# Bleh. Work sucks today. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028 "2006-08-09T17:30:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/1 "2006-08-09T17:30:53Z")
Warning: This post was written by a cranky, caffeine and calorie deprived Mouse. I work as a Lab Manager for the research branch of a University. The lab is small, four people total and I’m the only woman. In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=382012&highlight=Work+Worry) , I described how the head of our department might take a job in Canada. It’s been two weeks and there is still no “official” word on what the DH is doing. According to his post-docs and graduate students, DH is taking the job and will be leaving in 9 to 12 months. DH isn’t going to make a big announcement until he has everything settled with the Canadian folks. Just freakin’ great. :rolleyes: Nothing better than wondering if your job is in danger. (DH leaves, a lot of NIH money goes with him.) Some staff members are concerned about DH not being around anymore to “protect us.” (_From what?_ I have only been here six month, but I don’t see any dangers other than funding worries and a brain drain. Are there monsters in the basement? Barbarians raiding us for antibodies? Snakes after our mice? **Snakes in a lab!** ) Top things off, two of the guys I work with were ogling one of the office staff. Guy1: It’s her last day. She’s must want to leave an impression. Guy2: She made an impression on me. I got a boner. Sadly, I did not have a scathing retort. Since I’m dieting and trying to get into better shape, I took their comments rather personally. (Less than professional behavior all the way around. Maybe we start behaving after lunch.) So, anyone else having an awful workday? ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/2 "2006-08-09T18:03:38Z")
Crap. Now my boss is going to talk to the Canadian Univeristy. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Flea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d78d45/32.png) [@Flea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flea)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/3 "2006-08-09T18:17:05Z")
> [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > Top things off, two of the guys I work with were ogling one of the office staff. > Guy1: It’s her last day. She’s must want to leave an impression. > Guy2: She made an impression on me. I got a boner. > > Sadly, I did not have a scathing retort. Since I’m dieting and trying to get into better shape, I took their comments rather personally. (Less than professional behavior all the way around. Maybe we start behaving after lunch.) I’m a supervisor, and I can tell you right now a simple “Hey, watch it” works wonders. Asinine people, like children, like to push boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/4 "2006-08-09T18:21:52Z")
I hear you (well, not literally). Tomorrow our entire department gets to attend a meeting “about big changes for the future”. Not looking good. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/5 "2006-08-09T18:34:17Z")
> [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > So, anyone else having an awful workday? Within the next 6 months my entire [company](http://www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=100796) will probably be [shut down](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383158). The buy-out was just announced, and it’s obvious that they don’t want our product or our knowledge, they just want to reduce competition to get a better shot at the market. Yup, awful workday here. Probaby 1400 other people in the company that feel the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/6 "2006-08-09T18:47:34Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#): > > Within the next 6 months my entire [company](http://www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=100796) will probably be [shut down](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383158). The buy-out was just announced, and it’s obvious that they don’t want our product or our knowledge, they just want to reduce competition to get a better shot at the market. > > Yup, awful workday here. Probaby 1400 other people in the company that feel the same way. Yikes! I am very sorry. If this keeps up, the only people left in Colorado will be the stereotypical “ski bums”!!! ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/7 "2006-08-09T19:23:30Z")
> [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > Yikes! I am very sorry. If this keeps up, the only people left in Colorado will be the stereotypical “ski bums”!!! Sun Micro/STK isn’t doing so well either, from what I’m hearing. I’m thinking of starting a new religion - gotta get a celebrity endorsement and some attractive and/or rich followers. Or someone with charisma. ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/8 "2006-08-09T20:30:11Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#): > > Sun Micro/STK isn’t doing so well either, from what I’m hearing. > > I’m thinking of starting a new religion - gotta get a celebrity endorsement and some attractive and/or rich followers. Or someone with charisma. Sounds like a great idea! I guess the best thing to do is start with the “B” list celebrities and work your way up. Colorado Springs has Focus on the Family, so the Denver Metro area needs something similar - Concentrate on Cthulhu? Fixate on Fundamentalism? Ruminate on Religion? ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/9 "2006-08-09T21:13:32Z")
> [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > Concentrate on Cthulhu? 😃 Classic! To borrow a phrase from this [site](http://www.cthulhu.org/) - “Cthulhu for President. Why vote for a lesser evil?” **Carl Corey** , keep us posted? ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/10 "2006-08-09T22:53:13Z")
A very small, morbid part of me wants to hear what **Gabriela** would post in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/11 "2006-08-10T15:36:09Z")
Update: We got the news. We’re getting the axe. The good news is that we aren’t being shut down until November, so that gives me some time to find a new job. Bobo, that sucks. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/12 "2006-08-10T17:12:19Z")
> [@Carl Corey](#): > > Update: > > We got the news. We’re getting the axe. > > The good news is that we aren’t being shut down until November, so that gives me some time to find a new job. > > Bobo, that sucks. Good luck. Right back atcha! I have a few months as well, SEC still has to approve the “merger”. So I’m sitting here hoping you aren’t a software tester or sys admin in the Denver job market right now so we don’t have to fight for the job. Glad you get some notice too. Last year I got the axe the week before Thanksgiving. Hard to do any serious job searching in November/December and no one hires end of year around here. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/13 "2006-08-11T15:38:20Z")
Ugh. Yeah, I once got the axe about a week before Christmas. That sucked. And no, I’m not a sysadmin or software tester. Nor even a Denverite. Of course, the job market where I live (Philadelphia) isn’t looking too good either. At least this weekend is looking like it will be fun. And temps in the 80s, too. (Trying to be optimistic. . . But I don’t think I could compete with you. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/14 "2006-08-11T16:25:05Z")
Best of luck with your job hunts **Bobtheoptimist** and **Carl Corey**. No news from my department head. If he doesn’t say anything soon, he’ll be losing lab staff anyway. Lots of people here are looking at the job market just because of all the rumors. I hope the tech market picks up soon. Mr. Maven works for Cisco. If we both end up in the job insecurity zone, I may lose my mind completely! (fall behind on the payments, and it will get repossessed) ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/15 "2006-08-11T17:57:47Z")
So then, you’re saying that the funding supplied by a U.S. government agency will now go to a Canadian university? ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/16 "2006-08-11T18:34:35Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > So then, you’re saying that the funding supplied by a U.S. government agency will now go to a Canadian university? Turns out I’m wrong. The money will either go back to the agency or it will be “inherited” by the new Department Head. If the money goes away, the lab is screwed. If a new DH gets the money - well, lab politics kicks in and we may still be screwed, it will just take longer. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/17 "2006-08-11T20:06:37Z")
> [@Mouse\_Maven](#): > > I hope the tech market picks up soon. Mr. Maven works for Cisco. If we both end up in the job insecurity zone, I may lose my mind completely! (fall behind on the payments, and it will get repossessed) My situation should help out Cisco a little, less competition in the fibre channel market and their new director looks nice (although that fan module on the side is flat scary) 1st half of '06 was pretty good around here. I had job offers coming from all sides, just went with a loser this time. On a positive note, I’ve never heard anyone around here say “I’ve got a boner”. Is your lab staffed by freshmen? ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bleh-work-sucks-today/368028/18 "2006-08-11T20:20:55Z")
> [@Bobotheoptimist](#): > > On a positive note, I’ve never heard anyone around here say “I’ve got a boner”. > Is your lab staffed by freshmen? No, just a doctor that thinks like one. :rolleyes: Actually, this lab can be very liberal about some things. Its hard to talk about breeding rodents with a straight face. (Well, these mice have never produced a litter. \)