My Senior Manager at Ernst and Young just scolded me... What should I do???

Question

I am a Staff with Ernst and Young's IT Audit Practice.. I am on a project with a Senior in Minneapolis.. Anyways, when it was time for us to make our flight arrangements, I indicated to my Senior that because there is no direct flight to the airport closest to my house, I may have to take an earlier flight home on Fridays.. My Senior lives near in an airport with a direct flight from Minneapolis.. Anyways, my Senior obliged and I assured him that I could make up the hours from either the plane ride home or over the weekend..
On my way to the airport for my flight back home, I proceed to get a call from my Senior Manager, yelling at me and saying I should have not taken an early flight.. He indicated that the Senior and I are a team and we should be leaving together.. He said he didnt care where I lived and wanted me to take the same flight as my senior.. He said that since the Senior's airport is 2 hours from my house, I could rent a car and drive home.. How is this fair to me???

Why should I be getting home so late just to please the Senior Manager??.. I mean after all, I did assure my Senior that the work would be made up accordingly.. Isn't the policy of Audit Work that it shouldn't matter where you complete the work as long as it is completed???

I understand I have to please my Senior Manager.. But he is asking me to come on a Friday night at 11!!! The Senior arrives at his house by 8.. If I take my original flight home, I get home by 7.. Where is the justice???

Answer 1

I think the key here is your words "make up the HOURS". If you were leaving maybe half an hour early, and maybe taking a short lunch that day to make up for it, it probably wouldn't be a big deal to anyone. But think about it - the client is being billed for two of you being there all week, and you aren't. For all you know, they might have complained to Earnst and Young about your not working the hours they were being billed for. They can't verify that you "made up the hours" while you were somewhere else - and even if you are fairly junior, they're being billed a bundle for your services.

It sounds like your Senior was the one who was most out of line, to approve this in the first place. And frankly, he probably got his butt chewed also by the Senior Manager for it. The Sr Mgr was also out of line if he was really yelling at you, since that's not very professional. It doesn't make sense to be required to take the same flight as your Senior, but not leaving until the end of the workday is not unfair. Frankly, you are out of line to take a job with certain requirements and then whine that you don't want to meet them because it's inconvenient.

If you are going to be a consultant, it's in your interest to live somewhere fairly near a major airport. If that doesn't work for you, then you need to find a different job without the requirement for frequent travel.

I have hired many consultants over the years - and would have been pretty bent out of shape if one of them routinely left hours early but I was still billed for their time for the full day.

Answer 2

Why is it important that you and the senior take the same plane?
Does it cost more to take the earlier flight with the stops, or take the direct flight and rent the car?
Did the project get completed?
I think you should find out the answers to those questions, and try to get to the bottom of the senior manager's problem with this situation.
I say, as long as the work is done properly and in a timely manner, you should be free to go home as you choose. But make sure you get all your paperwork clear as well as your receipts for your travel arrangements.

Answer 3

No it's not fair, but life is often not fair. Did you Senior rat you out?? Do you get monetary compensation for the extra time you spend getting home??? You may have to wait until you get some more time in before you can assert your wishes. At the present time you have someone above you dictating conditions.

Watch their traveling and see if they abide by the same restriction they impose on you.

Answer 4

not fair at all and I suggest it is time you had a "nice friendly chat" with this man. How rude how disrespectful to your specific circumstances. Can he not be a little "flexible" here? I would definitely sit down in a friendly environment privately with him/her and bring it up. State your reasons for your concerns and your issues. Be firm but polite and respectful. If anyone ever called me on a phone and started yelling I would immediately hang up. If they have a problem with that then I would say" be more than willing to discuss this matter face to face without yelling and being embarrassed in public" OR if all else fails turn your phone OFF (you just didn't get that message !)LOL good luck(guy sounds like a moron!)

Answer 5

Get your CA (or CPA), get your hours in for your designation and get the hell out. I used to work for EY and that's what I did and eveyone I know did too. The way they treat you doesn't change, and never will. You're just a number. They only care about making the money and burning you out. Go work for a company where the work is better, the hours better and they truly appreciate you. It will never happen at EY.

Answer 6

Don't stand for it. It smacks of superiority complex and an overgrown child's tantrum and is also highly unprofessional if not unethical in business practise. You have every right to leave earlier if it is more practical, given that you make up the lost hours and it is clear that you are willing to do that...my word! Chin up and do not allow yourself to be manipulated like that...otherwise it will just happen again. Not even the shouting is acceptable. Try and sort it out with your Senior and if their unreasonable behaviour doesn't improve, take it further. Good luck.

Answer 7

Is there one manager here , or two?
It sounds like your "senior" said it was OK with him, then you got a call form his boss, the "senior manager", saying that he didn't like the arrangement.
If that is the case, I would have just told him that my direct supervisor said it was OK, and he would need to take it up with him if it's not.

Answer 8

Why don't you ask your Senior manager exactly that question?

One thing I've learned from many experiences in the work place (this also applies to life in general): if you don't stand up for yourself, no one else will.

Never ever allow anyone to disrespect you - either Senior, Junior or Baby-sized. I promise, if you go with this, you'll never ever need to ask ever again the question you just asked. STAND UP, TAKE IT, AND THROW IT BACK!

Answer 9

Let it go. You will encounter numerous type interactions over the years. It is not worth pursuing unless it becomes a pattern. I have worked for many idiots over the last 15 years. I look back and I have the last laugh.

Answer 10

Your Senior Manager runs the show do what he says to appease him. Now if you become a Senior Manager don't do that to your subordinate ,you fully know it is unfair and it is unnessary ,in other words don't play power.