Much wailing and gnashing of teeth
I really don't have the energy to go into the details of my experience as I'll probably end up in a tearful mess with my head on my desk moaning "WHY?" as the pools of snot puddle on my keyboard.

However as I'm sure many of you can testify, bad management at its worst is the sort that goes against all justifiable reasoning and that you can do absolutely nothing about. There is anger when a choice that seems obvious, sensible, cost effective or even ethical is not made due to some obscured or flawed reasoning. If there is no opportunity to change that decision you get the frustrated impotent rage that seems to turn your insides to pure bile.

Those of you who have been able to right the wrongs or get revenge on the "system" must know how good that feels. Not all of us get that opportunity. For some even walking away would feel disatisfying - leaving colleagues behind, not able to offer at least one customer a decent service in the mire of crap, knowing that you weren't able to change the system for the better. For others leaving is not possible, they are trapped in a nightmare where their hands are tied, shackled to a job they hate and makes them ill.

The stories that have come to mind as I write this are the B3tan who managed to escape from his employment in Dubai, the HMRC staff and customers who are both trapped in a cycle of problems (as per BBC1's Watchdog) and the tale of the "environmental" team from a few QOTW's ago who would place a fan on each desk rather than invest in turning the central heating system down a few degrees.

In fact, reading this again has made me feel lucky. The decision that I'm waiting for is not income-threatening, the most I'll lose is my desk and my projects. If I go I'll move teams and end up back where I was 3 years ago, if I stay our team is to be reduced to a shadow of it's former self with no hope of improvement for at least 6 months. Either way I'll feel like I've gone backwards. Oh crap, my keyboard's getting wet.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 11:39, 4 replies)

I'm sorry to hear about this
I too have suffered at the hands of bad management. Our nutter of an MD at one point reduced another member of staff (different department) to tears and basically only just missed out on a bullying tribunal.

The old addage, "there's the right way of doing things, the wrong way of doing things, and the MD way of doing things" is just so true.

You may be a hugely experienced and hgih achieveing MD, but how come logic and reasoning are not the basis of decision making? Instead it's anger, shouting and threats. Horrible horrible man.

It was great when he was finally booted, but his legacy continues. I think his attitude has had a trickle down effect on staff. Where people should be wanting responsiblity and taking action, it's still like the bad old days where we have a blame culture (to avoid the wrath of the MD) and where responsibility is shirked at every opportunity.

I'm actually planning on taking a calculated risk and starting my own business because I never ever want to work under such an utter cunt again and I'm sick of this job altogether.

Anyway, good luck with your work - I can completely empathise.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 12:10, closed)

fanks
Like I say, I'm not in too bad a situation really, but my heart goes out to those that are.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 15:16, closed)

FYI
the Dubai-related chap is Spimf.

Other than that, I can relate to the decision not to post - hope things have improved, or will improve soon.
( wynoh kills threads by his mere presence, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 16:11, closed)

FMI
Ah, thanks. Couldn't remember off the top of my head.

And if you can relate, then I hope things work out for you too.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Mon 14 Jun 2010, 16:58, closed)