Does Technology Help Or Hinder Work?
So my stress levels all around have been pretty high as of late. Trying to get caught up at work and thinking I can spend most of the day tomorrow doing background reports and the like. I had access problems with email (I could use it on the Internet but not on the desktop) and one of the programs we use to file reports. I had been forced to do a restart for a required update so I figured I'd take the machine over to the IT department so they could fix the other problems. That way I wouldn't have to interrupt my work later on. The girl did some things but we couldn't verify the email because I didn't have my phone with me. We have multi-factor identification on everything. Which can be quite annoying. I understand the reasoning for it but there are a few things that I have to go back and forth on and a few that I have to get on a VPN to access and others I don't.
And I had just got my file folders opened and was preparing to get at 120 reports that I'm a week behind on (that means I'm over 800 reports behind) because they are due by the end of the week and I notice that the desktop email has a warning triangle affixed to the taskbar icon. The tech girl told me to message her if I still received an error. I did. I allowed her remote access to my computer. She tried a few things and it still gave an error. She wanted to know if she could restart the computer. I said it was all right since I hadn't really started doing anything yet (even though I really needed to).
Once the computer restarted, I entered my password in and I received a notice that it was incorrect. I had a manager message the tech girl since I couldn't get in and she told me to do a hard reset (holding down the power key until the machine shuts off and then turn it back on). I did so and got to the login screen where I tried to sign in again. A few times, it tried to load the welcome screen then it would go black. Eventually I got it to recognize my login but it still thought my password was incorrect. I finally got locked out of the system.
So, I got no work done (and I am really behind), I couldn't clock out (can't get on the computer), and I doubt that I can get much done tomorrow. The tech people don't get there until nine and I start at 7:30. I won't be able to clock in tomorrow and there's absolutely nothing I can do until this is fixed. And, if I fall even more behind because of this, it will be my fault. It's always my fault. We had technical problems last month due to a domain migration and a server failing but I got the blame when I didn't get reports dome on time.
Now I can't speak for anyone else but since I am pursuing an IT degree, some of the methods this company use is concerning. Like earlier today, a tech from the corporate office called and said my access problem was because permissions weren't configured right and my manager needed to get in touch with the proper executives for access. But, I am one of the few in the department who does not have access to this program. Therefore, the access permissions were configured correctly. So different factions of the IT department don't talk to each other which again is contrary to what I've been learning in my classes.
This latest incident at work is yet another of the many reasons why I don't want to remain with this company any longer than I have to. I have so much other stress (because of a highly active puppy and other things) that this really doesn't help. I know no company is perfect but surely there is a business that is run better than the one I am currently employed with.
@Enthenia
I'm sorry you are having such a stressful time at work. I hope coming here to vent helps some. I understand the frustration with technology. To answer your quesiton, I think it does both, helps and hinders, depending on the situation. The muli-factor identification thing is annoying to me, but I understand why they do it. Falling behind and not having your work done because of something you have no control over, yet still being blamed for it, is no fun. I have been there. Trying to get things accomplished in an environment where the different departments do not communicate with each other makes work life stressful. I've also been there. How did I handle it? I really didn't. I got tired of trying. I continued doing what I was doing and let things fall as they may. For my situation, this was probably the wrong answer. In the end, when things failed, I was blamed and made the scapegoat. After looking at the whole situation, the administration saw what led up to the failure, admitted there needed to be change, and made some changes for the better. I was made a scapegoat and told that I should have tried harder to fix the problem. That I should have gone above my immediate supervisors head, etc, etc. There was a time things got messy for me. In the end, I'm not gonna say it all worked out, but I made it through. I'm not sure what advice I can give in this situation other than keep your head up. Go higher up in the hierarchy of your leadership if you must. Are you still struggling to get caught up and fighting with IT to get things right? I am sending good vibes into the universe for you to get caught up and finish all your work, and that things either get better for you, or you can find something else that better suits you.
@CyclingThroughLife Thank you. I will answer some questions. The hierarchy one. I tried that last year when I got written up for something that wasn't entirely my fault. Not making that mistake again. That's why I do my best to stay silent and try to endure it all. I'm not completely caught up but I'm not as far behind as I was. Many of my reports are blank but I have to look at every single one of them.
Also what slows me down, is the filing system and the fact that there is no set way to name folders. I have mentioned this to the leads numerous times and they say they'll look into it but never do. One of the newly promoted leads moved one of my folders and he did it wrong. If I had been in that situation, I would have looked at other clients' folders to see how those were formatted then formatted accordingly. I have (well I don't suppose I had but I did for the sake of clarity) gone back and reformatted folders this person has worked on to add some sensibility to the sub-folders. The person was putting everything as a sub-folder with just the last name and first name as the folder name. There was no distinction between years and financial activity was mixed in with background reports.
Last year, I reformatted over 600 of our wire customers' folders (and a few thousand files) because there was no sense of order. I knew if we got audited, nothing would be found because of the haphazard way the folders and files were named. Yet, management doesn't seem to get the importance of this.
So that slows me down and then the leads want me to copy information from the sites we use to access customer information from, but the formatting takes time. Ones with a lot of activity takes longer because I have to remove irrelevant columns then sort the data and reformat into a sensible format. And then there's the connection problems with the sites that we use for background checks. Sometimes I have to be connected to a VPN to access the site, sometimes I don't. And there's a time limit on the sites I use for the background checks and the sites I pull the customer information from. If I get bogged down verifying a professional license or business, then I may get signed out of one of the sites.
I also save customer KYC results (if they have any) which is something that everyone should be doing but no one addresses it. I only do ones that are on my lists because we have over 6,000 customer names and I just don't have the time (also there's no overtime. I can't do any anyway because my evenings are taken up with playing with the puppy).
So, I try my best to be detached with everything else except what I have on my screen. Being able to listen to music helps. But, I will be glad once I get closer to finishing my course. Speaking of which, I need to try to complete a couple of online labs while the puppy is trying to sleep.
So I didn't see the point in starting a new thread because it seals with the same thing. Had to step away from my computer yesterday yesterday. I had to restart it too. I had the birthday wrong on a report and I updated it. One lead said I didn't so I took a snip of the page that showed I did. That's what crashed my computer.
Today, she said it was still wrong so I initiated another report (even though they are not supposed to be run consecutively, just once a year) and then I happened to look at the actual report, not the cover page. The date was correct. All the lead had to do was open the report and look. I ran a new report for no reason and we get charged for them so the extra charge will be my fault. The leads are never wrong. That's basically what management told me after the write-up last year.
Also, I need to pay better attention to detail. Ironically, the new lead was guilty of screwing the folders up. Working through my quarterly report, I've had to remove, rename, etc. so many files. Every one I click on to view the properties has his name as the author of the document. Apparently the "we'll address this" from the other leads was just lip service. We deal with personal information. This needs to be filed and labeled correctly and consistently for auditing purposes. And then there's holes in what's saved. They save the documentation for a corporate background check but never save the results. It's simple. All you do is search the right email folder for the person's name then save the email.
But, I am not paying close enough to detail. Disregard the fact that I have to open up 130 reports every single day (most are empty thankfully), add some structure to customer files when I come across it, and save files as needed, update IDs because no one else checks them (found one on my list whose license had exoired three years ago), I am not going to get all the details perfect. However, that's all I get is criticism.
And there is no "open door" policy with management. I learned that last year. They don't want suggestions, they just want you to shut up and tow the line.
I also learned this year that I've only been here two years. I thou it was nearing three although it feels like ten. All I know is that I doubt I will make it to five.
