# Workplace griping, anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 12, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401 "2010-11-12T06:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 102
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2021 "2011-08-31T03:49:35Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > But then they want a printed and mailed resume along with a **hand-written** letter saying why you want the job. WTF? šŸ˜• This means the head of their Human Resource department is into graphology. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2022 "2011-08-31T05:04:39Z")
I still work in the 20th century. People fax me signed documents and then I have to call them to get the correct spelling for their names because Bsquiggle Vscrawl just doesnā€™t work for me. Thatā€™s the only reason I can think of for an employer to want to see a copy of handwriting. Now that Iā€™m thinking about itā€¦doesnā€™t work for a paperless office. Iā€™ve got nothing. Today, I didnā€™t kill a lawyer. I didnā€™t even shove him off the loading dock. I am getting much more considerate to my coworkers and the facilities guys would have to been the ones to clean the blood up. They donā€™t like that. He showed up with his court order and demanded that I produce the document instantly. I canā€™t do that for several reasons. The biggest reason is that I donā€™t know what is in the boxes. I just store them, its up to the people who request the files, etc. to give me box/container numbers. The other reason is that legally, I do not ā€œownā€ the boxes, Iā€™m just the caretaker. The owners are the ones who can tell me who is allowed access. So, I sent the jerk to the proper place and he came back with one of the people who were allowed to request files. SG heard the door bell and let them in. The jerk was all totally self important and swaggering while I pulled the 5 boxes he had legal authority to look through. Whatever. Then he wanted me to pull all of the boxes in the same time period so he could see if the single piece of paper he wanted had been misfiled. The poor legal clerk who had the authority to ask it of me rolled her eyes and asked me to do it. I moved 16,000 lbs of paper for him. He wouldnā€™t even open the boxes without the legal clerk dusing the lids off. I was pulling boxes and leaving them on the floor for him and he couldnā€™t pick them up to put on the cart to look in them. The clerk, who was in office dress, and I had to do everything. As he was leaving, with clean hands and a smirk on his mouth, he saw SG and shook his hand and thanked him for all of his help. Thatā€™s when I didnā€™t kill him. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2023 "2011-08-31T05:17:28Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Thatā€™s when I didnā€™t kill him. Why?? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2024 "2011-08-31T05:18:52Z")
Too much paperwork, would be my guessā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2025 "2011-08-31T05:22:40Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Too much paperwork, would be my guessā€¦ Damn the paperwork! Some folks just need killinā€™ ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2026 "2011-08-31T05:36:44Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > Well, except that to have any hope of getting in to the office on time, I had to leave well before the office would have been open. As it turned out, power in most parts of the town WAS on, just not in the small area where the office is. > > Cat Whisperer has it right on. I wish I didnā€™t - thoughtless people are the bane of my existence. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2027 "2011-08-31T07:11:14Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Thatā€™s when I didnā€™t kill him. Next time, kill the asshole and call me, Iā€™ll clean up. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2028 "2011-08-31T09:30:49Z")
Yeah, next time kill him. And SG. We will all claim that you were playing cards with us (and losing). ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2029 "2011-08-31T11:31:20Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Yeah, next time kill him. And SG. We will all claim that you were playing cards with us (and losing). Iā€™ll provide whatever alibi you need, also. The only thing I canā€™t help you out with is bail money, because I am saving as much of that as I can for the day when I need if myself after stabbing File Room Jerkass in the neck with a bent recycled paper clip. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2030 "2011-08-31T15:15:16Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > This ad is very specific in wanting someone who is comfortable with technology and making a point to say theyā€™re a paperless office. But then they want a printed and mailed resume along with a **hand-written** letter saying why you want the job. WTF? My WAG? They want a quick and easy way to filter out people who canā€™t follow simple instructions. You can see at a glance who paid attention and who didnā€™t and just chuck anything that comes in without a hand-written letter in the recycle bin. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2031 "2011-08-31T20:58:37Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Thatā€™s when I didnā€™t kill him. Think of it this way: you only had to deal with him for that short amount of time. He has to live with himself. Thatā€™s how I justify not killing a lot of people who need killinā€™. The only bad side is sometimes I actually start feeling \*sorry \*for the rat bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2032 "2011-08-31T23:52:30Z")
Dammit Mrs. Boss! You have the management skills of a 2-year-old, and the integrity of a sea slug! I was already pretty leery when you hired a replacement for our maintenance dude. (Sure, he did say in so many words to hire someone else, but that was because you were nagging him about returning to work while he was in another state, dealing with his fatherā€™s unexpected and sudden illness and death. A week after his dadā€™s heart attack, and 1the day after the funeral, his replacement was hired.) Today was the final straw though: the front desk manager is expecting twins. I was hired to fill in while D is on maternity leave, and then take over as sales manager. So today, 17 days before Dā€™s due date, youā€™re interviewing a new front desk manager? D needs her job! I have a job interview tomorrow afternoon. And I may not even work a notice. Bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2033 "2011-09-01T00:20:53Z")
Apparently, Iā€™m trapped in an asshole lagoon. They got the guys that donā€™t speak english to do yet another system conversion. Stuff is blowing up all over the place and I have to look high and low to find anything thatā€™s right. The good news is Iā€™m only here for the paycheck. If I was a member of the ā€œleadership teamā€ and more heavily invested in this place, Iā€™d be shitting myself constantly. Do I ever feel sorry for our poor customers. The only thing that made my day better was [**this**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=622542). At least my workplace doesnā€™t smell like poo. Well, maybe in time. Iā€™m sure weā€™ve got yet new lows to reach. Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2034 "2011-09-01T00:44:38Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > Today was the final straw though: the front desk manager is expecting twins. I was hired to fill in while D is on maternity leave, and then take over as sales manager. So today, 17 days before Dā€™s due date, youā€™re interviewing a new front desk manager? D needs her job! Isnā€™t that illegal? ---
**Author:** ![Tracyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@Tracyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracyfish)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2035 "2011-09-01T01:13:15Z")
Why do people feel the need to wait until the minute we close to call? Iā€™d like to be done with work now, and this is not something thatā€™s so vital that the customer couldnā€™t wait until tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2036 "2011-09-01T01:49:08Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > My WAG? They want a quick and easy way to filter out people who canā€™t follow simple instructions. You can see at a glance who paid attention and who didnā€™t and just chuck anything that comes in without a hand-written letter in the recycle bin. That makes as much sense as anything I could come up with. I didnā€™t apply, theyā€™d probably chuck mine when they saw my handwriting, paperless office or not. Today they started bringing in the new equipment for the system conversion. And I still know nothing about the accounting programs because I couldnā€™t play with that part of the system. Friday is gonna suck eggs. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2037 "2011-09-01T02:09:13Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > My WAG? They want a quick and easy way to filter out people who canā€™t follow simple instructions. You can see at a glance who paid attention and who didnā€™t and just chuck anything that comes in without a hand-written letter in the recycle bin. Iā€™m betting they have an idiot in HR who believes in graphology. Who has a cousin with a graphology analysis business. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2038 "2011-09-01T02:32:36Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Isnā€™t that illegal? Nope. The company has fewer than 50 employees. FMLA doesnā€™t apply. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2039 "2011-09-01T02:46:20Z")
Office partner seems to have given up the instant oatmeal, at least while sitting at his desk. His new interest is crackers (mostly saltines). He puts a couple in his mouth and apparently lets them dissolve into mush, then swishes the resulting goo around for a bit. Itā€™s quite loud, and incredibly disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/2040 "2011-09-01T14:47:24Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > My WAG? They want a quick and easy way to filter out people who canā€™t follow simple instructions. You can see at a glance who paid attention and who didnā€™t and just chuck anything that comes in without a hand-written letter in the recycle bin. Alternate explanation: They mean they want a letter personally tailored to the position, not a cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all cover letter that says nothing why you want that particular position. But whoever specified that is too much of an idiot to be able to explain it properly, and went with ā€œhand-writtenā€ as the appropriate term. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=101) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=103)