Incompetent work colleagues
I know I'll be far from the only person who experiences this, but I went for a promotion into a manager role about a year ago and I really regret it. Of course the money is better, but looking after people is such a drag.
I don't mind the expected things like performance reviews, catch-up meetings, etc, but in this position I'm now exposed to the general incompetence of people much more than I used to be.
I used to feel bad asking my manager more than 1 or 2 questions a week on the understanding that I should be able to use my intelligence to answer most queries myself or at least know who to speak to in the business to get said queries resolved. But I'm now saddled with people who have no shame in constantly asking me questions or expecting me to drop my work for last minute meetings or phone calls where they ask multiple questions because they're either too stupid or lazy to at least attempt to find out the answers. Most of them are in their 20s.
I've started to answer their questions in a less direct way now - eg instead of just giving them the answer I give them instructions on how they can find it out for themselves to try to teach a bit of independence. But it generally falls on deaf ears. I'm hesitant to call it out in a critical way, because I suspect they may say they've got an "unsupportive manager" which obviously I don't want.
Feel free to share your experiences of incompetent work colleagues. I'm sure you'll have far worse tales than me and I might feel better about my lot as a result!
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 4, 2025 11:28 AM
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It really is a drag. What % of a pay increase did you get in exchange for?
I managed staff for 18 years and then switched back. Now I’m the old one who is given complex and sensitive projects and otherwise left alone.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 4, 2025 9:58 AM
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When I was young I had a job at a market late at night unloading and stacking shelves. Workers who had been there longer would ask me where items were located. I had unconsciously memorized the store. They had not.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 4, 2025 9:59 AM
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R1 It was about 5% with the promise of a better increase at my next pay review on the understanding that I'd settled into the role by then.
The annoying thing was that I was almost shamed into it. I resisted it for a long time; multiple people would tell me I should go for it any time a manager role came up and I wouldn't because I wasn't sure if I could do it. People would say "don't lack confidence in yourself" etc, so I eventually bought into it.
It's interesting how staying in the same role is seen by most as a weak or 'bad' thing to the point you almost feel guilty for doing it. I find the only time it's seen as 'acceptable' is in those over 55, as they can say they want a role to see them through to retirement.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 4, 2025 10:56 AM
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My father was a salesman, and eventually he took a promotion to a staff manager when I was 7.
In four years, he went back to the salesman position, because managing his people was way too much work.
And my father's 89.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 4, 2025 11:23 AM
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I hate managing people. I now want a job where I just work alone.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 4, 2025 11:28 AM
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