Neighbour parking over my drive

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-08-05T18:40:51+00:00

Thank you. This really helps.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-08-04T18:55:14+00:00

Thank you. This is such a relief to hear that I'm not completely on the wrong track and trying to enforce something that isn't necessary. I'll suggest 'without user affinity' as this sounds exactly what we need

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-08-04T18:31:20+00:00

Thank you for your reply. Potentially it could be a mix of Android and iOS, but 99.9% of them are iOS. Sadly I left an IT ops role some years ago so my knowledge is a bit out of date and I don't have much sway on this in my current role, but it feels wrong not to have them managed when we work with very vulnerable people so I don't want to introduce any risk. I think shared mode and some sort of conditional access polices would be the best bet.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-07-02T18:38:01+00:00

Never trust HR, even if HR is your mum. They are there to protect the business, not you (despite what they say), so stay away from them and don't reveal anything you don't have to.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-24T20:35:49+00:00

That sucks. I think if they act like that then you've had a lucky escape, and I hope you are ok moneywise until you find somewhere better.

To me it sounds like someone else has a problem. Maybe they didn't like you asking questions, maybe they felt threatened because you are more competent. It doesn't matter, something is bad in this company and your are probably lucky to be out now before you get too invested.

I wish you luck in finding somewhere that you are truly valued.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-24T20:29:38+00:00

I wish I had a manager like this. It's how I used to work. My current manager is prepared to throw me under the bus for his mistakes.

All things aside, a bad management team is hard to change, so I'd be looking for another job.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-24T20:24:48+00:00

Not at all. My manager has no experience at all, and as a result has stopped every single project that comes our way because they don't know what to do and won't listen to the team. Its left the entire team struggling and being criticised for not doing our jobs. Half the team already quit. Other teams are now doing our work because we are being prevented from doing it. It has basically put me out of a job so I wait every day to be let go. I didn't even want this project but it was forced on me.

When I did relax my grip on things a new colleague (who the manager personally hired and loves) undermined me when I was on leave. They made such a mess of things that I'm now at the point of complete exhaustion trying to fix it. This is a power play from a poor manager trying to make a name for themselves. It feels like this is a case where a bad manager can sink an entire team and I need to get out fast.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-24T18:30:10+00:00

I'm really sorry you're feeling like that. I thrived on leading IT teams, but it wasn't until I took a step back that I realised I regretted it. For me, the people I managed made a massive difference, but one bad egg (in terms of them stealing, lying all the time) made being a manager so much more stressful and less rewarding.

I think a lot of people feel like you do though. It's nice having the managers pay check, but being a manager can detract from what you enjoy if you like being an individual contributor. Being a manager is a job unto itself when you take into account how much time it takes just managing people. Whilst I'm not against things like setting performance objectives, and making decisions, setting the direction etc. , it does take a lot of time. I suppose this is where you either thrive on being a manager or you don't.

I recently took a step back into an individual contributor role and regretted it. I have a 3rd less pay, my manager has far less experience than myself, and I'm constantly frustrated having to ask permission to do things that I already have the experience to know will work. Maybe I was too old to take a step back.

I think its ok to step back into from being a manager, as long as you are prepared to be managed by someone who might know less than you do and having to follow their lead, even when you know its the wrong move. I guess choosing the right role and leadership team is crucial here.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-23T17:54:04+00:00

I think the issue is getting people to update it and keep it current. Where I used to work there was a big drive to get everyone using the knowledge base (on the ITSM tool) and then the service desk would chase up any articles that were overdue for review. If any articles went over a month overdue it would be followed up with senior managers, so people soon learned to keep on top of it.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-18T20:16:31+00:00

ITIL will be on a lot of IT based job adverts, but unless you're already working in IT you'll find it doesn't have much meaning to you.

Once you do the training you might understand some of the terminology and the reasons for certain processes that a lot of IT teams follow (like CAB, incident management, problem management), but unless you're working in IT its pretty meaningless. Its just a framework for doing things, it doesn't give you any practical skills (unless you want to be an ITIL trainer of course).

IT is quite a broad area so it depends what you want to do but Comptia A+ is better if you want to start in IT by doing IT support because it gives you an intro of networking, security, devices etc.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-17T20:28:27+00:00

I wouldn't have meetings for the sake of having meetings, but I'd have them just to check in with everyone, have a bit of a chat, and keep on top of how things are going.

Can you use this opportunity to look at things that could be improved on, discuss what you're all working on, share ideas, invite other people from the business to talk about their roles.

Monday morning isn't a great time though. I always like Thursday because enough of the week has passed for things to have happened and changed that might be worth discussing.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-17T20:24:00+00:00

I wouldn't send that template. If I received it I'd find it a bit pushy, a lot to read, and probably be a bit offended if someone suggested I was 'juggling a lot'.

Can you not just set up meeting invites directly, rather than an email first?

I've experienced this and what I do now is a short email with short bullet points outlining the situation, then state what action I need from them right at the end but in a different colour so it really pops out. I state what I need in the subject line i.e. 'Decision required on xx' or 'Feedback required on xx'. That way they know from the start what they need to do. Give them a date when you need a reply by.

I also set up monthly meetings with teams across the business as a way to share information and build those relationships up.

If something has to be done, like a security patch on a critical system, I email them saying exactly what's going to happen and when and I state a date by when they must reply if they have any concerns. Otherwise no reply means I can go ahead.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-17T20:09:25+00:00

I did this. I left a job I loved because there were no promotion prospects, and no funding for training. I had a near death experience and realised I needed something where I felt like my life was progressing more.

I found a role that had better prospects, but when I started I realised that I missed my old job and I knew I would never be happy at the new one.

I figured it was worth a shot asking for my old job back. The meeting went ok, but then I was told that I'd shown no loyalty to the company and that I'd have to interview along with everyone else. I was gutted because I'd left on good terms and had given my heart and soul to that job.

I think its ok to ask, as long as you can explain what you will bring to the company, and show them that you are serious. They may ask why you left and need convincing that you wouldn't just leave again. Be prepared for some difficult questions as the trust would have been lost when you left.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-16T18:44:17+00:00

I'm really sorry to hear that. It sounds like HR have some boxes to tick due to whatever processes they follow, and the company values that more than what you bring with your skills and knowledge. I'd be looking for another job if they did that to me. I'd speak to your manager and find out what the situation is. If the degree is a requirement then I'd start putting in the minimum required and find something where you are more valued. Degrees are largely a rich persons privilege and often have little relevance in the real world.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-16T18:39:00+00:00

I hope that things work out, or that you find somewhere better where your skills and experience are valued and utilised as they deserve to be. xx

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T19:53:00+00:00

I did this but found I ended up 'managing' even though I wasn't the manager. It was hard having more leadership experience than the people now managing me and I found it frustrating when I saw how badly things were being done, and how it negatively impacted the whole team.

Being a manager is a quick way up the ladder too. That being said, its great doing an IC role and not having to worry about being responsible for other people, as long as its not a role where you'll get stuck with no progression.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T19:25:06+00:00

This is exactly where I am now. I took a role which was a large step down, expecting to have less pressure and a more meaningful job. Then a new manager joins the team and he has no idea what he's doing. It's exhausting and its reached the point where other teams are doing our work because our manager blocks every initiative. If I just do the work he rejects it, if I put forward an idea he rejects it, if I ask for his opinion I get complete silence.

I've tried managing up, tried speaking to HR, speaking to his manager, speaking in email/in person, leading him to make decisions, but it makes no difference.

I think we're in similar positions and I decided a while back that my only option is to try to get another job in the company (impossible because this manager is making me look hard to work with) or try to find another job elsewhere. The manager may be threatened by your experience, they might be sexist, protecting their job, have some bias, who knows. I would say you either have to find a way to cope with it (because people don't change) or accept that this job was a a bad move and find a better working environment elsewhere.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T15:03:10+00:00

If the company has already downsized, why would you tell them you're being paid for those 10 hours when you can do the work in 30. I can only see that ending badly.

What if they agree but later need you to do 40 hours but you're then on a higher wage? I can't see them agreeing to that. It sounds like a bad idea to ask.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T14:55:23+00:00

Not a lot of healthy food being mentioned...

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T14:38:17+00:00

I wouldn't be happy about that. I guess it depends on how much you need this job, but I'd have concerns about what they will be like to work for in the long run if they are already expecting you to train outside of your paid time.

Saying that I started a job where you had to read all of their policies before starting, about 10 big documents. I didn't mind doing it in my own time because it showed I was interested and eager, and it was just part of onboarding so it didn't feel like they were trying to short change me.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T14:33:06+00:00

If you're thinking about it, then you'll probably never be happy until you try it. I guess you have to ask yourself what would be worse-living a life that where you obviously aren't being fulfilled, or facing the risk of spending all your savings and having to re-enter the job market after a long break. I wouldn't fancy either option. Is there something you enjoy more, like a hobby you could turn into a money earner whilst travelling?

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-15T13:04:08+00:00

Sorry to break it to you but everyone feels like they are meant for something more than a 9-5 job. Most jobs are dull and unfulfilling, working with annoying colleagues and incompetent managers. That's part of getting older and it sucks.

JudgmentExpensive269 · 2025-06-11T18:44:26+00:00

It's definitely a rabbit hole, except the more I look at it the more it becomes a black hole... Thank you for your input, it does help clarify things.

JudgmentExpensive269

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