# Can anyone help me with a work problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723 "2024-07-04T14:47:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/201 "2024-08-23T19:25:38Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Professional apps will almost always have licensing and costs to deal with. The company may decide to go with free apps to avoid those issues. But the free software is often worse, so that’s the tradeoff. If the company makes the decision to take the cheap path, make sure they feel the pain of that decision. We needed some open source tools for a project. Each one required a sixty page form (a lot of that was attaching the open source license) and careful examination of the terms, because if you are not careful all your stuff could get exposed. Paying a nominal amount for a package that generated interactive graphs was a lot easier. Still, we had to turn off the print capability, since that sent the information to be printed to their servers to be formatted. Nasty little surprise. > [@filmore](#): > > My company ditched MS Office for OpenOffice to save money. But OpenOffice had so many problems that we eventually went back to MS Office. I’ve used this back since Star Office days, before it was bought by Sun. The problem with Open Office is that the last I heard it was controlled by Oracle who cares nothing about open source. I uses Libre Office myself, much better. Some problems, but less bloat, but when communicating with other people I use Office tools. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/202 "2024-08-23T23:10:19Z")
It’s the third week of August. There’s no reason not to look for a job right now. And unless mid-September marks a vesting point in your pension or an extra week of paid leave to add to your final paycheck, there’s no reason to stay around. You’ve made it clear that you and your boss are incompatible, that her boss is backing her up, and that the company itself is changing in ways you aren’t happy about. You will not win this battle, in fact, you’re only one conversation between your boss and her boss from being fired. Life is too short to put up with that. If you want to show your loyalty to your coworkers, take them out for a drink on your last day and buy the first round. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/203 "2024-08-23T23:14:29Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > And unless mid-September marks a vesting point in your pension or an extra week of paid leave to add to your final paycheck, there’s no reason to stay around. While the OP has never elaborated on why that specific point in time is important to them (and appears to be unwilling to do so, as it’s been asked several times), I have to guess it’s something financial (pension or profit-sharing vesting, bonus, etc.) which is tied to still being employed by the company on that particular date. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/204 "2024-08-23T23:19:28Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > While the OP has never elaborated on why that specific point in time is important to them (and appears to be unwilling to do so, as it’s been asked several times), Or why they now cannot leave in that time frame. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/205 "2024-08-23T23:22:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Or why they now cannot leave in that time frame. Ahh, right, I hadn’t properly parsed the start of their most recent post here: > [@MagicEyes](#): > > I was hoping to start looking for a new job in mid-September, but it looks like that’s not going to be possible. My only plan now is to ride this out as long as I can. Which, coupled with the lack of detail about why mid-September was going to be a magic moment, just makes all of us even more curious as to what changed. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/206 "2024-08-23T23:26:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Which, coupled with the lack of detail about why mid-September was going to be a magic moment, just makes all of us even more curious as to what changed. Maybe it’s a [Lateral Thinking Puzzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2465) and we need to guess correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/207 "2024-08-24T01:54:12Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Which, coupled with the lack of detail about why mid-September was going to be a magic moment, just makes all of us even more curious as to what changed. And it’s not changing jobs in mid-September, it is looking for a job in mid-September. Very mysterious. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/208 "2024-08-24T01:57:31Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > It’s the third week of August. There’s no reason not to look for a job right now. And unless mid-September marks a vesting point in your pension or an extra week of paid leave to add to your final paycheck, there’s no reason to stay around. > > You’ve made it clear that you and your boss are incompatible, that her boss is backing her up, and that the company itself is changing in ways you aren’t happy about. > > You will not win this battle, in fact, you’re only one conversation between your boss and her boss from being fired. Life is too short to put up with that. > > If you want to show your loyalty to your coworkers, take them out for a drink on your last day and buy the first round. This. The OP is at constant odds with his boss and doesn’t like the direction of the company. So time to start looking. My situation is somewhat similar in that I’ve soured on my current company as well. No one is actively trying to push me out but it no longer feels like a place I want to be at. It just feels like a big mess moving in the wrong direction. Here’s the thing. I’ve worked at a lot of different companies None of them are perfect, but I generally have a good sense when things are “working”. Projects are planned and thought out. Good relationships with coworkers, managers, and clients. Positive trajectory for the future of the company. Good engagement from leadership. I know what a good job and a functioning company feels like. I also know what it feels like when a company turns into a shit-show. Lots of leadership changes and turnover. Talks of sales and strategy have a desperate tone to them. Lack of engagement from leadership. Chaotic management where people are overworked or spend long periods idle. Quality of assignments drops. General lack of direction. Sure maybe you can wait around for it to blow over and hope you stick around until the company catches the next wave of whatever. But if you see the writing on the wall, why make yourself miserable waiting around hoping it will change? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/209 "2024-08-24T02:37:56Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > > > Or why they now cannot leave in that time frame. > > Ahh, right, I hadn’t properly parsed the start of their most recent post here: > > > [@MagicEyes](#): > > > > I was hoping to start looking for a new job in mid-September, but it looks like that’s not going to be possible. My only plan now is to ride this out as long as I can. > > Which, coupled with the lack of detail about why mid-September was going to be a magic moment, just makes all of us even more curious as to what changed. I read that as, “I’m not going to be able to hang on that long”, not, “i can’t leave in mid September”. But rereading it, i think I’m wrong. But maybe that’s something @MagicEyes is willing to clarify. It is odd to hold off even looking, though. Maybe they work in a very small field? But they said they don’t need a recommendation from current management, so that’s probably not it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/210 "2024-08-24T02:44:36Z")
I read it that way as well. But I don’t know now. Everyone else thinks it means they need to stay past the September time frame. We need more clarification here. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/211 "2024-08-24T11:39:48Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It is odd to hold off even looking, though. Maybe they work in a very small field? But they said they don’t need a recommendation from current management, so that’s probably not it. Why would you ever need a reference from current management? I feel like that’s something that belongs in the Things that Happen in Movies and TV but Never IRL. “Here’s my glowing recommendation from my last boss who I hate because they were an abusive psycho”. The whole OP is just “odd”. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/212 "2024-08-24T13:21:59Z")
There are two sides to every story, and this is particularly true for workplace issues. A lot of times people who believe they are absolutely critical to the survival of an organization, despite being at level 7 in the organization chart are badly mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/213 "2024-08-24T18:42:31Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Why would you ever need a reference from current management? > > I feel like that’s something that belongs in the Things that Happen in Movies and TV but Never IRL. “Here’s my glowing recommendation from my last boss who I hate because they were an abusive psycho”. Most companies won’t even allow current employees to give references, either good or bad. All you get is a canned statement from HR giving time worked and if they would rehire the employee. I couldn’t give a reference for someone I worked with to someone from another company who I knew because of this - though I did strongly hint that the only reason I wasn’t giving a reference was company policy. After I retired I gave lots of references. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/214 "2024-08-24T18:44:19Z")
My industry is small. There’s a decent chance the people i might apply to know some of the people who currently (well, I’m retired, but before that) employee me, and will reach out and ask about me. If i burned my bridges badly enough, it would significantly limit my future employment options. (And I’ve certainly been asked, confidentially, about people i used to work with. I’ve been asked why they left and who they had been fighting with.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/215 "2024-08-24T18:46:54Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I couldn’t give a reference for someone I worked with to someone from another company who I knew because of this - though I did strongly hint that the only reason I wasn’t giving a reference was company policy I didn’t hint. If the person who asked me wasn’t someone i knew well and trusted, i just said, “I’m sorry, company policy forbids me from giving any reference”, when i worked for companies that had that policy. And if i knew them well, i told them that was policy, but gave a confidential reference anyway. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/216 "2024-08-24T22:32:14Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > My industry is small. There’s a decent chance the people i might apply to know some of the people who currently (well, I’m retired, but before that) employee me, and will reach out and ask about me. If i burned my bridges badly enough, it would significantly limit my future employment options. > > (And I’ve certainly been asked, confidentially, about people i used to work with. I’ve been asked why they left and who they had been fighting with.) How small is this industry where the OP can’t look for another job? Maybe they should look for a different industry? So long as it is done professionally and discretely, looking for a new job should not inherently “burn any bridges” with anyone but the most psychotic bosses (who you don’t want to work for anyway). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/217 "2024-08-25T01:11:31Z")
Well, I’m hardly disagreeing with you. I said: > [@puzzlegal](#): > > It is odd to hold off even looking, though. Maybe they work in a very small field? But they said they don’t need a recommendation from current management, so that’s probably not it. It’s a smaller industry to be awkward even to look than it is to need to leave without burning bridges. So i don’t understand why he’s not looking, either. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/218 "2024-08-25T20:24:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I didn’t hint. If the person who asked me wasn’t someone i knew well and trusted, i just said, “I’m sorry, company policy forbids me from giving any reference”, when i worked for companies that had that policy. I guess I wasn’t clear. I was explicit about company policy - my hint was that I’d love to give this person a reference if that hadn’t been the case. They got hired, so I think my hint worked. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/219 "2024-08-25T21:52:01Z")
Oh, that makes more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2024, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723/220 "2024-08-30T10:59:49Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > A lot of times people who believe they are absolutely critical to the survival of an organization, despite being at level 7 in the organization chart are badly mistaken. you are dead wrong - I expect Microsoft to implode any moment now! /s [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-with-a-work-problem/1003723.md?page=12)