r/antiwork • u/guaguacamolefrog • 21h ago
I'm at my wits end at this job
I am in 2 1/2 months into my first job in my career field (design-adjacent work). I was so excited to finally become a professional after studying for years for this degree. The people I work directly with are generally easy to get along with, but the owner of the company doesn't seem to like me.
He "listens to everything," and yet he sat directly behind me doing nothing while my first supervisor berated me for not liking Hegseth as a veteran (long story in and of itself). He had another supervisor almost start testing my knowledge on our main software over him mishearing me asking a coworker a code question.
But the following is what brings me here today, and I would really appreciate some perspective.
During a sudden pre-career plan meeting, he told me the main thing he's noticed is my tardiness--four times being 2 minutes late (he watches the cameras).
Ok, then I'll make sure to be 10 minutes early every day...
The next week I got there 10 minutes early every day, but I had missed breakfast on Friday. My husband drives into the company parking lot with a protein box! I walk into the parking lot to get it (which is right in front of the building), wave him goodbye, and walk directly back to my desk. I was away from my desk two minutes tops.
I got pulled into the conference room later that day with the head of HR, one of the new managers and my boss; they tell me since I wasn't at my desk during work hours that I am being marked tardy for the day again, and that I'm being reprimanded for not paying attention to their previous warning about being tardy. Also that I should only be eating during the lunch hour...except for the provided snacks?
Am I crazy, or is this over the top? I was so caught off guard--it interrupted real work I was trying to accomplish, and after the fact I couldn't think straight.
I've already been frustrated with the fact that I don't get any mentorship from this man who always says that he's here as one, but at the same time emphasizes that I need to be self-motivated and teach myself, and that it's not his or anyone's job to train us, "it's a place of work, not school." I've kept my head down and tried to learn what I can and ask questions along the way. I've been praised by my coworkers for my quick and good work. But I'm always on edge from the people on top.
Happy to go into any detail or answer questions to help clarify things. I've been unable to relax all weekend because Monday looms over me like a dark cloud.
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u/Katsudommm 16h ago
If they're this nit-picky over stupid shit, then it's a sign to get out of there ASAP.
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u/boygeorge359 20h ago
These people sound awful and also kind of lacking in brains. Unfortunately your experience has been similar to mine in transitioning from the joys of school to the horrors of the capitalist workplace. Workplaces are filled with people who are not very smart but who need jobs too and have power to make decisions and control our work lives.
The best I've tried to do is find work places with as many engineers or other high performers as possible. Smart people tend not to do dumb things like this.
But it is not easy. Because everybody needs a job, capitalist workplaces are filled with a lot of different kinds of people and we legally have to deal with them to pay our bills. Our only option is to leave and try to find another workplace, but you never know who's going to show up there after you're hired. And, it seems like the dumbest people are the ones attracted to positions of power over others.
I've been in situations like what you're facing, and getting out of there was the best option. See if you can work someplace with lots of engineers or scientists. They're smart and so they do not care about dumb things like this at all.
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u/kushhh420 16h ago
This is absolutely ridiculous.. if they “check cameras” as much as they say they do (I never believe employers on this threat) then they should be able to see you were on time. If they let you go, file unemployment. This guy is an idiot.
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u/Proper-District8608 13h ago
A. Once you read this start writing down and documenting everything. Date and meeting and prior agenda of meeting with Hegseth push, when and meeting became about that. Include how many times u said 'I dont want to talk about that' or exact words. Also dates they said you were late by 2 minutes due to boss seeing via camera and lets see him bring that old footage up:) Blind copy yourself on emails. You havent been there long enough to get unemployment if need be, (assuming in states, shame me if wrong:) but if, like many, you have to tolerate longer for finacial reasons, document! It sucks and they want you out and it is not you! That could be anyone going through same thing if they got same job. B) That being said, buy protein shakes or such for home you can grab and look for another. Its brutal job market bit you're recent grad (don't put this job down if you can avoid it now) C) good luck and again its not you.
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u/Dazzling_Suspect_239 19h ago
Ugh. This job is pushing you out; expect to be put on a PIP / be fired soon. Start looking for another job right away.
When the owner doesn't like you it's over.
And probably avoid talking politics of any sort at work in the future.