Ask HN: What should I say to my manager when my performance starts suffering? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What should I say to my manager when my performance starts suffering?

#161

Post by adhdsufferer » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:15 PM UTC

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #114

DataBrokerLol wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people are scared of seeing mental health professionals because we live in the period of history where these sciences are just starting out, so when someone says "I always lose my job or quit", there is an immediate jump towards diagnosing that person with a mental "illness". The problem is that these diagnoses aren't only happening in error and without consequences on HN. I would argue that it is far more produ…

You’re exactly right. It seems every Ask HN thread lately comes with an armchair diagnosis of ADHD lately. Mental health professionals are available if you or your partner would like to talk. Therapists would be a better place to start than jumping to a psychiatrist and medications. Definitely don’t try to get ADHD stimulants and power through burnout in a job she hates. That would make burnout exponentially worse. I…

>Definitely don’t try to get ADHD stimulants and power through burnout in a job she hates.

Some people hate working, period. And the kind of job that's fun or engaging for you might not be available to you. For the overwhelming majority of people, their lot in life is to toil at something they'd rather not be doing. But normal people are able to put their heads down and get it done. If you can't and it's causing problems in your life, that's something you should see someone about. Finding a more enjoyable job might be part of the solution, but remember that such options are often a luxury of the elite.

Re: Ask HN: What should I say to my manager when my performance starts suffering?

#162

Post by nikanj » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 9:32 PM UTC

utahcon wrote: post #126

I don't have "the answer" but I will share my current experience with you. I have worked for the company I am with for ~5 years, and I usually take a large chunk of time (2-3 weeks) off at the end of the year to recover and reset. Because of the nature of my work I am pretty busy the rest of the year to take more than a few days at a time for any vacation (read: I work while on vacation). This year my client was part…

Jesus the US work-life balance really is off. You take 2-3 weeks off once per year, and even that can be bumped if your customer doesn't allow it.

Re: Ask HN: What should I say to my manager when my performance starts suffering?

#163

Post by canadianfella » Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 11:45 PM UTC

jiofih wrote: post #149

ratww wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You basically took a whole long-form comment to repeat what I had already mentioned in my original message: > However I notice that the specific message on OP is a bit ambiguous, I would personally add some suggestions .

This is a brilliant take, explains how to be clear and direct as I mentioned, and all you can think of is “that’s exactly what I said”? It’s not. If you can’t tell the difference, we’ll, there’s nothing else to add here, the answer is right under your nose.

How many accounts are you posting under?

Re: Ask HN: What should I say to my manager when my performance starts suffering?

#164

Post by mbrodersen » Wed, Jun 30, 2021, 1:27 AM UTC

coliveira wrote: post #25

sircastor wrote: post #3

I’ve found that when most managers ask questions, they’re just trying to get a sense of what’s going on. I wouldn’t over analyze it. I would also suggest that honest answers are the best. If you’re having a hard time doing the work, is there something else you could be doing? As much as it doesn’t feel like it, companies do not want to fire employees. It’s expensive to lose someone who knows the business, and expensi…

> It’s expensive to lose someone who knows the business, and expensive to hire someone. That's not true. Letting people go is a great business strategy because it means companies don't need to give salary increases. They will right after that hire someone with less experience and making less money. But what about the business knowledge, you ask? Well, any company that knows what they're doing won't ever let important…

You clearly have zero experience running a successful business that require experienced/knowledgeable people to run. Firing a person in that kid of business is very expensive. It can take 6 months or longer to hire somebody else and get them up to speed. The actual cost is $50k or more to do this. And you might end up with a new hire that doesn’t work and then you have to do it all over again.

Re: Ask HN: What should I say to my manager when my performance starts suffering?

#165

Post by jdblair » Wed, Jun 30, 2021, 10:27 AM UTC

alain94040 wrote: post #55

coliveira wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your company probably don't know what they're doing, just read my explanation above.

You seem to be very sure of your opinions about management's motivation. Are you yourself a manager or executive, or is this your opinion as a worker observing your employer's behavior?

It's the stated compensation policy and confirmed by my experience as both an individual contributor and a manager of a team in the same organization.