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This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
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Author
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Topic: I Quit
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Galen Murphy-Fahlgren
Master Film Handler
Posts: 405
From: Canton, MI, USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 08-28-2008 12:12 PM
Well, this is where it gets tricky. As far as I'm concerned, nothing I said was privileged or secret information. If they had outlined ground rules for what I can and cannot say, it would be a different thing. For that matter, how do they know I'm not discussing things in greater detail elsewhere, on my family's forum or any car forums off topic sections, etc.? Many people "shoot the shit" about their work lives, I happened to be discussing mine with people in the same profession.
Regardless, what's done is done. I bear ill will over the handling of the situation, and I'm sure they bear ill will that I'm on here bitching about it. I'm not happy with the timing, since I had to cancel a visit to my grandparents to look for work (and fix my crappy car, which is mostly my fault), but I have prospects with which I may be happier than I was working for Goodrich.
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Galen Murphy-Fahlgren
Master Film Handler
Posts: 405
From: Canton, MI, USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 08-28-2008 01:23 PM
I appreciate your candor, Rick, and I agree that this is a big life lesson for me. If I come off as complaining a lot, I think that may have been a result of the nature of the problems I was having at work. I did not post of my successes, because I didn't need advice or help with them, obviously. Since my experience was and is limited, I can't give the kind of technical advice to others that many of the illustrious members here can. I hope to someday be as knowledgeable as many of the people on here, but for now, I have more problems that need solving than solutions for other people's problems. I'm not saying I haven't complained about things, because the record probably shows me complaining, but I think my time there was better characterized by long hours, hard work, and the occasional piece of good projection. I don't think I am blameless in this issue, but I think my service merited some consideration on their part, but the human element got lost when toes got stepped on. The fact is, on a personal level, I even liked some of the people responsible for my ouster fairly well.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 08-28-2008 06:58 PM
quote: Galen Murphy-Fahlgren
but I think my time there was better characterized by long hours, hard work, and the occasional piece of good projection. I don't think I am blameless in this issue, but I think my service merited some consideration on their part, but the human element got lost when toes got stepped on.
I think that the whole lot of us, me included, been here and done that many-a-times in this industry.
We, as inperfect humans, really do want that subjective "human" touch of being complimented for what we do, including the hard work and long hours that we put into whoever company we work for since we do feel that we deserve some sort of reward for such, yet, there is a huge "dark side" behind all of this that a lot of us (and it's taken me over 30yrs of my involvement in this industry to eventually realize this..) went through.
And that is: When a workforce is operated mainly on a teamwork operational level, any, some or one person who wants to cry out "I'm special and I did so much, please reward me for what I do", this will cause massive chaos and distruption in the harmony of the operation since the higher ups don't want anything to do with, or show favortism..or to put it bluntly: any location "operas", "dramas", or "soap operas". Sorry, when you work for any company that is teamwork based, you're just one of them that is filling a position that needs to be occupied with proper policies and procedures - nothing else.
There was a story in the industry a long time ago about Harry Cohn, Pres. of Columbia Pictures. One horrible person to even be around. Yet, as mean as he was by letting his employees know he was "the boss of the studio", he kept Columbia on the competitive road against the other studios.
One day, Harry accidently did something that one of his office people stepped in bailed him out of this one problem. Instead of saying "Thank You" to that individual, he told him that he'll have to let him go now for Harry didn't want to owe anybody anything..or you might say, show someone any favortism - just to keep the harmony flowing within the studio. For if Harry showed favortism to that one office individual, then Columbia Pictures would fall under total chaos since the example of leadership would have fallen due to one person.
A lot of people hated Cohn, yet they also fully respected him on what he was doing.
And it looks like that Goodrich was feeling the same way as did Harry Cohn.
Don't blame Goodrich for their decision - they have to keep their interests intact to keep moving forward.
If you went to a high-tech, computer industry manufacturing plant that makes computers, hardware, periphials and chips of all kinds, these operations are under the strict ISO-9001 ruling which follows this teamwork format to the absolute letter. Any sort of deviation that seems to come to surface, that problem is approached with one warning and a dismissal if nessary. Yes, they pay pretty good for starting out, but the tradeoff is that you are the team player that they want in their workforce..to where you're just a "robot" in the operation, yet with incentives to grown on.
If you get a chance to return to the theatre industry, please remember these ISO guidelines - basically, just get along with your workforce procedures and policies and be the best team player you can be in any position that you fill or seek out.
good luck-Monte
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Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 790
From: Grand Island , NE USA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 08-28-2008 09:40 PM
quote: Monte L Fullmer
If you went to a high-tech, computer industry manufacturing plant that makes computers, hardware, periphials and chips of all kinds, these operations are under the strict ISO-9001 ruling which follows this teamwork format to the absolute letter. Any sort of deviation that seems to come to surface, that problem is approached with one warning and a dismissal if nessary.
Hey Monte, I am going to have to disagree with you somewhat. What you are saying is true if you are working on an assembly line but the workers who design and innovated those machines, didn't do so by following a strict ISO guideline. The theater industry is a "service" industry. And in order for us to do our jobs effectively and keep a very fickle public happy, we have to have the ability to be more dynamic than stringent.
I worked for this same company before and boy did I ever do battle with corporate on a regular basis (I would say almost legendary lol) and although I definitely didn't always go about it in the best way, I definately had the best interest of my theater and the public at heart. I know that it is a bit of a cliche but you do have to take it up as a learning experience. As I learned and matured, I found better ways to go about getting things done with corporate. One tip for your future endeavors, establishing a positive working relationship with both your District (or Area) manager as well as the tech assigned to your theater.
Galen, you sound like a decent person with a legimate passion for this industry. I sincerly hope that things will work out for you and I hope that you will keep us informed on how this situation works out. Good Luck.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 08-29-2008 12:27 AM
I want to chime on this topic about posting comments of former employers, then I'll let the bear sleep:
First off, I'll leave Galen alone now being that he's left what is behind and now is moving forward on his search for success...and many "good lucks" to him from me - he's got the whole world ahead of him to go after.
On making comments about our former employers, for I've learned a hard lesson on this one.
Going along with "don't bite the hand that feeds you", just "don't burn your bridges behind you when you do leave and after you left." - and by doing so, just don't say anything on what happened in the past about that previous company, for it will come back and bite you where it hurts down the road.
...not a fun thing to experience. Yes Allison, my suggestion above was the results from what you asked.
-Monte
[ 08-29-2008, 03:54 AM: Message edited by: Monte L Fullmer ]
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Scott Norwood
Film God
Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 08-29-2008 07:13 AM
quote: Dennis Benjamin
I believe there are quite a few companies that are now having thier managers/employees sign 'electronic communication' agreements nowadays. So, typically the rules change as far as posting in forums/blogs about the company you work for.
I don't doubt that this is true, but one must ask why any company would care what its employees do in their free time, provided that confidential information (e.g. boxoffice reports, amount of cash on hand, business strategy, etc.) is not made public. Would any other low-wage industry (e.g. fast food or retail) have such restrictive policies?
If the employers are really worried that someone might, say, post that his theatre has rats under its concession stand, then they need to re-examine their priorities and do something about the actual problem rather than try to stop their employees from posting about it (not the latter would likely affect business, anyway).
My personal feeling is that all of the major exhibition companies pretty much suck and that it is the responsibility of local management to make the job enjoyable and fulfilling. Independents are all over the map, but there are some really great people (still!) in this industry and it has been my pleasure to work with and for some of them. This is a hobby for me and I see no reason to deal with people who can't make the job fun.
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