What would you do?

Re: What would you do?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:09:22 GMT

I have to say I see myself in this person, I am a self proclaimed control freak. This is one reason why I'm sole charge. I wouldn't employ myself or work for someone like me!

Re: What would you do?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:03:45 GMT

There's ways to keep a finger on the pulse without undermining employees When I started with my good boss, the surgery was attached to his home. His wife issued a standing invitation to both my fellow assistant and I to walk into the kitchen and help ourselves to coffee whenever we returned from rounds-needless to say an invitation we took full advantage of Towards the end of the day, Peter (the boss ) was usually back from his rounds as well Conversations tended to go along the line of:

Q1 How's Mr Jones today ?

Q2 What's wrong with his cow?

It wasn't till this sort of conversation was phased out as he became more confident of me that I realised he was discretely checking upon me !!!!!!! These kitchen table discussions were a fantastic way of building team spirit, and mentoring assistants discreetely

The only time he stepped in on an OOH was when I was in the middle of a calving The farmers wife came out to tell me to phone the surgery when I finished I did, and Shirley (boss'wife ) said that another calving had come in(some 20 miles away ) but on hearing I hadn't finished the 1st Peter had gone I was sincerely grateful

Wynne

Re: What would you do?

Niall Taylor — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:40:32 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]If the boss walked in I would walk out.[/quote]

Exactly - I've been on the receiving end of this sort of micro-management type behaviour and my response has always been "Great, thanks! I'll leave you with that then..." following which I will do just that and get on with something else. This type of behaviour is ridiculous.

Cheers,

Niall

Re: What would you do?

An On MRCVS — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:54:39 GMT

Regarding how he knew about the seizuring dog callout......it turned out that he had given his personal mobile number to the particular client involved earlier that evening, I was not aware of that and she had called both phone numbers in a panic....she told me that the dog had had a seizure lasting 15 seconds, which I was not too concerned about but arranged to see her anyway straight away at the practice. I was unaware that the owner had been given two phone numbers to phone in case of emergency and I was unaware that she had phoned us both until I was well on the way into the practice. Not too big a deal really but a big waste of time if a regular occurance.....Where a small group of people are trying to give 24/7 cover, it can be very time consuming to be involved in the above kind of call out for nothing. I don't really know why the particular individual gave his personal phone number to a client, who then went and phoned the recognised emergency phone number and then the personal one, with both vets then on the road to see her. I would like to think being helpful. But then if you are doing a 1:2 OOH rota week-nights, very busy, and then 1:3 rota OOH weekends, you really want to know that each call out to the practice is going to be genuine? Or if you don't trust your staff best just do the on call entirely yourself. Trying to be helpful wears a bit then at 11pm on a weekend night?

Just to let you know, after 2 full weekend days at home with me in me in my house, getting 24/7 care from me personally (the only way to avoid being called out un-necessarily), and 1 MRI LATER and 7 full days later at home, and a normal starting dose of phenobarb, there have been more more seizures since the 15 second one mentioned above. And the wee little cavie is doing just fine, despite all the human beings driving up and down the motorway in a complete panic on his behalf. Bless him!!

Re: What would you do?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:29:21 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]Another example, I was on call recently, a recent onset seizure dog owner phoned in, we had a discussion, dog needed to be seen, I arragned to meet the dog within 15 minutes in the practice, but then the practice owner phoned in the mean time to say he had got there before me, was treating the dog. I was already on the road.[/quote]

Just curious - how did he even know about the call out? Does he take the phones? Was he already at the practice, and was kindly saving you the trouble? Or had you rung him for advice? Seems a strange situation to happen really.

Re: What would you do?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:17:28 GMT

Leave. Now. Walking in on consultations is unforgivable. If the boss walked in I would walk out.

The boss clearly has a problem, but it's not your problem.

Re: What would you do?

tess — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:39:52 GMT

Really, really not worth it.

Been in a similar situation several years ago. Stuck it for a year and left feeling I was completely incompetent.

It took about 6months in a great supportive practice to get back on track.

Re: What would you do?

Bob Russell — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:58:13 GMT

A good experienced vet will know when to ask for help. A good experienced boss will know when to offer it!

Re: What would you do?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:31:08 GMT

When I was a new grad, a couple of people who were only a few years longer qualified really undermined me-the worst thing they did was laugh about me with lay staff whenever I asked for advice-so I ended up scared to ask-horrendous situation, so you have all my sympathy It took years,and an older supportive boss who was a real father figure for me toget back the self confidence I graduated with

Wynne

Re: What would you do?

HMC — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:21:16 GMT

I agree with what 's been said. Your stage is similar to mine (I'm almost 5 years qualified and working as a locum) and I would not stand for it.

I am in fact having a day of feeling undermined myself (nothing compared to your usual day I'm sure)- and that was started by another vet saying I should double check a patient's thoracic rads for mets ( I did right and left inflated laterals! and he/she had not even seen the rads so had no reason to doubt me! the dog had a laryngeal problem). (There were some other things but I'm not posting anonymously so need to be careful!).

Re: What would you do?

An On MRCVS — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:17:01 GMT

Thank you all for your opinions. I think the idea of running is the right response. Just to let you know I did speak quietly to the other staff, and the general answer was 'Why do you think we work here part-time, couldn't stand to be here full time?' or 'I had to take a long time off sick two years ago because of that behaviour and now I work part-time'. Need to go put my runners on.

Re: What would you do?

Robin Grimmer — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:50:50 GMT

I think you already know the answer. You're 5 years qualified, not a new graduate. Interrupting your consults and undermining you is unforgivable.

Re: What would you do?

Louise6732 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:37:43 GMT

Initially my thoughts were also 'RUN!'

But, if you really like the place, is it worth talking to the man first, saying how you feel ( I appreciate you've already done this so might not help to do it again) talk to him when you are calm and not right after a situation if it happens again. Say you really like the place but you feel a bit undermined etc. Could you agree to a trial period of a month or two (most places do this anyway for both parties) and if it doesn't sort itself out in that time then it probably won't.

Louise

Re: What would you do?

Clive Ansell — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:06:58 GMT

I agree with all the others; life is far too short, you need to walk and go elsewhere. He sounds a right pain in the arse.

Re: What would you do?

katja wagner — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:54:32 GMT

agree with Mark and would run very fast!

serious,have a chat with other team members and find out if this is his usual longterm behaviour or if he just likes to keep an eye on new vets although he should not undermine you in front of clients and could do this in a much more subtle way.

good luck!

Re: What would you do?

Lorna McHardy — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:54:13 GMT

Don't touch it and run, is my advice!

Supportive employers you can ask for help, who will review things if you're out of your depth, are a wonderful thing to have. Employers who pick up on clinical problems, client complaints, and suchlike, and respond by talking to you and making sure you're doing ok and not making a lot of unnecessary mistakes, and even double-checking your work, are perfectly reasonable.

Employers who undermine you in front of the clients for no particular reason need to be given notice asap.

Re: What would you do?

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:34:15 GMT

Frankly, this isn't worth your time. This will end up destroying your confidence; it is emotional sabotage for you, whether it is intentional or not. Do NOT wait and hope he'll get better-the only way to win this game is not to play. You like locuming? You don't need him! Run, run, run!

Re: What would you do?

MeeraM — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:00:47 GMT

I think most people would be uncomfortable with this level of interference so I'm not surprised you feel undermined and are losing confidence. If you have discussed this with him and he hasn't made any effort to improve his behaviour, then I suspect he never will change. However, it may be that he's taking control because you are new to the practice and that's how he treats all new members of staff. Any chance you could have a discreet word with other vets/nurses to gauge whether he's likely to ease off eventually or whether he'll continue to keep very close? You may find he tends to calm down given time, in which case if all the other aspects of the practice float your boat, I'd ride out the uncomfortable beginning.

You could even try reverse psychology of keeping him very involved in all your cases before he even asks, and see whether he makes his own decision to give you a little space

Re: What would you do?

Rob Loxley — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:38:43 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]I am an 5 year graduated SA vet working in the UK
But the boss is an absolute perfectionist and control freak.
Yes, you got it, he walks in on consults and starts examining animals in the middle of my examination[/quote]

I can't imagine this will change - and I imagine a quick chat with the other vets and support staff will tell you - and I would steer clear. Lots of things in practice one doesn't like/ agree with/ get on with you can live with, but this doesn't sound like one IMHO.