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mayorana · Newbie Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Government middle manager with 6 years to retirement. I work in a very specialized and close-knit community. Last week I inadvertantly committed a policy violation. I walked away from an open safe without properly closing it; not my first time either. I've already been warned that the next time would have consequences.

The consequences haven't materialized yet. I expect a letter of reprimand in my personnel file and possibly loss of pay/rank.

I admit it was caused by my own incompetence. I multi-task 20 items a day. I was simply distracted with other issues. I wasnt thinking about the drawer.

I have provided results where others have not. Yet, in this environment, more people track policy than get things done. My boss informed that they've started an investigation. This violation already has a lot of attention. I'm frustrated and embarassed.

How should I handle this situation? Is it appropriate to resign? I would probably be happier working the counter of Starbucks under less stress, but retirement is the only reason I've stayed.

Randy · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:28 am Post subject:

I'm usually the first to treat employment as a battlefield: No quarters given, none taken, "scorched earth policy," burn those bridges and all the rest. But for the reasons you gave and "all things considered," I'd do my best to hang right in there. Milk that puppy for all you can. Hell, folks like me in that hellish and greatly over-rated "private sector" (a fancy way of saying that most of us work for selfish, greedy bastards) have always made fun of those "easy" government jobs with the 84 paid holidays a year, a job that's "guaranteed for life." I hope what's happening to you isn't a sign that the government is going the way of the private sector which is to look for any reason at all to "weed out" people who've been with them "forever" and once they get close to retirement or start making "too much money."

Hope this works out for you.

Pauloz · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:05 am Post subject:

mayorana

I spent 20 years in the public sector, and my advice is don't do anything on a whim.

I got out OK, but I didn't just walk off a cliff. I started a whole new career as a freelance writer.

This type of situation is more wear and tear on the patience than actual substance. I'd be prepared to bet that you're not the only one with a few misdemeanors of that kind.

Anything to do with money is considered holy, but no actual harm was done, so it's more a matter of principle, unless you're working with an obsessive.

Six years isn't that long. You've probably got some long service saved up, see if you can use that to shorten the period.

Another good option, close to retirement, is redundancy. The extra payout really helps, and it can be quite high.

Just make sure you're looking where you're going.

Incidentally, you might want to tweak your super if there are any pay ramifications to this, so you stay on target.

lexa10881 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:03 am Post subject:

You are frustrated and embarrassed, but for now, don't draw any more attention to it. I too have done this recently, in a position and I knew better. I wound up being okay. Wait and see what comes of it. You might just get a sharp reprimand and nothing more, especially if you are a good worker and they know that you are always attempting to go the extra mile.

Wait as patiently as you can, and try to overlook the office politics in the interim.

http://www.cvtips.com/survive_office_politics.html

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