# 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:** 335
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6682 "2013-12-11T22:03:42Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Since he’s in the United States, 1,400 miles is really nothing. In some cases that wouldn’t even get you across 2 states. 1400 miles is almost halfway across the country (driving SF to Boston is 3100 miles). I don’t know of any two states out of the contiguous 48 of which that would be true. The closest I can get is from the upper left corner of Montana to the lower right corner of South Dakota, and that’s about 1200 miles driving, less by flying. End of nitpick. 1400 miles is a significant distance if it is the distance between you and your family, no matter what states or countries are in between. Best of luck to **Cognoscant** on finding something closer. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6683 "2013-12-11T23:38:37Z")
I like the people at work. I really do. I mean that sincerely. I just wish some of them wouldn’t hang out right in the doorways when they talk to other people. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6684 "2013-12-12T03:02:22Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > 1400 miles is a significant distance if it is the distance between you and your family… My sister travels to her job, gets a week of work done in four days and comes home for long weekends with hubby and kids. Some families manage long distance relationships just fine. And maybe his wife would appreciate a break from the drama… ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6685 "2013-12-12T17:46:24Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Is your lead a native English speaker? If English is a second or later language, then MAYBE one can forgive this. OTOH, if English is her first/only language, this would not be what I would consider acceptable business communication. Nope, first and only language. To be charitable, she’s MUCH better at helping people solve issues over the phone (which I intensely dislike doing) but yeah, her reading/writing skills definitely leave something to be desired. I try to grab those kinds of tickets when I can and trade her the ones that need a phone call. I mean, there’s no tactful way to convey how badly that was written to her even as I’m reading over her shoulder after she asked me to see if what she’d written made sense. I kept trying to point out X, Y, Z, and she kept responding, “I know! That’s what I wrote!” I finally told her to re-assign the ticket to me and I’d see if I could “get through to the client” as if it was that poor woman’s fault. Other than 1) her reading/writing skillz, and 2) her serious caffeine addiction, she’s pretty good as a team leader. (That, or my past experiences have dropped the bar to subterranean levels. I wasn’t THAT many pages ago in this very thread where I told The Continuing Saga of The Crazy Grandboss.) > [@Cognoscant](#): > > Well I spent two hours putting together Application #2. Kept goofing up the name of the street the HR office was on, of all things, and had to reattach my cover letter three times! > > And well…THE PHONE INTERVIEW IS TOMORROW. I am speechless. Ten hours after I submitted and they are calling. After being beaten down here so much, you think you are worthless, that nobody wants you, and then you get called almost immediately. I just can’t thank all of you guys enough, this job looks really so much more what I’d like to do than I’m doing now even if you take away all the garbage going on upstairs as it were, and I really really wouldn’t have had the confidence to even apply without this thread. > > Difficulty: job is 1,400 miles away from home. ☹ I’m so happy for you I can’t stop grinning at my monitor. I’m glad that we could do something to collectively help you, but mostly, it’s just nice to see someone getting out of a bad place mentally. Good luck to you. > [@EmilyG](#): > > I like the people at work. I really do. I mean that sincerely. I just wish some of them wouldn’t hang out right in the doorways when they talk to other people. OMGTHISYESTIMESAMILLIONELEVENTYPLUS Why is it right in the narrowest part of a walkway that people tend to congregate, and what does it say about the assholes who give ME the stinkeye when I politely chirp “'Scuse me!” like I’m the asshole? (Other than that, of course, they’re the asshole. I got that part.) ---
**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:** [December 12, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6686 "2013-12-12T18:06:52Z")
So don’t say “'scuse me.” Learn ventriloquism, then throw your voice and say “Red Rover, Red Rover, send **purplehorseshoe** on over!” Then revert to your normal voice, and holler out, “MAKE A HOLE!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6687 "2013-12-12T19:27:53Z")
> [@digs](#): > > My sister travels to her job, gets a week of work done in four days and comes home for long weekends with hubby and kids. Some families manage long distance relationships just fine. > > And maybe his wife would appreciate a break from the drama… Far be it from me to provide marital counseling without a license, but it sounds like they could both use a break from each other. I’m not suggesting divorce. But \*\*Cog \*\*needs some time away from all the bullshit for the sake of his own mental health (and indeed his life, what with the suicidal ideation). ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6688 "2013-12-12T19:59:12Z")
Phone interview is in 30 minutes…now I just need to hope nobody realizes I’m here for the half-hour where I’m sitting in the corner with the light out. Questions ready, research done on the company, even found the interviewer was a 2nd connection on LinkedIn (like I said, this is a small industry). So we go from there. Thanks to everyone who’s been pulling for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6689 "2013-12-12T21:32:51Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > Difficulty: job is 1,400 miles away from home. ☹ If it works out, “Home” may be moving… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6690 "2013-12-12T21:56:39Z")
Not a gripe so much as a :eek: – the boss just announced that she’s retiring as of the end of the year. The office dynamics are in for a major shakeup…not sure if that will be a good thing or not. ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6691 "2013-12-12T21:57:31Z")
Well fuck! Why didn’t anybody tell me how easy that was going to be? A half-hour interview turned into an hour-long laughalong about their company’s trivia, people we both knew from the industry, and how to raise morale (I so had to resist the urge to say “all I have to do is ensure the opposite of what’s happening here”). Bam, second interview, they’re flying me out. Knock me over with a feather, kids. (And I realize I’m in a bit of the manic phase of my bipolar now, but just let me enjoy it for a while…) ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6692 "2013-12-12T22:11:01Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > As you say, it’s a difficulty - difficulties can be worked with. > Very good advice. A relocation would be quite difficult, but people do it all the time. I’d do the interview even if you don’t want to move, **Cognoscant** - it will be good experience. From someone who as relocated 9 times (7 international) and currently works either at home or away from home up in Calgary or Houston every other week, I agree with the above sentiments. A relocation is as good or bad as you want to make it. Once you have assessed the pros and cons and decided the move is a good one for you and your family, you have to commit and really try to avoid reassessing the choice to relocate based on any difficulties or differences that will come up. As CatW said, difficulties can be worked with. I have seen a few relocations go sideways badly, mainly due to people assigning the cause of the local difficulty , such as poor choice of goods at the market to cultural differences, to the choice to relocate, then really regretting the relocation and a spiral of unhappiness ensues. The problems themselves are generally relatively minor and are the, ‘that’s the way it is deal with it’ type problems. One thing not to underestimate in a relocation is the family/friends support structure you may have around you at the moment. That is the structure that can drop by feed the cat, babysit on short notice, go for a beer with, pick you up when the car is in the shop etc. For a lot of expatriate moves where there are a lot of expats around , everyone is in the same boat s people tend to form those support structures very quickly (and drink a lot) . For moves not expat (or into areas where there at not a lot of other imports) the support structures can take a while to develop and I have seen people become a bit lonely as the people to where you have relocated already have their own circles. Anyway I know this would be just 1,400 miles but, just something to not underestimate in a move. Either way - good luck and great news on getting interviews so soon after floating your resume out there, its a good sign. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6693 "2013-12-12T22:16:24Z")
Attn: Customer 1: What you see is what you get. Don’t see what you want? Come back in six months. (Customer was on the phone, and was just this side of the line between clueless and annoying). Attn: Customer #2: No, really, I’m not that interested in selling the display to you (or anyone) today. If I were interested, I’d stick an actual clearance sticker on it-- for approximately the price I told you it was. When the items in boxes have sold, I will become more interested in selling the display. But really, unless the display is broken or we really want to get rid of it for other reasons, we only drop the price ten percent for being a display. (Again, just this side of annoying and doesn’t get it. Also, I don’t think it’s a good item to meet her real needs). And Workplace in general: Our Holiday dinner was seriously lame. Again. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6694 "2013-12-12T22:28:55Z")
While it’s great that we’re going out for a monthly team meeting to a restaurant I’ve been wanting to check out, and I think it’s awesomesauce that I get a free (I assume … ?) meal tomorrow, we’re leaving **at 10:30 a.m.** :eek: I’m not usually done nibbling on breakfast by then. Who the everloving fuck thinks this is LUNCHTIME? Looks like I’m having fried chicken and mashed potatoes’n’gravy for breakfast tomorrow. Breakfast Of Champions! 😃 ETA: thumbs up, **Cognoscant**! ---
**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:** [December 12, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6695 "2013-12-12T22:36:51Z")
You want to watch that comma, **purplehorseshoe**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6696 "2013-12-12T22:55:27Z")
Way to go **Cognoscant**! And you may not be manic; that outcome would jazz anybody up! ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6697 "2013-12-12T23:06:12Z")
Congrats, **Cognoscant!!** ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6698 "2013-12-12T23:58:19Z")
Dear mentally-disturbed maniac woman who hangs out in the lunchroom at work, who enjoys talking and laughing loudly to herself and generally being annoying, When I was doing some work in the lunchroom today, I’m glad I was so entertaining that you thought it worthwhile to stare at me. No love, me. P.S. Go away. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6699 "2013-12-13T00:57:15Z")
Congrats Cognoscant! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6700 "2013-12-13T01:07:26Z")
> [@Precambrianmollusc](#): > > One thing not to underestimate in a relocation is the family/friends support structure you may have around you at the moment. That is the structure that can drop by feed the cat, babysit on short notice, go for a beer with, pick you up when the car is in the shop etc. > > Anyway I know this would be just 1,400 miles but, just something to not underestimate in a move. On the bright side, there will be dopers no matter where you go. Especially considering you say your field is small and I’m betting it is concentrated in the large tech cities. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6701 "2013-12-13T06:07:41Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > Well fuck! Why didn’t anybody tell me how easy that was going to be? A half-hour interview turned into an hour-long laughalong about their company’s trivia, people we both knew from the industry, and how to raise morale (I so had to resist the urge to say “all I have to do is ensure the opposite of what’s happening here”). Bam, second interview, they’re flying me out. Knock me over with a feather, kids. > > (And I realize I’m in a bit of the manic phase of my bipolar now, but just let me enjoy it for a while…) Heck, anybody would feel like going “woohoo!” and fist-pumping. Just because you have depression doesn’t mean it’s not right to feel sad; just because you’re bipolar doesn’t mean it’s not right to feel excited 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=334) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=336)