My boss is an Idiot rant...

[Airbozo]

SO here is a story that will cause some concern and laughter.

An Intel server system came back from a customer due to not powering on. We put it on the bench and sure enough, no leds, and the power switch did nothing. Now I know this system was working since I signed the burn in qa checklist. We check everything and decide the motherboard failed.

While doing the troubleshooting I inadvertently stuck my thumb in one of the cooling fans, cut my thumb below the nail and busted off one of the blades on the fan. So I tell the purchaser to order a motherboard and fan. I proceed to write up a CAR (an ISO report) and wait for the parts.

The stager brings me the box from Intel and when I open it there is only the motherboard. I have my guys start the motherboard swap and go ask the purchaser what happened to the fan. He tells me my boss told him not to order the fan since it could be fixed. I hit the roof.

I asked him why he did that and he started treating me like a child informing me than the fan can be fixed. I disagreed, telling him one of the fan blades was broken off and nothing he did would be able to solve that. He shoo's me away and starts working on this broken fan. Meanwhile I get on the phone to order a fan (another cluster frack that ends up taking over 4 hours just for a fan). In the back ground I hear him dorking with the system and I have to keep shutting it down and pushing him out of the way so I can get part numbers and serial numbers.

He is getting pissed at me for getting in his way and I remind him he is wasting his time trying to fix a broken fan. He tells me I am wrong and that he has already fixed the fan and is testing it. Turns out his "fix" was to break off another blade to even out the balance... He couldn't grasp the fact that this is a customers system and a broken fan is a broken fan and has to be replaced! He spent 3 hours playing with that damn broken fan and still thinks it is fixed!?! Since he told the purchaser to cancel the fan order, it took me a half a day to deal with it and I am now half a day behind...

Sometimes peoples stupidity just freaking amazes me!

I am now talking with the VP and GM of the company to get this guy OUT of here...

[msmrx57]

3 hour screwing around trying to "fix" a what $15 fan? Hell I'm a cheap bastard and even I would screw around with that if it was my own system.

[Snowman]

3 hour screwing around trying to "fix" a what $15 fan? Hell I'm a cheap bastard and even I wouldn't screw around with that if it was my own system.

fixed... and I would never spend that much time on it either just replace the fan and move on with life.

[Trace]

Time is money as they say. 3 hours is definitely more than 15$

[Airbozo]

Well to be honest the fan is over $35. It's an odd sized Delta Fan.

...but this is for a very high profile customer (multi-billion $ company). If I sent that system back with his "fixed" fan, they would quickly cancel all orders and send back all the servers we have sold them in the last year.

All the wasted time aside, I am just astonished that he still thinks it is fixed...

[TheGreatSatan]

Ah, balancing. How clever :facepalm:

[Luke122]

LOL.. Airbozo for President!

[x88x]

Maybe this is why most fan manufacturers use an odd number of blades...no possible way of some idiot doing that. :facepalm:

[Snowman]

Why not just glue one or two bb's where the fan blade broke always worked to add that needed weight to the front of a derby car.

[Luke122]

Why not just glue one or two bb's where the fan blade broke always worked to add that needed weight to the front of a derby car.

LOL.. and when they let go, and fly into the guts of a $100k cluster, hilarity ensues. :D

[Snowman]

Wait wait wait.... let's just liquid cool the b!tch.

[BuzzKillington]

I would **** a brick if I sent in a server for a dead mobo and it came back with a ghetto-rigged fan. I would demand shipping both ways to have it replaced and I'd take my business elsewhere after that. Your boss is more than an idiot; Your boss is a liability.

[blueonblack]

Your boss is more than an idiot; Your boss is a liability.

This.

But then, you knew that.

[ownaginatious]

lol, I've broken off at least half of the blades on my computer's fan. Super glue works :D.

Breaking off another blade to fix it seems like a retarded idea, and I agree, since the fan didn't come in broken, it should be completely replaced.

[StormRider]

I'd probably stare at the fan thinking "what the **** is this?" until it caught fire.
Then I'd take a fan out of the pile and put it on:D

[Oneslowz28]

Your boss must have been a former Dell or Compaq design engineer.

[Trace]

Lol!

[Airbozo]

...Your boss is more than an idiot; Your boss is a liability.


This.

But then, you knew that.

Yes. They keep offering me his position, but I don't want it. I would prefer to stay a design engineer and program manager. In a meeting yesterday he was frustrated at something and told the GM he wants to resign his position because he doesn't want to be responsible for anything that happens here. The GM told him that if he resigned as manager, there wouldn't be any other position for him since he lacks the skills required to be a technician. I was not in that meeting but I was told he was flabbergasted and shut up. The GM told me later he is working on his reveiw and will probably put him on probation with a 3 month update. If he does not improve he is gone (Yeah right, I have heard that before).

He come in this morning kissing my ass playing nicey nicey to me. I kept looking in his other hand for the knife.

[Oneslowz28]

Yea watch that back!

[msmrx57]

He come in this morning kissing my ass playing nicey nicey to me. I kept looking in his other hand for the knife.

Yea watch that back!

Keep doing that. D-bags like that don't like to go down alone. But on the plus side at least the GM knows he's incompetent.

[Drum Thumper]

what? He doesn't have the skills to be a tech, but yet he's a manager? And yet we wonder why the rest of the world seems to hate the USA.

[Airbozo]

what? He doesn't have the skills to be a tech, but yet he's a manager? And yet we wonder why the rest of the world seems to hate the USA.

To be honest, he knows a lot more about the SUN systems than anyone here. Too bad we don't sell too many of them anymore.

He is going to have his nuts in a vice over the next few weeks as we conduct our internal audits in preparation for our REAL ISO audit in December. He is already cracking and the audits haven't started yet. He tried to make me the person in charge of dealing with the auditors, but they would have none of it. He is the manager and is responsible for the department.

He is in a panic right now and that is not helping him either...

[dr.walrus]

Put a 24 volt power supply across the fan, fry it, and blame him for it when the server burns out

[Oneslowz28]

I think Terry handled this the correct way. When your boss does something stupid or endangers the reputation of the company, you should always go over his head and let upper management know whats going on.

Sabotage as dr.walrus posted is the completely wrong way to go about things.

[x88x]

Yup. Always better to let someone else hang themselves than try and make them look worse and risk getting caught holding the bag. ;)

[nevermind1534]

Sabotage as dr.walrus posted is the completely wrong way to go about things.

I took that more as being sarcastic, but it's impossible to tell on the internet.

[x88x]

I took that more as being sarcastic

I agree, but that doesn't mean we can't take it out of context. ;)

[mDust]

I agree, but that doesn't mean we can't take it out of context. ;)

Indeed. I killed a guy once because I didn't realize everyone telling me to do it was being sarcastic. We really need a sarcasm punctuation mark on the internet. Just to make it doubly clear, you should not sabotage your boss. Be patient as he's already sabotaging himself.:)

[artoodeeto]

hmmm....rather than get first aid, did your boss perhaps suggest you cut your other thumb to balance things out?

[Luke122]

hmmm....rather than get first aid, did your boss perhaps suggest you cut your other thumb to balance things out?

OMG awesome. :) I LOL'd.

[Airbozo]

I took that more as being sarcastic, but it's impossible to tell on the internet.

I think one of my past signatures (yes a quote from Frank Zappa), says it best:

“The computer can't tell you the emotional story. It can give you the exact mathematical design, but what's missing is the eyebrows.”

[Airbozo]

hmmm....rather than get first aid, did your boss perhaps suggest you cut your other thumb to balance things out?

lol!

[x88x]

hmmm....rather than get first aid, did your boss perhaps suggest you cut your other thumb to balance things out?

Exactly! And if he timed it just right, he could break off the other fanblade at the same time and kill two birds with one stone! :P

[Xpirate]

Things would be pretty bad if the customer sees those broken off fan blades.

Since all they did was put him on probation, that guy might be part of a protected class of folks at your job. I've seen people like that at my jobs.

[dr.walrus]

Sabotage as dr.walrus posted is the completely wrong way to go about things.

Jesus Christ, some people don't have a sense of humour at all.

Did you honestly think I was suggesting that?

[mDust]

Jesus Christ, some people don't have a sense of humour at all.

Did you honestly think I was suggesting that?

Maybe. Or perhaps the first post was actually serious and this is the sarcastic one?..:think:

[dr.walrus]

Maybe. Or perhaps the first post was actually serious and this is the sarcastic one?..:think:

...

:facepalm:

[msmrx57]

Yup. there is a DEFINITE need for an indicator of sarcasm like the " " signifies a quote. Of course there are people who don't get sarcasm even when you hit 'em upside the head.

[dr.walrus]

Yup. there is a DEFINITE need for an indicator of sarcasm like the " " signifies a quote. Of course there are people who don't get sarcasm even when you hit 'em upside the head.

You know, this is possibly even more insulting to everyone on the site than "this person is saying something BAD. Don't do it!"

It's not like everyone on this site has autism and doesn't understand basic language concepts...

[mDust]

You know, this is possibly even more insulting to everyone on the site than "this person is saying something BAD. Don't do it!"

It's not like everyone on this site has autism and doesn't understand basic language concepts...

Actually, a lot of meaning in most languages is contained in the spoken inflection, which is lost in text. Sarcasm is one of those meanings that completely lost. The only way it can be understood is by certain contextual clues. Sometimes, there aren't enough clues...such as a short response or several possible meanings. I'd give examples but I'm lazy. Another problem is that the writer knows what s/he means and assumes everyone else is thinking exactly what they (the writer) are thinking and are privy to all contextual information which almost never is the case. Sometimes one can tell sarcasm just by who posted the text. (Looking at you dr.walrus :D)

The need for a sarcasm-mark on the internet is a real one. [Not being sarcastic]

[dr.walrus]

Actually, a lot of meaning in most languages is contained in the spoken inflection, which is lost in text.

Really? I didn't know that!

See, it's pretty obvious...

[Trace]

See, I didn't get sarcasm out of that post until I saw the small text....

[mDust]

See, I didn't get sarcasm out of that post until I saw the small text....

No, see, he didn't actually know that. It's the tiny text that's the sarcasm. I think... :?

[Trace]

Yeah, I'm lost. Either one of those could be the sarcastic bit...

[slaveofconvention]

Hmm Trace, are you being sarcastic?

[Trace]

See? It IS hard to tell! :P

[Datech]

Epic threadjack guys...

Terry, stay far far away from him when the auditors are around. All it takes is you turning the corner at the wrong moment for him to blame something really bad on you.

[Airbozo]

Epic threadjack guys...

Terry, stay far far away from him when the auditors are around. All it takes is you turning the corner at the wrong moment for him to blame something really bad on you.

Well, I am a HUGE believer in CYA. And believe me I have. The only thing any one around here can blame on me are those things I have already taken credit for. Success or failure.

One of the bad things about this, is that since I am the SR Engineer around here and the tech lead of the department, my boss can call on me to answer certain process related questions. If I am wrong or have no answer, it is still on him, not me. For example; during our internal audit he got written up because my training records are non existent. This is his fault, not mine according to ISO. We actually were not sure how to fill out my training records and that is why they are blank. It comes down to what ISO calls "Core Competency". Since I am a SR Engineer it is OK for me to fill out my own training records with no trainer. It is acceptable for me to read a procedure and consider that training, since I have the core competency to read and understand work instructions. Since I also write work instructions, once I write them, I am trained on them. Funny stuff.

BTW, he must have gotten a talking to since he has been kissing my hiney since yesterday... As much as I dislike incompetency, I hate ass kissers even more.


BTW: I love the off topic sarcasm banter...

[Oneslowz28]

I do not care too much for ass kissers either. It's almost insulting at times. I had to fire a guy the other week for drug use (pot) and ever since, one of the guys on our crew has been kissing my ass every time he sees me. He knows its only time until hes gone too.

[Airbozo]

I do not care too much for ass kissers either. It's almost insulting at times. I had to fire a guy the other week for drug use (pot) and ever since, one of the guys on our crew has been kissing my ass every time he sees me. He knows its only time until hes gone too.

Funny you should mention this. We just put a guy on probation for coming to work stoned. He pulled out his medical marijuana card and told us it was OK to "take medicine" while at work. HR had to remind him that taking any drugs that impair you ability to do your job is not allowed even if they are prescription drugs. They were just going to give him a warning, but he pushed it and refused to back down. We got confirmation from the labor board that we DO NOT have to allow him to smoke illegal drugs while working. He still argued it and was given a 3 day suspension and 90 days on probation with the warning that if he comes back to work stoned he is gone.

[SXRguyinMA]

some people are just idiots :facepalm:

[Airbozo]

some people are just idiots :facepalm:

Fact.

It seems like my company has more than it's fair share...

[SXRguyinMA]

lol

[mDust]

Well, I am a HUGE believer in CYA. And believe me I have. The only thing any one around here can blame on me are those things I have already taken credit for. Success or failure.

One of the bad things about this, is that since I am the SR Engineer around here and the tech lead of the department, my boss can call on me to answer certain process related questions. If I am wrong or have no answer, it is still on him, not me. For example; during our internal audit he got written up because my training records are non existent. This is his fault, not mine according to ISO. We actually were not sure how to fill out my training records and that is why they are blank. It comes down to what ISO calls "Core Competency". Since I am a SR Engineer it is OK for me to fill out my own training records with no trainer. It is acceptable for me to read a procedure and consider that training, since I have the core competency to read and understand work instructions. Since I also write work instructions, once I write them, I am trained on them. Funny stuff.


I wish I could just train myself each time I obtain a new job or position. I'm tired of being treated like an imbecile until I prove otherwise, and even then not being treated any differently. It's society's fault really...if the majority of people would stop being so stupid all the time, employers and management wouldn't have to assume brain damage in each new employee.

EDIT: I changed 'societies' to 'society's' several hours after posting it. Why? Because I knew it was wrong and it was bothering me. Ignorance would have been bliss...

[dr.walrus]

Funny you should mention this. We just put a guy on probation for coming to work stoned. He pulled out his medical marijuana card and told us it was OK to "take medicine" while at work. HR had to remind him that taking any drugs that impair you ability to do your job is not allowed even if they are prescription drugs. They were just going to give him a warning, but he pushed it and refused to back down. We got confirmation from the labor board that we DO NOT have to allow him to smoke illegal drugs while working. He still argued it and was given a 3 day suspension and 90 days on probation with the warning that if he comes back to work stoned he is gone.

This is hilarious.

I have had written into almost every employment contract I've ever had that I'm not allowed on the premises under the influence.

One day (after a work organised and paid for function) I got out of bed still clearly drunk, and had to take the day off as unpaid leave. Due to the sensitive nature of my work at the time, I actually got THANKED for doing so!

[slaveofconvention]

I wish I could just train myself each time I obtain a new job or position. I'm tired of being treated like an imbecile until I prove otherwise, and even then not being treated any differently. It's societies fault really...if the majority of people would stop being so stupid all the time, employers and management wouldn't have to assume brain damage in each new employee.

It's probably a legal issue. If you don't treat everyone equally, you open yourself up for complaints and litigation. I was doing a Degree in Business Computing and walked in the first week to a lesson on "How to turn on a computer and boot it into windows".... A few "choice" words later, I was told to come back in 10-12 weeks.... heh

[Datech]

I was hired as a co-op for a tech firm that made dashboard network monitoring views for some big telecom players. I was the 'IT Manager' in that I managed all the computers (something everyone reading this would have been able to do, trust me), but since I was courteous to my coworkers AND I knew what I was doing in the first month I literally became the untouchable computer guru. No one has a problem with me telling them I don't know something technical, and they also have no problem with me Googling til I find and understand the problem and solution. I guess first impressions really do make all the difference in the world.

[artoodeeto]

I was hired as a co-op for a tech firm that made dashboard network monitoring views for some big telecom players. I was the 'IT Manager' in that I managed all the computers (something everyone reading this would have been able to do, trust me), but since I was courteous to my coworkers AND I knew what I was doing in the first month I literally became the untouchable computer guru. No one has a problem with me telling them I don't know something technical, and they also have no problem with me Googling til I find and understand the problem and solution. I guess first impressions really do make all the difference in the world.

Absolutely they do! Especially when it's an area that most people either don't understand or don't really want to understand, like IT. If they know you "know about computers" you'll be viewed as a savior whenever you solve a problem. Goofy, but totally true. As long as you know more than them on the subject, even if knowing more means having more ideas on where to look for a solution, you're golden...

[Airbozo]

Absolutely they do! Especially when it's an area that most people either don't understand or don't really want to understand, like IT. If they know you "know about computers" you'll be viewed as a savior whenever you solve a problem. Goofy, but totally true. As long as you know more than them on the subject, even if knowing more means having more ideas on where to look for a solution, you're golden...

True True.

In most jobs I have had, it is not always about what you know, rather where top go to find the right information. This is why most high schools and universities have a class on information gathering (probably not the real name of the class).

[dr.walrus]

"Investigation and communication for IT professionals"

That's what mine was called, anyway

[Airbozo]

OK, it's been a while since I posted in this thread. Boss is still an idiot. Fortunately he is being called out on all of his ****. Problem is, he thinks it is my fault and is treating me pretty ****ty. I know I am pretty safe here so I am standing up to him.

My current rant involves his actions during our recent ISO certification audit. For months we have been having meetings to prepare and train people on their jobs and responsibilities. One thing that has come up in EVERY meeting is: keep your mouth shut!

We have been telling everyone to just respond to the questions asked and that is all. Do not provide more information unless specifically asked, keep it on topic and do not tell stories.

Well, even though this has been coming from my boss, he was the one that would not shut up and his actions almost caused us to fail our initial certification... If I hadn't stepped in and cut him off we would have failed. The inspector told our QA manager this after our closing meeting Tuesday.

Guess what I find out today? He tried to write me up for insubordination for cutting him off in front of the ISO auditor! WTF!

His boss read him the riot act and tossed him out of his office and then came and told me what happened. This MF is going down!

[Diamon]

Makes you wonder how that guy became a boss to begin with.
Hope your work situation will improve from now on. Maybe you can even take the place of your current boss if he is fired :)

[x88x]

Failin' ISO certs...LIKE A BOSS! :P

Good to hear he's going away.

[Airbozo]

Makes you wonder how that guy became a boss to begin with.
Hope your work situation will improve from now on. Maybe you can even take the place of your current boss if he is fired :)

He became the manager of this department under the last leadership group. They were pretty f'd up too and took advantage of the company. Most of them have been gone for over 6 years. I was offered his job over a year ago, but I am a principal engineer, not a manager. I declined (twice now). The last time I said I would take the job, fire my old boss, then hire my replacement. They didn't like that idea so I refused.



Failin' ISO certs...LIKE A BOSS! :P

Good to hear he's going away.

He's not going away yet. He is playing the HR card so they are being very careful about firing him. He is on notice officially though since the only female in our department has filed a discrimination complaint against him. He does treat her differently, not giving her tasks appropriate to her skill level. Instead he pretty much gives her the crap work. I can see this turning ugly soon and am glad it is happening. I NEVER stand up for any sort of discrimination whether it is happening to me or someone else and I have already spoken with the GM and HR about it.

[x88x]

He is playing the HR card so they are being very careful about firing him.

OOC, what 'HR card'? Everywhere I've worked I've had to sign an 'at will employment' agreement that says that either I or the employer can terminate the relationship at any point for any reason...an agreement I would imagine is specifically designed to deal with these type of situations. Nothing similar there?

[Airbozo]

OOC, what 'HR card'? Everywhere I've worked I've had to sign an 'at will employment' agreement that says that either I or the employer can terminate the relationship at any point for any reason...an agreement I would imagine is specifically designed to deal with these type of situations. Nothing similar there?

California is an "at will" state. Meaning you can quit for any reason without notice and they can terminate your position for no reason, without notice.

The HR card he played has something to do with HIM being singled out when he has a medical condition, even though no one knew he had a condition until his boss yelled at him and he went to HR telling them that his boss yelling at him aggravated his condition... lol

[x88x]

The HR card he played has something to do with HIM being singled out when he has a medical condition, even though no one knew he had a condition until his boss yelled at him and he went to HR telling them that his boss yelling at him aggravated his condition... lol

lol...well, IANAL, but it seems to me that as long as he never formally (in writing) informed the company of his condition (if it exists), they should be fine. ...but, then, idiots with expensive lawyers have surprised me before. :rolleyes:

[Lothair]

After reading through all of this, I have to say, I'm not surprised at all that he's going to make this as difficult as possible for everyone. He's probably the type that likes to take down everyone with him or tries to do as much damage as he can on the way out.

Hope he loses job asap so you guys can get someone competent in. I almost feel bad for this guy. He's got no hope at all. No wonder he's fighting dirty.

[Airbozo]

After reading through all of this, I have to say, I'm not surprised at all that he's going to make this as difficult as possible for everyone. He's probably the type that likes to take down everyone with him or tries to do as much damage as he can on the way out.

Hope he loses job asap so you guys can get someone competent in. I almost feel bad for this guy. He's got no hope at all. No wonder he's fighting dirty.

I used to feel bad for him and went out of my way to train him and try and show him how to be a competent manager. After my last review I have stopped helping him with anything. He stabbed me in the back and since I work closely with the COO and VP of sales, they know what I have done at this company and were just as surprised about the review he gave me. I went straight to HR and then had him and the COO go over my review line by line. By the end of the meeting the COO was pissed about the things he wrote and was chewing his ass out the whole time.

I could tell you loads more, but it just burns my hide and pisses me off more that this guy is still here. I have been looking for a job (and the COO knows it) because of this nut job.

The problem is, I like being here. I have never worked for a company more than 3 years and I am on 6.5 now...

EDIT: Thanks for reading my rant. I know I will not get solutions here, but just sharing with some halfway sane people makes me feel a little better.

[crenn]

Halfway sane? I thought I was special and completely insane :(

As for him writing a bad review for you, I think he knows that he's not suited for the role and finds you a major threat, activally trying to get rid of you. I think he was trying to fail the ISO cert and then try to pin the blame on you. But that's only a theory and opinion.

[Lothair]

I actually came to the same conclusion.

[Airbozo]

Halfway sane? I thought I was special and completely insane :(

As for him writing a bad review for you, I think he knows that he's not suited for the role and finds you a major threat, activally trying to get rid of you. I think he was trying to fail the ISO cert and then try to pin the blame on you. But that's only a theory and opinion.

Halfway sane was a big compliment... :D

He has been trying to get rid of me since this company hired me. What he does not know is that everyone here tells me everything he says or does. No one likes him here. When I got hired here, I was sitting outside the conference room listening to the upper management and him argue about me. He voiced his concern that I was "too smart" for the job. Everyone laughed at him and the (then) GM (who is a lifer Marine), says: "He's ex-Navy with an impressive back ground. HIRE HIM!"

He tries to manage by intimidation and threat. I don't respond well to that and one day we had a shouting match that I would not back down from. Many people saw it and I was later told that no one had ever stood up to him. That was the game changer right there. Now he does everything he can to show my weaknesses and faults. It really just pisses everyone off. Not at me, but at him.

As far as failing the ISO cert, he was told that if our department failed, he was gone. I honestly believe he was trying to do the right thing, but does not have the skills (people or technical) to pull it off. Plus he has a problem with women and our inspector was a head strong woman. She owned him in the first 5 minutes of the 2 day audit and it got under his skin. We all loved it!

[CanaBalistic]

I had a similar situation happen to me 2 weeks ago. The difference being my foreman tried to con us into doing asbestos abatement. When i said i wasn't comfortable with doing it he told me "thats what were doing, don't like it? go home" Needless to say, i called the head safety rep for the company and set up a meeting with my Foreman's boss. He wanted to write him up but the rep talked him out of it and he instead got a stern talking to from about 4 or 5 of the owners and office staff. He continually has snide remarks about it to wards me. Little comments and innuendo.


Its kind of nice to be in a company like this. I've been with then 7 months and my foreman is going on 7 years with them. I say i don't like doing this or i cant do that and they seem to give me more... respect i guess