Blackballed... 7

[swearingen]

So, the first group lead with this client lasted 3 months, the second, 3 weeks - I'm the third lead in my 4th month and the call came in that the client construction rep wants somebody to come solve a field problem EXCEPT me.

This is an alliance relationship between my company and the client's and times aren't great, so tough talk ("just tell the client you don't want his business" or "request another construction rep") isn't an option.

What's funny is that the first group lead is the one we sent to solve the problem - we're back to the top of the batting order, I guess. My boss and I both thought I should go anyway because it is my project and I'm the most familiar with it. We were warned away from doing that by two in-house people that know this guy well. They said we should give him some time to cool off.

I met this guy in person once for about 30 seconds and talked to him on the phone for about 5 minutes. The phone call was tense (my voice never raised, his did a little), but I thought I had defused the situation. That call was two weeks ago. I guess I didn't settle things as well as I thought I had...

I know this isn't really a question - I guess I'm just venting - but have you folks experienced this type of thing before?


If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm

 

[swearingen]

Mike - "Be prepared for pointed questions intended to gauge your bona fides as well as your conclusions."

Brought a chuckle to me. I guess the politest way I can say this is that he would not know what the definition of a "pointed question" is. He's much more likely to tell me to get the f*** out of his office...

I do believe that if another problem comes up, I will make the trip whether he specifically excludes me or not. I'm actually kind of disappointed in myself that I didn't go this time...


If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

http://www.eng-tips.com/supportus.cfm

 

[MikeHalloran]

Never meet in your antagonist's office; you've lost the battle when you agree to that. Doesn't even matter what the battle is about.


Meet at the actual site of the problem.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[SNORGY]

Believe in Karma. What goes around does, indeed, come around.

Once upon a time, as a junior / intermediate engineer, I was asked to re-write a specification on aerial coolers. I didn't know a lot about aerial coolers, but I gave it a shot. After gathering as much as I could (GPSA data, books, other specifications from other companies), I wrote my first draft. In the first draft was a clause that I had found in a specification from an EPC firm for which I had tremendous respect. It said that it recommended a minimum 1:20 slope on the last tube pass for aerial coolers in condensing service. It made sense to me, so I put it in my draft.

A "Client" subsequently reviewed the draft, and took rather strong exception to the clause. He said, among other things: "That will force split header box design, larger frames...what a stupid idea that is! Who came up with that? Whoever came up with that is obviously a complete idiot who knows nothing about aerial coolers. Boy, I'd sure like to know who that idiot was."

I could only respond that I was no expert, and that the clause came from a specification that had been prepared by a company for whom I had a lot of respect. So, he demanded that I send him a copy of the specification - which, dutifully following upon his instructions, I did.

It came to pass that the "Client" used to work at an EPC company, and apparently, when employed there, once was asked to write a specification on aerial coolers, which he then sealed and signed with his professional engineering seal. Being somewhat observant, I couldn't help but notice a striking similarity between the name on the seal and the name of this "Client"...

My next trip was to the fax machine:

"Dear (Client): Here is a copy of the page of the specification in question, along with the cover page bearing the professional endorsement of the idiot who wrote it...".

I waited for several days for a response, calmly sipping my coffeee. I never heard from him again.

Regards,

SNORGY.

 

[jmw]

The chances junior/intermediate engineers take!
You're lucky it wasn't you that was never heard from again.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[SNORGY]

I have since mellowed with age and installed an "idiot filter" between the brain and the keyboard, in the form of making judicious use of the backspace key prior to hitting <SEND> from any electronic device. However, such a filter is still prone to malfunction following prolonged exposure to misdirected verbal abuse.

Regards,

SNORGY.

 

[casseopeia]

SNORGY, I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

I've tried the idiot filter but find that it can be very dangerous if the filter clogs. What usually happens then is an explosion of idiocy, orders of magnitude greater than if I had let a few idiocies sneak out to diffuse the mounting pressure.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

 

[KENAT]

My old boss used to complain that I didn't have a filter. I used to say yes I do, you should hear what I'm really thinking.

Apparantly being blunt isn't universily accepted as a good thing.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[jmw]

Kenat, Is that why you have been exiled?

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[KENAT]

No, it was my American boss who got "let go" last month.

If I'd said the things I said at my old employer in the UK people would have asked why I was nancying around/holding back/playing nice.

The offences that got me exiled are far worse than that.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[SNORGY]

I think the best exit interview I ever had was when I said:

"I'm too drunk to work here today, and too intelligent to come back tomorrow."

At least I finally got to meet the security guard. I missed him at the Christmas party.

I really wouldn't recommend too many of those.

Regards,

SNORGY.