Whos in the wrong?

[Rowan]

On wednesdays I finish work at 12:30, due to having my hours cut back since they dont want to pay me for full time anymore. Anyway, its about 12:20 and I get a call from the ass. principle asking me if I can deliver a laptop to said classroom so that she could watch a dvd on it. I delivered it and set it up on the projector for her and then left back to my office to find I had the school psyche waiting for some assistance with her laptop, as well as 2 sets of students with broken netbooks. I said to myself "why when im about to leave!" well it wouldn't have been such a bother but my car just happened to be getting serviced that day and my dad was waiting outside to give me a lift home. I didnt want to make him wait because he was working from home that day and I would have been eating into his work time. So Im dealing with the clients in my office as fast as I can , even though its already 12:35 at this point and my dad had been waiting 5 minutes. During the process of fixing the netbooks for the students, a furthar 2 more come to my office to deliver a message that the ass. principle needed furthar assistance to get the dvd working on the laptop. I told the students that I would go to the classroom in 5 - 10 minutes when I had finished with the other clients. Once I had finished (about 12:45) I made my way to the classroom where the ass.principle was supposed to be, only to find her not there and a completely different teacher all together (the actual principle) and I had asked her where the ass.principle had gone, and she did not know. I looked at the desk and noticed that the laptop I delivered was still sitting on the desk. At this point, I decided to go home as I had already stayed back 15 minutes.

A few days ago, one of my bosses (head of I.T) brought me a laptop and spoke to me and said that the ass. principle was 'fuming' that I had left the school without attending to her problem.

I tried explaining to her that I went to see her, but she was not there and I had been attending to clients in my office. She told me that the ass.principle should have had priority... so I asked if the appropriate action to have had been taken was to ditch whoever was in my office just to attend to her problems. She claimed that she was the boss, so in many cases, yes. She then spoke about how I should have looked all over the school for her, even though I should have finished. I tried to explain my situation to her, but I dont like giving excuses to teachers since they hear their fair share from students and I dont want to appear to be making any.

What I really wanted to say was "Well if you wanted me here past the times that we agreed to then you shouldn't have cut my hours back!"

but that kinda attitude is frowned upon, no matter what truth you speak. Now I dont like kissing ass, and have been told I wont make it far in the world if I dont, is this true? Also, give me the skinny, who was in the wrong here? Should I have dropped my clients to attend solely to her (and frankly, I deemed the issue non-important. Cmon, a dvd wont play? Aww sorry you'll have to actually TEACH for 40 mins...)

I feel like i've been treated unfairly. I spoke to my superior at my agency and he told me that I need to speak with the ass.principle and tell her my version of events. But shes one of those people who trip on power and feel like they could never mistakes. I would never apologize for anything that I did, if anything I think i deserve an apology for being treated unfairly. What do you think?

[Dranzer]

For comic relief it took me a few minutes to realize that by "ass. principal" you meant "assistant". However, my first perception hits the mark fairly well. Yes, you were treated very poorly. Yes, I would feel the same way you do if they had cut my hours like that, but expect me to go above and beyond the call of duty; it's bullshit, but unfortunately it's typical. I would certainly suggest talking to the ass. principal about it: state your case and be professional. I'd cool off a bit before approaching her though, if you appear too accusing the whole conversation would go nowhere (especially if she's the type to go on a power trip). If that doesn't resolve the issue to your satisfaction and she either won't let it go, or makes your life a living hell because of it I'd go above her head and report it; that's ridiculous and unprofessional. Is there a superintendent or something of the sort? I don't know exactly how the heirarchy of education works in Aussieland, but hopefully you see my train of thought. I'd always go "by the book" and try to work it out with the person you have the dispute with, see what happens, then decide whether or not you need to do more about it.

Good luck, man. Hope this helps!

[Rowan]

I just finished having a 1 hour conference with her. She was very pleasant about the whole thing and if anything she seemed to be acknolwedging the fact that she herself was unorganised in the sense that she hadnt organised the correct classroom. She was very nice and if anything, I respect her for some of the things she told me.

I think I may have originally took the message from my I.T boss a little too harshly, perhaps it was like a chinese whisper and thigns were taken out of hand. Let that be a lesson, before you get angry you should talk to the person who the qualm is with instead of ANYONE else. This applies heavily to relationships.

[Mystyrion]

I wouldn't say it was exactly laid out that your priority was the assistant principal. Unless you knew that she should have been taken care of first.

But I would have helped those that were in front of me as well. I mean it is your job. You went to said destination the principal arranged and wasn't there. You scheduled time was already over due. I would say its partly their fault as well.

[Pete]

I've always been of the school of thought that if someone above you in rank asks/ tells you to do something, you damn well do it. I understand it's at an inconvenience to your dad, but you can just as easily ask him if it's ok if he waits for a bit, or if you can get a ride later.

Just make sure you get compensated for the time you had to work extra.

[Maridia]

What I really wanted to say was "Well if you wanted me here past the times that we agreed to then you shouldn't have cut my hours back!"

You should have said that. It's shitty I know and confrontation is never fun. But that's where you lay your claim and and stick to it. I'm a fan of the apology saying "Hey that's cool you needed X done. But under the circumstances and after you cut my hours how can you expect me to fully fullfill my duties?" It's giving in to them a little and giving it back just enough where you make your point valid so they can't keep on you.

If you totally back down to them they'll see you as an easy target and demand more cause you feel you have to make it up to them and work twice as hard.

If you completely stone wall them they'll usually give you extra pointless shit to do just to annoy you.

So this seems to be the best mix I'd say overall.

[Lily]

My currrent place of work is really fair, Im pretty much allowed to come and go as I please, but I had a moment like that today, i dont normally mind hanging back abit, if its not affecting anything I may have planned after work, but today it just didnt seem to stop, i got out of work at half 4, was meant to finish at 4, but quotes kept coming, and the phone kept ringing and I was just going mad because it was all happening at once

I had a doctors appointment at 20 to 5, so it wasnt too bad as its like, the next street from where I work, but had it been at 10 past, Id of just dropped everything and left. There are some days I apbsolutely have to be out the door, no questions asked and I dont care whats on my desk, if I have to go, I have to go

Its swings and roundabouts with me, I generally dont mind what happened today as Im given flexibility with starting late and finishing early if I need to, but the thing that always annoys me about most employers is its perfectly fine to work an extra 5 or 10 minutes late here and there, but god forbid you walk through the door one minute late in the morning

Im not really one for taking shit in the workplace, I get outraged when my friends tell me of the shit theyve had to put up with at work but as long as youre not a wanker about it, and do something dumb that can get your arse fired, youre well within your right to defend and explain youreself. Sometimes we just have somewhere to be and it cant be helped. If the ass principle dude doesnt understand that then clearly shes just a **** and one of those that just doesnt understand reason or that someone can possibly have a life outside of work

Id still say my peice even if it fell on deaf ears

[Hobaginator]

Life is like a taco stand. Workers who are soft are like the soft tortillas, and they get bent every which way because the people in power know that they're pushovers. Workers who are more aggressive, assertive and hard-assed are like crunchy tacos, the bosses will be more careful with you because they're worried about how many tacos they have - intrapersonal relationships keeping the peace and what not. Hard tacos make it clear the way they like things, they're a boat-shaped taco shell to be filled with meat, cheese and vegetables. Soft tacos get used for burritos, mexican pizza, tortillas and whatever else somebody wants because they can bend them to their will. A crunchy taco always knows what to expect and their job is clearly laid out. A soft taco never knows what it's role is until it's told.

Be a crunchy taco not a soft taco.

[motscroises]

I'm a fan of the apology saying "Hey that's cool you needed X done. But under the circumstances and after you cut my hours how can you expect me to fully fullfill my duties?" It's giving in to them a little and giving it back just enough where you make your point valid so they can't keep on you.

I agree! You have to point out where your logic lies or they'll just think you're lazy. Something along the lines of 'I apologize for not getting this done, but in light of my hours being cut, I thought I shouldn't stay past my scheduled time.' That also kind of makes it sound like you were more thinking of them and their needs than your own.

[Rowan]

@hobignator. Crunchy tacos are easily broken... If you do not fold the way you are supposed to, you will be thrown out since there are many more taco's just waiting to be eaten. Anyway, it was all sorted. She wasn't pissed at me directly. There was miscommunication, thats all. No big deal.

[loaf]

In those situations, I usually let them know I have a ride waiting for me. Gives them a heads up. It's worked with me most the time when I have had a ride picking me up. It sucks when you can't find said person at the crucial moment. I would just talk to them about it.

[Rowan]

In those situations, I usually let them know I have a ride waiting for me. Gives them a heads up. It's worked with me most the time when I have had a ride picking me up. It sucks when you can't find said person at the crucial moment. I would just talk to them about it.

I did have a ride waiting for me but I figured in a professional environement, excuses like that wouldn't fly... so naturally I just left without telling anyone... haha.

[Order]

Tell them to pay you enough so you can afford a car, insurance, gas, repairs, food and rent.

Problem OBLITERATED!

[Rowan]

Tell them to pay you enough so you can afford a car, insurance, gas, repairs, food and rent.

Problem OBLITERATED!

Well I do have a car, it just happened to be in for a service that morning. ****ers charged me $220 for it as well. Could have done it myself for about $75 but then theres the bastard of having to pay to dump the oil. Im not about to dump it in the bush across the road either. Lesson. If its easier, its probably gonna cost more.

[Pete]

Holy shit I hope you weren't just getting an oil change for $220. They'd best have done your brakes and blown you as well.

[Rowan]

They 'checked' everything. My car took 6.5 litres of oil.. might have had something to do with it costing more than usual.

[Order]

There no reason an oil change should cost so much.
do any maintenance you can handle on your own mechanics are jokes anyway.
It even costs less to buy special tools. Trust me.
I made the mistake of having my rotors swapped by mechanics.
They used an impact gun to screw my WHEELS on...
Bunch of asshats.

Anyway,
Hows the accidental rebellion going at work?

[Joxsjua]

Holy shit I hope you weren't just getting an oil change for $220. They'd best have done your brakes and blown you as well.

$40 at Wal-Mart they check and fill all the fluids on your vehicle, except for anti-freeze I do believe.
If it has a tire-shop of course.

[Rowan]

well what can I say guys, things like that are ****ed up in Australia... We beat you at healthcare though, we destroy your healthcare system. Doctors are free here.

[Joxsjua]

well what can I say guys, things like that are ****ed up in Australia... We beat you at healthcare though, we destroy your healthcare system. Doctors are free here.

Nah, we just make use of scare tactics using words like "death panels" to assure people places like Canada are hell on Earth. Don't you have Sarah Palin added to your Facebook?

I've been f***ed hardcore because I couldn't afford $1000 monthly payments to hospitals a few times when I was younger; they're ruthless here. Some real hard-headed folks that refuse patience and compromise, similar to your principal, but not as nice and they probably want you to suffer/hurt for disagreeing with them.

[Hobaginator]

$220 for an oil change? Ouch. Jiffy lube is 40 bucks and they check your fluids for free. Maybe you have to tell them "ONLY an oil change"...

How do doctors make money if it's free for Australian citizens? Some sort of tax-based commission?

[Rhaps]

$220 for an oil change? Ouch. Jiffy lube is 40 bucks and they check your fluids for free. Maybe you have to tell them "ONLY an oil change"...

How do doctors make money if it's free for Australian citizens? Some sort of tax-based commission?

Taxes go towards the salaries of the doctors, right? I'm a U.S. citizen, but I assume that if you're not paying up front, it's being paid via income tax.

I do my oil and fluids on my own, and I don't trust most mechanics.

As for the thread, I've been in a situation like it before. I just made my ride wait it out, apologized profusely, and then let everything blow over. It just made me hate not having a car even more in the end, to the point of if I don't have my car for some reason, I'll walk.

[Hobaginator]

I don't trust most mechanics.

Good policy.