Lifer, you usually have some pretty good posts that ring true to life. Your standard has slipped on this one a little, IMO.
Your assessment that people should "Go out there and make a positive difference." is filled with holes. The only difference a driver can make is to stretch the limits of their personal efforts to encourage UP$ to keep piling more and more on them. Just how is a driver, in your opinion, supposed to make a positive difference?
trpinkl,
Here is my point about complaining, bashing, and making a difference and how to do it.
We are all human beings and have our ups and downs our good days and bad... What we fail to do sometimes is to take responsibility. We tend to shift the responsibility to someone else and rationalize it away. I did not allow my bosses to control what was in my power to control.
I can't believe that I was the only person out there that had reasonable bosses. I ran hubs and centers and understand the rationale of both.
If my boss told me that my drivers could not work over 9.5 and I had to put a certain number of stops per car out there.... then I found a way to do it without killing my drivers. This is my responsibility.
If I gave up who would lose??? You (the driver) loses. It boils down to communication. If I did not succeed in what my boss asks for than he/she would either micro-manage me or get rid of me. Neither one of those choices was EVER an option.
As a driver (or any employee including mgmt), you can't say "it' is not in your power". You need to find out the best way to sit down and talk with your boss and get a rapport going. It is in your best interest to do this. The more you talk, the more you will understand each other and what is important and why it is important. You may even want to do this in stages.
If there is no trust or communication - find someone who you mutually respect or trust and arrange a get together. Try to do it off the job. This will keep things on a balanced playing field and help to keep the fence down on both sides. Find out what you both have in common. Find out where the right button is to push. Once you have established a rapport, work on getting things fixed in your center.
How about establishing a driver ERI committee with a management sponsor. You guys meet on the clock and work on one problem at a time. If your management team balks at this go to the HR dept and get support from your ER Manager.
Establish this just like a Safety Committee.... Come up with a list of concerns. Then discuss the concerns. Come to a consensus as a group as to ONE problem that is easily fixed and has high importance. Then keep working down the list - get solutions going on both sides of the grid (mgmt and non-mgmt).
If this doesn't work go up the ladder to the next boss and ask for help. Utilize HR - your division mgr - who ever it takes. Take the approach that if it fails - YOU FAIL and that is not an option!!!
I am telling you that if you take this approach and you are reasonable in your concerns and are willing to take responsibility, someone in "power" will step forward to offer support and ensure you move forward.
This does take effort on your part! But NOTHING that is important to us comes without effort or sacrifice.
Remember this: To win the war you have to win one battle at a time.
Why do I care? Why do you think I took the name lifer? I am actually on a trip right now in Maui. The Daytona 500 is on and I am writing this post instead of sitting at the pool or bar watching the race! You may think that is crazy but I think it shows I care. I did the same kind of stuff when I was working on Friday nights, my door was open if you needed it to be.
Good luck! I really do want you to be successful. No one can convince me that one person can not make a difference. It's just knowing how.