I am having a hard time doing my job?
Asked by alan c
I am supervisor of a trucking company and my manager keeps over ruling my decisions with the guys under me. Some of the guys under me do not want to work. They try to make excuses for why they cannot get anything done. They make as many deliveries as THEY want to and if they do not like what I tell them to do, they go to the manager over me! Most of the time, some make no more then 5 or 6 deliveries in a general area. Some refuse to do that many! They are also smoking on the dock and this is something the manager lets them get away with even though they have been writen up by the safety guy. I am good at what I do, but what do I do if the manager is working against me and not with me? Do I take this to a higher up or what? I have tried to talk with my manager and he says that I am too hard on the drivers. I just want to be fair to everyone and also have satisfied customers, and make a profit for the company! Thanks for your advice!

Best Answer:
If you care more about the way business is conducted than your "superiors", you are setting yourself up for failure. Your managers will look at you as a trouble maker and the people under you won't respect your authority. You either have to do things the way your manager wants or find work elsewhere in order to preserve your own sanity. It's difficult to keep things in perspective when you are trying hard to be a productive employee and you're expecting the same from those in your charge without the backing of your manager. If you have a meeting with your manager and his boss, don't be surprised if the result is resentment rather than accomplishment. Be prepared to move on.
Experience in lower level management.
Answered by Explorer

Having a meeting with your boss concerning his overruling you and the guys going around you to him. If he isn't going to understand and back you up your have two options. Quit or adapt to his way of thinking and let the guys do what they want and collect your paycheck. If your boss doesn't have your back you are powerless. If he has a boss you can schedule a meeting with him and let your boss know you have a meeting scheduled. You are caught between a rock and hard place and you need to know where you stand with your boss.
Answered by Panama

that is really sh*tty and very stupid and counter productive of the manager. but he IS the manager. So here's how you approach it: You say to him "I know you said you think I'm being too rigid with the schedule and with the rules but I didn't make either of them I'm just trying to uphold them." "I'm not going to second guess your decisions so if you ARE THERE to say its ok then it ends there, but it can't come from me because I don't have the authority to break company and health department policy." he doesnt need you to tell him that he doesn't have that authority either so don't "If it comes down to them or me then I'll be looking after me" the smoking infractions can result in a lawsuit against the company so keep that to yourself for now in case you have to face off against your boss in front of his boss. If it really hits the fan Then you say "if you try to fire me for this i will file the smoking complaint against the firm myself."
Answered by pdevans1963@rogers.com