Good day: All is ready for Jiao to come to stay the summer with me. It is only for her to follow the rules and do her work. If she is able to do that she will return in June. She is to stay through August. I will know more when the ticket is purchased.
Bad day: The day began well enough. After arriving at my work it worsened. A new engineer questioned the network design and began making changes to it. I began correcting his changes immediately. At the beginning I could not discuss anything with him as I did not know who it was making changes .
After I had worked to make repairs he approached me rather rudely. He asked of me who I thought I was to make changes to his work as if I were some child he could bully about. My response was slow in the beginning. I began to inform him of my position and he would not allow me to speak. My mood changed very quickly.
It is usual for me to be calm in most situations. I was not usual today. I began to LOUDLY inform him of his errors in addressing me in such a manner. I gave him no chance to speak as I continued informing him of my position as the network administrator. All he need do is to look in the parking lot for the sign that holds his name and title of IT Manager. I exclaimed he will not find such a sign but he will discover such a sign with my name upon it and until that changes he will not so much as unplug his computer without my permission.
It was then Big Boss interrupted and asked what was the cause of the commotion. Before New Engineer could speak I informed him of the unauthorized changes to the system and the manner in which I was spoken to and that I would tolerate neither. I was informed "it will be dealt with" and and dismissed to my office.
My office has been quiet since my return. The other workers seem to have had no computer difficulties today. It is just as well. I have "other" work to be undone.
I have a strong desire to throw rocks at New Engineer. I will work instead.
Wow. You're funny when your temper flares. I would've liked to witness the look on New Engineer's face as you scolded him. Hopefully you won't have any more trouble from him in the future.
ReplyDeletevery sorry to hear about your troubles. i've learned in my past that being young, Asian, female, and beatiful :) does not help to establish authority. your looking petite maks it more difficult. age helps. meanwhile, be patient. after all these years, engineering and many other fields are still a (mostly white?) men's world. i feel for you.
ReplyDeleteYou were right to be upset about his making these changes to your network. Since you are responsible for its health you must be able to approve any changes.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that you will continue to have trouble with your underling. The fact that he would act this way in the first place and not seek your approval marks him as troublesome.
In Shakespearean terms you have an "Iago" in your midst. Watch your back.
What does he look like? I will throw rocks at him for you.
ReplyDeleteLoofa... I do not think there will be further troubles. I regret my actions in any case. It was not a professional thing to do and I should have sought another remedy.
ReplyDeleteAafrica... It is my hope he has learned large surprises are often found in small packages. But young, asian, and female give me an advantage with Big Boss that New Engineer does not have. ;)
Laoch of Chicago... I am fortunate he is not my underling directly. He is simply a young mechanical engineer who has learned something of computer networks. He now knows only a little education can be a dangerous thing but it is more dangerous to attract the bad attentions of Big Boss.
intensely... He is short but well made. Blonde hair. Intelligence level is not what should be if he is to survive long. There are others who are not capable of controlling their emotions as well as I. :D
Your reaction was absolutely correct. He was way out of line in making changes without your knowledge and then trying to bully you in his response.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laoch. Watch your back. He may be quiet now, but people like him do not quit, they just find another way to get at you.