Hmmm... I wonder does this make me a bad person?

[Ticklerguy4u]

I've been working for a custom cabinet company for four years. I started out as a "grunt". For those of you that don't know what a grunt is --its a employee that gets all the crap jobs like cleaning up after the construction workers, carrying the tools, etc. As time went on I purposely learned all I could about carpentry watching the more experienced guys. The bosses sooned realized that I knew something and little by little gave me small projects. Still keeping me as a grunt whenever it was convienent.

Out of all the employees I was the lowest paid until they gave me a small raise (not much to effect anything...but still it was a raise) about a year ago.
Anyway, recently this year they boosted me or should I say promoted me to full time carpenter after four years gave me a raise that equaled the rest of the guys.

They hired a new "grunt" and he now does all the crap jobs while I get the bigger projects. The funny thing is that when I was a grunt I was not equal to the guys and the supervisor would not include me in the company meetings. Now I am part of them and the new guy is shunned. I try to speak to the new "grunt" on an equal basis but am debating whether I should show him what Ive learned or just let him stay in his position because I just got there myself and don't want competition. Does this make me a bad person???

 

[venray]

Bad because you are wondering what you should do? Of course not...

What you need to do is think of how you would have liked to have been treated when you were in his position and then make the decision that best fits the person you are inside...

All about conscience and I know you have a good one or you would not have posted to ask for input....

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

your right. thanks for the advice. Sometimes its difficult because I hate saying "pick up those tools and put them away" when I am not crippled but its his JOB like it was once mine. I know how much I hated it.

 

[storyteller]

In line with Venray, how you tell the new grunt to pick up those tools makes a difference too. You don't have to speak to him as though he's your doormat just because he's low man on the totem pole (not to say that you would). The Golden Rule works if people apply it. Besides, you never know how and in what way what you dish out to others may come back at you, 10 times worse!

storyteller

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

true...very true

 

[Tamia78]

On one hand, you said you WANTED to learn carpentry. So you made an active effort to do it, and it paid off. It's not as if he's asking you and you tell him no. If he's not asking, obviously he doesn't want to learn. Nothing worse than trying to teach someone who doesn't want to learn. About telling him what to do....might you be able to help him pick up the tools if you have the time? I know I would respect someone in a higher postion more if they took the time to help out instead of pretending that they were above doing dirty work.

--T

 

[Capnmad]

I echo Venray's and Storyteller's sentiments, but differ from Tamia in that not asking about the job is not necessarily indicative of disinterest. He could as easily be shy or intimidated by the higher ranking folks like yourself. Don't try to make him learn anything he doesn't want to, but many people aspire for that beyond what they already have. Consider if you would have wanted your once "superiors" to take a more active role in your development, and act accordingly. There is no harm in asking if someone wants to learn, nor in engaging others as equals rather than lessers, the only difference being of course, that you have separate sets of responsibilities and knowledge bases.

You must follow your own counsel and settle your own concerns regarding anxiety about competition.

Good luck, and may your conscience continue to guide you. 😀

 

[Mastertank1]

No, it does not make you a bad person.

Ask yourself a question;
Realistically, is there ANY way, any possible way, that this new guy learning the same way you did could have a negative impact on YOUR standing in the company?
If the answer is yes, you have a legitimate reason not to go out of your way to be helpful.
Did anyone go out of their way to help you learn?
If the answer is no, then if you help the new guy, and because of your help he learns faster than you did, the bosses may think he's smarter and promote him ahead of you at some point.
Is it explicitly or implicitly a part of your job to take time and expend effort to teach him?
If not, then a supervisor might get on YOUR case for wasting time and effort if you do and they notice.
Taking care of yourself first does NOT make you a bad person.
Mutilating those 15 gangbangers and leaving them to die in slow agony, THAT makes you a bad person. OOps, sorry. Projecting there. heh heh.

 

[gabrielle]

first of all congrats to your promotion. you definitely deserved it.
bad person? you must be joking. most people wouldn't even bother thinking about it the way you do. after having struggled as hard as you did, I perfectly understand your fear of competition, but in my opinion just because you have achieved what you did, you should be confident enough not to fear competition at all. after all it's not only the knowledge you gained through the years, but your willpower and stamina that got you where you are right now.
I'd say it pretty much depends on how this guy is acting. If he shows interest and wants to learn, definitely help him whenever possible. If I understand you right, it will make you feel better about yourself, he will admire you and will probably be doing the one or other extra thing for you without being asked for it - and if I were your bosses, to witness such attitute would definitely earn you my respect as well. ( of course I don't know your bosses )
good luck. I'm pretty sure you will be doing fine though 🙂

cheers
gabrielle

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

Ask yourself a question;
Realistically, is there ANY way, any possible way, that this new guy learning the same way you did could have a negative impact on YOUR standing in the company?
If the answer is yes, you have a legitimate reason not to go out of your way to be helpful.
Did anyone go out of their way to help you learn?
If the answer is no, then if you help the new guy, and because of your help he learns faster than you did, the bosses may think he's smarter and promote him ahead of you at some point.
Is it explicitly or implicitly a part of your job to take time and expend effort to teach him?
If not, then a supervisor might get on YOUR case for wasting time and effort if you do and they notice.
Taking care of yourself first does NOT make you a bad person.
Mutilating those 15 gangbangers and leaving them to die in slow agony, THAT makes you a bad person. OOps, sorry. Projecting there. heh heh.

Well actually unless I spoke up I wouldn't of been taught anything. I mean I would of gotten the tiny jobs of a eight year old. Not kidding. I mean like cleaning the glue off the wood. I had to literally climb the corporate ladder to get noticed.
Helping him to learn would only put him in same standing as the "rest of us" eventually but he wouldnt have the pleasure of actually busting his ass to get there like I did. So I figure like everyone said..if he wants to learn I'll show him but if he doesnt say anything then I won't. I think he has a inferiority complex so HE may never ask. He hardly says a word even if you talk to him..he just nods his head quietly.

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

first of all congrats to your promotion. you definitely deserved it.
bad person? you must be joking. most people wouldn't even bother thinking about it the way you do. after having struggled as hard as you did, I perfectly understand your fear of competition, but in my opinion just because you have achieved what you did, you should be confident enough not to fear competition at all. after all it's not only the knowledge you gained through the years, but your willpower and stamina that got you where you are right now.
I'd say it pretty much depends on how this guy is acting. If he shows interest and wants to learn, definitely help him whenever possible. If I understand you right, it will make you feel better about yourself, he will admire you and will probably be doing the one or other extra thing for you without being asked for it - and if I were your bosses, to witness such attitute would definitely earn you my respect as well. ( of course I don't know your bosses )
good luck. I'm pretty sure you will be doing fine though 🙂

cheers
gabrielle

Unfortunately my bosses are as "unsharp" as a spoon. They feel that if you are a "grunt" then your intelligent level is slow and dim-witted.

I SHOWED THEM DIFFERENT!!..ha ha
after four years...see, I told ya... "unsharp"

 

[maniactickler]

Let nature take its course.

 

[steph]

Hm, maybe a sad sack? Since you seem like you care about this person and actually know what being there feels like (which I think is a lovely quality-waaaaaaaaayy too many successful people these days forget where they came from and turn into total jackasses with a little success) I'd maybe keep an eye on him for the next few months? Maybe one day, you can help him with the benefit of your experience if you see him staying stale...I'm one of those that beleives in karma. When you help someone who needs help, the whole team wins!

XOXO

I think he has a inferiority complex so HE may never ask. He hardly says a word even if you talk to him..he just nods his head quietly.

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

Hm, maybe a sad sack? Since you seem like you care about this person and actually know what being there feels like (which I think is a lovely quality-waaaaaaaaayy too many successful people these days forget where they came from and turn into total jackasses with a little success) I'd maybe keep an eye on him for the next few months? Maybe one day, you can help him with the benefit of your experience if you see him staying stale...I'm one of those that beleives in karma. When you help someone who needs help, the whole team wins!

XOXO

yeah, your right I definitely don't want to turn out like my supervisors. They actually inherited (they are brothers) from their dad who started it. So they never really knew what it was like to struggle your way up. Thanks everyone..good advice.

 

[Deadsea7777]

Well there are three kinds of people in the world; those who follow the rules, those who are against the rules (which are sort of the same but like a photographic negative of each other) and those you make their own rules.

If you are in the first two categories you know what to do. If you are in the third category you need to think. Be generous would make you a noble person, but if you boss is an asshole or the new “grunt” is only looking for a way to climb the ladder; you may dig your own grave.

On the other hand if the new “grunt” is a good man, why make him wait 4 years?, if you are able to teach and help do it. Only you know your circumstances. Give it time and as Dustin Hoffman would said “keep a low profile” until you know better the quality of new man.