Contracted Hours vs Expected

[SchumiStars]

I worked in an environment like this. It was horrible in the sense that the work I did or the hours i did were not good enough. Please don't underestimate the effect this will have on your mental and physical health.

The day I handed in my notice, without a job or contract to go to was a weight off my shoulders, which is still something I measure myself with today. I hope this helps but it does sound like you are in toxic environment which will never get better.

[TheDude]

Who is this bloke in terms of company structure? manager? team lead? also have you ever tried to confront him in an open forum? I know leaving is the best course of action in this scenario, but if there's no other work and you have a mortgage to pay it's easier said than done, so my solution would be to simply talk back to him, he might simply be playing a "tough guy" until you stand your ground and he might switch to an easier target (which I realise is tulip as well, but works for you).

The OP stated that this bloke is an MD but if he is conducting meetings then it sounds like he is just a jumped up middle manager who has pimped up their job title in the same way Colonel Gadafi or Idi Amin pimped up their military uniforms.

In my industry MD is a rather senior position and they would not involve themself in matters such as working hours.

[jmo21]

MD, involved in lots of meeting with people doing the work, "we all leave together", suggests a very small company.

I've been in offices like that as both a permie and a contractor, where the person was the owner of the company.

In all cases the owner/MD was widely despised by everyone (except presumably the family members on staff at one of them), had a high turnover, and I was pleased to eventually leave.

That being said, in none of those cases was I even being targeted in the manner the OP describes, but saw people being berated/belittled and I hated to even see it happening.

In my early career, when perm, and thinking about jobs in terms of being there for multiple years, I can see how it would take a horrible toll on someone.

As a long time contractor now (15 years+), and financially secure, I would be out the door, whether by my own hand quitting, or my big gob forcing their hand.

[GJABS]

I worked in an environment like this. It was horrible in the sense that the work I did or the hours i did were not good enough. Please don't underestimate the effect this will have on your mental and physical health.

The day I handed in my notice, without a job or contract to go to was a weight off my shoulders, which is still something I measure myself with today. I hope this helps but it does sound like you are in toxic environment which will never get better.

+1
A bad work situation can have a big negative effect on one's mental health, often without you realising until the effect is quite pronounced. I have first hand experience of this.

[Paralytic]

I've found a "Are you ok?" response to the rude comment, then make eye contact without breaking it, sometimes nullifies verbal bullies, but only you'll be able to tell if this tactic will work for this person.

[Snooky]

I've found a "Are you ok?" response to the rude comment, then make eye contact without breaking it, sometimes nullifies verbal bullies, but only you'll be able to tell if this tactic will work for this person.

Would "U OK hun?" work equally well?

[PerfectStorm]

Go in hard at the start with what you're going to do - contractual hours, I'd go further and make the point that some of the days start earlier and some start later. Do the odd late night, do the odd bit of weekend. Show it's your gig - and get any such restrictions removed from future contracts.

You'll get a lot of this in your contracting career - you'll be a horse led to water. But you don't have to drink.

There'll be some snotty comments about part timers. When anyone raises it with you, ask them why they support such a culture?

If you all acted together to make your conditions reasonable rather than acting together to drag each other down, you'd all still have your contracts and you'd feel happier for it.

[SussexSeagull]

Firstly, shame on the contractors already there for not knocking this on the head. Once a client has got away with it once they won't stop.

You need to establish the ground rules for a contract in the first couple of weeks or it will never happen. If the client doesn't like it they need to do the decent thing and get someone else in.

[contractoradvice656]

Go in hard at the start with what you're going to do - contractual hours, I'd go further and make the point that some of the days start earlier and some start later. Do the odd late night, do the odd bit of weekend. Show it's your gig - and get any such restrictions removed from future contracts.

No late starts with this guy. He works 12 hours a day and expects everyone to put in the same shift, but most of it is spent in meetings and he likes to only check finish drafts ("I shouldn't have to do the work, I'm here to check it and put my name on it").

There'll be some snotty comments about part timers. When anyone raises it with you, ask them why they support such a culture?

If you all acted together to make your conditions reasonable rather than acting together to drag each other down, you'd all still have your contracts and you'd feel happier for it.

Good point....however if others are scared of losing their jobs and conform then you are seen as the non-conformer.

BTW not having a pop at you, appreciate your response, but this one will only be happy if you follow his work pattern.


Another point is he is super nice, jovial, funny and charming to other teams/people in the business, but his own team he's passive agressive (& all mentioned above).

Someone mentioned if it's a small company, no, it's a huge FI.

[krytonsheep]

Someone mentioned if it's a small company, no, it's a huge FI.

When you say the MD is in charge of your team, how does that work if it's a huge FI? Usually a good few layers of middle management in between before you hit the contractors.