# 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:** 340
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6782 "2013-12-20T15:36:20Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Suggestion: Any time your dad asks you to discuss anything about your workplace, tell him, “Sorry, Pop; that’s need-to-know.” Every time I’d tell my parents anything – about work, home, play – my dad would turn it into an opportunity to blather on about himself, and my mom would tell me how I’m doing everything wrong and give me orders about how to fix my mistakes. For the past decade, conversations with them have been _scintilating_: “What’s new [at work/home/play]?” “Nothing.” … \ And then we talk about the nephews/niece or other relatives. It’s none of their damn business, and if they can’t be considerate then I’m not willing to become enraged just so they can feel superior. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6783 "2013-12-20T17:18:59Z")
Really would be nice if people would pay attention to my entire sentence and not be argumentative about stupid shit because they missed half of what I said. I know, it is THAT SEASON and you’re all distracted and stressed, but really (multiple) people, I’m very tired of this shit today. ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6784 "2013-12-20T17:32:27Z")
Interview #1 with the second company today over the phone. They thought I was the best candidate ever, they told me there was no question I was one of their two finalists and I could come in for the interview “anytime I wanted over the next two weeks other than weekends or holidays”…and they came in with an offer close to $15K less than I’m making now. It was really nice to be that wanted, but there’s no way I can justify leaving, even this job, for that much less (a little less, I could have taken). Plus it’s too far away to commute to, so I’d have to find another place to live, so I’d be paying out an extra $10K at a minimum for that…yeah, I just don’t think I can do it. So, more of a disappointment than a gripe. Two more resumes in last night, both of which I feel I have a really good shot at. And interview #2 with the place I really want was set up yesterday for January 9. If I interview half as well as I did today it’s in the bag. Confidence level: beast mode. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6785 "2013-12-20T18:30:36Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > . . . and they came in with an offer close to $15K less than I’m making now. . . . . You’ve got nothing to lose by telling them that you were looking for a salary more in line with +$25k more than they offered. In fact they may be low-balling the salary because they expect some negotiating. ---
**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 20, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6786 "2013-12-20T18:42:00Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > Interview #1 with the second company today over the phone. They thought I was the best candidate ever, they told me there was no question I was one of their two finalists and I could come in for the interview “anytime I wanted over the next two weeks other than weekends or holidays”…and they came in with an offer close to $15K less than I’m making now. It was really nice to be that wanted, but there’s no way I can justify leaving, even this job, for that much less (a little less, I could have taken). Plus it’s too far away to commute to, so I’d have to find another place to live, so I’d be paying out an extra $10K at a minimum for that…yeah, I just don’t think I can do it. So, more of a disappointment than a gripe. > > Two more resumes in last night, both of which I feel I have a really good shot at. And interview #2 with the place I really want was set up yesterday for January 9. If I interview half as well as I did today it’s in the bag. Confidence level: beast mode. Shoot back with a counteroffer before you give up on company #1. Let them know that due to relocation, temporarily living separately from your family, and having to acquire additional housing that you need at least _x_. _x_ should be an overestimate (to give you wiggle room if/when they fire back something in the middle), IMO at least 5-10% more than your current salary. ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6787 "2013-12-20T19:26:50Z")
I felt out the place I talked to today for a counteroffer when I was called for the interview, and the HR person didn’t sound too optimistic about them going much higher than the number she gave. I asked around about the company and word seemed to be that they weren’t going to give out any groundbreaking salaries–a couple people felt they were a fairly stingy place. I have a counteroffer in mind but I don’t think they’ll even get close. And to give a sense of how low this company’s offer was, it’s $25K below the _low_ end of the salary range of company #2. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6788 "2013-12-20T20:12:25Z")
Some companies do that and then wonder why they cannot attract and keep good talent. Of course, it’s also usually a warning sign that their management sucks donkey balls and is both arrogant and abusive. (“Ungrateful bastards, thinking we owe them a salary!”) Probably time to just scratch them off the list. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6789 "2013-12-20T21:29:30Z")
As my best friend says, “You don’t get what you deserve in life. You get what you negotiate.” Tell them you really like the job (if, that is, you do and the only thing keeping you from snapping it up is the salary), but that you need more money. Use **Rachellogram** ’s advice about how much to bump it up. And if they tell you they don’t offer or pay that to anyone else, tell them that what they do with other people doesn’t affect how much you need. You may not get the job, but let me tell you, you will feel more confidant in your negotiating capabilities afterwards. (Been there. Done that. Got the job at only a bit less than what I asked for but plenty in line with what I wanted and a lot more than they originally offered.) ---
**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 20, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6790 "2013-12-20T21:38:53Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > I felt out the place I talked to today for a counteroffer when I was called for the interview, and the HR person didn’t sound too optimistic about them going much higher than the number she gave. I asked around about the company and word seemed to be that they weren’t going to give out any groundbreaking salaries–a couple people felt they were a fairly stingy place. I have a counteroffer in mind but I don’t think they’ll even get close. And to give a sense of how low this company’s offer was, it’s $25K below the _low_ end of the salary range of company #2. If their pay is that low, you don’t want to work for them anyway. What do you have to lose by negotiating? In professional jobs, it is _expected_ that you will negotiate. Besides, I can see the (remote) possibility that a small company might not know how badly they’re lowballing their talent, if nobody ever tried to negotiate. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6791 "2013-12-20T22:11:42Z")
I dunno, does the motto on the bottom of their sign out front say “_Holding down the pay curve since 1971_”? ---
**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 20, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6792 "2013-12-20T23:04:20Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Some companies do that and then wonder why they cannot attract and keep good talent. Of course, it’s also usually a warning sign that their management sucks donkey balls and is both arrogant and abusive. (“Ungrateful bastards, thinking we owe them a salary!”) Probably time to just scratch them off the list. Yup. I think we’ve all seen the job ads for companies like this - they have a list of extremely high qualifications, and the salary is minimum wage. Good luck with that! Good luck to you too, **Cognoscant**. (I mean that in a non-sarcastic way. 🙂 ) ---
**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 20, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6793 "2013-12-20T23:56:27Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Really would be nice if people would pay attention to my entire sentence and not be argumentative about stupid shit because they missed half of what I said. I know, it is THAT SEASON and you’re all distracted and stressed, but really (multiple) people, I’m very tired of this shit today. Oh, sure, pull out your little CAPS gun. We know what you’re trying to slip between the lines here… sure, “THAT SEASON”, right. You think everyone who doesn’t celebrate [Pepper Pot Day](http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/December/pepperpotday.htm) is somehow a secular pagan babystrangler. I am SO SICK of people pushing their own pet holidays IN ALL CAPS. My kid came home from school crying because _ **someone who thinks just like you** _ made fun of him for not knowing it was Saint Swithin’s Day. Oh, yeah, laugh, but see if you \*\*still feel superior \*\*when _YOUR_ kid sobbingly asks why he didn’t get hand-painted toy train cars left in the pockets of his lederhosen like Willy The Kid At School Whose Parents Love Him More. And don’t act all “I didn’t MEAN to use CAPS, my cat pawed the left side of my keyboard”, we’ve seen you do this _ **ALL** _ the _ **TIME** _. We all remember back in Ought-Seven when you were putting down people who were celebrating _any_ holiday _but_ ‘The Day of the Pepper Pot’ and you made veiled insults about “THE SEASON”, in ALL CAPS! And your excuse? “My blind date’s gerbil was nibbling the Caps Lock Key.” Yeah, well, frickin’ CITE, bub! Pics or it didn’t happen, and y’know what else isn’t happening? _Me reading ANYTHING you EVER post in ALL CAPS!_ Arrrgh, this just really twists my left testicle! :-} ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6794 "2013-12-21T02:41:49Z")
Just wanted to say: **digs** , I’m really enjoying your posts lately. Rock on with your bad self. ---
**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 21, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6795 "2013-12-21T03:16:43Z")
> [@mischievous](#): > > Just wanted to say: **digs** , I’m really enjoying your posts lately. Rock on with your bad self. The secret? Stress. Finals week during a semester with THREE certifiable students. I kept telling myself "If I can knuckle down and “git’r done”, I’ll get some Quality Pit Time. My reward to myself for getting finals graded is to get snarky/creative/fun (pick one) here. I’m just glad I haven’t pissed anyone off if they thought I was serious (Chimera? You poutin’?). … actually, _ **dougie\_monty** _ returned to the “Witness Haters” thread over a week late just to take my last sarcastic comment at face value… ETA: Just to stay on topic, I work with a “close talker” who walks into your office to talk closer. I’ve figured out her schedule, so I just don’t go to my office on Tues/Thurs early afternoons, or Fridays before lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6796 "2013-12-21T04:21:32Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’m just glad I haven’t pissed anyone off if they thought I was serious (Chimera? You poutin’?). No, why? I assumed sarcasm and that you had read my posts about “THAT SEASON” where I said how much I hated this time of year because nobody fucking pays attention, people walk right into you and scream at you for it, etc. When I’m Emperor of the World, random spiked pits will open up in the ground with moderate fanfare during this time of year to kill off the clueless people who can’t be bothered to pay attention to their surroundings or heed the warnings. ---
**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 21, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6797 "2013-12-21T04:59:07Z")
Naaah, I was just doing exactly what you were complaining about. Fo’ fun. > [@Chimera](#): > > Really would be nice if people would _ **pay attention to my entire sentence and not be argumentative about stupid shit because they missed half of what I said.** _ I know, it is THAT SEASON and you’re all distracted and stressed, but really (multiple) people, I’m very tired of this shit today. (bolding mine) And _that’s_ what I call fun. ---
**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 21, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6798 "2013-12-21T06:57:43Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > \ > > When I’m Emperor of the World, random spiked pits will open up in the ground with moderate fanfare during this time of year to kill off the clueless people who can’t be bothered to pay attention to their surroundings or heed the warnings. When you’re Emperor of the World, can you just outlaw Christmas? ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Enn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dave_enn/32/426_2.png) [@Dave\_Enn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Enn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6799 "2013-12-21T07:48:55Z")
When Christmas is outlawed, then can we wish people happy holidays? Anyway, **Chimera** ,if a war on Christmas is your platform, you’ve got my vote. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6800 "2013-12-21T16:41:26Z")
A FEW THINGS I NEED TO GET OFF MY CHEST AND CAN ONLY WRITE HERE 1. I have worked for this company for ten years. I am not a fucking temp. Please do not call me a temp when I ask for basic information about the work time frame this month from you at HQ, you smug asshole. 2. I worked for this fucking company for 2139 hours this year alone. This is not a part time job. It is a disgrace that I am not accorded the same rights as people deemed full time staff. So fuck you company. The people who run this company are what is wrong with America. 3. Please stop treating us like dirt. Worse, temporary dirt. I still don’t know if I am working on Tuesday yet. You expect professionalism from me yet you treat me as if I am nothing. Oh and pay me on Turkey Day and Christmas instead of asking me to work on those days. Be decent people instead of assholes who view us as something slightly above farm animals. 4. Congrats you got a promotion and I did not. You know why you got a promotion and I did not? You got one because you’re a docile, kiss ass, suck up. You got it because you don’t mind being jerked around whereas I have occasionally complained about a company where they call me at ten to midnight to cancel work supposed to start at 8 am the next day. You did not get one because you’re better at this bullshit than I am. 5. You know what? I could teach any reasonably competent adult to do my job in a few hours. I could teach any reasonably competent adult to do yours in an hour. This is not skilled labor. When I make a mistake, I do so from sheer boredom at the tedium of it, not incompetence. So again, temporary supervisor tone down the fucking condescension. When I’ve been doing this stupid task for ten years I do not need some asshole to look over my shoulder and tell me how to do it. Go back to reading your newspaper and answering a question or two once in a while I do the work. I feel a little better now. A bit anyway. ---
**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 21, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6801 "2013-12-21T18:43:23Z")
I call temps “disposable employees.” 🙂 (I’ve been a temp for 16 years now - I was fairly happy with the arrangement until my federal government fucked me over last year by changing how temporary workers are classified.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=339) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=341)