Have a question to ask / looking for advice

[Doughboy71]

A little background. I am the only computer person working in a 65 person law firm and have been here almost six years now. The pay, benefits, and what I actually do I like. I basically get to play with computers, new software and search the internet all day long so I like that part of the job.

I no longer trust anyone here. I have been told by management that it is ok for the attorneys to treat people like crap and not to defend yourself even if that person is in the wrong. I have found the HR director to be non trustworthy and someone who will go running to the top boss whenever they think they have some dirt on you. I have asked for help with issues with staff in the past and that has gone on deaf ears. Since I am the only computer person here I have no one else to talk to, bounce ideas, problems, concerns off of. Basically I am trapped.

One thing I cannot do is leave. My better half has been out of work for almost two full years so quitting is not an option. I would love to go into the HR directors office and let them know how worthless I think they are, and let management know how I don't think I can trust anyone here to even talk to about even the most basic problems.

My wife says just smile and act happy, well there is only so long you can do that.

Any suggestions?

[Richardo]

1. I think your wife is right, given your circumstances...

...I would add "keep your guard up, your head down and your productivity high."

[Dogtown]

2. spruce up that resume

there's no fight there that you can win.

delay will only increase your vulnerability.

[pitohui]

3. your wife's advice is best

she sounds like a wise woman

think what you think about their jack-assery and continue to take their money and smile and smile and don't let them know what you are thinking

one day the economy will be better and you can find employment somewhere else, at that time, at your exit interview, you can tell them all what asshats they are -- if you still feel like it

seriously my friend, everybody hates management and thinks they're a worthless bunch of asshats and OF COURSE you cannot share your problems w. management, they're not your friends, and you're not their friend, you're there to get their $$$ and they're there to get your expertise

just vent on DU or something when they do something particularly asshatted like everybody else who has asshat management

[HopeHoops]

4. This may seem obvious, but it can't be stressed enough...

Under NO circumstances should you engage in ANY correspondence with prospective employers while at work - either by e-mail or cell phone. It sounds like a den of rats and I wouldn't put it past them to snoop around on your computer when you are away or train ears on your conversations. The market is tough, but if you've been there two years and are still employed, you've got an edge in the search. Find something respectable and give your two weeks notice.

[Chan790]

5. A suggestion:

Look for a new job. I know, recession...look at universities and research institutions. There is no recession in higher education...enrollment is up because the economy is bad and people are going back to school to ride out the recession or improve their credentials.

[Kali]

7. "There is no recession in higher education.."

:rofl:

um, fail

[seemunkee]

6. I know the feeling

our CEO has a disdain for IT and the HR director is his lapdog. At least there are 3 of us for now, one is a contractor and his hours are being reduced. Im studying for the MSITP and learning as much VMWare as I can so I can get out of here.
What certs do you have, what skills do you have. Concentrate on getting those polished and keep your resume up to date in case you hear of anything interesting. In the mean time smile and do your best.

[MajorChode]

8. Welcome to office politics

It's not all that much different anywhere you go. No matter where you go on this earth, if you get enough people together in one place, there will always be a few that we Americans call the 'asshole'.

Unfortunately for you even though you perform a highly skilled job, you are far from the top of the food chain, or pecking order, or whatever you want to call it. That's not a good position to be, but someone is inevitably there in most of the office environments I've seen. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying that's the way it is.

The best thing you can do is look for job satisfaction in the things you like about your job, and be content in the knowledge that karma will eventually catch up to the assholes sooner or later. People that treat co-workers like shit generally aren't happy with themselves and they like to pass on their misery to others. Don't fall in that trap. Be glad you're doing a job you like and have a wife that listens to your problems. Learn the benefits of the 5 o'clock martini and how to put all the BS behind you no later than 6 o'clock.

[NJmaverick]

9. Remember your job is a supporting role

and you don't make money for the firm. As such you are never going to be powerful or will you be the equal of many others. Simple do you job like a professional and support their operations. Let the stupid/rude comments run off you like water off a duck. The economy sucks and if you have a relatively secure job you should be happy and make the best of it. Beyond that remember if you are good at your job and you bring value to your employer they will appreciate you. Forget about the whole trust thing and stop wasting the time of the HR department. You should only be going to them in the event of sexaual harrassment or other serious issues.

[MajorChode]

10. I can't really agree that those in supporting roles "don't make money for the firm"

Specialization allows offices to run more efficiently. While a computer specialist might not be doing things that are directly billable to the customer, imagine how less efficient a lawyer would be if they had to spend time install their own software, repairing their own computer, taking their trash out to the dumpster, or doing all their own research.

As much as 'team' is a dog tired and worn out office cliché, it really does apply. If an office can't function as a team, somebody else that can do things more efficiently is going to outperform them.

[NJmaverick]

11. You mentioned office politics

I learned a long time ago there is a pecking order in any organization. Those that do the business of the firm or make money are almost always going to have more clout. It may not be right or the best situation, but in most cases it's a reality.

[MajorChode]

12. From a management perspective, it's not really about who is most directly involved

It's more about who is the hardest to replace. Something as simple as a phone system or a computer server can bring your entire organization to its knees. There are times when your support personnel are your most valuable employees. To manage effectively you have to look at every employee as making the business money. If they aren't, they shouldn't be there. That goes for the janitor all the way to the most valuable employee you have. Yes, sometimes you have to coddle high value employees, but you can only really allow them to run roughshod over other employees so much. Otherwise they tend to run off other employees that still have value of their own. Replacing skilled and even unskilled employees is very painful, and if you treat them like shit, they are going to go somewhere where they are more appreciated. Most people value how they are treated even more than money.

[The empressof all]

13. Important Advice for All---HR is not your friend.

Yes they can be a good source of info about benefits, policy and random corporate culture stuff but NEVER EVER assume they have Your best interests at heart. Their job is to protect the company...PERIOD. If that means getting rid of an expendable manager who is violating ethic requirements they will when they must. But compiling a case against a disgruntled or even "unhappy" employee is fairly easy. Believe me, there are lots of good people who work in HR but I wouldn't advise anyone to take concerns to them without thinking long and hard about how it can come back to bite you in the ass.

Paranoidaly

TEoA