|
Shouted at by boss on unpaid work placement
I've been on placement a few days a week with a small company as part of my uni course for 4 months.
Normally the people there are nice however yesterday I got snapped at for essentially being slow and that I needed a greater sense of urgency.
I am offering my services for free and the way I was spoken to by the boss made me upset and feel undermined. What's more i never get a thank you for the work that I do only chased on days I'm not meant to be in to finish off bits of work.
I feel unappreciated- is it acceptable to treat a work experience in this way? I know I'm there to learn but I'm certainly not there to be insulted!
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Relationships category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Work/School Relationships?
If you are there for school credit, then you are being compensated. If you are there as part of your required classwork, then you are not a volunteer who is 'gifting' their time. You are a student whose role includes certain expectations.
Does that mean it was okay to yell?
No. It's not okay to yell at employees, volunteers, or students. That's not cool.
However, in the workplace people will give you feedback you don't like. Bosses are people, and sometimes they slip up. Sometimes they slip up in huge ways that need to be addressed, but often, they slip up in normal human ways that need to be shrugged off. In the vast majority of cases, getting 'snapped at' for slow work, should be shrugged off.
If you aren't happy with the expectations at this work placement, either talk to your school or your supervisor about that.
Most people spend a lot of their working lives feeling unappreciated—it's not great or good—but it's part of living in the world with other people. Not all workplaces are great places to be. Learning how to perform, for the short term, in a less than ideal work environment will serve you well.
By all means, speak to your school about expectations and what is normal for work placements. If you think you are being abused or harassed, or that expectations are unreasonable, you should speak up. I suspect the school will support you and help to explain that you should not be contacted outside of your hours.
However, you also need to remember that you if you are being graded on this work-placement, or receiving class credit, that is NOT volunteering. They don't need to be petting you and thanking you all the time. It would be great if you were told that you were appreciated, but you need to be able to cope with not hearing that as well. That is schoolwork, and you need to treat it like schoolwork, which means accepting criticism about your work and trying to improve—even if they aren't super nice about it.
If you aren't getting credit, and you aren't getting paid, and you aren't liking it, then just quit.
]
No your employer should not yell at you. Its unacceptable in my book. If you yelled at your employer its quite possible you would be fired. People make mistakes though
Ask to have some time set aside for you guys to speak and address your concerns.
Mention that you feel unappreciated and that you do not want to be yelled at. Say it nicely
Go from there. Hopefully things will turn around and if not start looking for something else.
You deserve to be treated fairly.
Good luck!
]
You're right you are there to learn and your employer should be teaching not shouting or insulting you. He should also encourage you for coming in on days you are not expected to finish you have not completed.
Unfortunately the workplace is not Uni and your boss is not a qualified instructor. Few employers today what to take the time to train a new employee. They expect an employee to come to them ready to hit the ground running fully up to speed and deliver projects on time.
It is possible your boss expected to receive a fully trained employee who is working for free to gain hands on experience. He may not have fully realized that in gaining the hands on experience meant you would need additional training or that you might be a bit slower in completing assignments.
While this is no excuse for his behavior it may be an explanation for why he is the way he is. What I suggest is since this is a school work study program that you discuss this with your teacher as your boss's report will most likely figure into your grade. If his behavior is any indication of how he sees you then his report will not help your grade in this class. Let the teacher discuss this with you and then your boss.
]
More Questions: |