How do I hate my job? Let me count the ways......

OK. Here’s the situation.

As some of you may or may not know, I currently work in a bookbindery while I await my imminent departure into the Air Force. It’s not a bad job, per se, but it has given me nothing but headaches of late. So, here we go.

(ego trip) I’m an exceptionally hard worker (if I do say so myself). I may piss and moan, but the job gets done, with no muss and no fuss. When they need someone to do a tough job, they call me. (end ego trip)

Apparently, this has not endeared me to my coworkers. They take great delight in trying to hinder me while I’m working. I ignore it for the most part, as it is not really worthy of my attention. However, something was said the other day that has set off a firestorm, one that will not go away.

One of my machine operators, just looking for a way to piss me off, found the one topic that works. He said:“Hey, howsa 'bout I break in your little sister’s ass for you?”
After I somehow got control of my temper, he just started in on me with a constant barrage of insults, mostly scatological, and all personal, in nature.

So OK, ha ha ha, the joke’s on me. No big deal. But then he gets his little entourage to come after me, too. And that’s when all hell breaks loose.

I’m getting it from all sides at this point. So I decide that a few sharp, particularly vile epithets will get them off my back.

Nope. It doesn’t work that way, I guess. In fact, all it did was get me challenged to a fight by my chief antagonist. Well, hell, I’d be glad to oblige, but I’m supposed to be somewhat mature at this point in my life. So I demure. And so now, I’m a big wimp, in addition to the insults.

You would think that by the time you hit 25 (my age), people would get past the insult stage and attempt to act professional. I couldn’t get that lucky. But I digress.

Here’s the whole purpose of this little story. I want to know what you would do, if you were in my place.

Your choices are:
a)Beat the punk like a red-headed stepchild. Easily accomplished, but pointless, IMHO.
b)Stick it out and endure another 3 months of crap.
c)Quit, since all my bills are paid, and everything I make is essentially spending money.

In addition to the above, I do have other alternatives. My old boss from my previous job has been begging me to come back to work for him. I could work for my uncle, a successful businessman. The possibilities are endless. Not to mention that, as previously stated, I’m going to Air Force Basic Training in August. :smiley:

On the other hand, I like my job. It hurts, and it beats me silly, but it’s also the best diet I ever went on, 70 pounds later. It keeps me in fairly good shape, as well.

So, what do you think? As the Clash once said, “Do I stay or do I go?”

PS: This thread could have gone anywhere, so if you (the Mods) need to move it, that’s fine with me.

If you have a boss/manager/whatever, go talk to them. If they can’t do anything then quit, life’s short and you don’t really need the abuse.

i’m telling you babe. quit your job, and come stay with me :slight_smile: it’ll be great. and as for your coworkers, make sure you find a way to screw them over real bad before you leave. accidentally leave them shorthanded the day before a deadline or something. you don’t need to put up with their shit, especially if you don’t need the money.

What would I do? I would go directly to the President/CEO/owner (i.e. the biggest guy in the company that I could get to see me), tell the story and then quit and go to work for the old boss or the uncle until Basic Training. Make sure you accidently misplace some vital information or equipment before you quit.

…or at least make life for the jerks you leave behind as difficult as possible.

Hmmm…

Sounds like sexually demeaning comments to me. Hostile work environment rules come to mind. Any chance of recording these idiots in action? You could really clean up, if the company has any money.

Danalan, the owner of the company had the audacity to publish his net income from last year. Something like $97 million. :rolleyes: But I don’t feel the need to sue over something this petty. It’s just a case of some people being jerks. I’d really, just once, like to pop one of them in the mouth. I have too much self control to do that, though.

And as far as recording them, ha. I can’t even hear myself think. It’s more or less a factory job, with noise everywhere.

The consensus thus far is that I should just quit. Well, I have two more days to go in my work week. Then I can quit under good circumstances. I’ll let you know how it works out.

I’d advise against popping the guy, even if it would feel good. You never know, he could go to the cops, and they could charge you with assault. Not the sort of thing you want to have on your record just as you’re going into the USAF:

Airman Doors: “Well, I just had to beat him up because I lost my temper and it felt good.”

Senior officer: “And we should teach a short-tempered guy how to shoot guns? hmmm”

My thinking exactly. It’s not worth it.

But Goddamn if it wouldn’t be satisfying! :wink:

I’m trying to get this sent to the Pit.

The sheer unadulterated rage I am feeling right now is inappropriate for this forum.

Suffice it to say I have an update for you on the job situation.

And there’s a good chance it’s the last thing I ever submit, so I’ll take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone for being so cool to me. Everyone here has my respect and admiration.

I’m so Goddamn angry I can’t think straight. I’ll be back if this gets moved.

As a ex-loader who could keep 5 64’s running on a 12 pocket job, with a broken crane, I can commiserate with you on the nature of your co-workers. Fortunately for me, I just did it summers to help pay for college.

Sounds to me like you’re a lead operator, or the equivalent. The best revenge would be to keep your line running at top speed and run them ragged, so they have no time to kibbitz. It won’t be easy, but at least you can keep 'em scrambling.

BTW, does you company start with a Q?

Document the jerk’s behavior, and tell him you are doing so. Get dates, times, places, the approximate wording from you and him, and names of witnesses present. Tell him to stop, in no uncertain terms.

If he doesn’t, take the documentation to management. I think they are obligated to take steps. Maybe you can get the jerk reprimanded, or even fired. If they don’t, then maybe you can take steps against them. You’ve said you don’t want to, but that’s up to you.

And I like That_darn_cat’s idea of running them ragged, too.

BTW - if this sort of thing bothers you, and really gets under your skin, you might want a thicker skin before you get to basic training. You could encounter it there, possibly from drill instructors, and you have no recourse against them other than praying for a lightning bolt from the clear blue sky.

DO NOT let him goad you into a fight this is exactly what he is looking for, and yes it will affect your relationship with the military. It is quite possible that you wont be allowed to join.

As for the T.I.’s at Lackland trust me they WILL NOT attack your family. The Air Force takes a very strong position on that. Any T.I. who pulls that is likely to loose his/her hat. You however are fair game for anything and everything they can come up with (short of actually touching you) so do bring that thick skin with you.
TSgt Mac

Airman, I hope you don’t go - you’re a valued member of the community, and I enjoy reading your posts. I was looking forward to hearing how basic training was going.

I read your Pit thread, and I think you handled yourself with class and the self-restraint that is essential to do well in the armed forces. Congratulations! Don’t let this episode mess up your dream of a career in the military - you’ve built yourself up, and you shouldn’t let that schmuck make you doubt yourself.

Please stay - so a little bit down the road, we can all congratulate you on getting through Basic!

Dude…

Quit.

Grizz

Mac, thank you for the correction. Could this sort of harassment come from the other recruits, though?

Its possible although not tolerated, the recruits come from all over the country and you never know who you’ll end up training with.