Workplace Drama (unfinished)

Today’s “daily toolbox” (a point form document which is the minutes from a daily meeting that never happens) included: don’t use “waiting for a call” as an excuse to sit in your truck. There are many small and large projects to do.” So I sensed my influence here. It also included, “Resorct the chain of command. If you have a problem with something, speak with your immediate supervisor.”

This last phrase feels directed at myself, and has caused me some introspection. Have I been bypassing the chain of command? Am I behaving like an upstart, trying to work my way up a hierarchical ladder by developing an inappropriately close relationship with the guy at the top? “Brown-nosing” and “kissing ass,” as they say?

What is very frustrating about this workplace is that there really is no chain of command. Joe is here now, but has been absent for weeks at a time. He has consistently turned down the position of plant manager. Another manager is also here right now, but he is not normally here. The constants here are Roland, and the “big boss,” who has been up a few times. Let’s call him Gary. 

I called Gary because I needed access to a computer. I called everyone else first, called him as a last resort. He asked how things were at the plant, and I said “good,” automatically. When he proved deeper, I mentioned that there were some frustrations. The cross-shift (Kim) was not cleaning or maintaining the trucks. There had been a few incidents, including an unreported accident. He told me to take pictures and let him know in detail about this sort of thing. 

It just so happens that I take pictures of everything at work. Every. Thing. And so I decided to go through the log book for the past month day by day. I just wrote what was written: I had several repairs a day on my shift, whereas Kim had none. I provided pictures of my work. That was it: although it did end up rather a long email. I ended it by saying, “I don’t mind doing most of the maintenance, as I actually enjoy it. But it would be a help if the cross shift could make more of an effort to keep the vehicle clean.”

I sent it to Gary, and also copied Joe and another boss and Roland. The org chart is pretty confusing here. I didn’t want to leave anybody out.

...to be continued...