Help me keep my head on straight

[rob base]

So I been in a new job about 3 months now. Boss doesn't give me much to do. It's a federal government job.

But there is stuff to do.  Boss works hard & long.  Also Boss is pretty bad boss---not in a malicious way----just she is unorganized, not a good leader (again not in a malicious way, actually she could be more stricter)

The boss has a team of 3 (I am one of the three) budget analysts.  For those that know GS structure the boss is a GS 14, there is a GS 13 and two GS 9s....I am one of the GS 9s

The boss has been in the organization for like 15 years, but recently moved to this "branch" (from the 2nd floor to 1st floor of the building). The organization is a Department of Defense Agency.  Boss started at this Branch when it was started in Feb 2016 (it's a new branch).  The other GS 9 started here in March 2016 (its her first government job).  Myself and the GS 13 started in Sep 2016.  I came from an Army organization; the GS 13 came from an Air Force organization. 

So some of the things can be chalked up to most of us being "new" and "new" branch........Once I did my inprocessing for like the first 4 weeks I kept asking people what they need help with, how can I help, etc.......really no takers......the amount of work I am responsible for (so far) is very minimal.......there are still a lot of things I don't understand about the organization and the work (while army budget & DoD budget have same general processes there are some differences)......so it's not like I can volunteer myself to do "X", since I am not sure exactly what else needs to be done.....

So after my 4 weeks of "continuously" offering for help I stopped....I figured Boss will ask me if she needs help.....I figured me keep on asking could be irritating......

So I been watching lots o' YouTube videos, reading news, and making sure all my admin stuff in my personnel files are good to go (trainings documented, 401 K contributions accurate, etc.....)

So in the old days I would keep on pestering to help, almost demanding to help because I don't like it when others on the team have to pull more weight.....and it may sound kiss ass, but I really believe my job is to make the Boss life easier / better (not get her coffee or whatever, but to be proactive, anticipate, and offer to help, etc.)......but not knowing much of this org I can't really "jump on any hand grenades" yet.......

The GS 13 from the Air Force talked with me the other day and she feels similarly "frustrated"......

So part of me (my "heart") wants to talk to the boss and say "How can I help make your work easier?", "I want to help", etc......

The other part (my "brain") says "you just went through some crap in the Army that should have taught you not to try to be "too helpful"........brain also says- you asked a bunch when you first arrived here about helping the team.....if boss wants you to do more it's boss's job to ask you now........you're on new guy probation........also you're underpaid for the skills you bring to the table (and much isn't usually expected for a GS 9....you're not an officer anymore) .........just keep your head down, don't make any "noise" and enjoy the "down time"--you earned it with your past military deployments, etc.....

So I guess I just need validation so that I continue to follow my "brain".......I keep a good attitude at work.....I tell jokes......we all get along well personally at work.......just seems like the boss seems to shoulder most of our work and not dish it down to us.......and I realize part of it is the "newness" factor.......but there doesn't seem to be any plan to change this situation......

hopefully that makes sense

opinions?

[saveinla]

I would try to talk to the boss a couple more times and if she still does not respond, then bring it up at your annual performance review. Some people are not good at managing people and their work.

[tcu2003]

Nov 30, 2016 23:47:03 GMT -5 saveinla said:

I would try to talk to the boss a couple more times and if she still does not respond, then bring it up at your annual performance review. Some people are not good at managing people and their work.

This. Has she managed people before this role? Learning to delegate things that I can do was one of the hardest things for me as it sometimes felt like I was giving up all control on the quality of work.

If talking to the boss again doesn't produce any results, is there a nearby department/group that might be able to use your help? That's what happens in my company if one group is slow and others are busy.

Disclaimer - I'm in the private sector and have never worked for the government.

[Tiny]

On a wryly humorous note:  Watch the movie Ikiru (it's got subtitles, it's in black and white. It's directed by Kurosawa).  It will explain the intricacies of doing nothing to maintain your job/position that is created by bureaucracy.      You probably don't want to rock the boat at work.  It doesn't end well. 

On a more serious note:   If you can't get someone to ASSIGN you something - can you do a bit of observation/ask questions/look over someone's shoulder and get a better idea of something you can then 'volunteer' to take on - which since you've been hovering or have asked questions about or maybe added your two cents worth - the person incharge may be more inclined to give you stuff.      The problem with a really busy boss - is that they may not feel they have time (deadlines to meet!!!) to actually train you/let you take the necessary time to do something new.  the boss may feel it's just better IF they do the work (it's a known quantity for them) and meet the deadline - rather than risk handing the work off and NOT meeting the deadline.   

I've watched other people 'observe', talk to others working on the project, ask their boss some questions about the work, and then transition into taking on the work - all without the Boss actually delegating the work to them.    It's like the boss needed to know AHEAD of time that the newbie person doing the new work - already KNEW how to do it...and then it was OK for the boss to let them do it.   Yeah, that's basically a 'bad' boss... but not necessarily an evil boss.   

[Bluerobin]

Talk to the boss.  If nothing changes, start looking for busier opportunities in other departments.

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2016 22:25:58 GMT -5 rob base said:

So I been in a new job about 3 months now. Boss doesn't give me much to do. It's a federal government job.

But there is stuff to do.  Boss works hard & long.  Also Boss is pretty bad boss---not in a malicious way----just she is unorganized, not a good leader (again not in a malicious way, actually she could be more stricter)

The boss has a team of 3 (I am one of the three) budget analysts.  For those that know GS structure the boss is a GS 14, there is a GS 13 and two GS 9s....I am one of the GS 9s

The boss has been in the organization for like 15 years, but recently moved to this "branch" (from the 2nd floor to 1st floor of the building). The organization is a Department of Defense Agency.  Boss started at this Branch when it was started in Feb 2016 (it's a new branch).  The other GS 9 started here in March 2016 (its her first government job).  Myself and the GS 13 started in Sep 2016.  I came from an Army organization; the GS 13 came from an Air Force organization. 

So some of the things can be chalked up to most of us being "new" and "new" branch........Once I did my inprocessing for like the first 4 weeks I kept asking people what they need help with, how can I help, etc.......really no takers......the amount of work I am responsible for (so far) is very minimal.......there are still a lot of things I don't understand about the organization and the work (while army budget & DoD budget have same general processes there are some differences)......so it's not like I can volunteer myself to do "X", since I am not sure exactly what else needs to be done.....

So after my 4 weeks of "continuously" offering for help I stopped....I figured Boss will ask me if she needs help.....I figured me keep on asking could be irritating......

So I been watching lots o' YouTube videos, reading news, and making sure all my admin stuff in my personnel files are good to go (trainings documented, 401 K contributions accurate, etc.....)

So in the old days I would keep on pestering to help, almost demanding to help because I don't like it when others on the team have to pull more weight.....and it may sound kiss ass, but I really believe my job is to make the Boss life easier / better (not get her coffee or whatever, but to be proactive, anticipate, and offer to help, etc.)......but not knowing much of this org I can't really "jump on any hand grenades" yet.......

The GS 13 from the Air Force talked with me the other day and she feels similarly "frustrated"......

So part of me (my "heart") wants to talk to the boss and say "How can I help make your work easier?", "I want to help", etc......

The other part (my "brain") says "you just went through some crap in the Army that should have taught you not to try to be "too helpful"........brain also says- you asked a bunch when you first arrived here about helping the team.....if boss wants you to do more it's boss's job to ask you now........you're on new guy probation........also you're underpaid for the skills you bring to the table (and much isn't usually expected for a GS 9....you're not an officer anymore) .........just keep your head down, don't make any "noise" and enjoy the "down time"--you earned it with your past military deployments, etc.....

So I guess I just need validation so that I continue to follow my "brain".......I keep a good attitude at work.....I tell jokes......we all get along well personally at work.......just seems like the boss seems to shoulder most of our work and not dish it down to us.......and I realize part of it is the "newness" factor.......but there doesn't seem to be any plan to change this situation......

hopefully that makes sense

opinions?

You have the "curse" of a good work ethic.   More like you are desparetely needed.   Your conundrum should self correct with experience gained by your superior.   Maybe.   I would just chalk it up to one of those imperfections of life.

[rob base]

Dec 1, 2016 12:18:18 GMT -5 Bluerobin said:

Talk to the boss.  If nothing changes, start looking for busier opportunities in other departments.

yeah....I have a "guaranteed" promotion every 12 months for the first 24 months.......so I plan to stay a bit more than 24 months regardless......also this position has some good perks that I am not sure I will get at another position (Union job, telework 1 day every 2 weeks, Compressed work week (80 hrs in 9 days vice 10), 2 hours a week off to go to the gym, and some others...)

So I will probably keep this position for a bit more than 24 months regardless. Re-evaluate once the wife settles in and gets a job in this area.......

Money is not too big of an issues......I plan to be able to be retired in 7 years ......so I think after 2.5 years I can take a chance at something else if I really want

[rob base]

She's managed people before....like I said though, she's not good.....again, not in a malicious way.....just she is too unorganized, maybe too friendly, and just doing too much work we should be doing IMO.....although like I said, I chalk a lot of it up to the org structure being new and a lot if us being new.....if it was an Army org I would know a LOT more things I could pro actively just do without asking permission or volunteer for.....

[moon/Laura]

I'd recommend studying the dictionary in your downtime.

[zibazinski]

No kidding. Or use spell check.

[rob base]

Dec 1, 2016 21:42:02 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I'd recommend studying the dictionary in your downtime.

Eye donut nose wise peeps say dat?

[moon/Laura]

I guess because (in my case) I don't understand why an obviously intelligent man (based on other posts of yours I've seen) would deliberately set out to make himself look like he has a 2nd grade education at best. Is it that you think it's cute/funny? It's neither. 

[gooddecisions]

It takes time for a boss in a new positions for a new branch to figure out how things can work efficiently and it hasn't even been a year. She doesn't want to see things slip, so she's doing a lot herself. You have to stop asking what you can do to "help" and specifically ask for the task. Could I do the xyz budget analysis report this week, for example. If you can stop being vague and starting being specific with how you can "help," you will likely get the assignment. If you don't know how to do the task, specifically say, "can I work with Bob to get that report done?" 

If you need to know more tasks, ask her what she's working on it. If there is something that sounds like you could take off her plate, ask for that specific assignment.

Good luck! And just remember, this time next year will likely be 100% better.

[wvugurl26]

I would ask the boss now and then for stuff. In the mean time look for trainings or things you can do at work. When I started my job there was a lot of downtime. Everyone told me it took about a year to get up to speed. That ended up being true. Now I'm buried in more work than I can possibly get done.