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Comic Strips @lemmy.world

Stamets @lemmy.world

2mo ago

You are loathesome

43 comments

I always say never work too hard. Managers don't know how long things take because they don't do any actual work. Set expectations accordingly.
- complete task early, turn in results in the last day. never give them reason to up your workload
  
  Around bonus time log lots of extra hours and turn in two products on the last day.
  
  This is the way.
- It's a pretty damn sad thing having to do it if you're a fair and honest person, but that's just how the world works.
  (There are a few managers out there whom you can be honest towards without them taking away your reward for being efficient of going the extra mile, but in my personal experience those are pretty rare).
  
  I've pretty consistently seen the 1st level of management able to understand when you worked hard, and that it is not repeatable. Those problems tend to appear only when they report up what is happening.
  What is to say that often (not always), you can be honest with your manager if both of you can keep a secret.
- They are members of the cult of the line, and the line must go up.
  
  Not just members, advocates of the line. Their compensation is a function of the surplus value workers create.

The reward for hard work is more work

That's why you always give 80% at work - so when shit hits the fan you can do 120%, impressing everyone while keeping a chill level of tasks for day to day stuff
- Fresh college grads hate this advice but it's really key to managing a long term career.
- Which shows management that they can throw anything at you ..... so they start throwing everything at you.
  
  Then you start saying you can't complete things, ask them which one is the priority. And actually not do everything.
  
  A good Management knows that they can't demand 150% regularly though since that will wear workers out
- The Montgomery Scott model of productivity.
- Nah when shit hits the fan you do 81% never show your full potential until you reach the highest pay grade in the company. And the reality is you will never reach that pay grade, you will more likely switch jobs and go back to 80% input and cash bigger checks.
  
  Worked well for me so far - 5 consecutive years with a >10% raise...

Give 95% and point out that you lack resources.
They'll never give you those resources, but they will get off your ass because subpar work seems to be the goal.
I'm a god damn janitor and this is true even for my profession.
- Oh fuck did the US come full circle and go full Stakhanovite? Back under communism in Eastern Europe, you'd do 105% of the target so you'd hit the bonus but not the target readjustment.
  Your version looks worse.
  
  Apparently it's the same, they even have the posters of the best employees (employee of the month) and everything.

Exactly why you never give 100%. Never show them everything you got cause they'll only want more

Our annual evaluation is a scale of 1 to 4 for a variety of categories. We're supposed to show growth on the scales each year.
For 15 years, I've started each year at 3 and grown to a 4 so the boss can tell their boss that they're helping us grow. I could just start at a 4, but I wouldhave to provide justification for each 4 and that's not a good use of my time. Which I guess I could use to justify getting a 4 on time management.
- Yep new boss comes along and has to find some things "wrong" with you so the next review after shows growth under their management which makes them look good. Not great for you because every other place asks for your last 3 reviews so now you have to justify some middle management bullshit in order to go anywhere else. Very fun.

It is a lesson I hope you only have to learn once.

My work has been experimenting with a project for about 2 years now and this has been my life since then

Good to know, I have halved my output to keep up with your expectations.

This is why you under promise and barely deliver.

If you increase my workload but don't give me a raise, I quit. Immediately.

Ah, good ole performance punishment.
- Good work is rewarded with more work.

With year end reviews coming up.... This hits hard

If targets are just nonsensical things then they're pointless and should be ignored. The comic illustrates very poor management.

"Wouldn't make your initial targets an example of your poor judgement?"

The Mill (2023)

43 comments