Bewildering incidents
Some bewildering incidents have happened since the official take over by the new big boss last year:
(1)
Fact: Before she took over, we were already shorthanded by one. Within the next 8 to 10 months, 3 more left. Despite pleas from my boss for replacements (not new hires), there had been none except for the new manager.
Thoughts: Is she trying to demoralise us? Close down Singapore office? Shift all business to China?
(2)
Fact: A new manager was hired early this year and we were told of his exact date of joining. That was great news as we thought he could then help us with some of the excess work we had since the departure of 4 colleagues. However, he was instructed by big boss to go to China instead for a couple of months and the interesting bit is that we were not told! We accidentally found out from HR.
Thoughts: That was so rude! The irony is that he ended up doing alot of our excess work, which could have been done more efficiently if he was here in Singapore
(3)
Fact: We were told that study benefits are now harmonised across the region. As a result, our study leaves were cut by a third, which is far below what our competitors in Singapore are offering.
Thoughts: Goodness, what's going on up there? Are they dumb or is this really an attempt to drive us away?
(4)
Fact: We tried billing for work done on China projects. We were told to just "write them off" as they are not significant. One of the projects incurred a time cost of USD50,000.
On the other hand, we no longer can claim for study materials. All materials will belong to company and photocopied and distributed as needed. This is to save money. A typical textbook cost USD100.
Thought: Penny wise, pound foolish anyone? Copyright issue? Wiley, you reading this?
(5)
Fact: When she said she would do this or that by this time/date, rarely she met her own deadlines. She couldn't even make the time to peruse proposal for a huge project or just to say didn't have enough time.
Thought: Too much micromanaging? Misplaced priority? Too focused on the big picture but little on the details?
(6)
Fact: A manager in China said that he would pay us certain amount of fees for our support. This was written clearly in an e-mail. When the time came for us to bill, he said he needed to get approval from big boss. In fact, since she would be down here later, he asked us to discuss with her.
Thought: What the hell is going on? Shouldn't he obtain the approval beforehand? Does the fact that he has the guts to ask us to tell big boss what happened mean that she knew about this?
As an aside, any idea how to overthrow a tyrannical empress?
(1)
Fact: Before she took over, we were already shorthanded by one. Within the next 8 to 10 months, 3 more left. Despite pleas from my boss for replacements (not new hires), there had been none except for the new manager.
Thoughts: Is she trying to demoralise us? Close down Singapore office? Shift all business to China?
(2)
Fact: A new manager was hired early this year and we were told of his exact date of joining. That was great news as we thought he could then help us with some of the excess work we had since the departure of 4 colleagues. However, he was instructed by big boss to go to China instead for a couple of months and the interesting bit is that we were not told! We accidentally found out from HR.
Thoughts: That was so rude! The irony is that he ended up doing alot of our excess work, which could have been done more efficiently if he was here in Singapore
(3)
Fact: We were told that study benefits are now harmonised across the region. As a result, our study leaves were cut by a third, which is far below what our competitors in Singapore are offering.
Thoughts: Goodness, what's going on up there? Are they dumb or is this really an attempt to drive us away?
(4)
Fact: We tried billing for work done on China projects. We were told to just "write them off" as they are not significant. One of the projects incurred a time cost of USD50,000.
On the other hand, we no longer can claim for study materials. All materials will belong to company and photocopied and distributed as needed. This is to save money. A typical textbook cost USD100.
Thought: Penny wise, pound foolish anyone? Copyright issue? Wiley, you reading this?
(5)
Fact: When she said she would do this or that by this time/date, rarely she met her own deadlines. She couldn't even make the time to peruse proposal for a huge project or just to say didn't have enough time.
Thought: Too much micromanaging? Misplaced priority? Too focused on the big picture but little on the details?
(6)
Fact: A manager in China said that he would pay us certain amount of fees for our support. This was written clearly in an e-mail. When the time came for us to bill, he said he needed to get approval from big boss. In fact, since she would be down here later, he asked us to discuss with her.
Thought: What the hell is going on? Shouldn't he obtain the approval beforehand? Does the fact that he has the guts to ask us to tell big boss what happened mean that she knew about this?
As an aside, any idea how to overthrow a tyrannical empress?
Comments
And made in China! ;-)
Down with the empress! Hehehe. :) If all managers were efficient and wise at their jobs, then there wouldn't be so many failing companies.
Wiley & Sons, the publishing company.
Hehe thanks for the support. Still plotting.