# 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:** 346
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6902 "2014-01-08T02:16:06Z")
My husband was told by two doctors (one was his retina specialist) that they don’t give antibiotic drops for pinkeye any more because they don’t work. I was all: WTF? :eek: ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6903 "2014-01-08T02:22:27Z")
It’s usually viral, not bacterial, and most cases get better on their own within a couple days. If not, or if you have actual pus happening, treatment is probably needed. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6904 "2014-01-08T02:53:51Z")
update:Two of the people I was muttering about not working their schedules are being reassigned to another department and will thus soon not be my problem. gripe: We’ve been given one of those annoying “We all need to do better” speeches with regards to training the newbies. update:I got my schedule for the week fixed-- easy peasy. gripe: this means that the day of errand running I was planning for tomorrow isn’t going to work out. But I get Saturday off, so I can’t complain too much. Also, I may have gotten a job offer. New job, should I take it, which I probably will, is only incrementally better than old job, and may be worse in several respects. On the other hand, I’ve sort of been promised that it’s a short cut to full-time, which I’d like. And New Job wouldn’t preclude trying for a truly fabulous job. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6905 "2014-01-08T03:24:30Z")
Not so much a gripe per say as a grumble about that fabulous career in TV news I chose. Today I stepped out of my house in 5 degree weather to hop in my company truck and head into work. Neat idea except it wouldn’t start - dead as Jacob Marley’s ghost. After two hours of work I managed to revive it and head in two hours late (except actually the moment I started having to deal with the dead truck I went ‘on duty’ and hour early, so I can’t bitch that much). Inherent in the complaint is the fact I run the oldest truck in the fleet, a 1999 GMC Suburban rigged out as a microwave live truck with 236k miles on it. It’s been in the shop three times in the last 8 weeks yet can’t pass inspection for a new registration. I hear rumblings it will be replaced this year. I will believe it when I see it. Then once I got to work I was informed I would be assisting a reporter with a live shot at a water main break. Not a bad assignment, I drove over early, raised the 40’ mast and set the shot up for 5 & 6pm reports. We got through those cleanly but that’s when the fun began: I hit the ‘stow’ button on the controller, the dish wound back to the travel setting but the mast failed to fall even though all the air had been dumped. The dreaded Frozen Mast. I had to climb up onto the roof of the truck (there is a ladder and a steel landing for this kind of thing) and began body slamming the telescoping mast trying to break the ice in the seals. For thirty minutes. In 10 degrees. That shit is never shown to all the folks who think slinging a lens is all fun & games… ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6906 "2014-01-08T04:10:54Z")
(Per se, damnit… it doesn’t even rhyme, se has a vowel and say has a diphthong! And diphthong has too many aitches!) We screwed up at work, big time. There was never a complete process analysis and the complicated processes the client was intent on are incompatible with the usually-straightforward ones, yeehaw. Yesterday when I gave the alarm (and why have I spent the whole fucking project ringing the fire bell, half the time on things which aren’t even “mine”?), the boss asked me whether I hadn’t thought of testing it. No, I hadn’t, because when I asked whether those “simple” processes existed I was told “no” and exfuckcuseingme I went and believed it. In theory I should feel guilty. It’s “my” simple processes, right, and all the programming time I’ve actually needed (as opposed to “time spent having the programmers do something I would have done faster myself”) has been to fix other simple processes broken by the complex ones. But what I am is pissed off, damnit… the jobs I’ve left during the trial period were all bait-and-switch and this one was not, but it’s been a royal fuckup from the start. Now go and fix it… ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6907 "2014-01-08T05:38:32Z")
Rant: My best friend’s been persecuted by an “interim manager” at her work. Anti-rant: Said interim manager got reassigned prematurely (possibly due to screwing up the whole dept). So not persecuting everyone any more. Rant: Before he left, interim asshole gave everyone a bad annual review. So a dozen people have a black mark on their record that allegedly can’t be undone. Anti-Rant: Oh, well. Friend is back to being sane again. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6908 "2014-01-08T11:36:15Z")
> [@Cheez\_Whia](#): > > My husband was told by two doctors (one was his retina specialist) that they don’t give antibiotic drops for pinkeye any more because they don’t work. I was all: WTF? :eek: The last time I had pinkeye I remember getting drops for the itching. The first time I had pinkeye I had the fun kind that involved me having to hold a warm washcloth over my face so I could open my eyes that morning because there was so much goo. There will not be a third time I get pinkeye. If there is, the person I catch it from will be in a whole lot of lingering pain. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6909 "2014-01-08T14:12:51Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Rant: Before he left, interim asshole gave everyone a bad annual review. So a dozen people have a black mark on their record that allegedly can’t be undone. Yeah, it needs to be undone, and if I was one of those people, I’d be playing bulldog with senior management, not letting it go until _something_ was done. I never understand this about angry assholes who become managers and then trash everyone who works for them. If the team existed before you came on board and was doing fine, where is the problem if you’re badmouthing them? Obviously it’s you. If you hired all these people fresh and you’re badmouthing them, the problem is obviously you (once again), since you either hired the wrong people or are simply incapable of managing them properly. And at the end of it, if you are claiming your entire team sucks, it is infinitely more likely that it isn’t all of them, but rather YOU are the one doing the sucking. It’s like one of my former managers said, as the converse of the above: If everyone who works for me gets promoted out from under me or goes on to bigger and better things, it reflects well on me that I was able to choose and develop such good people. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6910 "2014-01-08T18:22:49Z")
Jesus tapdancing _Christ_, woman! You have called no shit seven times today asking for a followup call to your interview yesterday. Seven. Times. You know what? It doesn’t matter how well you did on your interview because you’ve annoyed the everlasting out of everyone and now you are on the “bitch be crazy” list and will not be hired! However, thank you for letting us know exactly how crazy you are before this gets any further. ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6911 "2014-01-08T19:38:18Z")
Client just emailed to complain that a certain report is returned in Excel format, and she would prefer PDF format. [http://lmgtfy.com/?q=convert+excel+to+pdf](http://lmgtfy.com/?q=convert+excel+to+pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6912 "2014-01-08T20:18:26Z")
That’s too cute for a Pit thread, **horseshoe**. Today my clients managed to demonstrate why end-users should not be given mass-update access: I was investigating something, asked them to verify a piece of data for me, they went and updated it for every item in the system without checking with the person who actually knew it. Thankfully they didn’t realize they were doing so in Test rather than Production. Phew! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6913 "2014-01-08T20:34:04Z")
Heh. Just today; User: “I need update access to Database X” Me: “Sorry, only developers and load processes have access to that, and you aren’t one.” User: “But I need it!” Me: “Ok, let me copy the person who owns it and see what he says.” Owner: “You are not updating that database.” User: “Um, ok.” (requests access to completely unrelated database) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6914 "2014-01-08T20:40:19Z")
I will never understand users who are either feigning ignorance of basic functions or allowing someone else access to their account. There’s an audit trail! I know your account has been doing this stuff! Stop telling me you have no idea what I’m talking about! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6915 "2014-01-08T21:03:46Z")
Tough to decide where to put this, but it’s regarding my workplace so I’m putting it here. Note - I work at home so that is why this will sound strange. Husband, STFU! NOW! I will NOT change the channel on the TV while I am in the midst of a $1,000,000 problem - I do not CARE what the Sun Times has to say about ANYTHING when I am in the middle of a huge, complicated, 100 line long detailed bill! STFU!! I don’t care what you have for dinner - I don’t care what the cute squirrel in the yard is doing - I don’t CARE THAT THE GARBAGEMAN HASN’T COME YET! STFU!! I need to CONCENTRATE! GO AWAY!! PLEASE!! He’s been far more talkative and needy than usual today - normally I can get through this with a modicum of sanity left - today, not so much. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6916 "2014-01-08T21:33:06Z")
This lady has sent the same request to me four times now. Each time, I explain that the patient’s name is misspelled and the legal department gets real uptight about that shit, so if she could fix it please, and send it back I can help her. And each time, she responds by sending the identical misspelled papers. I’m at a loss here. I’ve thought of calling her and just saying, “Could you hand the telephone to the person on your left please?” ---
**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:** [January 8, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6917 "2014-01-08T21:58:10Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > Jesus tapdancing _Christ_, woman! You have called no shit seven times today asking for a followup call to your interview yesterday. Seven. Times. You know what? It doesn’t matter how well you did on your interview because you’ve annoyed the everlasting out of everyone and now you are on the “bitch be crazy” list and will not be hired! > > However, thank you for letting us know exactly how crazy you are before this gets any further. Minor update: Nine times. She called nine times by the time I left. I’ve been home for about two hours, so she’s probably called a couple more times by now. What is so all-fired important? She wants to know when someone will call her about a second interview. :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6918 "2014-01-08T22:14:25Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > Minor update: Nine times. She called nine times by the time I left. I’ve been home for about two hours, so she’s probably called a couple more times by now. > > What is so all-fired important? She wants to know when someone will call her about a second interview. > > :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: I do hope the answer is “never”. Regardless of how qualified she is, she sounds like she’d be a horror to work with. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6919 "2014-01-08T22:16:14Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I will never understand users who are either feigning ignorance of basic functions or allowing someone else access to their account. There’s an audit trail! I know your account has been doing this stuff! Stop telling me you have no idea what I’m talking about! I am expecting to learn someday that you are one of my coworkers. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6920 "2014-01-09T00:15:37Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > \ > However, thank you for letting us know exactly how crazy you are before this gets any further. > [@SpazCat](#): > > Minor update: Nine times. She called nine times by the time I left. I’ve been home for about two hours, so she’s probably called a couple more times by now. > > What is so all-fired important? She wants to know when someone will call her about a second interview. > > :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: Seriously, you should thank her for letting you know not to hire her\*. Most people hide the crazy until it’s too late to get rid of them easily. \*I’m sure you won’t do this for legal reasons. It would be sweet though, wouldn’t it? > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > This lady has sent the same request to me four times now. Each time, I explain that the patient’s name is misspelled and the legal department gets real uptight about that shit, so if she could fix it please, and send it back I can help her. And each time, she responds by sending the identical misspelled papers. I’m at a loss here. I’ve thought of calling her and just saying, “Could you hand the telephone to the person on your left please?” That would drive me out of my mind, too - can you walk her through it, step by step? “Look at the name of the patient - you have “Jam Smith,” and the patient’s legal name is “Jim Smith.” Can you delete the “a” and type an “i” in its place, then save the file with the changes and send me the updated file?” I wonder if she keeps sending you an old copy of the un-corrected file or something? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/6921 "2014-01-09T00:28:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I will never understand users who are either feigning ignorance of basic functions or allowing someone else access to their account. There’s an audit trail! I know your account has been doing this stuff! Stop telling me you have no idea what I’m talking about! > [@Chimera](#): > > I am expecting to learn someday that you are one of my coworkers. Found your pic and you are not him. However… About the time you were posting that, my co-worker was telling me that this database table got borked. He checked the logs and found it was done by a developer. He calls the guy and the guy denies having ever touched that table. So my co-worker says “Then why is the ‘last modified’ set to your ID, yesterday at such-and-such time?” Then he had to explain to the guy HOW he borked it, because the guy was still insisting that he hadn’t changed anything. :smack: Are we actually paying you to ‘develop’ for us? Have you done this sort of job before? Are you familiar with testing your changes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=345) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=347)