"Fireworks in Cheshire"
Yesterday was probably the biggest office fireworks display I have ever seen. You see, we have a couple of self-proclaimed "prima donnas" (L&M) in the office. You know the ones, too busy with their work to answer phones and do "customer service" jobs. They do all the work and everyone else sits on their asses all day doing nothing.
The prima donnas were doing some major bitching this week about the temp that was hired to answer the phones. First let me say the temp did a great job this week. She was quick to answer the phones, wrote pick-up slips and routed calls to the proper people. Exactly what she was suppose to be doing! The two prima donnas decided the temp HAD to sit at the front desk so she could tell WHO was on the phone and not send any customer service calls to them. They had too much work to do, to handle customer service calls. Besides "it's not their job". Having the temp at the front desk meant the person that sits there, would need to move the contents of her desk and the computer. This argument lasted for two hours until they called in the OPS Manager to settle it. He saw no reason for anyone change desks and told them so. Well that response didn't go over too well! For the remainder of the afternoon, we got to hear the bitching and repeated "It's not my job" being chanted. Not to mention the "I'm too busy to answer phones right now."
One of the prima donnas (L) has been doing the daily bank deposits, simply because I hated climbing the 3 flights of stairs to the parking lot. She volunteered, so I said "ok". It seems to take anywhere from 60-90 minutes daily to do this errand. Having never done the run, I had no idea how long it should actually take but I suspected it should be under an hour. So, to free up some of her time, yesterday I decided to start doing the deposits. Let's see, I went to the bank, stopped at the store for paper plates (pizza party for lunch yesterday) AND went to the post office. Somehow, I wasn't surprised when I returned in 50 minutes and to a VERY cold office.
L was PISSED and stormed out of the office. She could no longer screw around for 90 minutes everyday then take her 30 minute lunch break. She returned about 3:00 and wanted to know WHY I decided to change "policy" and do the deposit. So I told her why. That's when the "oh isn't that so precious I do the deposit in the snow and rain and shitty weather but now it's nice outside, you'll do the deposits." I was biting my tongue and told her if she had a problem with the way I do my job, then to speak to my boss. At that point she started to insinuate I was receiving preferential treatment from the boss. Screaming how I didn't know the first thing about the trucking industry (I agreed with her on that point) and I NEVER answer the phones. At that point I lost it -- and a line of 4-letter words came out of my mouth and a hush fell over the office AND dispatch. I looked at the clock, it was 3:20 and I announced "I'm going home, I've had enough for this week."
L stormed out of the office and headed towards the parking lot. I finished what I had been working on and started to lock up my desk. I wanted to give her plenty of time to LEAVE the parking lot since she strikes me the type to get physical when no one is around. While I was clearing off my desk she returned and was packing up her belongings when I left. Will she show up for work on Monday? I doubt it. Will she quit? Probably. Would I apologize for what I said? NO WAY, it was time someone said it to her.
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
"Interesting Week Ahead"
The work week should prove to be an interesting one this week. Amid all the turmoil of having no HR person and short about 10 FT dock workers, Jeff (my boss) will be at the corporate office in FL for the remainder of the week. He left me with a short "to do" list that includes walking a co-worker through the paperwork associated with new hires. In other words, I just busted my ass learning a process, on my own, so I could teach someone else how to do it.
Jeff also informed me he is bringing in a temp to help with the telephones. The last temp we had was a real ditz! We reminded her daily that Jeff was on vacation and she still put calls through to his phone. Jeff has given me "complete authority", if this person isn't working out, to get someone in that can do the job. With both Operations Managers covering the night shifts and my boss being out of town, does that put me in charge?
On top of the lack of manpower, we are expecting new PC's to be installed this week. For the most part it should be simply a change in equipment. There are a few of us that have access to our hard drives and store confidential documents on the drives. My PC happens to be the biggest concern. I've managed to move the majority of the non-confidential documents to the network. It seems most of my documents are confidential - Injury/Worker's Comp Cases, Job Reviews, Employee DataBase.... they can't be moved until the new PC is ready to go on my desk. At that point I'll copy the docs to the network, set up the new PC and immediately copy the documents back to the hard drive. Then delete what is on the network.
Thankfully, my back is feeling a little better each day. I still have twinges of pain when I stand and walk but nothing close to the major pain I had over the weekend. I don't think I would be of much use at work if I were on Flexeril all week.
The work week should prove to be an interesting one this week. Amid all the turmoil of having no HR person and short about 10 FT dock workers, Jeff (my boss) will be at the corporate office in FL for the remainder of the week. He left me with a short "to do" list that includes walking a co-worker through the paperwork associated with new hires. In other words, I just busted my ass learning a process, on my own, so I could teach someone else how to do it.
Jeff also informed me he is bringing in a temp to help with the telephones. The last temp we had was a real ditz! We reminded her daily that Jeff was on vacation and she still put calls through to his phone. Jeff has given me "complete authority", if this person isn't working out, to get someone in that can do the job. With both Operations Managers covering the night shifts and my boss being out of town, does that put me in charge?
On top of the lack of manpower, we are expecting new PC's to be installed this week. For the most part it should be simply a change in equipment. There are a few of us that have access to our hard drives and store confidential documents on the drives. My PC happens to be the biggest concern. I've managed to move the majority of the non-confidential documents to the network. It seems most of my documents are confidential - Injury/Worker's Comp Cases, Job Reviews, Employee DataBase.... they can't be moved until the new PC is ready to go on my desk. At that point I'll copy the docs to the network, set up the new PC and immediately copy the documents back to the hard drive. Then delete what is on the network.
Thankfully, my back is feeling a little better each day. I still have twinges of pain when I stand and walk but nothing close to the major pain I had over the weekend. I don't think I would be of much use at work if I were on Flexeril all week.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Weekend Plans :(
For last 6-8 weeks, I have been looking forward to the Annual 3-Day Pool Party at Big Bill's and Wig's. Today is the stary of this big bash. It starts on friday afternoon and lasts well into the night on sunday. People bring pitch tents in the backyard, enough food for TWO armies. Last year Bill hired a DJ. This year he was going to roast a pig. Wouldn't you know it, I probably won't be at the party anytime this weekend. Why? I was bending over to tie the trash bag, this morning and my back went out without me! Before leaving the house, I grabbed my bottle of Flexeril and took two as soon as I got to work. Good news, it definately relaxed me - I was ready to take a nap about 10:00 AM. Bad news, after 6 Flexeril, my back is still killing me. My weekend will probably be spent popping Flexeril, soaking in a hot bath, and lying on my back in bed.
I hope everyone reading this has a better weekend than me :(
For last 6-8 weeks, I have been looking forward to the Annual 3-Day Pool Party at Big Bill's and Wig's. Today is the stary of this big bash. It starts on friday afternoon and lasts well into the night on sunday. People bring pitch tents in the backyard, enough food for TWO armies. Last year Bill hired a DJ. This year he was going to roast a pig. Wouldn't you know it, I probably won't be at the party anytime this weekend. Why? I was bending over to tie the trash bag, this morning and my back went out without me! Before leaving the house, I grabbed my bottle of Flexeril and took two as soon as I got to work. Good news, it definately relaxed me - I was ready to take a nap about 10:00 AM. Bad news, after 6 Flexeril, my back is still killing me. My weekend will probably be spent popping Flexeril, soaking in a hot bath, and lying on my back in bed.
I hope everyone reading this has a better weekend than me :(
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Ask and you shall receive.....
Today started like an ordinary day -- busy! While I was working on checking everyone time clock punches from yesterday, one of our sales reps approached me. He asked me to verify that tickets to a concert were in the safe. I couldn't do it at that moment but told him I would check as soon as I had a chance.
Later in the morning, I had a few minutes to look for the concert tickets. Of course I had to see where the concert is and who is playing. Hmmmm Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire at The Meadows -- sounds like a great concert to me. Sure enough, there are 8 tickets and 2 parking passes.
When Doug called, from the road, this afternoon, I relayed the information. I added in that it sounds like a great concert. He then asked if I wanted to go. It seems he had purchased an extra ticket and doesn't have a date for the night. The only stipulation is that I can't tell anyone in the office! Something tells me he realizes just how much gossip takes place in that office!
Just a little run down on the gossip -- DL has a "thing" going on with SO, but don't tell either of their spouses. LN is engaged to MR after only dating for a couple of months. CB's boyfriend is in jail for abuse but she still loves him and is trying to get him out of jail. MP, although a newlywed, has a fling going on with JH..... Does this sound a little like Peyton Place?
Later in the morning, I had a few minutes to look for the concert tickets. Of course I had to see where the concert is and who is playing. Hmmmm Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire at The Meadows -- sounds like a great concert to me. Sure enough, there are 8 tickets and 2 parking passes.
When Doug called, from the road, this afternoon, I relayed the information. I added in that it sounds like a great concert. He then asked if I wanted to go. It seems he had purchased an extra ticket and doesn't have a date for the night. The only stipulation is that I can't tell anyone in the office! Something tells me he realizes just how much gossip takes place in that office!
Just a little run down on the gossip -- DL has a "thing" going on with SO, but don't tell either of their spouses. LN is engaged to MR after only dating for a couple of months. CB's boyfriend is in jail for abuse but she still loves him and is trying to get him out of jail. MP, although a newlywed, has a fling going on with JH..... Does this sound a little like Peyton Place?
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Monday Madness Meme
1. In your opinion, what is the perfect temperature?
2. If you have a garden, what do you plant in it? If not, what would you plant in it?
3. What is your favorite summertime beverage?
4. How many times a year do you rearrange your living room?
5. How fast do you drive in a '55 mile-an-hour' zone?
6. How many minutes per day do you usually talk on the phone?
7. What is your favorite software program?
8. How many music cd's do you own?
9. How many memes do you participate in on a regular basis?
10. Name 3 blogs that you have on your 'blogroll' list. (any 3.)
1. The perfect temp is 75 with a 2 degree differential. How do I know this? It's called 20 years of working in a temperature controlled computer room.
2. This year, I have a container garden. It's the first time I've ever tried growing veggies so it should be interesting. I have an array of flowers - Impatiens, Marigolds, Miniature Pansies, Petunias and Coleus. Since I'm the only one here, the veggies are limited - String Beans, Tomatoes, Green Peppers. I also planted a few herbs - Chives, Basil, Dill, Oregano.
3. I don't limit a beverage to a season. My favorite non-alcoholic beverage is coffee! For an alcholic beverage, Margarita - on the rocks with salt.
4. At the moment, it's very easy to rearrange my living room. There's no furniture in the room. I used the furniture in a spare room to create a den. Now I'm searching for "reasonably" priced wicker/bamboo living set. Once the living room is set up, the only time I move furniture is to place the Christmas Tree or when I move to a new apartment.
5. 55 MPH? I think I reach that speed on the highway on-ramp. My speed is usually in the 70-75 range and I'm riding along with the traffic.
6. I spend way too much time on the phone, working. After working too many years as IT Help Desk, I hate being on the phone. When my last employer started closing down the office, a "contact list" went around so we could keep in touch with our co-workers. In the "telephone number" column, I wrote "Do you really think I answer my home phone?"
7. I miss having an organizer. The one I've come to like is Lotus Organizer. I've been trying out a "shareware" program called C-Organizer Pro and it's pretty good. Having an organizer at work is easier that having post-its stuck all over my desk. Paper gets lost too easily on my desk.
8. I probably have about 40 CD's. My collection is rather limited since I won't buy a CD unless I've heard most of the songs and like them. The cost is too high to buy a CD and find you only like 1 or 2 songs and can't stand the rest of them.
9. I do believe this is the first time I have answered a Meme. Victoria has them all the time on her blog. While I enjoy reading the questions and her responses. I don't think I've ever responded to one.
10. I don't think I have many more than 3! Let's see, friends Karl, Victoria, Bonnie and Marsha
1. In your opinion, what is the perfect temperature?
2. If you have a garden, what do you plant in it? If not, what would you plant in it?
3. What is your favorite summertime beverage?
4. How many times a year do you rearrange your living room?
5. How fast do you drive in a '55 mile-an-hour' zone?
6. How many minutes per day do you usually talk on the phone?
7. What is your favorite software program?
8. How many music cd's do you own?
9. How many memes do you participate in on a regular basis?
10. Name 3 blogs that you have on your 'blogroll' list. (any 3.)
1. The perfect temp is 75 with a 2 degree differential. How do I know this? It's called 20 years of working in a temperature controlled computer room.
2. This year, I have a container garden. It's the first time I've ever tried growing veggies so it should be interesting. I have an array of flowers - Impatiens, Marigolds, Miniature Pansies, Petunias and Coleus. Since I'm the only one here, the veggies are limited - String Beans, Tomatoes, Green Peppers. I also planted a few herbs - Chives, Basil, Dill, Oregano.
3. I don't limit a beverage to a season. My favorite non-alcoholic beverage is coffee! For an alcholic beverage, Margarita - on the rocks with salt.
4. At the moment, it's very easy to rearrange my living room. There's no furniture in the room. I used the furniture in a spare room to create a den. Now I'm searching for "reasonably" priced wicker/bamboo living set. Once the living room is set up, the only time I move furniture is to place the Christmas Tree or when I move to a new apartment.
5. 55 MPH? I think I reach that speed on the highway on-ramp. My speed is usually in the 70-75 range and I'm riding along with the traffic.
6. I spend way too much time on the phone, working. After working too many years as IT Help Desk, I hate being on the phone. When my last employer started closing down the office, a "contact list" went around so we could keep in touch with our co-workers. In the "telephone number" column, I wrote "Do you really think I answer my home phone?"
7. I miss having an organizer. The one I've come to like is Lotus Organizer. I've been trying out a "shareware" program called C-Organizer Pro and it's pretty good. Having an organizer at work is easier that having post-its stuck all over my desk. Paper gets lost too easily on my desk.
8. I probably have about 40 CD's. My collection is rather limited since I won't buy a CD unless I've heard most of the songs and like them. The cost is too high to buy a CD and find you only like 1 or 2 songs and can't stand the rest of them.
9. I do believe this is the first time I have answered a Meme. Victoria has them all the time on her blog. While I enjoy reading the questions and her responses. I don't think I've ever responded to one.
10. I don't think I have many more than 3! Let's see, friends Karl, Victoria, Bonnie and Marsha
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