* SIGH * I'm seriously considering quitting my job right now.

[Windogg]

It was a real sh!tty day and someone really got to me. I mean REALLY pushed me over the edge. Today was the first time I seriously contemplated decking some. Instead I yelled and I mean yelled. For those that are curious, its the same a$$hole from yesterday. I then stormed out of my office at around 1:30PM.

I don't know how much more I can really put up with the crap. I'm gonna talk to my boss tomorrow about shuffling things around and implementing new policies. I've tried reworking the whole IT structure but very few people follow it. Instead of going through help desk, most people just call me directly. There are really only about 10 people that really piss me off and quitting would penalize about 120 - 140 people that are really nice and do their best to work with me.

At the sametime no job is wortht the stress and sleepless nights. There have been a few occasions where my skin broke out from the anxiety. Venting on these boards has helped a lot (Thanks to jonnyGURU for getting me started) but it no longer offered the same relief as before.

This might be getting old but I thank everyone who is taking the time to read about my problems.

Windogg

 

[Killbat]

Don't worry about your rants, dogg. You're getting more than your fair share of sympathy.

Just make sure you try your damnedest to reform the place before you quit.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Sounds like it's time for a change, one way or another. If you are under a lot of stress every day and it carries over to your "regular" (non-work) life, you'll snap like that guy in "Office Space".

 

[Moonbeam]

Don't quit until Gore wins and plentiful jobs are a sure bet.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

You might try the procedure I once used many years ago at work to vent. Heave a heavy duty office chair without regard to direction, and if you're lucky you'll take out a large section of plate glass windowing. Unless you are a highly valued/regarded employee, that ought to relieve you of that annoying job real quick. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me, hell they actually promoted me about 2 months later ... :Q

 

[Suicidal]

Or you might just get arrested for going postal or something.

 

[Toolman]

Try some good ol' fashion physical exertion like several rounds on the heavy bag (envision the bag as the person(s)who is causing the stress), lift weights, jump rope, and/or running. Whatever you do don't quit your job in a rage or you'll most likely regret it.

 

[Batti]

There are IT jobs where the environment is less hostile and the structure makes sense. If they can't get their act together, there's never been a better time to be an IT guy...

Just try to keep it real and not bring it home with you.

 

[Windogg]

Its funny, my death toll is as follows:

(1) 2' x 2'Wall
(1) Large Cabinet
(1) Metal Trash Bin
(1) Compaq 486-66
(1) Paradyne Router (Already dead)
(2) Saplings (Better watch out for algore coming after me)

This is the second time I stormed out of the office in anger and both time several people in the office called to make sure I was going to be in the next day. I don't bring it home with me ever. I usually calm myself with a few hours of Q3, UT, or AnandTech. Thanks to my girlfriend Tekken Tag is the object of my frustrations.

Windogg

 

[apoppin]

If you're seriously thinking of quitting, line up another "better" (i.e. higher-paying) job first.

After you have one lined up, THEN talk to your boss about quitting (when you have some real leverage). If it doesn't work out to your liking at your old place - quit; it it does - all the better for you (you should get a raise).

My suggestion: Patience (and job-hunt). All jobs of your type are generally stressful.

 

[kranky]

I surely empathize with your frustration. If the main issue is people not going along with the IT structure, you and the rest of the IT crew must "encourage" the users to get with the program. Gently remind your callers that they must call the help desk instead of calling you directly. Just say you are in the middle of something and they'll get faster service by calling the help desk. If they insist on you, then you take your good old time, and when you eventually get there apologize for the long delay while reminding them that the help desk would have long since resolved the issue.

You must make sure your boss is behind you because the people who won't play ball are the same ones who will call your boss to complain.

Sleepless nights and breaking out are signs that things have gone much too far.

When you approach your boss, go in with a plan that he can just rubber-stamp instead of asking him to figure out the answer. That way you have a much better chance of getting the changes you want. And make sure you are calm when you discuss it with him.

Keep on venting here if it helps, but be prepared in case the 10 people who drive you crazy have enough clout to win. You have the power in the job market today.

You might want to check out techrepublic.com for some discussions on how others have handled this situation.

Best of luck, Windogg!

 

[Windogg]

apoppin, kranky: Those suggestions sound great and brightened up my day. There is a firm IT policy in place (In written and approved with hard copies sent to everyone) its just enforcement that needs to be stepped up. Biggest problem is people walking into the network room or my office and refusing to leave. 99% of the time its self inflicted with these drop-ins. (Install anything on my own? uhhh.... no.... WHAT NO ONE TOLD ME THAT MY NETGEAR HOME NETWORKING KIT WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE COMPANY NETWORK!!!!)

I do think its time to dust off the ole resume and keep a fresh copy handy.

Windogg

 

[DadofOne]

Strong suggestions---LOCK THE DOOR. tape up the windows. get a back door phone number at work, dump the prime number to voicemail, after warning it will take a while to get to, and of course suggesting that the helpless desk would be a good point of contact....

 

[Adul]

badge reader on door.

 

[Adul]

leave town for a week and enjoy some stress relief.

 

[Namuna]

I'm with Kranky, use some ingenuity to your advantage.

WEE-WEE Ween them off you, forward your phone directly to voicemail. And of course the voicemail message should say that the Help Desk can always be reached for help.

Delegate, if possible. Let them get used to seeing other faces.

Also, if you get stuck with the call...Tell them you have several other IMPORTANT projects and that you will be able to get to them, but not till like 4 hours later or the next day.

This 'dependence' on you is partly (maybe even LARGELY) your fault! You must've been doing a little TOO GOOD a job at taking care of them. WEE WEE Weeen them piggies off you.

 

[Sephiroth_IX]

Namuna may be right. Perhaps they think "Why go through the help desk when i can have this porn history personally cleaned within 15 minutes?" I think that anyone that calls you directly should automatically be pushed to the very back burner. It shouldnt have to go into this, however. I would talk to your boss and tell him that you are dissatified with behaviors and conduct when it comes to yourself personally and professionally, and also with the computers. Explain to him some of your frustrations and work with him to make an announcement. Putting down some penalties for not obeying the rules may help keep them from being so carefree with the systems and also your patience.

Lemme know how it works out -- Your rants are awesome I can connect with both sets of rants (Yours and JonnyGURU's) so they both keep me in stitches.