Date: 201512
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Workload; Distraction
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Contributing factors: Staffing; Human Factors
Primary problem: Staffing

Narrative: The dayshift of [date removed] in Sector X of ZZZ ARTCC was one of the most stressful and frustrating shifts I have ever experienced. Our area worked more aircraft with the least amount of people I can remember and it was completely avoidable. The shift was staffed with only 7 CPCs; one R-side developmental; and one D-side developmental. By XA:00 the area had five sectors open and at that time we only had 6 CPCs. By XB:00 there was six sectors open with a D-side. Normally mornings are not nearly as busy as this morning; and our staffing would have been fine. Unfortunately; both the volume of aircraft and the staffing shortage led to safety being compromised this morning. We were advised when we arrived this morning by our FLM that sectors were going to saturated to '120%'; yet no one saw it necessary to do anything about it. The volume of aircraft at times had controllers overloaded with no help in sight. Even if we wanted a D-side there was no one there to help. The FLM had to combine sectors in ways that are rarely combined in order to facilitate breaks so that controllers were not going over two hours on position. We were informed that our [union] rep and FLMs had addressed the issue of staffing to several OMs; yet no overtime was assigned or were there any other measures put into place to assist our workload and it resulted in controllers having to work extended periods on sectors that were almost unmanageable at times. The second issue of volume was also raised; yet again; the OMs refused to assign overtime. It was absolutely ridiculous for 7 CPCs to have to work that volume of aircraft for that amount of time. The controllers in Sector X were forced to work in unsafe conditions today and it would have been completely avoidable if the Operational Managers would have done anything to help.Allow the FLM to operate and control there areas. The micro-management of the Operational Managers at ZZZ ARTCC is out of control. The OMs were well aware of both staffing and volume today; yet they did nothing to assist the area. The FLMs are tied into the heartbeat of the area and have a far better picture of how the area is running and most are listening to the controllers to assess what is needed and when.




Synopsis: ARTCC Controller reported of a staffing issue on a particular day. No overtime was called in and the sectors were combined at times in ways the reporter had never seen before. Reporter thought it was due to short staffing and the micromanagement of the Operations Manager that lead to all of the problems.