The thing is, they aren’t necessarily wrong. But it’s due to having an arbitrary amount of time to fill as opposed to just laziness.
That said, the lab had a fair amount of cherry picking happening; taking easier equipment tasks and postponing the more difficult ones unless/until ordered to do them.
Providing a goal of something everyone wanted helped people remain focused on the tasks, cleared out everything that was easy first, and chipped away at everything that wasn’t easy when that was all there was to work on.
It was putting the carrot out in front of the mule, but letting the mule have the carrot when it got to where it needed to be. Not just constantly dangling something that was never going to be given. And then providing a new carrot for the next goal.
And it got the equipment that was needed off the racks and out to the field.
He’s not just the manager. It’s his company. So nothing substantial can be done without his say-so. Toss in a smattering of Trumpish qualities, and if he’s not praised enough then it’s not a good idea, and anything good is because he made it possible.
I seriously need a new job. If my insurance weren’t tied to my employment, and I had a basic income provided by the state, or the ability to file for unemployment without being fired (without just cause) first – which would amount to the same thing – I would have quit that day.
But you know, bills, dependents, rent, responsibilities. Gotta suck it up and soldier on, hoping something better comes along and I won’t be so depressed that I miss it, or viewed as so old that I’m not a viable candidate, and feeling a bit of me die each day.
