Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 18:25     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
OP you're definitely getting fired. Are these two employees black by any chance? If so, your leadership was shocked because you're going to be sued.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 18:13     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:OP must be a troll. No one is this stupid. Stop feeding the troll.


He is a "famous on DCUM" troll. J1J2J3
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 18:09     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
OP must be a troll. No one is this stupid. Stop feeding the troll.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 18:06     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:I hope they find new jobs elsewhere.


You so funny. One of them I found out got fired last two jobs. They stay like cockroaches till shown the door. I was told staff like this do bare minimum not to get fired. They dont care about raises or promotions. They yes you to death, shuffle papers and when it catches up there a million low level jobs they get another one and usually a pay jump. In fact one actually told me other than small cost of living increases every pay jump he got was switching jobs.

Did not really talk to the today as I am filling out a job application myself. I reinvented myself as an AI expert and even spoke at two conferences recently. My company actually allows outside employment on Boards or part time jobs.

It has come to point I will ignore them four days a week going forward since I cant offer advice and they don't want to learn I will just give them tasks have a weekly meeting and just check their progress. If fall too far behind PIP them. To be honest if I get 10-15 hours a week work out of them is enough. They are like if I entered my garage man in a figure skating competition. What is point of even attempting to train the Garbage man.

Or I can just hire someone like I did at one job to watch them and I just deal with that person. I used to not talk to my staff about work for months at a time at one point. sometimes I talk to them about work 2-3 hours a year. But hard to find a good second fiddle to do my dirty work.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 16:39     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
I hope they find new jobs elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 16:39     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Was I wrong in saying this in a performance review?

Apparently HR flagged me off the record I am "expecting too much my staff" and my expectations are different their expectations.

Two people who work in my dept (which I like and think they have potential) both around 36-38 add very little value, clock watchers and work at a certain DC Govt type pace and are not critical thinkers. But both expressed interest in what they need to do to move up.

Looking at their resumes since college graduation around 2010 they both took BS jobs in small places with easy work life balance, and then went full remote in 2020 and now hybrid just two days a week in office in a place with no set in person days so on average at best 40 percent of company even at work on their two days. Both in my opinion are operating at knowledge level of a 23-24 year old two to three years out of school if they graduated and went straight to full time five days a week in office at a JP Morgan, Goldman, Google, Microsoft, Capital One, Fannie Mae or Big 4 type company.

I was being honest. I cant teach these two staff at 36-38 a decade of knowledge and their work ethic is horrible as not being in the office since 2020 is six years now. And pre that they had little punch the clock cubical jobs.

I was being honest they should go somewhere else, find a in person job. Large company name brand company with mentorship model and training and do the 2-3 years and if they want then come back as a VP or even SVP my company.

Apparently I shocked them. Was I wrong? Best advice I ever got was 30 years years ago I joined Finance dept at a major bank (HSBC) apparently I was way in over my head. The Controller took me aside and said look you are way behind and you dont know what you are doing but I believe in you. But we don't have time or resources to catch you up. You should go to a Big 4 firm, work your butt off, get the training, do a few years and come back. Guess what I did that.

Was I wrong to basically tell them to get a real job? Or is it just a thing that should not be said even if true. One even admitted he gets a job, stays 2-3 years does a lateral for a raise. He never really learned any company. And he is at same level the last decade. He has the job title of a 24 year old at 38. Or maybe he has a low IQ or limitations or just lazy? I guess I will never know. I am banned from offering actual advice.



I'm not sure anyone as illiterate as you appear to be should be lecturing others on professionalism. Wow.


Absolutely agree. I could barely read that drivel.


Agreed. Op, are you TRYING to get fired?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 16:35     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Was I wrong in saying this in a performance review?

Apparently HR flagged me off the record I am "expecting too much my staff" and my expectations are different their expectations.

Two people who work in my dept (which I like and think they have potential) both around 36-38 add very little value, clock watchers and work at a certain DC Govt type pace and are not critical thinkers. But both expressed interest in what they need to do to move up.

Looking at their resumes since college graduation around 2010 they both took BS jobs in small places with easy work life balance, and then went full remote in 2020 and now hybrid just two days a week in office in a place with no set in person days so on average at best 40 percent of company even at work on their two days. Both in my opinion are operating at knowledge level of a 23-24 year old two to three years out of school if they graduated and went straight to full time five days a week in office at a JP Morgan, Goldman, Google, Microsoft, Capital One, Fannie Mae or Big 4 type company.

I was being honest. I cant teach these two staff at 36-38 a decade of knowledge and their work ethic is horrible as not being in the office since 2020 is six years now. And pre that they had little punch the clock cubical jobs.

I was being honest they should go somewhere else, find a in person job. Large company name brand company with mentorship model and training and do the 2-3 years and if they want then come back as a VP or even SVP my company.

Apparently I shocked them. Was I wrong? Best advice I ever got was 30 years years ago I joined Finance dept at a major bank (HSBC) apparently I was way in over my head. The Controller took me aside and said look you are way behind and you dont know what you are doing but I believe in you. But we don't have time or resources to catch you up. You should go to a Big 4 firm, work your butt off, get the training, do a few years and come back. Guess what I did that.

Was I wrong to basically tell them to get a real job? Or is it just a thing that should not be said even if true. One even admitted he gets a job, stays 2-3 years does a lateral for a raise. He never really learned any company. And he is at same level the last decade. He has the job title of a 24 year old at 38. Or maybe he has a low IQ or limitations or just lazy? I guess I will never know. I am banned from offering actual advice.



I'm not sure anyone as illiterate as you appear to be should be lecturing others on professionalism. Wow.


Absolutely agree. I could barely read that drivel.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 16:29     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Tell me you don't know how to manage people without telling me you don't know how to manage people.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 16:19     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Even PwC has realized their smaller locations can’t train staff.

The Big Four firm has cut the number of US locations where entry-level consultants can start working from 72 down to 13. Associates will spend around two years at one of the 13 locations before they can relocate.

Limiting the options is about building a greater sense of community among junior employees early in their careers and boosting the learning experience, Yolanda Seals-Coffield, chief people and inclusion officer for PwC US, told Business Insider.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 15:37     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you work with people who don't have real jobs what does that say about you?


It says I am in charge of Herding Cats. I know statistically 90 percent of people at any company are cube dwellers with low ambitions. Whiich is why any place I ever worked there were at best 10 percent high paying roles.

I just have been very very fortunate to have the top 10 percent of people work for me in the past. I still mentor and guide prior employees and I still stay in touch prior bosses who have mentored and guided me.

I have at least 50 people who worked for me who are now Big 4 Partners, SVP, EVPs etc. I also have old bosses who went on to be CEOs, Billionaires start non-profits, join boards. I guess I am spoiled as I assumed everyone was like that. I was told I have too much expectations and to let it be.

Then again I also am thankful I almost said to one you should go get a real degree. Third or fourth tier collegs you really need a masters or MBA a name brand in person school to offset it a University of Phoenix type undergrad degree.



So you're saying you're the problem. Got it. You have a Fake Job Herding Cats. You are not contributing to society in any moral or concrete way. You should just resign in shame.

Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 15:27     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you work with people who don't have real jobs what does that say about you?


It says I am in charge of Herding Cats.


That doesn't sound like a real job
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 15:26     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:If you work with people who don't have real jobs what does that say about you?


It says I am in charge of Herding Cats. I know statistically 90 percent of people at any company are cube dwellers with low ambitions. Whiich is why any place I ever worked there were at best 10 percent high paying roles.

I just have been very very fortunate to have the top 10 percent of people work for me in the past. I still mentor and guide prior employees and I still stay in touch prior bosses who have mentored and guided me.

I have at least 50 people who worked for me who are now Big 4 Partners, SVP, EVPs etc. I also have old bosses who went on to be CEOs, Billionaires start non-profits, join boards. I guess I am spoiled as I assumed everyone was like that. I was told I have too much expectations and to let it be.

Then again I also am thankful I almost said to one you should go get a real degree. Third or fourth tier collegs you really need a masters or MBA a name brand in person school to offset it a University of Phoenix type undergrad degree.

Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 14:11     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
If you work with people who don't have real jobs what does that say about you?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 14:01     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, you were clearly wrong. I hope you are trolling us but if not, they should fire you. Really.

- manager


So you are saying treat staff like Mushrooms? Keep them in the dark.

Look I recall the say (many many many years ago) when I made Manager in the Big 4. I was all bright eyed and naive. We went to Florida for new manager training. Was like 500 of us nationwide. The senior partner at start said I want 50 of you to stand up. Some in room pointed to one or two rows holding 50 people to stand up. The other 450 of us was left sitting.

He then said only one out of 10 new managers make it to partner. The reality is 90 percent of you sitting wont be here in 5 years. You need to really step up our game, learn, sell and add value just to make it to next level and then even more to make Partner.

I dont think it is a good thing for someone only 35 who had 30 years to retirement to give up on them. Next thing you know you are 50 in a blink of an eye. And the job market for 50-60 is a fierce market where unless you are a true SME or made it to VP or higher when let go you most likely will never work again.

Sadly the 35 year olds somehow dont think they ever will be 50 plus. Once you break 55 you are essentially a hired gun. You get hired to do stuff ASAP with no training at all and as soon as done you are out the door. Or not hired at all. My expectations were too high.

Remember the famous movie The Blob. In it a creature is killing everyone in the remote Artic compound in Dead of winter with sub zero temps where they are cut off from any rescue. In the end in a mass fire fight they realize they could kill it via fire. In the end only two men are left and all buildings are burning and creature dead. One man turns to the other and says thank God we killed it but now what once the fires go out we have no buildings and no heat source and we are in the Artic circle. The man holds out his hands, warms them by the fire and says we will worr your that once the fire goes out.

That is basically a 35 year old today thinking about 50.


You should provide feedback (positive and negative) in professional way. Clearly you didn't do that. And stop telling condescending stories. You are so full of yourself, you can't see your own belly.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 13:32     Subject: I told my staff to get a Real Job
Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to be fired for that.

+1!