# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/41 "2012-09-13T19:28:41Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > 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. How much prioritizing does it take to know not to ignore an email from _your boss_? ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/42 "2012-09-13T19:33:18Z")
We have a “Tim” in our office too. He doesn’t do what his direct boss - or the boss above his boss - tells him to do all summer…and then… Wait for it… Instead of the boss’ boss telling him get off his sorry excuse of an ass and get the damn work done - he (the boss) tries to push it onto other people in the office (read me) to get done ASAP!!! Like hell, I say. Only I say it nicely. With a smile. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/43 "2012-09-14T00:12:36Z")
Is what the OP an Ginger did considered legitimate rape? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/44 "2012-09-14T01:07:53Z")
> [@slitterst](#): > > I can’t imagine many business people out there who would give an unresponsive vendor THREE CHANCES to call back. From a customer perspective, if I had called back the third time, it would only have been to waste your sales people time before going with the other company. I would not have gone with your company even for a lower price, because I would not believe I would receive any follow up service in a timely manner. Either your product or Ginger is absolutely amazing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/45 "2012-09-14T01:31:28Z")
> [@j666](#): > > From a customer perspective, if I had called back the third time, it would only have been to waste your sales people time before going with the other company. I would not have gone with your company even for a lower price, because I would not believe I would receive any follow up service in a timely manner. > > Either your product or Ginger is absolutely amazing. Shucks, the simplest explanation is that the other company has their own Tim – who, by never checking _ **his** _ e-mail, prompted an increasingly-desperate Barry to loudly pretend he’d gotten a great offer – such that Skald’s crew managed, by default, to beat a hypothetical pitch that hadn’t actually been made. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/46 "2012-09-14T03:05:48Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Shucks, the simplest explanation is that the other company has their own Tim – who, by never checking _ **his** _ e-mail, prompted an increasingly-desperate Barry to loudly pretend he’d gotten a great offer – such that Skald’s crew managed, by default, to beat a hypothetical pitch that hadn’t actually been made. 😉 Could two companies really be that unconcerned about new business in this economy? No, I will not accept your argument. Ginger is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/47 "2012-09-14T03:26:24Z")
Is Tim a better farmer than hunter? Maybe it is time to separate the sales roles a bit between account prospecting / closing and account management. ---
**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 18, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/48 "2012-09-18T17:32:27Z")
> [@j666](#): > > From a customer perspective, if I had called back the third time, it would only have been to waste your sales people time before going with the other company. I would not have gone with your company even for a lower price, because I would not believe I would receive any follow up service in a timely manner. > > Either your product or Ginger is absolutely amazing. It’s Ginger. I’m lucky that she has kids and thus prefers the more reasonable hours of an inside sales rep to those of a field rep or manager. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/49 "2012-09-18T18:27:22Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > That was a month ago. This morning Tim comes into my office to complain about Ginger stealing his customers–specifically Barry. When I point out that both she and I sent him multiple emails about Barry, _ **he claims that he’s too busy to read his emails;** _ he thinks I should have hunted him down when Barry called that last time, or had him present Ginger’s proposal. As it is, he feels – his word – “raped” by both of us. > > I did not laugh in his face. I will remember this come evaluation time, though. Idiot. You should have mercy on him and trim his territory a little. He needs less to do. ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/50 "2012-09-18T18:47:58Z")
This OP subject reminds me of a Tim here in our office. He was technically good at his job (supporting a large software system) but personally he was abrasive and obnoxious. One time he spent 15-20 minutes complaining bitterly to my boss Jay about the guy he worked for, and then had the brazen balls to ask Jay if he could transfer to our team. Not until after Hell freezes thrice over hip deep on a tall giraffe, guy… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/51 "2012-09-18T22:06:46Z")
Tim is too busy doing _ **what?** _ to read his emails? I would spend a little time finding out what Tim is kept busy doing. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/52 "2012-09-18T22:16:09Z")
If one of my staff did not contact a customer that I specifically told them to contact then I would go through that fucker for a shortcut, yet my impression of the OP is that he didn’t even get a slap on the wrist? I guess I live in a simpler world. ---
**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 18, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/53 "2012-09-18T22:34:49Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > If one of my staff did not contact a customer that I specifically told them to contact then I would go through that fucker for a shortcut, yet my impression of the OP is that he didn’t even get a slap on the wrist? > > I guess I live in a simpler world. Your impression was wrong. I don’t fire people for one stupid mistake, though. And if Tim were not generally a producer, we’d have had a much rougher conversation. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/54 "2012-09-18T22:37:45Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Your impression was wrong. I don’t fire people for one stupid mistake, though. And if Tim were not generally a producer, we’d have had a much rougher conversation. Oh, I don’t mean fire him, just chew his bollocks off :D. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/55 "2012-09-19T16:53:37Z")
Ginger deserves a raise. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/56 "2012-09-19T17:55:09Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Your impression was wrong. I don’t fire people for one stupid mistake, though. And if Tim were not generally a producer, we’d have had a much rougher conversation. Stupid is a good description but it was not, under any definition, a mistake. He ignored your directives. He ignored his e-mail. He ignored the customer three times. A “mistake” is copying the guy’s number down wrong and having no way to contact him. This wasn’t a mistake. This was willful insubordination. What you choose to do about it is entirely up to you, though. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/57 "2012-09-19T18:01:24Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You should have mercy on him and trim his territory a little. He needs less to do. Oh yes, this. If he’s genuinely overburdened, you MUST help him out by making him more effective in a smaller area, rather than doing poorly over a larger one. If he’s being a jerk-off, then he needs his sails trimmed in several areas, but this would be a start. ---
**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 19, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-certain-things-one-should-not-complain-to-the-boss-about-this-is-one/634527/58 "2012-09-19T18:53:24Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Stupid is a good description but it was not, under any definition, a mistake. He ignored your directives. He ignored his e-mail. He ignored the customer three times. A “mistake” is copying the guy’s number down wrong and having no way to contact him. This wasn’t a mistake. This was willful insubordination. > What you choose to do about it is entirely up to you, though. I agree that Tim was being insubordinate; I just disagree with the narrow meaning (and connotation) you give to the word mistake. That is, mistakes aren’t necessarily accidental or even honest; moreover, _even an honest mistake can be a firing offense_. This was more a writing-up, loss-of-trust, gonna-be-watched-more-carefully-henceforth-&-not-given-special assignments offense. [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=2)