Over the last few months, I've been raked across the coals and generally been made to feel like an incompetent moron by my project manager. However, whenever I went to planned to take a day off work, I was told, "You can't! We need you!"

The last time it happened was last Friday. When it happened, I said, "Well, here's the deal. I'll work (again) on my planned day off, BUT I will need to take next Wed, Thu, AND Fri off. (I figure 3 for 3 is a fair trade!)

They lasted 6 hours without me. I just got a panicked call from the office. Somehow, they had melted down the development server and were trying to reconstruct it. They knew how to do some of it, but not the part that I had done.

Fortunately for them, I had documented what I had done to set up my stuff, down to putting everything (installers and detailed custom install directions) where they could get to it.

I guess I'm not so incompetent after all!

No, that wasn't aimed at you, silly -- it was aimed at your project manager.

Now, Grace, listen closely: unlike your colleagues, we CAN manage for a day without you. We'll miss you, of course, but we'll survive and we'll still be here when you get back.

Now go off and do something fun, ok?

You know, Grace, the more I hear about your situation, the more I wonder if you shouldn't keep a log for the hours you've worked. I'm by no means a labor attorney, nor do I profess to be an HR expert, but our technical staff, including programmers and designers are hourly.

Yes, I know the job requires long hours and many tech folk like hammering away while they squash a bug, but you're supposed to be compensated for those efforts. If things ever really go south there, you could use your log and consult with an attorney or regulatory authorities in your state. You may be due overtime wages.

Any HR folks want to take a stab at this?

Because project managers are fond of blaming their subordinates for bad decisions and short-sightedness, I would strongly recommend you keep a log of all that you do -- hand written in a small notebook.

Memos galore are helpful, too, generating proof that you did the right thing when PM didn't.

My husband has only been working as a contract security analyst for three months. Prior to that he was in manufacturing. Having worked in government and corporate positions for many years, I have been teaching him about corporate culture.

My horribly undignified formula? Ass covering is equal to butt kissing times two.

Elyzabeth
Who is amazed at the accuracy of the comic strip "Dilbert"