Source
r/graphic_design•
clusk

Should I talk to my boss about the shitty work my superior does?

I rarely post but now I need some advices.

I got hired as a junior graphic designer in september 2011. Since I don't feel confortable saying where I work, let's just say it's in the video games industry.

At first, we were only two graphic designers in the marketing team. My co-worker (and lead) left a couple months ago. They decided to add two designers to the team. One guy that just finished school, and a girl who has been in the industry for 10 years.

She's technically my lead (not that she does anything though, she doesn't even know what i'm working on) and now does the job I used to do, which consists of regular promotions within our products, different homepages for new promotions and corporate design. I'm now designing UIs for web and mobile.

She's a good example of "experience ≠ talent". During the first few weeks, I noticed that everytime she needed something, she went on istock and traced everything prefectly (shapes, colors, gradients, everything!). Our boss noticed and told her to at least modify some things in the image (really?!?!?!). Now that she does it a lot less, her work is often filled with mistakes, and some obvious ones. Sometimes, it's just plain ugly. She never uses color palettes, gradients, masks (sometimes). Her perspective are always completely wrong, as her lighting. I don't understand how she works. I have never seen such messy photoshop files, I couldn't do worst even if I tried.

Today, she had to copy an element 3 times in a design. She somehow managed to skew the third one by 20 degrees, but didn't notice. I'm amazed every time I see new work from her.

I don't understand why, but no one ever said a word. It pisses me off because this women is paid almost twice my salary and does a mediocre job. I am really ashamed because the errors she does are seen by 300 000 people every day.

She's supposed to lead us, especially the other guy who's just starting. I feel sad for him, because he needs a mentor and she's just there taking the money and not doing her job as a senior.

Is it ethically correct to talk to my boss (art director, btw) about it or should I just mind my own business? He should've noticed by now. I really don't understand.

Thank you!

Posted Aug 29, 2012, 3:56 AM UTC

1830
Winston_Vodkatooth•

It pisses me off because this women is paid almost twice my salary and does a mediocre job.

You shouldn't have any idea what she is paid. If you do, that's a major HR issue within your organization.

I noticed that everytime she needed something, she went on istock and traced everything prefectly (shapes, colors, gradients, everything!). Our boss noticed and told her to at least modify some things in the image (really?!?!?!).

There are literally thousands of designers that do this exact thing every day. Right or wrong, her boss is aware of this.

Is it ethically correct to talk to my boss (art director, btw) about it or should I just mind my own business?

Follow these words carefully - You should mind your own business. Going above the head of a superior or lead is not looked upon favorably in our business, or any other business. While technically you may feel you're doing the right thing for the organization, what you're doing is showing yourself as somebody who is willing to circumvent the chain of command in a management structure. This is bad, m'kay. I've seen people do this exact thing, only to be fired for going over somebody's head about their issues. You are a "junior designer", which means "you are the smallest fish in this pond". The smallest fish that makes the most noise, doesn't last long. Remember that. As for your boss...

He should've noticed by now. I really don't understand.

He probably has noticed. If the Art Director is any decent type of manager, he has pulled her aside and is working with her one-on-one about her short comings. You don't know what he is or isn't doing to address her performance, and it is absolutely not your place to complain about your opinion of her performance.

As an alternative, maybe you should demonstrate your own self-starter capabilities and offer some help and guidance to her. Don't be negative or condescending about it. A decent manager will notice when a staff member takes the time to bring another person up to speed with the rest of the pack. This will probably make you look awesome and will help management think of you as a team player.

Moral of what I'm trying to say - This is not your fight. There will always be people "above" you in any organization that don't seem as skilled or as talented as you, or as you think they should be. Do not ever, by any means, go above a lead's head (unless there is an abuse of stealing office supplies, money, or sexual advances). Management is there for a reason - to identify and nurture the abilities of their staff, and to manage their responsibilities and output. You are not her manager. Let her manager sort it out.

11
cluskOP•

Thanks a lot for your answer.

You got all my concerns perfectly and confirmed my suspicions. I'll mind my own business and work on my career instead of wasting my time with this.

I love and believe in this company but lately, it seems like everyone here is running in opposite directions.

3
skeddles•

You're not supposed to know what other people are payed? And you shouldn't do what's best for the business, you should just keep your mouth shut. That's bullshit.

I'm not disagreeing, just expressing how much I hate the world. If I had a business it would not be run this way.

3
[deleted]•

Absolutely not supposed to know what they are paid. I agree that it's a huge HR leak. Imagine the resentment people would feel toward you if you were being paid twice what they were and they knew it?

1
dingoperson•

Imagine the resentment people would feel toward you if you were being paid twice what they were and they knew it?

This makes me incredibly happy I live in a county where pay is seen as quite reasonably commensurate with competence. If everyone knows that people who are better paid are also higher skilled, then nobody should ever have a problem with pay details being known.

And they WILL become known, at least vaguely. People talk over a drink. One person speculates and another person with knowledge corrects them. The notion that you can suppress details of pay in the long run is highly misguided and even stupid.

1
[deleted]•

Yeah your second point is 100% accurate. People will find out. That's corporate culture. Best to take every step to delay it though, in my opinion.

So what country is this? Sounds fantastic to me.

1
skeddles•

WELL THEN DONT PAY PEOPLE TWICE AS MUCH AS OTHER PEOPLE

0
[deleted]•

Dunno about you but if im say a CD, I damn well be getting paid at least twice as much as say a junior designer or intern...

1
redditforgotaboutme•

Sage advice right here!

2
ajrdesign•

I think the most important part about this is to focus on yourself rather than other people. If you are as good as you say you are make sure your boss knows it. Ask for a raise often and frequently point to the good work you are doing and what you are accomplishing for the company.

Eventually the burden of carrying a bad employee will wear management down and they will have to get rid of her. Meanwhile you are steadily working your way up the pay scale and maneuvering yourself to be in a good position once that happens.

1
pingwing•

Your boss probably knows.

7
chmod777•

I used to do, which consists of regular promotions within our products, different homepages for new promotions and corporate design

notice that she is doing the stuff you, a junior, used to do? you are doing UIs, a much more technical job? the other stuff, banners and corporate bullshit, is seriously what you get an intern to do. the fact that they have her doing it means they are well aware of her skills.

It pisses me off because this women is paid almost twice my salary and does a mediocre job.

maybe she was a really good negotiator? and that you should, at your next review, request a salary increase? and consider that she may still be under new hire/contract, and as soon as 3 months are up, her contract is done and she's gone.

and echo'ing a different comment, you don't know that management and the art director don't know all this. and the fact that he already talked to her about something means that it's known.

3
BradGroux•

The problem isn't your co-worker, it is the company you work for. If they've created an environment that embraces these practices and bad work goes unchecked, then they are probably too late to save. It is probably already ingrained in their corporate hierarchy. If your boss's boss hasn't noticed by now and corrected it, then they don't care.

I've worked in enterprises my entire career, 12+ years at fortune 500 companies. You have no idea how bad the business world can be about pettiness and pride. If you aren't happy working under someone, and you think you are superior to them, move on. You are a junior designer with less than a year at the company, so like it or not you mean nothing to the company. You're just a number, and that is just the cold hard facts.

If you can't adapt to their culture, and you make a fuss, they'll probably cut their losses and find another person just out of design school who will. Most middle-management (which is likely what your boss is) tries to simply slide under the radar. They don't want anyone making a fuss below them, and they don't want anyone above them to ask questions... because the vast majority of the time if upper level management scrutinizes their work and department, they realize that there is no need for that middle management.

TL,DR - Keep your mouth shut, if you can't do that, find another company with the corporate culture you're seeking.

3
Greyhaven7•

If her mistakes are likely hurting your company, and thereby potentially threatening your job security... I see nothing ethically wrong with going over her head.

Just remember that the boss may turn on you, this lady might find out you said something, or any number of other shitty things might happen in the process.

2
cluskOP•

I think it could potentially hurt the company. It doesn't leave a good first impression to possible investors, from my point of view.

1
mocmocmoc81•

this may be a real douche move.. but I've seen it done before, many times with great success.. Each time she submitted a really shitty design, volunteer to do another option and submit it directly to your AD (maybe saying that you have an extra passion to said project, etc)

1
wellthatexplainsalot•

This story doesn't have a happy ending.

If you bring it up, then you will appear to be a backstabber. She'll hate you, and your boss won't trust you.

If you do nothing, then you'll be dissatisfied.

You could:

  • Start looking for another job
  • Demonstrate to your boss that you should be promoted, and when you are eventually her boss, you can do something about the problem.

I do think that while she may be bad at artwork and doesn't know the tools, that she probably does know a lot about stuff that you have no idea about. I'm suggesting that you may not know what you don't know. I don't know if that's the case or not. Secondly, if you are a guy, then perhaps you are annoyed at having a female boss, and your problem is really that you are sexist. I don't know if that's true - just throwing it out there.

Of course it could be that she is incompetent at her job.

Edit: i A foRmat.

2
[deleted]•

Demonstrate to your boss that you should be promoted,

How does one achieve this task?

1
hiveminded•

How do you know what she is paid?

Have you identified the ways that you bring value to the company?

Can you also be promoted to a senior?

1
cincinnati_designer•

If you're going to do it, do it the right way (present instances, sound professional) otherwise you're going to sound whiny and petty and its going to make you look worse than your coworker.

1
mocmocmoc81•

Do you guys work together on a project. Did you end up correcting her work. Is she wasting your time by all these unnecessary correction/option Bs, etc.. if Yes, talk to your boss that it is taking up extra time finishing up projects because of her.

Otherwise, No! If her work is as bad as you described and your boss/art director has not said anything about it yet, it is best you keep it all to yourself because;

  • If your boss/art director thinks her work is shitty, he will say something.. saying anything = you telling him how to do his job
  • If your boss/art director thinks her work is great, telling him otherwise would mean telling him he knows nothing about design.
  • IF your boss/art director is somehow related to said co-worker, it means you're a bloody snitch.

UNLESS she is causing more trouble to you (having you fix up her errors, saving her ass, etc..), then you will have to tell your boss

1
latke•

I don't know what the rest of the situation is like or how long this has been going on, but it you're working for a company where superiors aren't doing good work and their superiors don't know or choose not to care, then something's wrong. You might want to keep your eyes open for other positions at better companies and update your resume/portfolio in case an opportunity arises.

I'm definitely not saying quit your job, don't don't don't do that. Just saying if the problem persists and you have no options for recourse to solve it from within, you could try to find options elsewhere.

1
dingoperson•

I suggest that you put in applications for jobs elsewhere. You can write in the application that you are applying for typical reasons X, Y, Z and 'other personal reasons'. If they are interested they will ask you. You can then describe the situation in the nicest possible way. If your own portfolio is impressive and they are a good company that recognises talent they should not think of this negatively.

1
myrmadon8•

A lot of times with these situations, there's way more going on under the surface. Management level positions are VERY hard to fill and recruit for, so for all you know she's well on her way out, but her seat needs to be filled first. Just keep your nose to the grindstone and things will fall into place.

1
inazuma•

You can help her, or inform your boss. I like to be nice and do both in this situation lol

0
homescrub•

I'd rather tell them myself. Nothing better than shitting on someone's work when its fucked up. Even if its hurts them, they need to man the fuck up with some balls.

But if it gets to the point where they consistently doing it even after you pointed it out to them, then you can just keep a mental note, and find someone who does care to move her elsewhere where she isn't a lousy employee.

0