Why do supervisors/managers act this way toward their employees?

Question

I've worked at my places, especially fast food. Why is that people over you carry a chip on their shoulder thinking that they can treat you however they want to treat you? Like one day, I wasnt feeling good emotionally at work because I was having problems at home and my manager said something to me that made me even more upset. I made a facial expression, but not towards him though and I guess that got him offended. I mean, if he noticed me acting unusual, why couldnt he come up to me and asked me what was wrong or if there was anything that he could do to help me instead of being defensive. It doesnt hurt to ask your employees what's wrong with them if they're acting unusual.

Answer 1

A supervisor's job is not to be your emotional support person. His/her job is make certain that you do your job well. As an employee, you need to leave your personal problems at the front door of your place of employment. That's the litmus test for a mature adult -- the ability to compartmentalize your life.

If you went home to your family after a hard day at work and made a face at your mother, chances are, she wouldn't be all that sympathetic either.

Personally, I hate speaking on the phone. I mean I REALLY hate it. But part of my job involves helping reps in the field deal with their problems. So when the phone rings, I pause for one second, smile at it, then pick it up. The person on the other end of the phone seems to feel that smile, and the call goes well. Neither the rep nor my boss care about the fact that I hate talking on the phone. That's not their problem, it's mine. And I try very hard to leave that problem outside of my office.

Try smiling before you go into work, even if you're not feeling happy. It can carry over for the rest of the day. Just don't try laying you personal problems on your boss.

Answer 2

Sometimes it is helpful to remind the manager of his/her behavior and what it does to you. A research conducted few years ago pointed that #1 reason for people to join or leave a job is money, however a very close #2 reason was manager quality. It is the responsibility of employee to take charge of the situation if the manager is oblivious to this short coming. One way to provide good feedback to manager is describing the situation in a STAR format-
SITUATION --- " that day when I was feeling...."
TASK ---- "you said ....."
ACTION ---- " I felt worse as your words hurt me further......"
RESULT ---- " my work suffered ......... hence next time it would help if you show some empathy and reflect understanding of your employee's feelings"

REMEBER - giving and recieving feedback is always difficult, STAR way makes it easier as you can't argue facts --- there are no HARD feelings this way !

Cheer up, it might be that the Manager was having an equally bad day :-)

Answer 3

as an ex manager in a fast food place I can tell you we are told to be that way towards the employees. I don't agree with it now and didn't then thats why I don't work fast food anymore. I more than once was reprimanded for being "overly" nice to an employee or helping them when they needed a willing ear. or maybe your manager is really a jerk and doesn't care

Answer 4

Well, honestly I have been through that situation...but managers expect you to leave your personal drama at home and get in to working mode once you step in to work. They should ask how their employees are doing but most dont. Actually a female at my job quit because of a similar situation...I don't suggest you do that. I think maybe you should talk to someone at your job about it but then again it's unlikely that your supervisor will turn into a caring supervisor overnight.

Answer 5

Supervisors and Managers have a lot of pressure on them everyday. They are responsible for everything and everyone. They are not allowed to have an off day. So I guess many think that if they can't have an off day, why should their employees.

I wouldn't take it personal as everyone has a job to do. If not, then they won't have a job.

Answer 6

Usually, managers at lower-paying (non-professional) jobs were formally low-paid workers themselves. They probably had the same stressors and took the same abuse from managers before them, but held in their frustrations so they could advance to their current middle-management position. Now that they are in somewhat of a "power position," they sometimes choose to vent their pent-up frustrations on the workers they are now supervising (i.e. in-control-of). Middle management is rarely a good position be in...even in professional occupations, and can be even more stressful and frustration than being at the bottom levels of the company. Often the best technique for handling low-level managers with attitude problems is to be kind and courteous around them. Let them know that you don't see them as an "outsider," and you are willing to help assure that things go smoothly for them. Often they will reciprocate and help to make things go more smoothly for you as well :)
Good luck!

Answer 7

You should understand that managers are paid to run the business and often cannot afford to neglect their duties.It's nothing personal just business is business.When you clock out at the end of the day you don't take work home with you do you?No,you leave work at work.The same goes for your job.Leave personal stuff at home and don't bring it to work. Unless it's a real emergency then you can talk to your boss and explain the situation.Most boss's are understanding of true problem and will work with you to a point.

Answer 8

No because if they did they would not have had a Republican effort to block the Auto Industry Bail out urged by the White House. At the same time I wonder if that was not "Just for show" to perpetuate the illusion that the two super parties are separate and different when in reality, behind the scenes, they are two sides of the same coin. Each appear different but neither are worth the cooper they are imprinted on when it comes to serving the interests of "We the people."

Answer 9

No matter we hat the manager should be respectful to all employees. You can show a strong presence and ask your employees in a better way to work. A

Answer 10

I've never been a beleiver in negative incentive.

It's something Army tries to instill in you and maybe it works for fighting to the death, but it don't work for work!

Everyone needs a pat on the back somtimes. This negative stuff is for the birds!