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Antiwork

Manager yelled at my crew – it made me realize how little he matters

I work in manufacturing and my crew got loudly chewed out by our manager for some (costly) mistake that happened during our shift. The mistake was subtle but (temporarily) fixable if we had been aware and had kept our eyes on it, but we dropped the ball. A week later we were called together on the work floor to hear what our manager had to say. He started slow and understanding, then started raising his voice. When coworkers talked back he dismissed them, “I'm at word” “Let me speak!” is what he said. Halfway through his tantrum I realized why this was really happening. This manager is completely clueless about the actual work we do, the problems we face. He doesn't understand the circumstances that caused this to happen. His only way to 'contribute' to our department is to yell and wave his arms around and hope we do the…


I work in manufacturing and my crew got loudly chewed out by our manager for some (costly) mistake that happened during our shift. The mistake was subtle but (temporarily) fixable if we had been aware and had kept our eyes on it, but we dropped the ball. A week later we were called together on the work floor to hear what our manager had to say. He started slow and understanding, then started raising his voice. When coworkers talked back he dismissed them, “I'm at word” “Let me speak!” is what he said.

Halfway through his tantrum I realized why this was really happening. This manager is completely clueless about the actual work we do, the problems we face. He doesn't understand the circumstances that caused this to happen. His only way to 'contribute' to our department is to yell and wave his arms around and hope we do the actual work. This is his 'style' of management.

The actual solution had to come from us: I helped documented what I believed to be the cause and showed that this had been stirring for quite a while. In my opinion it was waiting to go wrong, and would inevitably happen again. I went out of my way (and out of my pay grade) to contact people in our company that could actually help, and a solution was found. Later, I talked to some of them about how my work helped solve this and why it was needed. They complimented me on my problem-solving skills and initiative. Yes, I'm smug about it. My manager has not mentioned this to me. I believe he simply thinks this is how it's supposed to go.

Once I realized this I lost all worry and what little respect I had for him. He's shouting at us and nothing is ever going to change because of it, we're just there to be his emotional outlet because he's angry at his own inability or embarrassed because he got yelled at by his own boss.

Maybe it's all just an act to 'inspire' us? Is this actually some 20-dimensional chess? I'm in my late twenties so maybe that's just how work has always been, and always will be? All I know is I felt and still feel bulletproof regarding mistakes at work. If I mess up I'm gonna get berated again and I'm gonna say 'You're right, my bad, it won't happen again' and walk away knowing that actual, meaningful change will always come from us, not from him.

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