Bad Employment Practices - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: May 18, 2005

Bad Employment Practices

Date: May 18, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Ex University Employee
"This thread is to collect or to set up a list of bad employment practices at the Universities. Would like to see others add to this list. I'm an ex staffer and never plan to set foot on campus again. First issue because of the treatment you get if your not the directors favorite pet. Second, directors pets always get the raises when the other do all the work. Third pets always get time off without having to take leave while other have to use their leave. Wonder why many departments can't keep a secretary for along lenght of time? "

I sure hate to break it to you, but everything you mentioned happens everywhere. I hope you are not expecting to find better, not if you plan to work for an organization with a large number of employees.

Date: May 18, 2005

Moved on to another place, much better place, after spending so many years at USM, the one place I always wanted to work and retire at, now I wouldn't step foot on campus if I had to. Come to find out there are places that the grass is alot greener on the other side.

Date: May 18, 2005

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Anyone can post anonymous messages like this, how about specifics since you aren't ever coming back?

quote:
Originally posted by: Ex University Employee
"This thread is to collect or to set up a list of bad employment practices at the Universities. Would like to see others add to this list. I'm an ex staffer and never plan to set foot on campus again. First issue because of the treatment you get if your not the directors favorite pet. Second, directors pets always get the raises when the other do all the work. Third pets always get time off without having to take leave while other have to use their leave. Wonder why many departments can't keep a secretary for along lenght of time? "

Date: May 18, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"

I sure hate to break it to you, but everything you mentioned happens everywhere. I hope you are not expecting to find better, not if you plan to work for an organization with a large number of employees."

Oh drat, here I go having to -- not just agree, but totally agree -- with Seeker.

I have worked in several different sectors, private and public over many years. Bad management, favoritism, mean bosses, injustice, rude people, stress, low pay. It's all out there. Too bad you had a bad experience at USM. I found most of the people I worked with were great. You take yourself with you wherever you go.

Oh, and as everybody around here can tell you, even a great work environment can go bad real fast.

Date: May 18, 2005

The faculty losses are peanuts relative to the staff losses. You'd need a ream of paper to print those. The trains aren't running on time anymore. Just ask anyone on campus from the guy on the trash truck to anyone below the level of Dean. USM is going to be shaky for a long time as all that skill and institutional memory has been lost for good. USM isn't a "university" town any more. Once upon a time the school could get quality for peanuts, benefits, and PERS. Now for peanuts, you get, never mind.

If this goes on much longer, USM might get more than shaky.

P.S. to seeker. You think the faculty are unhappy, just talk to the staff. I'm twice your age and have never seen the like in either the private or public sector. I lie, saw it on Continental Airlines just before Frank Lorenzo's departure.

Date: May 18, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Ex University Employee
"This thread is to collect or to set up a list of bad employment practices at the Universities."

Well, I know it's not the intent of this thread, but I think hiring Shelby Thames was a very bad employment practice.

Date: May 18, 2005

How many staff do you suppose work for tuition, either their own, or a spouse or child's?
If you don't have the quality academic programs and the evening classes, what's the point of working for substandard wages?

Btw, wasn't there a change in the practice of letting staff have time to go to class after SFT became president? I sort of remember that at one time you could be absent during work hours to take one class, and then that was changed.

Date: May 18, 2005

You can still take one class during regular working hours if your department head allows it. I believe that most still do. You get six hours free per semester if you are a full time employee.

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"How many staff do you suppose work for tuition, either their own, or a spouse or child's?
If you don't have the quality academic programs and the evening classes, what's the point of working for substandard wages?

Btw, wasn't there a change in the practice of letting staff have time to go to class after SFT became president? I sort of remember that at one time you could be absent during work hours to take one class, and then that was changed."

Date: May 19, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"
I have worked in several different sectors, private and public over many years. Bad management, favoritism, mean bosses, injustice, rude people, stress, low pay. It's all out there. Too bad you had a bad experience at USM. I found most of the people I worked with were great. You take yourself with you wherever you go.

Oh, and as everybody around here can tell you, even a great work environment can go bad real fast."

I think Seeker and LVN are basically correct. But I'd like to emphasize that when the man at "the top" engages in terrible behavoir towards others and bad management practices, all other administrators down the line have tacet permission to do so as well. Not that all of them will, but the chances of there being favoritism, meaness, injustice, and rudeness skyrocket. Sometimes administrators who were merely Dr. Jekyll turn into Mr. Hyde. Sometimes previously good bosses are forced into situtations where they act in ways they otherwise wouldn't, simply because they always feel like they are operating in a war zone and all tactics are necessary.

Date: May 19, 2005

Foot Seeker is absolutely correct on this one. Often persons who are reigned in by the principles of good manners are unleashed under a mean spirited, tyrannical leader. Others will do anything to survive, including going against their own sense of right and wrong.

Date: May 19, 2005

Here's my contribution:

When faculty members go up for promotion and are supported by their department, chair, college advisory committee, dean, and university advisory committee - have the provost deny them promotion.

That will provide some other wurl' class university an opportunity to lure away our wurl' class faculty.....

Date: May 19, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Far away alum
" Others will do anything to survive, including going against their own sense of right and wrong."

Identification with the aggressor?

Date: May 19, 2005

The source of the nastiness and mean spirited behaviors on campus is SFT. The faculty voted No on SFT before the board appointed him. If they had listened, things would probably be much better at USM.

The provost, deans, and high level administrators use meanness to cover their own incompetence. It has been said many times before that USM has lost its HUMANITY. While things weren't perfect during Dr. Lucas's years of service, there was a sense of caring and family on campus. When the flag at the entrance to the campus was at half staff, people called to find out who had died. We cared about each other whether, faculty, staff, or student. We enjoyed going to work. None of this has happened during the reign of terror of SFT. USM continues to spiral into oblivion.