I’ve been recently promoted to CIO/technical manager in a modestly small company of 15 developers. I have close ties with all my co-workers (I actually recommended all of them for hiring to my bosses). Recently, the big bosses have implemented some stricter rules regarding employee tardiness, limitations on company reimbursements, employee benefits, (all which I have carefully evaluated as reasonable and fair to both sides). However, I have been bearing the brunt of my co-workers complaints regarding these new company guidelines eventhough we have HR staff. They’re telling me the new rules are too strict, to anti-employee, even unreasonable. I know they look to me as someone on their side and who can defend them but how can I tell them (without looking like the bad guy) that management’s on the right track about the new rules? To be honest, management has been VERY LENIENT and forgiving with them for quite a long time. I feel like i’m walking a tightrope between management and the employees. Any sound advice out there? I really need some right now…
