Why is that?

Unfortunately not as of yet. Is it really necessary to be grumped at first thing in the morning just for giving "bad news?" News I gave him last week and he ignored?

Hello CatieM,
I am never grumpy when I arrive at work on Monday mornings. It usually takes a few minutes. LOL I generally don’t show it though. I never hold a grudge and I maintain a pleasant demeanor. I grit my teeth! What usually happens is that I walk out on the floor to find someone has been careless, didn’t heed my advice and went off and damaged some of my equipment, or machined a bunch of expensive material into boat anchors instead of saleable parts. Then they complain to me about wanting them to work overtime so we can make up for lost time (due to their negligence) and keep the customers happy and in so doing keep the business and their jobs alive for another day… So I end up paying more in overtime and overhead for what should have been done on straight pay as well as loss of material, making it a profitless job. Then some of the others will approach me and have me reiterate directions I just gave them a day or so ago, sometimes in writing, or even pictures I drew for them, because they forgot what I said, or don’t want to review the paperwork!?!? I am tired of being the memory for everyone. These are people who are highly skilled great employees. Imagine what frustration I have with the trainees.

My job is often relegated to baby sitter, since many times they approach me with their own personal problems and make them mine. They need time off without notice for personal reasons a little foresight could have avoided, and they often need advances because they can’t handle their money. Of course their perception is that I never have any problems of my own! Don’t even get me started on the unreasonable demands made by my customers! Then I open the mail and find a tax bill or a notice of new regulation… This type of thing happens routinely first thing in the am before I have even finished my first cup of coffee!

The thing is, I have been at this business a long time, they are just human and I understand that, but why do they think they know everything and that I am just talking to hear myself? They don’t listen, even after many mistakes. Often I think, are they embarrassed to ask for clarification, or is it just a cavalier attitude? There are no stupid questions. I have no way of knowing what they don’t know or understand if they don’t say so. I am quite happy to answer questions and insure the jobs are done right the first time. I have great respect for their abilities and have had many employees, some better than others, but none who took their responsibilities as seriously as the successful business owner must. This is just human nature and I have learned to live with it. That is the boss’s burden. I chose it. I have to deal with it. There are always a few who are more responsible, the exceptions, they are priceless and without them I would close my doors. They are the producers. For them I am grateful!

Bosses have no exclusivity to grumpiness.

Respectfully,
O.A.