How would this make you feel, if your boss made the following statement?

He’s projecting.

Being dissatisfied with the patch job has nothing to do with whether or not the workers care about the students in the school. Apples and Oranges. maybe he was just having a bad day, and was looking for a reason to bitch. If he normally is not a jerk, give him a free jerk pass this time.

Haven’t you asked before about this guy being a asshole?

Just wanting some perspective..

Not his first time for jerkiness…and yes, an earlier question was about him.

@Jak…projecting?

Based on your earlier observations of this person and now this…I would grade his professionalism or lack there of very low and tell you to not get to vested in his crass comments because people like him do not remain in charge for very long.

My suggestion would be to chronicle these moments so you have record for if and when his lack of leadership skills and decorum become an obvious distraction in this schools learning environment and you can then approach the school district supervisor to let them know this man needs to go.

@yankeetooter, I agree with @Cruiser and @Jak. Yes, he’s projecting. The criticisms he is laying at the feet of these tradespeople, relate to how he feels about the students. As @Cruiser has suggested, don’t buy into his attitudes and comments. Note them down, but treat them with the contempt they deserve. Just get on with your job and try not to react. For now, all you can do is to keep doing your own job well.

I don’t know what other question you asked, but I’ll play devil’s advocate here, just in case.

Do you think it’s at all possible that your boss is just a really cynical person with a belief that most people suck, and so assumed that that’s why they did a poor job? That possibility wouldn’t make his assumption okay, but it might provide an additional perspective.

@DrasticDreamer… I don’t know. before this guy came before this guy came I was told he was great with staff now where he came from and you really put staff first, but I just can’t see it. Funny thing is he’s already accused another staff of being prejudiced… Someone who is definitely not.

@DrasticDreamer :: This combined with the previous question would make me think this guy should be working night shifts as a security guard since he lacks people skills.

@johnpowell Can ya link me to the question so I can see?

http://i.fluther.com/187917/how-do-you-do-with-a-situation-where-your-role-is/

Hm. Well, he definitely seems to lack the appropriate skills to be a team leader. Asking you to stay at your desk and to not even go to the bathroom without someone to cover you is ridiculous.

That said, I still don’t necessarily think he’s projecting – but he could be, as well – I just think it’s a possibility that he’s simply extremely cynical. Even if that’s the case, though, it doesn’t help you or anyone else who had to deal with him and he should definitely be shelving that kind of attitude and unfair judgement. The only thing I can suggest is that the next time he makes a kneejerk comment about other people, you should simply asking him, in a normal and curious tone “What makes you think so? I’ve known them for a while and I’ve never gotten the same impression.” It’s not rude and you aren’t being confrontational, you’re being conversational. It’ll be a way to point it out without actually pointing fingers. Hopefully, if he has any sense whatsoever, he’ll get the hint that he didn’t have a right to make such a snap judgement.

It bears mentioning that many, I would venture to say most, people are not familiar enough with autism to be mindful of the potential effects of a shade difference in a wall patch (which could easily be explained by age of the paint and fading due to the lights, anyway. You’d have a shade difference even if the patch was made with the same bucket the wall was originally painted with.)

Actually, he expressed concern about a half assed job and how it might affect kids on the spectrum. Sound like he is concerned to me!

And he asked you to stay at your desk; granted he might not know all your tasks and responsibilities, but at the same time, he is mindful that you deal with clients who might be upset if someone is not there when they come in the office.

So, he is new to the job, and he confided in you, but you don’t like him?

If that’s what he has to share he needs to find another confidant. And after he made that comment I said to his face I know the maintenance guys, I know they do a good job on stuff although I’m not sure how they do with the paint job because I haven’t seen it yet but frankly I’m more than a little offended that you would say that about somebody you don’t even know.

Maybe they did a crappy paint job. If they’re so good, why would they do work that’s inferior? His comment about why they did inferior work was unnecessary, but he is obviously upset and perhaps rightly so.

I’m borderline OCD, so I’d probably be bitching about that paint job too.

Don’t really understand that correlation with autistic kids. I’d find it more puzzling than offensive though.

Our school the school for kids with autism. He’s claiming that the maintenance guys I think it doesn’t matter if they do a crummy job because the kids have autism

What does him “knowing them” have to do with his evaluation of their work? Would knowing them excuse poor performance? Why are you defending them when you haven’t seen the paint job yourself?

I’m not talking about the evaluation of their work. I’m talking about the statement that he made about why they did a crappy job. And no I haven’t had a chance to look at it but whether they did or didn’t do a crappy job, he has no business making that statement. I mean the part about they did it because they didn’t care because there were artistic kids in the building.

Frankly, I see that kind of reaction a lot. If you don’t like something assign an evil intention to it. It’s really quite common. If you disagree with someone question their motive and assign bad intentions to it.

I think you maybe are letting your initial dislike for this person color all your interactions. How do you know how much time he has spent with the maintenance guys? They might have given him some indication, over another issue, that that’s how they felt. My point is that you can’t know. Letting yourself get so upset is counterproductive. This guy is your boss (if I understand correctly) and has changed some things around that you don’t like. I understand that this can be difficult to adjust to, but from what you’ve said about your job you are probably not privy to the details of why he does what he does.
He has people he has to answer to, directives that you aren’t aware of, and all sorts of responsibilities that probably haven’t been shared with you.

Actually I’ve know most of the maintenance guys for at least a couple years and he’s been there for 2 weeks

Yes, I got that. My point is that you have a very different relationship with them, not being their boss. So unless you have been with him, or them, every minute for the last two weeks, you can’t know what kind of interactions they may have had.

@canidmajor makes some valid points. Your other question that relates to this new principal who right off the bat ruffled your feathers by changing up what you do and how you do it. You clearly expressed discontent with his new rules and procedures. This new question here shows you still have issues with this new principal. With a lack of reasons/details as to why there is this new principal…by his actions and comments he is there to run a tight ship according to the rules he has to uphold and enforce which may also mean paying closer attention to details such as maintenance.

I would suggest approaching him and say how you have noticed many of the changes he has made coupled with his attention to detail and inquire as to what his short term and long terms goals for the school is so you are better prepared for those changes and just maybe help him succeed in achieving those goals. Win win for both of you.

If the principal accepts shoddy workmanship, then things in his building will start looking like shit. He may also feel he has to show the workers that he is exacting and demanding about attention to detail. Perhaps he views it as disrespectful if the workers do shitty work.

@yankeetooter: I suggest you take a look at the work that the painters did. Maybe it’s awful and unacceptable.

I wouldn’t question him about his goals for the future of the school, as @Cruiser suggests. That seems a little pretentious, in my opinion. If you’ve acted defiant about the changes he made with your work, he may view your questioning his goals as more defiance.

I don’t care anymore. I’m probably quitting as soon as I can figure something out.

@yankeetooter: You seem angry and a new boss can be a real adjustment. Maybe you have a good job with good benefits and it’s worth it to give it a break, roll with the punches and see what happens. You may end up liking the principal after you adjust to him and he may end up changing his expectations for your role. Chill out and try to think of the positives.

I’d hate to see you just simply dump this job because you don’t like the new guy. There are very likely things you could ask him to clear stuff up. For example, why the absolute emphasis on you being at the desk? Maybe he had to field some complaints from people who called/came in and you weren’t there. Maybe when you fix something it’s actually someone else’s job and if you get hurt there might be an insurance issue. (Just possibilities, obviously I don’t have exact information). You have kind of demonized this poor guy who is having to adjust to a new position, may be try working with him?
Unless, of course, your skill set is so in demand where you are that you can be assured of a good position and perks should you leave. If nothing else, remember that you might be relying on him for a recommendation.

I have other people I would get a recommendation from. I don’t respect this guy enough to ever ask for a recommendation from him even if I thought he would give me a good one.

The thing is he already seems to be having a major problem with the fact that my vision is impaired. I am protected under American Disabilities Act because of my health conditions I can see him making things difficult for me.

You may not have a choice, unless you leave this employment completely off of your resume, then you may have to explain the couple of years left blank.
Well, good luck, sounds like you’ll need it.

He’s been there two weeks and I worked with my former boss for two years. Why would I ever use him as a reference when he’s barely worked with me? And my old boss loved me!

Reread my above post. You may not have a choice. A potential employer might just call the school and ask to speak to the principal. They might want to talk to the last person that was your boss. You do not get to control the entire process.
Well, do what you want, with any luck you are financially secure enough, or so in demand, that this stuff won’t matter. If neither example applies, then I think you are being somewhat naive.
Either way, not my dog. As I said, good luck.

@yankeetooter You statement ” I mean the part about they did it because they didn’t care because there were artistic (autistic) kids in the building.” carries a lot of weight because I believe this principal said what he said out of frustration of having to deal with the stigmatism associated with “special needs” kids and the lack of funds needed to equal the educational experience of “normal” functioning students. Funding for education goes to where there is the greatest need and that will clearly be mainstream schooling that creates the greatest demand.

Special needs education presents a whole other can of worms when it comes to funding these special needs programs that demand additional support that is not required at the “normal” scholastic level. It all comes down to the administrators who choose or don’t choose to make these special needs fungible in comparison to a main stream education.

Unless your former boss is on the premises, @canidmajor is right. The new employer will want to speak to your present boss. Try to make peace with the principal. Try not to be too angry about the situation.