa little ball and hide under your desk.
 
dullard

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,099
4,744
126
IHateMyJob2004 said:
If you ware willing to loose your job, try to bring change in. if you need money, your only option is to crawl int oa little ball and hide under your desk.
Click to expand...
Very fitting comment considering your user name. :D

But actually it is a true comment. Office Space comes to mind. You have two paths. (1) Be a lemming and swallow your pride. (2) Be honest about the problems that upper management already knows exist and thus are likely to believe you. It just depends on how much risk you are willing to take. This could make a name for yourself (in a good way or a bad way).

But like OUCaptain said, don't go in there with just verbal arguments (no matter how good). Come into the fight with rock-solid indisputable written proof of the troubles, how to solve them, and how that would benefit the company.
 
F

Felisity

Senior member
Sep 1, 2002
382
0
0
I'm in a similar situation. However, I am not new, nor am I in an IT department.

Here's what I'm doing:

1) Document everything for your own piece of mind. This way you at least have something to show should someone else try to roll over on you - blaming you for any issues.
2) Try to remain positive and positively effect what you can, and not let what you have no control over bring you down.
3) Being thankful every single day that I am not one of the unemployed. I remind myself how bad it could really be.
4) I try to stay very connected with my linked-in communities and I continue to monitor my industry for new opportunities on a day-to-day basis.
 
K

Ka0t1x

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2004
1,724
0
71
IHateMyJob2004 said:
If you ware willing to loose your job, try to bring change in. if you need money, your only option is to crawl int oa little ball and hide under your desk.
Click to expand...

+1


Sadly, most places like that, the higher ups don't understand what you would have to say about IT, and the other employees throw you under a bus.

You could try to make somewhat of a presentation/report thing, and submit it to a higher up. As a whole package, about what you would change.. but make the WHYs stand out profoundly. How would this alleviate your job? or How would this make the company run smoother?
 
B

BTA

Senior member
Jun 7, 2005
862
0
71
Sounds about right.

If it makes you feel any better, management doesn't really care what the actual issues are or how to improve them, they only want to know who to blame.
 
C

crownjules

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2005
4,858
0
76
Sounds more like your co-workers just didn't back you up. Being thrown under the bus usually means someone blames you for something you did or did not do. I work with a guy like that - nice guy and friendly, but he's a little rat when it comes to accepting responsibility and deserved blame.

Seven IT guys for 1500+ people sounds seriously understaffed so I can understand project delays happening.
 
W

Wheezer

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
6,731
1
81
People high on the food chain don't give a fvck about the realities of why they just want positive results on paper. If they can show documentation in the right direction no matter how it's done, right way wrong way or in between it does not matter. They only care about making sure there is some poor slob in line to pass the buck onto in case of a major cluster.

Now that you have seen that your co-workers are concerned with appearances and self preservation first....take the hint and play the game. If you want to work for a business that does the right thing the right way....start your own...that's the only chance you have.
 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Strange. I thought people in IT always complained!
Seven IT guys for 1500+ people sounds seriously understaffed so I can understand project delays happening.
Click to expand...
Yeah that is very very lean.
 
C

Cattlegod

Diamond Member
May 22, 2001
8,687
1
0
never bring issues out to 'the big boss' without discussing it with your boss and his boss and developing a plan first. that is a quick way to make enemies and squash your career. you need to get your immediate management bought into the issues and develop a resolution plan. then you take the problem and the solution to the big boss and have him approve it. you are paid to identify and solve problems, not just bring up problems without a solution.
 
MrDudeMan

MrDudeMan

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
15,069
94
91
Cattlegod said:
never bring issues out to 'the big boss' without discussing it with your boss and his boss and developing a plan first. that is a quick way to make enemies and squash your career. you need to get your immediate management bought into the issues and develop a resolution plan. then you take the problem and the solution to the big boss and have him approve it. you are paid to identify and solve problems, not just bring up problems without a solution.
Click to expand...

/thread
 
SunSamurai

SunSamurai

Diamond Member
Jan 16, 2005
3,914
0
0
From the TLDR:

1. Start looking for a new job
2. Dont say shit about shit till you have a new job locked.
3. Start saying shit.
4. If shit piles up against you, see # 2
5. If they realize that listening to people like you can make them money, stop #1
6. Unless they fire you after taking your ideas, and thats why #1 is #1.
 
Cdubneeddeal

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
If you're not seeing any action for your direct manager feel free to go to his/her manager with your concerns. If you truly want the place to run better you need to do what you feel is best.
 
FoBoT

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
worker bees can't make companies better
management could, but they are usually incompetent or don't want to make things better, they are usually just trying to pad their resume to then go work someplace else and leave you, the worker bee, in a pile of shit
 
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