Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
Sep 24th 2013, 8:56 pm
#16
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Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,744
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
From all that I have read I was lefpd to believe that people in New Zealand were very laid back and kinda let you get on with things, and that UK employees had to be careful not to look pushy.
I have discovered it to be the reverse.
Instead I have found the people above me in power to be very abrupt, almost to the point of being rude, and micro managers.
Is this normal in New Zealand. What are other people's experiences?
I have discovered it to be the reverse.
Instead I have found the people above me in power to be very abrupt, almost to the point of being rude, and micro managers.
Is this normal in New Zealand. What are other people's experiences?
Sep 24th 2013, 9:04 pm
#17
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Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,744
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
Im not that keen on mine either. I just smiled and got on with it. Even when I was being minute managed to the point that I had to write a daily report of the work I had done following the example she had given me. Without going into detail, it more or less looked like this. If I hadn't submitted it at the end of the day, I would be asked for yesterday's 'over view' first thing the next morning.
8am - started the day's work
9am - did this work
10am - did more work then went to tea
11am - further work done
12pm - Got some more work done
1pm - lunch
2pm - continued something I started this morning then went to tea
3.15pm - got on with more work
4pm - Got on with deadline job
5pm - Home time
Just as a minor, 'by the way' if I was formatting a document and she remarked on my underlining something that was in bold and I gently asked her about it she would just spit the word, 'semantics' at me. Rude bitch. (Don't worry, everyone knew what she was like. She's been pulled up about her attitude on more than one occasion by her boss, gone on courses paid for by work on how to be a better human but being a bully was much more important to her.) I used to get little supportive e-mails from a colleague in her team remarking what a cow she is ! That self same person quit without notice 'cause she was just about at the point of a breakdown ! Woo hoo, how's your team building now, you know it all supervisor ?
Last edited by Snap Shot; Sep 24th 2013 at 9:57 pm.
Sep 25th 2013, 2:21 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Wellington
Posts: 107
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
My experience (of 5 months) has shown my Kiwi Boss to be really laid back. It's a nice change for me after 20-odd years in the UK Military!
That said, my other half has a nightmare of a Boss. All the staff, Kiwi or otherwise, think she is a pain so it's not a 'migrant' thing in this case.
That said, my other half has a nightmare of a Boss. All the staff, Kiwi or otherwise, think she is a pain so it's not a 'migrant' thing in this case.
Sep 25th 2013, 5:52 am
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 87
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
No replies, or even acknowledgements, when you email people directly regarding vacancies......I find that rude 
Sep 25th 2013, 11:49 am
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,967
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
My current manager is a horrible, bullying narcissist (and is currently on her last warning to improve her attitude - but they wont get rid of her as that would create too much paperwork!).
Sep 25th 2013, 12:04 pm
#23
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Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Rotorua
Posts: 1,627
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
My manager is laid back, supportive and very approachable while still maintaining her professionalism. 
She is currently organising the Christmas do for us.
She is currently organising the Christmas do for us.
Sep 25th 2013, 7:14 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 32
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
Patronising, rude, highhanded. Bullying passed off as japery has been my experience of my kiwi supervisor. When she was telling me my contract was unlikely to be extended she said I could use the time to read the book, '50 shades of gray' or get a job in a supermarket like a friend of hers did. The project manager who was English just smirked and said I could live off my husband.
I just smiled and got on with it. Even when I was being minute managed to the point that I had to write a daily report of the work I had done following the example she had given me. Without going into detail, it more or less looked like this. If I hadn't submitted it at the end of the day, I would be asked for yesterday's 'over view' first thing the next morning.
8am - started the day's work
9am - did this work
10am - did more work then went to tea
11am - further work done
12pm - Got some more work done
1pm - lunch
2pm - continued something I started this morning then went to tea
3.15pm - got on with more work
4pm - Got on with deadline job
5pm - Home time
Just as a minor, 'by the way' if I was formatting a document and she remarked on my underlining something that was in bold and I gently asked her about it she would just spit the word, 'semantics' at me. Rude bitch. (Don't worry, everyone knew what she was like. She's been pulled up about her attitude on more than one occasion by her boss, gone on courses paid for by work on how to be a better human but being a bully was much more important to her.) I used to get little supportive e-mails from a colleague in her team remarking what a cow she is ! That self same person quit without notice 'cause she was just about at the point of a breakdown ! Woo hoo, how's your team building now, you know it all supervisor ?
I just smiled and got on with it. Even when I was being minute managed to the point that I had to write a daily report of the work I had done following the example she had given me. Without going into detail, it more or less looked like this. If I hadn't submitted it at the end of the day, I would be asked for yesterday's 'over view' first thing the next morning.
8am - started the day's work
9am - did this work
10am - did more work then went to tea
11am - further work done
12pm - Got some more work done
1pm - lunch
2pm - continued something I started this morning then went to tea
3.15pm - got on with more work
4pm - Got on with deadline job
5pm - Home time
Just as a minor, 'by the way' if I was formatting a document and she remarked on my underlining something that was in bold and I gently asked her about it she would just spit the word, 'semantics' at me. Rude bitch. (Don't worry, everyone knew what she was like. She's been pulled up about her attitude on more than one occasion by her boss, gone on courses paid for by work on how to be a better human but being a bully was much more important to her.) I used to get little supportive e-mails from a colleague in her team remarking what a cow she is ! That self same person quit without notice 'cause she was just about at the point of a breakdown ! Woo hoo, how's your team building now, you know it all supervisor ?
Sep 25th 2013, 7:58 pm
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 2,077
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
I have run jobs (construction) in the UK and I do find the "Kiwi" way of doing things a little odd ! There are a lot of people in positions they don't deserve and they don't like to take advise so I just bite my lip and get on with it 
Neil
Neil
Sep 25th 2013, 8:40 pm
#26
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Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,744
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
Even when I was being given notice of the end of my temporary employment as per the terms of my contract, it was the overall department manager that gave me the letter and discussion.
To me, it rather smacked of, 'no you do it, no, you tell her'. My Team Manager didn't tell me, the Project Manager didn't tell me.
I ended up e-mailing the whole of the department to tell them of my leaving shout morning tea. Which was followed up by the department manager e-mailing the department apologising for not telling them himself.
A leaving card might have been nice, but, that's kiwis for you. Did they enjoy my morning tea shout eaten in an awkward silence ? Of course they did !
Why did I bother ? Let's just call it good karma and leave it at that.
Sep 25th 2013, 9:18 pm
#27
Looking for my marbles.
Joined: Jul 2013
Location: durham, durham, England
Posts: 730
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
Did I jump or was I pushed ? Who cares, it's all over now !
Even when I was being given notice of the end of my temporary employment as per the terms of my contract, it was the overall department manager that gave me the letter and discussion.
To me, it rather smacked of, 'no you do it, no, you tell her'. My Team Manager didn't tell me, the Project Manager didn't tell me.
I ended up e-mailing the whole of the department to tell them of my leaving shout morning tea. Which was followed up by the department manager e-mailing the department apologising for not telling them himself.
A leaving card might have been nice, but, that's kiwis for you. Did they enjoy my morning tea shout eaten in an awkward silence ? Of course they did !
Why did I bother ? Let's just call it good karma and leave it at that.
Even when I was being given notice of the end of my temporary employment as per the terms of my contract, it was the overall department manager that gave me the letter and discussion.
To me, it rather smacked of, 'no you do it, no, you tell her'. My Team Manager didn't tell me, the Project Manager didn't tell me.
I ended up e-mailing the whole of the department to tell them of my leaving shout morning tea. Which was followed up by the department manager e-mailing the department apologising for not telling them himself.
A leaving card might have been nice, but, that's kiwis for you. Did they enjoy my morning tea shout eaten in an awkward silence ? Of course they did !
Why did I bother ? Let's just call it good karma and leave it at that.
Sep 25th 2013, 9:59 pm
#28
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: Wellington - I miss Castles, the NHS & English school system
Posts: 9,077
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
We had to do similar daily time sheets in my IT dept in the UK so its nothing unusual. Maybe controlling Manager type thing who know they are in above their heads, as was my case.
Sep 25th 2013, 10:17 pm
#29
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 755
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
MrsFychan - regarding time sheets, are they the norm in this country because it's the time sheet politics in my current company that's making me seek employment elsewhere
My boss is great and yes she's a kiwi but the senior management above - no comment. Time sheets, even more so no comment *angry face*
Sep 25th 2013, 10:19 pm
#30
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 28
Re: Are Kiwi employers 'rude'?
Have to agree with this. When we arrived (5 years ago) my partner had organized an Auckland job with a large multi-national engineering consultancy. It was pretty surprising to hear that they had beer fridges in the office and all cracked into them at 4pm on Fridays (before driving home in their V8s presumably). Pretty behind the times.