Is it me or is it the boss?

**KrissyCat7** · 06-06-2007, 07:43 AM

I started a new job a month and a half ago. During my interview I asked the director why the position was open, I wanted to know if there was a problem with job turnover. She told me that the person who had my job left to pursue a different career and that turnover was not a problem.

Fast forward to now. After working there and getting to know everyone I have realized that out of 10 people working there only one of them has been there over a year. The rest are all six months or less....because so many people are unhappy with the director. Because of the high turnover HR has intervened, interviewing everyone individually last week, to find out our satisfaction with the job and with our director.

The environment is very hostile. Everyone hates the director because of the way she treats us and Im really sick of listening to people bitch and moan all day about it. I didnt have a "problem" with her until this week.

I called in sick yesterday and today. I have sick time to use and I really needed a mental health day. I followed all the procedures for taking a day off but today I get a call from my co-worker informing me that the director is on a rampage and to expect a call from her. Apparently she grilled all of my co-workers asking "why is she sick". She is mad that Im out, even after she said on Monday that I "wasnt working on anything important".

Im very unhappy in this position. I am looking for something new and as a matter of fact I have a very promising interview with the same company (different department) tomorrow. What I want to know is how should I handle this situation so I dont jeapordize any future career with this company (it's the largest employer in our area)?

For what it's worth I am technically hired as "temporary".

Did I do something wrong by using two sick days? Am I not entitled to these days?

**DaniML** · 06-06-2007, 07:53 AM

While it does look like there is a huge turn-over problem at your company, I wouldn't have called in sick within the first 1 1/2 months, especially if I was "temporary", unless I was deathly sick. I just don't think it leaves a good impression.

I'm sorry you're so unhappy at your job. I know (from personal experience) how aweful it is to be unhappy at work. We spend so much time there!!! I hope something will come of the interview you have lined up. Good luck!

**villanelle75** · 06-06-2007, 08:49 AM

I agree that calling in sick during your first 6 weeks of work is really dicey, especailly calling in sick for 2 days. I can actually understand why you rboss was annoyed, though it sounds lik maybe she took it too far. But if that is your only complaint with her thus far, I'd do nothing. I would apologize for having to miss work and move on.

Good luck at your interview!

**thedoorchick** · 06-06-2007, 09:09 AM

I agree with villanelle. Someone calling in sick after less than two months of work, for two consecutive days, when they're not actually sick, doesn't sit well with me at all. It was a mistake, but apologize and move on.

I am sorry that the environment is so unpleasant. Most of us have been there at one time or another and it is really difficult. It's kind of hard to see what exactly the problem is; you say "everyone hates the director because of the way she treats us" but I'm not sure exactly what that means.

Given that you want to find another job within the company, it's obviously in your best interest to make the best of working with her for now.

**KrissyCat7** · 06-06-2007, 12:14 PM

Thanks for your advice. You are right, it wasnt good to call in sick so early, but it was either that or go nuts. I couldnt handle all the bitching and hostility anymore and it was affecting me negatively. The thing that I dont understand is why it is unacceptable to be sick. She doesnt know that Im not sick.

I guess I will appologize for "being sick" and keep my fingers crossed that this interview works out and that I can give my notice.

**PG-rated** · 06-06-2007, 03:54 PM

When you're new, you generally should make every effort to come to work unless you absolutely can't get out of bed. I realize it doesn't make much sense, but you're still in a stage where you're proving yourself, and so you don't want to do anything that makes it look like you have a bad work ethic. Even assuming she believes that you came down with something, if you weren't sick the day before you called in, it would be pretty easy to assume that you were milking whatever illness you may have had.

I'm sorry it's such a difficult environment. You should definitely try to move sooner rather than later, as I imagine it will only get worse.

**lawyerlee** · 06-06-2007, 03:57 PM

I'm sorry to hear the environment is so hostile and uncomfortable there. You must have been feeling awful about things to call in sick those two days. I hope you have luck finding something else so you can move on.

**KrissyCat7** · 06-06-2007, 04:01 PM

Thank you girls! I never call in sick to work. In my last position I missed one day in three years, and that was for a funeral.

I appreciate being able to vent a bit and just get it out there. I know that I will be much happier once I am out of there....and like you all said hopefully sooner rather than later.

**HeatherFL** · 06-06-2007, 04:12 PM

I'm going to disagree. Todd has owned his business for quite some time, and I worked for him for about 6 years. One of his biggest complaints was when people would come in sick. He would send them straight home and he didn't care if you worked there for a week or for 5 years. If you are sick, you are sick. He felt, do not come in, infect the rest of the staff, get them sick and ultimately slow production or affect someone's ability to travel because you're trying to be a hero. It shows a lack of consideration for the rest of the employees in the office. If you had the sick time, it was your right to use it (though his system didn't work like that, there was no "sick time"-you just didn't go in if you were sick.) You didn't choose to get sick. The one thing I might do is go to the director, apologize and explain you used the time in order to recover as quickly as possible which you felt would make you more productive while avoiding infecting anyone else. Since there is such an inssue and HR has intervened, I might also go to them to document the absence. Did you go to the doctor, or would your doctor be willing to write a note that you were indeed sick? That would probably help you out, and back your credibility (not that you aren't being truthful, but I'm not sure how their system works.)

I'm really sorry you're going through this. Good luck with the future interview!

~H.

**villanelle75** · 06-06-2007, 04:36 PM

But she wasn't actually sick.

I agree that if you are genuinely sick, then it is thoughtless to come in and bring your germs to the office. But as a manager, I'd be a little wary of soemoen calling in sick 2 days in a row after only 6 weeks of work. It would make me wonder if this person was going to be out very frequently.

Ultimatley, though, if the job is so unpleasant that it makes you that desperate to not be there, then certainly this is not the plac for you. I hope this other job pans out, and if not, that you find something else quickly.