At Work by Lindsey Novak

Q: I knew I shouldn't have done it when I did it, but I couldn't help myself. Now what do I do? I work for a company that is poorly managed. If the company changed its thinking and the way it operates, it could make so much more money and also make better use of employee time.

I'm a natural observer, and I've been watching how each manager behaves in his job (yes, all of management is male) and how each treats his subordinates. What I have deduced is that none are management quality in regard to their attitude and behavior. Not one would make it at a public-owned company.

The top manager is narrow-minded and has a bad temper. If anyone does any little thing he dislikes or disagrees with, he yells and criticizes the person. He thinks his way is the only way to do things. The two managers under him are also not manager material because they compete with their employees instead of helping them. It's ridiculous the amount of backstabbing and betrayal that goes on. I see now that they are managers in title only but know nothing about the meaning of the word.

I have been stressed out lately from the job — I don't like the people or the work — and I blurted out my criticism of the system and my suggestions to one of the managers on how we could be more effective in our jobs. He didn't want to be bothered talking about it (just more proof that he is not a manager) and told me to talk to the top guy.

I knew it was a bad idea, and I should have listened to my gut saying, "don't." I did it anyway and got yelled at so badly I cried. I have never cried at work. I think it's terrible for others to see a person in an emotionally weak position. He apologized when he saw me cry, but I could see how awkward he felt.

A: Some hard-nosed employers despise crying at work, but there is a difference between a crybaby who repeatedly whines and cries over minor confrontations and a one-time burst of tears from being verbally attacked. Don't apologize for being a sensibly sensitive person. That boss should feel sorry for his behavior, and your crying may have awakened him to the potential results of verbal abuse.

Unless you are ready to quit (you shouldn't quit from such a confrontation), you must face the fact that it's time to start a job search; then you will be able to leave on a positive note. If you don't, your dissatisfaction will rise again with potentially far worse results than crying for just the day.

BABY BOOMER RESENTS ADVICE FROM YOUNGER GENERATION

Q: I am a 55-year-old divorced woman with no children, and my husband left me with nothing but debt, so I must work. My hours have been cut back, so I've been sending out resumes to nearby companies. I have not received one response, not even a rejection. I showed my resume to a girl in her late 20s who told me I needed to change it if I wanted it to look good. I see no reason to change it; it always worked in the past. I think I'm not getting responses because of my age. What do think?

A: You showed it to the young woman for a reason. Ask yourself why you are resistant to updating it in the style she suggested. Age discrimination may be a factor if your resume shows more than 10 to 15 years experience on it, but your resume format may also show your age, if your information is presented in an outdated manner.

Email all your workplace questions and issues you would like to see addresses to LindseyNovak@yahoo.com. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM