Afraid of getting fired

[Anonymous]

Today my boss reprimanded me because:

He didn't like the font I used (Times instead of Calibri)
He doesn't like a comma after company name, inc.
He didn't like the hard returns I put in the document and,

He asked me to schedule a meeting, and when I tried to double check some proposed times with him, he got mad that I asked instead of checking the public calendar.

I know you don't know him but, do you think he's just having a bad day? Should I be looking for a new job?

I'm usually considered pretty competent but I just don't seem to be able to please him. He gets very focused on trivial details....

I actually like my job and my company but I am wondering if I should be looking. He's scaring me.....

[Anonymous]

I would say it is always a good idea to be doing some casual networking when you have a job so you are not completely caught off guard if you are let go. He might just be having a bad day but if you notice a pattern of continuing criticism coming from him (and he wasn't previously like this) then that might be a sign. Good luck and hope everything turns out okay.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like male PMS - and I can relate.

I wouldn't stress, because stress will lead to mistakes, etc., but agree with PP, it's always a good idea to have an updated resume and a few prospects, even if it's just a wish list of organizations to work for, a few good contacts, or some job search sites URLs handy.

Someone above him is probably putting the fire under him, he is under pressure, taking it out on you. Be professional and don't take it personally. Hope your day gets better!!!

[Anonymous]

Wow, if you had said it was a she instead of a he, I would swear you were working at a place I used to work. And, unfortunately, it did lead to me being asked to leave -- the fifth person in 6 months who that particular supervisor had run off. It was a total railroad. HR knew she was a problem but because the higher-ups liked her, couldn't do much about it.

The more important question is (hard to ask in this economy, I know) do you want to work for someone who treats you this way? If it's a one-time occurrence, okay, but how often is that the case? I would start looking for something else if I were you. How long have you worked there?

[Anonymous]

I think that your boss is just having a bad day so I would not worry about it.

BTW, two additional thoughts.

1. The comma in the company name should not be a matter of dispute, if there isn't one in the name then I see why he would get a bit miffed. Also for certain companies that is not a "trivial detail".
2. If he has a calendar you really should check it, i would have been miffed about that one too.


Hope tomorrow is a better day.

[Anonymous]

What is your position with this company? Your job duties might actually influence responses.

But, I agree that generally it never hurts to see what else is out there.

[Anonymous]

you should tell him you are pregnant if he tries to fire you.

[Anonymous]

If you had written "she" instead of "he", I might have thought you were talking about me, except that my problem employee left us a few months ago. But your whiny, self-righteous tone (trivializing the importance of getting things right) sure sounds like her. While very personable, she refused to take the initiative on any project, had a million complicated excuses for why she missed deadlines, and refused to accept responsibility for even the most blatant errors--somehow anything that happened was due to someone else screwing something up--so her mistakes were actually someone else's fault. No one liked working with this woman--who enjoys being around a lazy complainer who expects the rest of the team to pick up her slack? We welcomed this woman's replacement with open arms and couldn't be happier with the new person, who meets deadlines, offers lots of interesting new ideas, and the one time a minor mistake occurred, took full responsibility and set about making things right.

My feeling is that you are probably on a mental list of people your boss doesn't enjoy working with, and you should start looking for a new job.

[Anonymous]

the PP is a jerk. nothing in the OP's post described anything material or lazy or incompetent. just stupid nitpicking.

[Anonymous]

Yes, what's your position?

If you're his secretary/admin assistant and your job is to make sure all the T's are crossed and the i's dotted, then it's reasonable for him to be annoyed that you're not getting it done. Is there a standard format for memos, etc, where they are always done on the same template, same font, etc. that you are supposed to be using? The company name should not be up for debate - there's a comma or there's not. I admit I am a serious nitpicker, but I'm an attorney and people in my office regularly ask me to proof their stuff for just that reason - so if I had a subordinate giving me sloppy work, I'd be annoyed. And the poor presentation would undermine my confidence in the quality of the work product.

Now, if your position is such that he should have been primarily focused on the substance, not the form, of your document, perhaps he could have cut you a little more slack. But to some people, those little things always matter a lot and they distract to the point of annoyance.

[Anonymous]

hopefully he's just having a bad day!

and just be glad you don't work for 16:06 PP. He/she sounds like a horrible, nasty, bitter manager. I wouldn't equate "not liking a font i used" to being a "whiny complainer." Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

16:06 is a nightmare. my guess is he/she has no personality so wouldnt know "personable" if it hit them on the head.

let's look at the petty complaints:

He didn't like the font I used (Times instead of Calibri). Who woudl possibly care? And if they did care, I assume you then changed the document.

He doesn't like a comma after company name, inc. Either he is right or you are right. Curious as to who.

He didn't like the hard returns I put in the document. Not sure what this means. I think you know enough how to use spacing.

and,

He asked me to schedule a meeting, and when I tried to double check some proposed times with him, he got mad that I asked instead of checking the public calendar. Given that most people forget to use the public calendar, or that it may not be up-to-date, it is ALWASY best to check wtih everyone before assuming the public calendar is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the PP is a jerk. nothing in the OP's post described anything material or lazy or incompetent. just stupid nitpicking.

...but I have hiring and firing authority, and if you're going to work in my department as an AA, you'd better get the company's trade name and standard communications font right, and know how to schedule some meetings using the public calendar search function on MSOutlook without needing to bother me with the details of it...or else you will replaced. Enjoy your severance payment, cause you're not getting a positive reference!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, what's your position?

If you're his secretary/admin assistant and your job is to make sure all the T's are crossed and the i's dotted, then it's reasonable for him to be annoyed that you're not getting it done. Is there a standard format for memos, etc, where they are always done on the same template, same font, etc. that you are supposed to be using? The company name should not be up for debate - there's a comma or there's not. I admit I am a serious nitpicker, but I'm an attorney and people in my office regularly ask me to proof their stuff for just that reason - so if I had a subordinate giving me sloppy work, I'd be annoyed. And the poor presentation would undermine my confidence in the quality of the work product.

[Anonymous]

17:27, did you have a comment? Not sure I understand why you bolded some of the quoted text.