# There are certain things one should not complain to the boss about. This is one. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527 "2012-09-12T17:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/21 "2012-09-12T21:54:44Z")
Fantasy Football Draft. It explains everything about Tim…including the rape. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/22 "2012-09-12T22:03:26Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > Fantasy Football Draft. > > It explains everything about Tim…including the rape. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/23 "2012-09-12T22:10:25Z")
Works in sales? Doesn’t read his emails? How is that even possible? Deserves losing this sale/commission. And should be told he’ll lose, more than a commission, if he fails to follow up again. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/24 "2012-09-12T22:16:12Z")
Can’t you hire another Ginger and replace Tim with her? Or woul two Gingers be too confusing? Maybe a Mary Ann? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/25 "2012-09-12T22:22:00Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Works in sales? Doesn’t read his emails? > > How is that even possible? > > Deserves losing this sale/commission. And should be told he’ll lose, more than a commission, if he fails to follow up again. I checked his emails earlier; he has tons of unread ones. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/26 "2012-09-12T22:24:42Z")
Please tell me you are in Chicago so I can send you a resume TODAY 🙂 Sounds like people are lining up to purchase your services! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/27 "2012-09-12T23:10:23Z")
I was talking to a coworker today (actually one level above me, a section chief), trying to resolve an issue that’s been a problem all week. She was at her computer trying to find some info, and for some reason had her email system set up so that a popup would show up and the screen would jump to her email program every time an email came in. She was getting about 1 email per minute and I saw her inbox: 1765 unread messages. She works like mad, though, so can’t really be blamed for not getting all her messages… there are just too many! On the issue I was working with her for, I copied her on at least 12 messages, just to keep her in the loop (it really was an urgent situation needing about 6 people’s involvement!) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/28 "2012-09-12T23:21:21Z")
“Well Tim, it obviously sounds like you’re too busy to do this job. Why don’t we agree that you’ll work on transitioning your existing clients to other agents so you can move on to working on those other things full time?” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/29 "2012-09-12T23:40:05Z")
Where are you Skald? I need a job and you SHOULD have an opening soon. My qualificantions – not an idiot or a douchebag. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/30 "2012-09-13T00:00:47Z")
You dropped Barry’s business in Tim’s lap after Ginger did all the work to land it. If Tim didn’t either. . . [ul] [li]drop what he was doing to call Barry, or[/li][li]find a reasonable point to pause his task and call Barry, or[/li][li]wrap up his task and call Barry[/li][/ul] …in 10 minutes or less to pick up that ball and finalize the deal, then you, as the team’s manager, would have been under the microscope if Barry took his business to a competitor. Furthermore, if Barry was a sloth about following up on that deal when you were at his desk telling him to get on it, and he still got credit/commission/recognition/a brief congratulatory smile for winning the contract, then you would have been stomping on Ginger’s efforts. I would expect team morale to drop sharply if you pulled such a stunt. Yeah, territory is nice and you gave Tim every possible chance to protect his turf, but Ginger did the work and deserves the reward for her effort. To do otherwise would harm the company more than losing Barry’s potential business. It would quash future initiative and effort by Ginger (“Gee! I pitch in a little extra and someone else gets credit for my work!”) and by other members of the team who would learn about Ginger’s efforts and their results. If Tim’s other efforts are as strong and positive as your indicators suggest, then losing that one account to Ginger shouldn’t harm him a bit. He’ll make up for it with the other dozen deals he was scrambling to seal and he should thank Ginger for keeping that last straw off his back. If he feels threatened because Ginger went above-and-beyond for the company’s benefit, he’s either. . . [ul] [li]being petty and immature, or[/li][li]unfairly dismissing the value of Ginger’s effort, or[/li][li]knows his efforts are worth less than the indicators convey, or[/li][li]all of the above.[/li][/ul] But let’s be a bit more open-minded. If Tim is losing several deals to Ginger then you both need to learn her methods. If her methods are ethical and she’s not stealing prospects from other Account Rep’s, then you should consider getting her to train her teammates. You also need to find out who else is losing prospects to Ginger. In the situation you described at the top, it appears she got a good referral and took it all the way to closure while making every reasonable effort to give Tim a chance to take the reins. If Tim is losing accounts to Ginger and other Reps as well, then perhaps Tim needs some of Ginger’s tips and training – or a different job. Sales is tough and not everyone is cut out for it – I certainly can’t handle it – and some that do well in the beginning don’t maintain that golden touch as they grow older. —G! [BTW: The difficulty I had with that sentence was “…between $100 and $200 on services which both we and our biggest competitor.” Uhh…what’s the verb? ‘Provide’?] You cross a Lawyer with a Godfather, baby, He’ll make you a deal that you can’t understand! . --Don Henley (solo) . _Gimme What you Got_ . End of the Innocence ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/31 "2012-09-13T01:23:53Z")
Some people expect exclusive domain when all they deserve is, at best, the right of first refusal. (come to think of it, that’s my opinion on marital fidelity as well as sales territory) ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/32 "2012-09-13T03:45:42Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I blame the Canadians. We are usually at fault. > [@kayaker](#): > > Can’t you hire another Ginger and replace Tim with her? Or woul two Gingers be too confusing? Maybe a Mary Ann? There can never be too many Ginger’s. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/33 "2012-09-13T16:52:24Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I blame the Canadians. On behalf of almost all Canadians, I’m sorry. Alice is correct, we need all the Gingers we can get…Perhaps cloning Christina Hendricks would be a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/34 "2012-09-13T17:39:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > As it is, he feels – his word – “raped” by both of us. You and Ginger ought to stop shaking his hand. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/35 "2012-09-13T17:47:02Z")
But was it a legitimate rape? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/36 "2012-09-13T18:18:36Z")
You came very close to losing Barry’s business, and possibly creating a negative word-of- mouth reputation for your company, through Tim’s inaction. New business needs to be closed upon quickly. When prospective clients are looking for a new vendor they expect a timely response or they will keep looking. They will measure your future performance by your initial response. I’d take away Tim’s red Swingline and move his office to the basement. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/37 "2012-09-13T18:23:11Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > You came very close to losing Barry’s business, and possibly creating a negative word-of- mouth reputation for your company, through Tim’s inaction. > > New business needs to be closed upon quickly. When prospective clients are looking for a new vendor they expect a timely response or they will keep looking. They will measure your future performance by your initial response. > > I’d take away Tim’s red Swingline and move his office to the basement. AND give the Swingline to Ginger. I’m sure SHE knows she did good, but you are going to make sure she knows YOU know she did good, right? Gotta keep the good ones happy, and she sounds like a good one. Don’t let Tim get her down or make her timid with his animosity. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/38 "2012-09-13T18:26:42Z")
Also, regarding massive amounts of email: Anyone who has that kind of flow in their inbox knows, or should know, how to prioritize it. There are many, many ways to make sure you get what’s important vs. what isn’t, and anyone not utilizing those tools needs a lesson, stat. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/39 "2012-09-13T18:38:21Z")
Coffee’s for closers. ---
**Author:** ![slitterst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/40 "2012-09-13T18:59:32Z")
I have to wonder how many potential clients you’ve already lost due to Tim’s inaction. I can’t imagine many business people out there who would give an unresponsive vendor THREE CHANCES to call back. I mean, maybe if the peer reference was stellar I’d call a second time, but the odds are if your salesperson doesn’t call me back the first time, I’m going on to the next company on my list. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527.md?page=3)