My husband is the finishing supervisor for a custom cabinet shop. He's been with them for almost three years with no problems. About three weeks ago, they hired a new shop supervisor. He happens to be the owners daughters (she works there too) boyfriend. He has management experience, but has never worked in woodworking. The problem is that he's telling my husband to do some things differently, which is fine, except that if he does these things, jobs won't be correct, the pieces will come back and my husband will have to re-do them. These are jobs that take days to complete. (Like a house full of cabinets, bookshelves, trim, etc). Yesterday, he passed a job to my husband and the majority of the pieces were marked for the wrong color. My husband pointed it out to him and it took an arguement for the Supervisor to look at what he marked. He had done it wrong. The Shop Sup. has called a meeting with my husband, the owners, and himself today to discuss my husbands attitude. Help!
2007-08-09 06:34:44 · 8 answers · asked by Wendy B 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Other - Careers & Employment
There have been other problems with the Supervisor also. When pieces are correct and my husband has to send it back to fabrication, the supervisor gives him attitude. So many other things. My husband is not a whiner, not a complainer, he's just generally a good employee who cares about the quality of work he does. He feels like he's being sabotaged. I don't think I've ever seen him so frusterated. He wants to quit.
2007-08-09 06:36:55 · update #1
But should he do these jobs wrong like the supervosor is telling him to and have to do it over???
2007-08-09 06:38:48 · update #2
Honestly he should start looking for another job if he is already being called upon about his attitude. They had clearly already decided that he is an inflexible, troublemaker who responds poorly to change and no matter what he does, he will always have that hanging over his head.
If he wants to stay with this company, he simply needs to do whatever this "boss" tells him to do. He will probably have to work extra hours and correct this morons mistakes too.
Eventually, if he keeps messing up, they will move this new guy into another role with the organization. (Probably a promotion). Either way, I would tell your husband that his number one job is to try to make this new guy look good. Anything else is going to get him fired and ruin his shot at a good recommendation. The plan is probably to move this guy up the ladder into and higher position, and maybe leave the company to him and the daughter after they get married.
It is completely not fair but it is clearly the direction they have decided to go. This is not about business; this is about ensuring a secure future for the owner's daughter. Blood is thicker than water. Look at the bright side maybe the girl will break up with this doofus.
But I would suggest that he look for another job. This new boss doesn't like him and I would bet that in ten years he will be the owner. At this point you only choice is whether it would it be better to look for a job now or then?
As for the suggestions that he keep a paper trail, that is only applicaible is he gets unjustly fired and he sues. When you sue for worngful termination you are technically suing to get your job back. If he chooses this path, he will ruin his good name and waste a ton of time. Also the case will probably not be very strong as they are already creating a paper trail against him (the talk about his attitude) and the judge will be more likey to believe them. I am sorry, it sucks to feel like someone else has all the power in a situation, but in this case I would say you would lose money, face and time by trying to fight the system. Easier to shoose to leave now than throw it all away fighting to maintain a lost working situation.
2007-08-09 06:50:43 · answer #1 · answered by Laurie W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd give it time. It's only been 3 weeks, and your husband's been there 3 years. If he's had no problems before this new guy, the higher-ups should have sense to know what's going on.
Maybe the new guy will get better with time, or maybe he'll decide it's not for him and quit. I'd give it a few months and see if things improve. Your husband can always talk to a supervisor about what he sees as the problem if things don't get better.
2007-08-09 13:39:36 · answer #2 · answered by Laura 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the 'get it in writing' idea. If the new supervisor tells him something, as for it as a written order. Then, when errors pile up he can show the written order to the owners or whoever needs to know.
I also think he should look for another job. Unless they tell the supervisor to back off the situation isn't going to get better. When he finds one, go to the owners and inform honestly why he is leaving.
2007-08-09 13:58:22 · answer #3 · answered by Wundt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your solution is paper trail.
The supervisors product-related requests should be in writing, signed by him. Send alternative ideas via e-mail or other paper-based means, but state clearly that he will complete the job as the manager specifies unless told to do otherwise by xxx time. That way, when something gets *$#(ed up, your husband has the paper trail to back up that it's the supervisors fault.
This might not prevent your husband from getting fired, but it gives him a leg to stand on at the unemployment office. Unfortunately, in small businesses, family has power.
-->Adam
2007-08-09 13:38:19 · answer #4 · answered by great_and_mighty_adam_levine 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If your husband is honest, I think he will be ok. His boss is obviously a jerk and if the shop believes him over your husband then your husband doesn't want to be working there anyway. In that case, it sounds like the company will be going down the drain.
With any luck, they'll listen to your husband and tell the supervisor to shape up.
2007-08-09 13:38:52 · answer #5 · answered by Mel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He just needs to do what he is told.
He needs to document in a notebook everything he is doing and why he feels like what he is being ask to do is incorrect.
If the item is wrong, he can go into his notebook and say look at this, on August 8, 2007, I documented what he did was wrong.
2007-08-09 13:38:55 · answer #6 · answered by holeeycow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bite my toungue. I know its hard, but really there is nothing else to do. If the new supervisor is really bad then the higher up management will soon see his mistakes and hopefully take action.
2007-08-09 13:38:09 · answer #7 · answered by sweetgirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he can line up another job then I would switch, but I think unfortunately those with connections get in a lot even if they're not qualified.
2007-08-09 13:38:14 · answer #8 · answered by secretservice 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋