Work awkward after a misunderstanding

[Anonymous]

There’s something else going on. They think you’re slow and/or incompetent and this is just an example that they can easily point to do they can try to get rid of you.

But if you need to restack printer and empty trash and other things and you have a hard stop because people are waiting then you need to start before the meeting is finished. Or are you taking minutes too?

[Anonymous]

Your boss is petty. Also, this sounds like a really weird work environment, where people are constantly loading the printer and emptying the trash before leaving a space?

[Anonymous]

This sounds like horrible management, poor leadership skills, poor communication skills, and a generally disorganized work environment. Look for another job. This isn't going to get better. Until then, just keep your head down and do your best.

[Anonymous]

It’s awkward because he was a jerk and made himself look petty and dumb.

Keep doing your work and ignore him and the other group. This too shall pass!

They probably aren’t thinking about it as much as you think they are

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP, but you need to find a new job. I would not be ok with that kind of treatment, at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of this sounds so petty and I feel like all of you - the boss, you, the department head, the people starting the next “shift” — are grossly overreacting to what is basically a one time thing that wasn’t that important in the first place.

You don’t know how to act? Act like you always did, except if you liked your boss before, now you don’t because you realize he’s a jerk. But don’t give it away that you don’t like him; just continue to do your job as best you can for however long you work there.

Seems like there's context missing. Like what if OP is working in a lab, working with diseases like Ebola etc? In circumstances like that, following strict protocols is very important. Ask Wuhan lab employees.

Just impossible to tell whether they are being petty or not just based on the info OP is providing.

[Anonymous]

Op this is ridiculous. Your boss is a total loser and a baby. What boss reports their own report to hr? For nothing? Unreal. Gtfo is my advice

[Anonymous]

OP, start looking for a new job. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of this sounds so petty and I feel like all of you - the boss, you, the department head, the people starting the next “shift” — are grossly overreacting to what is basically a one time thing that wasn’t that important in the first place.

You don’t know how to act? Act like you always did, except if you liked your boss before, now you don’t because you realize he’s a jerk. But don’t give it away that you don’t like him; just continue to do your job as best you can for however long you work there.

Seems like there's context missing. Like what if OP is working in a lab, working with diseases like Ebola etc? In circumstances like that, following strict protocols is very important. Ask Wuhan lab employees.

Just impossible to tell whether they are being petty or not just based on the info OP is providing.

+1. The follow up about a niche science area makes me wonder if some of these are safety things (e.g., checking radiation levels) or things that would affect ongoing experiments (e.g., checking temperature of something, returning it to fridge). If we’re really talking copy paper and printer reams, this is absurd. But it’s so absurd that I also wonder if there’s important contextual info missing.

[Anonymous]

If someone at my work behaved like OP’s boss, they would be fired or at the very least placed in some type of coaching program. I can’t believe people are second-guessing OP. Even if OP made a terrible mistake, they do not deserve to be spoken to that way and reported for a single time error.

OP, you should speak to your department head about how terribly your boss behaved and has continued behaving since the incident. If they take action, great. Otherwise move on.

[Anonymous]

^ Also, OP, have you spoken to your boss one-on-one since that incident? “Mark, I’m sorry about what happened. It was the result of miscommunication. But I would appreciate if you could behave professionally with me from now on.” Who the F does he think he is, being a “jerk” to you?