This is my problem. I have been working partime in my local hospital 10 hours, spread over 3 evenings- 6-10 mon, 6-9 weds and 6-9 friday.
So no big deal, just nice hours to fit in with young children.
Nothing too taxing, quite simply, when all the medical records come back to the libarary, i log on the computer that they are back, and then go file them, that's a simplified version of advents and more often than not there is a lot more involved.
At times, because we are only human, we misfile. When entering the numerical number of a file into the computer before filing, it loggs what date and time the file was entered. So if i keep a logg of what numbers i was filing and entered into the system at say 7.15, when a misfile happens, at 7.15 on that date, you can tell by looking at my logg book that the file you are looking for is under such and such number cos that's where i was at that date and time and usually you can go to said number and find it (does that make kind of sense?)
So, baring in mind, in the evening there is no supervisor and no manager they all knock off at 5.30, they can look in the log book and see how much you have done of an eve. Fair play, i have nothing to hide, cos keeping the log book was my idea in the first place, just too personally help me find any misfiles i may of made.
A new manager has taken over, looked at our books and decided that we are not doing enough filing. I have had this job for 4 years with no complaint against me.
She has left us a snotty letter that, day time staff came in on a saturday to do some filing, and had done more than us, if we are having any problems then to ring her. I was very annoyed with this letter, so tried to ring her to arrange meeting and let her explain what she had written. E.g What hours did the sat. people work, how many of them were there. And most of all, if you have a prob with the way we working, then you should come in in the eve and tell us so that we can have a adult conversation about it instead of childish letters left.
Anyway, went in tonight to find yet another letter left saying:-
You had a good night on Monday but not so good on wednesday.
If you are having problems and are to scared to approach me then you can always leave a note in your filing log book cos, from now on i'm going to be checking it  everyday to see how much work has been done.
For 4 years i have been doing this job, and i think in all that time i have had 2 nights off sick cos my Dad died.
Am sitting here crying, feeling like a naughty 6 year old at the age of 38. I still have 3 weeks holiday to take before April and have not taken them because work has been so busy, and this is the thanks i get! Wish we were rich enough so that i can tell her to stuff it! But, do you know what, i really did like this job.
Anyhow, this is my question. Can we be treated like this? Is this the right approach that she has made? can she use my idea of a logging in book to help find misfiles, against me in this way?
Have left a letter back to request a meeting with her, have never been put in this position in my life. Please anyone who has any dealings in this sort of thing help me?

The new manager has a duty to do his/her job properly too and ensure that the optimum amount of work is being done.  I can understand your concerns but the situation might just be misinterpreted due to communication issues.

It's good that you are planning a meeting and can discuss this face to face and openly.  Use this as a valuable opportunity to discuss any concerns about your role rather than take a defensive stance.

You've all got jobs to do and it's in everyones best interests if you get them done effectively.

I don't mean this to sound unsupportive, just trying to look from a neutral point.  Don't feel so anxious, if you feel you do a good job then I am sure you do.  Your new manager will be able to see that when he/she meets you.

Best wishes.

PS, log books and notes are a very effective way of communicating when you aren't both in the office at one time!

I agree with Jackyjat.  Your response is appropriate and reasonable and she can't object to that.  Like you said, perhaps she doesn't have all the facts and doesn't realise the work/person ratio etc.  As cash strapped as the NHS is I expect that every manager is told to look for areas where they can save money.

Unfortunately it is a fact of life that many managers are not in their jobs for their people managing skills.  Still you've made the right approach, wait and see what she says.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your idea of keeping a logbook is an excellent one; in my last job we used a similar system (writing in the office diary) everything we'd done each day, because we were all part-timers and there was only one day a week when all three of us were in the office together. It saved time being wasted each day by people checking to see what needed doing - it was all down in black and white. And of course time wasted is money wasted - not something many businesses can afford to do! :)

Everyone approaches a new job differently to the last person and makes changes - after all, you instigated the logbook simply to make things easier, not as a criticism of the rest of the staff! Your new boss is doing the same - I'm sure there's no need to feel threatened. Good luck with the meeting. :)

i agree with the others. i have often found with a change of manager,things are either often changed for changes sake,(as the new manager wants to "make their mark" so to speak).
im sure once they have been there a while it may all settle down.

i wonder if this new person has "managed" before?

i found it really hard when had to manage a  large department,esp as i was on friendly terms with my staff,if i was in that position again (god forbid),id certainly try to not so "friendly"-not nasty u understand,just keep abit of a distance

You have done the right thing asking for a meeting and do think you do a good job from what you have said ;)

I think your manager has however been given targets to acheive because of the enourmous deficeit the NHS will have this year :rolleyes::rolleyes: This may be the reason for his/hers attitude :rolleyes:

I am an IT/Project Management Consultant currently working on a major 10 yr Project on putting NHS Financial Services into a Shared Service Environment which projected targets will make 14000 new nurses jobs available

I am not 100% convinced it will happen as I must admit the people I have been working with in the NHS are in not at all professional and haven't got a clue about how to run a business :rolleyes:

That's partly why I'm glad I'm not working anymore!!:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:(esp for the NHS!)

Hehe the good old communication books... never worked where i used to work they got the chop because the managers used to use them to put snotty notes and the staff back to the manager... hehe  a proper maintenance schedule worked better.. where everyone knew exactly what jobs 'they' had to do... not trying to outdo the other shift

Just thought I'd share my opinion that working faster (especially with filing) isn't necessarily working more efficiently ;)  In my experience, accurate filing is every bit as important as speed, what's the point of files that you can't find? they're no good to anyone ;)
Unfortunately misfiled files are only usually discovered when they are next required, making some people appear more efficient ;)

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to my post.
Dill you said about faster filing not being very helpful in the long run cos of the misfiles. Dead right! We were told once that the misfiles had gone up and we need to slow down a little to be sure of accuracy. That was from a previous manager.
My beef with this manager is, ok you have a problem with the way we are working, i'm an open and honest person with nothing to hide, so lets talk about how this can be resolved. Approach me, stay behind for half hour. But don't turn this in to some kind of, " they are faster than you" issue, cos as Dill said they may end up spending weeks looking for misfiles that others have done. Which also they have not got a chance of finding cos the person never kept a log that day!!
This to me is all about very bad management.
Anyone out there who is a manager, must know that to alienate your staff in such a way as to put their morale through the floor, is not going to get any kind of posotive result.
Obviously yes, she is having the screw tuned from someone above. But, there is a right way of doing things and this is def not it!

I think the written word is often the quickest route to a misunderstanding! You are certainly doing the right thing in asking for a personal meeting and my advice - when you get one - is to avoid being defensive at all costs. State your case clearly but keep emotions well out of it.

It may well be that this new manager is not good at expressing herself in writing although this, in itself, does not make her a poor manager. However she will almost certainly be under certain pressures herself and it sounds as if you both need to understand where each of you is coming from!

>I think the written word is often the quickest route to a misunderstanding!

You only have to read some posts and their responses on this forum to confirm that ;) :D

:D

Ruby,

Sorry I haven't got any suggestions with this (apart from pointing out the obvious problems of speed v accuracy :rolleyes: )  it sounds like a delicate situation, perhaps you need to meet up to find out more about each other and how this can be resolved, have to say, if I were the manager I would want to meet up so things could be sorted out.

I used to work in a similar situation, except the manager sat in the same room (note sat - not worked ;) )  after 5 years of carrying another member of staff and getting blamed for all her mistakes, I walked out.  It was the best decision, I'm a lot poorer than I would have been if I'd stayed, but my life is so much richer and I've had experiences and done things I'd never have done :) (didn't make myself homeless tho ;) not that crazy )

Good luck with this
Dill