Is my Boss an (insert profanity here)?

[JinormusJ]

So, to start:

I'm a manager at a fast food restaurant
I've been working in the company for 2 years, but I transferred to this store 4 months ago, which is also when I was promoted

I am suspicious that my boss loves playing mind games and minipulates me into "lying", dishonesty, and deceiving me into believing I am doing a "bad job" or being insubordinate. I use those terms loosely, because in my mind, I'm doing the best I can with what I got and the people I have to work with: it is a BRAND NEW STORE, with 60 people who have never been trained before to manage and lead. Granted I am new to my position, I am messing up and screwing up on varying levels in varying ways a lot, but I have, without a doubt, done better and am doing better day by day and have improved immensely compared to the day I first took the position. YES, there have been times when I didnt know my roles, what my reponsibilities were, or what i should have been doing that has made me miss things, forget to do something, or not know I can call other stores to restock our supplies, but I've always learned from my mistakes and come back strong, better, and more well prepared the next day. I am walking through the door every single day, willing to work, with positive energy (which every single member or the team will tell you I am a pleasure to work with and many text me after work asking if I would want to get together). However, my boss's wife doesn't exactly think so

Examples include:
1. I ask if I should do things a certain way, and she replies with "Are you questioning my leadership?" but really I was just looking for guidence and affirmation on how to do a certain task or if it is being done correctly
2. Expecting me to abide by company policies without training me on what those policies are (I am new to the manager position, and I've never held a position of leadership before)
3. Publically yelling and verbally abusing me in front of employees and customers when I "screw up", even though I am doing my absolute best.
4. Heaping unrealistic expectations on me such as running a shift absolutely perfectly without prior training of how a shift should even be run

Get this last one:

5. Telling me I'm doing a great job one day, then demoting me the next day and giving my position to a less qualified individual who works slower than me and gets along worse with many of the team members. Only two reasons she gave was "You're a good worker but not a good leader. Every shift you've lead has never run smoothly" and "Your not doing a good job"



Enlighten me r3v...
I don't think she likes me


/rant

[e30lov]

If you're making less then 30k a year doing this job then I would get the fruck out. It's not worth the headache.

[gtdragon980]

Can't say there is much to argue. As of now, there is only one side to this story and we cannot imagine your performance. These things aside, from what you are saying, I would keep a close eye on the guy who she replaced you with and study his performance. See if he does things a different way than you, more efficient or less efficient? See how the shifts are ran and if it is going smoothly. Once you gather enough evidence that he sucks at the job, skip your boss and go straight to her boss, Regional Manager? Write a letter stating all of her remarks and actions towards you throughout the day, as respectfully as possible, and bring up the guy who has replaced you and discuss his performance compared to yours. Do all of this correctly and professionally and you may be able to get that position back and possibly get the bitch fired.

[mr.vang]

When I was 16 working at McDonald, my store manager was making 50k a year. He quite after 2 years. All I can tell you is fast food suck ass no matter what position you're in. Sometime its less painful to be the lobby boy than the boss. Unless you're the CEO, I would not stay at any fast food chain more than a year.

[delatlanta1281]

Reading your side, it seems like your manager isn't giving you the proper tools to succeed in your current position. The fault, in this case, lies with their leadership abilities. Have you ever been issued a written performance review or probation period due to poor performance?

[mrsleeve]

^
What he said.


That being said I am dealing with similar shit with the management shake up we have had in recent months where I work and in the last 2 months I cant seem to do anything right for the new guy, I have to take orders from. Even though its no different than anything else I have ever done and normally gets me requested by clients.

[JinormusJ]

I was suspended for a weekend for poor performance and written up once for reasons I didn't exactly agree with: I left the store to get change ($1 bills) for the safe so we could get through lunch (which, having enough change for a shift part of my responsibility), but then when she got in, she wrote me up for leaving the store because I was the only manager in and threatened to suspend me. She never verbalized that part of the job description and I did not know I wasn't allowed to do so

Told her I was sorry, I realized what I did wrong, and wouldn't happen again.
Next week I needed change again and she yelled at me for not getting change, but I was the only manager in so I couldn't even though I knew I had to get change.

I've never recieved a written performance review, but I have had verbal reviews in which the details were very vague and lacked specific examples

My friend of 3 years also recently got hired and has been working as a Manager at another local fast food chain for 2 years: he constantly says I'm doing a decent job for my experience and that I usually run shifts pretty well. That's coming from another management position

Even though its no different than anything else I have ever done and normally gets me requested by clients.

This is exactly my position: I constantly (on a daily basis) have guests come in requesting me as their order taker or they refuse to order because they love the service I give them and some of them have even said to me that I'm the reason they keep coming back. Seems like I'm doing something right, but everything wrong in the eyes of other people

[delatlanta1281]

Hmm what does your hand book say about getting proper change to start the shift properly and prepared?

[JinormusJ]

We don't have a handbook

Or at least.. Not one that I'm aware of

[delatlanta1281]

How big is this chain?
If there is no written process on how to accomplish this task, how can she expect you to follow through with your duties as manager without her guidance?
Do you get yearly reviews?
Is there a HR department/ district manager?
Have you asked her to give you the tools you need to succeed?
Write your questions down in a spiral notebook, request a sit down, ask them and write down her answers. It will show her you care about the success of the business.

[JinormusJ]

Fairly large

And that brings me to the exact point I'm coming to now: how am I supposed to manage to the best of my ability of I've never been trained and the only person that can guide me is more reluctant to do so

We don't have an HR department that I'm aware of, but we do have a district manager for sure. Unfortunately I have no idea how to get in contact with him

I've, on multiple occassions, have asked for a formal meeting to where we address issues and we've scheduled meetings, only to get rescheduled three or four times before we actually have a meeting. The meetings I do have are filled with disinformation and consists of her claiming I am not following proceedures, insubordinate, and doing a bad job of managing shifts

[Roysneon]

I was a swing mgr. at McDonalds for a few years. Now I move cars around at a dealership for a little more than minimum wage. Would not look back in a million years. Nothing at the store level is worth what you have to put in. All stores in my area are 24 hours and having to work whenever you are scheduled, different days and any time from early mornings to late nights to back shifts. waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles that.

It's a terrible, poisonous industry both for the consumers and the employees. Shit pay, and you're ridden hard by Ops consultants and Regional Reps and put away wet. Either go back to school or find another job, man. The only way to get anywhere is to be just like your boss. I'm speaking from experience here.

I do think it's messed up that they didn't give you any training to speak of. McDonalds actually did give great training for management. What restaurant do you work for?

[Roysneon]

Also, I'm risking a lynching here but...

I often find that women in positions like being a restaurant mgr. are very quick to say that younger men are being insubordinate or questioning them as some sort of complex. They can't ever level with you and are always looking for what you say to be some sort of threat to their authority.

[JinormusJ]

Well, it is a school job. I am currently in school and this was just an I between job until I land something in the hospital field now that I've recieved all my accreditations and licenses.

For what company though; is rather not disclose. All I know is I am incredibly overworked and underpaid ($10k a year). Maybe it's a good thing that I'll be working for the same pay with no responsibilities.


As far as your second post; I find a majority of older women in management in general are control freaks and pull this type of behavior. Not trying to stereotype, but it's a trend I've noticed.
We've already had 2 guys my age quit because of her

[gtdragon980]

Also, I'm risking a lynching here but...

I often find that women in positions like being a restaurant mgr. are very quick to say that younger men are being insubordinate or questioning them as some sort of complex. They can't ever level with you and are always looking for what you say to be some sort of threat to their authority.

I work with a lady who thinks men cannot comprehend attention to detail and tedious tasks. I told her to shut the waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles up.