Here are four updates from past letter-writers.
1. We have to cook food to feed our very well-paid managers
I realized that I might be one of the few people who could push back on this because I am a long-term employee with a good record who is about to retire so any potential retribution would have little or no effect on me. So I spoke to one of the leadership team and said how bad the optics were on this and how upset people were about being asked to do this. This person listened, spoke to the big boss, and the result is that the leadership team is covering the costs!
I didn’t have time to read all the comments and respond but I appreciate the helpful — and funny — suggestions.
2. How do I deal with a painfully slow talker?
Your advice was very helpful, as was the advice from most of the commenters. I let Jane know that we understood the need for some hand-holding through these many assessments but that we thought we could probably get through most of them on our own and would let her know if we had any questions. Then we’d schedule a time to review them with her rather than fill them out with her in real time. This has been a great help and cut waaaaaaay back on time both my husband and I had to set aside during our work day to have meetings with Jane.
We also had another wonderful therapist working with our son and got most of our updates from her over the last six months, so that also helped us get through some of the processes more easily. Unfortunately, that therapist has since retired and we are back to working solely with Jane but, with the assessment stage out of the way, we’re spending much, much less time trying to crawl through several pages of questionnaires right before a deadline and more time talking with Jane (as slowly as she needs) about how we can best support our son. He’s making great strides with his speech, is becoming more social, and his teacher recently said she considers him “academically advanced.” So we’re very happy we’ve stuck with Jane!
3. I’m being pressured to take a promotion I don’t want (#3 at the link)
After much discussion above my level and without my knowledge, my manager was able to argue that a consultant position be applied to my role, and I was promoted! I do not have to manage anyone, but will be responsible for training new hires and improving processes. If I decide in the future that I want to manage, that path is still open to me. I cannot adequately describe how valued and appreciated my manager and my company has made me feel.
I guess my advice is to always listen to Ask a Manager and the wonderful commenters, continue to do what you love (and strive to do it well), and to share your knowledge with others. It might not always get you what you’re looking for, but good employees never go unnoticed. Thank you all so much!
4. I can’t get anyone to acknowledge my resignation (#4 at the link)
I never did hear back from the site leader. I was, however, lucky to find a different program leader (at the same level of the vacant supervisor position) who was sympathetic and offered to take my class off the schedule if needed.
So I told my students that the schedule didn’t reflect it yet, but my last class would be on *date* (thanks to the commenters, particularly the one who suggested adding the language about “not reflected in the schedule”).
I did teach out that last class, and the schedule has now been updated. I feel free.