# 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:** 83
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1641 "2011-07-13T21:36:27Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What a tool your boss is. Seconded. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1642 "2011-07-13T21:38:40Z")
> [@LeeshaJoy](#): > > Fucking _Apple Preview_ can rotate documents. What the hell? Acrobat sucks, that’s what the hell. I could be wrong, though; I have Acrobat Professional at work and I don’t have need to manipulate PDF documents at home. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1643 "2011-07-13T21:39:07Z")
> [@moejoe](#): > > She’s not stupid, but she’s quite fearful of difficult conversations. I have spoken to her and she agrees that it’s a problem, but also admits that she doesn’t have the balls to do anything about it. Well, keep your resume polished, then I guess. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1644 "2011-07-13T21:59:45Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Why must every file you send to me be turned sideways? It’s not that it’s so difficult to rotate PDFs, it’s that _every single goddamn one_ has to be rotated. Damn you, woman.\* If she’s creating them, she must be doing something wrong. It’s not like the program maliciously creates PDFs in the wrong orientation all by itself, she \*has \*to have set it up to do that. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1645 "2011-07-13T22:24:32Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Well, keep your resume polished, then I guess. Roger that pal. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1646 "2011-07-13T22:47:14Z")
Oh, yes, to comply with SDMB rules. 😉 This is [Neko](http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/225121_2087776312798_1196900222_32640256_922765_n.jpg). This is [Shiva](http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222680_2101826784051_1196900222_32657969_2463438_n.jpg). And here’s hoping those links work for people other than me. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1647 "2011-07-14T04:37:38Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Oh, yes, to comply with SDMB rules. 😉 > > This is [Neko](http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/225121_2087776312798_1196900222_32640256_922765_n.jpg). > This is [Shiva](http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222680_2101826784051_1196900222_32657969_2463438_n.jpg). > > And here’s hoping those links work for people other than me. Neko looks just like our [Chipie](http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b305/Bookkeeper2/Cats/2004-02Chipieeyeingthecamera.jpg). Does he have a white spot on his chest? (And does he turn into a drooling total affection slut when you knead his tummy?) And in workplace rants, we were informed today that a critical information document on our internal Intranet website, which we currently update every 2 weeks, is going to be taken off of our section of the Intranet and moved to another section, where it will be extensively reworked and reformatted to fit the other area’s standards, including losing some of the dropdown links to specialized additional info in some sections, because they don’t have those in their standard format. But we’ll still be responsible for providing updates, which we will need to send them in Word :eek: format! We will be talking to our Director General next week to see if anyone actually asked for his approval on this. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1648 "2011-07-14T14:15:17Z")
Antirant: Oh my god, yesterday I actually encountered someone who didn’t act like a lazy ass when they didn’t know an answer to something! Instead of just saying telling me who else to talk to, they \*forwarded \*my question on to that person and _copied me in_! It’s like working with _real, actual grown-ups_. **Wow!** > [@Morgyn](#): > > It’s not like the program maliciously creates PDFs in the wrong orientation all by itself, she \*has \*to have set it up to do that. You’re thinking of PDFs created from electronic documents. I would assume these are instead PDF’d scans of hardcopies, where the orientation of the PDF will depend on the orientation of the pages as they were scanned. > [@Morgyn](#): > > And here’s hoping those links work for people other than me. They do. And dawwwwwwww. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1649 "2011-07-14T15:06:13Z")
> [@moejoe](#): > > Listen here coworker who likes to pretend she is my boss: when someone calls you to ask a question that I could easily answer and you know I’m at my desk please just transfer the call to me. I’ve dealt with passive aggressive slime like this before and the only thing that has helped me (as a passive person myself) is to become EXTREMELY POLITE AND INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL. (edit: and stupid. I apparently don’t \*understand \*that they are being underhanded or snarky.) I would send an email back, making sure to ‘cc’ in her boss, because, gosh, you’re just trying to be helpful and keep everyone in the loop! Thank the coworker for handling the call and bringing it to your attention. You appreciate it. You wanted to keep them in the loop, so you’re letting them know that you’ve helped the caller. Oh, and you know how busy coworker is! You were at your desk when caller called and in the future it might be easier for coworker to just transfer them over. Thanks again! Have a great morning! Replying like this always makes me feel better. However, this may not be the way to handle it (I really I need to start wearing a ‘wwsfgd?’ bracelet to work…) ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1650 "2011-07-14T15:49:15Z")
> [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](#): > > … I would send an email back, making sure to ‘cc’ in her boss, because, gosh, you’re just trying to be helpful and keep everyone in the loop! > > Thank the coworker for handling the call and bringing it to your attention. You appreciate it. You wanted to keep them in the loop, so you’re letting them know that you’ve helped the caller. Oh, and you know how busy coworker is! You were at your desk when caller called and in the future it might be easier for coworker to just transfer them over. Thanks again! Have a great morning! I think this is the proper response no matter what your individual personality is. It brings the matter to the attention of the people whose job it is to address these conflicts. (Whether or not they do, of course, is a matter for … well, **moejoe** to post about!) > [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](#): > > …I really I need to start wearing a ‘wwsfgd?’ bracelet to work… I’m extra-tired so it took me an embarassing extra second to parse this, but once I did … 😛 I would SO buy one and wear it. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1651 "2011-07-14T15:57:48Z")
> [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](#): > > I’ve dealt with passive aggressive slime like this before and the only thing that has helped me (as a passive person myself) is to become EXTREMELY POLITE AND INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL. (edit: and stupid. I apparently don’t \*understand \*that they are being underhanded or snarky.) This is exactly the route I take. \*Perky \*and \*helpful \*and I’m just being \*considerate \*don’cha know! Oh, and I’m sure this was just the result of some mistake on \*my \*part. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 > [@](#): > > However, this may not be the way to handle it (I really I need to start wearing a ‘wwsfgd?’ bracelet to work…) More like “What Would SFG \*Like \*to Do.” Sigh. In stupid corporate situations, the best solution is usually, “When in Rome, out passive-aggress the passive-aggressors.” ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1652 "2011-07-14T16:00:01Z")
My boss did do some of my work while I was gone, and she actually did it right! That was a pleasant surprise. 😃 Unfortunately, another co-worker who was supposed to cover for me royally screwed up some very time-sensitive stuff. I think the deadline to fix it has passed already. I need a drink… ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1653 "2011-07-14T16:22:53Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > My boss did do some of my work while I was gone, and she actually did it right! That was a pleasant surprise. 😃 Unfortunately, another co-worker who was supposed to cover for me royally screwed up some very time-sensitive stuff. I think the deadline to fix it has passed already. I need a drink… I get a very weird feeling at my various assignments that people are any combination of: - incompetent - incredibly stupid - screwing with me and pretending not to be able to do things. I had a discussion with my supervisor at my last assignment about how we don’t have to write down the list of storage boxes to be sent off-site twice; he was the supervisor for the department I was in, so he is capable of understanding this, right? Right? I tried to explain it twice, then gave up and just did it, reciting my temp’s mantra of, “I get paid by the hour.” ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1654 "2011-07-14T16:45:22Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I am rubbing my hands with girlish glee, **overly** , at the prospect that you are going to be rid of this vile bitch with a perfectly clean conscience, through no one’s fault but her own incompetence. > > Sometimes shit works like it should, and that makes me so happy. Yes, this is actually a shock to me that I’m being rewarded for doing what I’m supposed to. That doesn’t usually happen in this company. It’ll mean extra work, because I now have to monitor her team, have input on who she hires and make sure she’s doing her job (even though I’m not her manager, but she does implement my product), but so far it’s worth it to tick her off. Because I’m that petty, especially after all the crap that’s gone down lately. I’m looking forward to my new chair, my new office and the one-day-per-week telecommute I’ve been offered. 🙂 They’re also going to add an employee to help me out in the new year. I’m completely overwhelmed with stacks and piles of work - it’ll be wonderful if they actually bring someone on for me. You’re right about the Karma, **SpazCat**. It’s freaking refreshing. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1655 "2011-07-14T16:57:23Z")
Man, **overly** , if things go any better for you, we’re gonna have to kick you out of the workplace griping thread, and you’ll have to tell us the end of the busybody/minion story in the mini-rants thread… ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1656 "2011-07-14T17:02:35Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Dear Animal Kingdom, > > I don’t know what it is about my office that you find utterly intoxicating, but GET THE FUCK OFF MY CEILING. > > tap.tap.tap.tap.skitter.tap.tap. > > Boss got the building manager to sick the poison on them once, but the hardy fuckers appear to have survived. I was actually supposed to move to a crappier, but animal free office this week, but then boss nixed that and left me in my pretty office. With the _creatures_. > > tap.tap.tap. If they are small animals like squirrels, you can buy an ultrasonic pest repeller\*. They are only about $20 - and they seem to work pretty well. They don’t hurt the pests (though that might make you feel better), they just make it a little uncomfortable for them so they skitter off somewhere else. My house in college had squirrels living in the attic - but only above one roomate’s room. The little gizmo took care of it for him. \*is repeller not a word? Repel. Repelling. Repellent. How do you say “to repel”? Oh and **Cat Whisperer** Harleys aren’t loud when they come from the factory. It’s a little unfair to group all Harley riders together as automatic noise polluters. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1657 "2011-07-14T17:13:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I get a very weird feeling at my various assignments that people are any combination of: > > - incompetent > - incredibly stupid > - screwing with me and pretending not to be able to do things. Unfortunately, most of it is numbers 1-2. The problem with being smarter than the average bear is that you generally don’t \*feel \*smart; it just seems like everyone else is shockingly dumb. MAYBE IF YOU HIRED SOME PEOPLE WITH TATTOOS YOU WOULDN’T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. 😃 > [@overlyverbose](#): > > Because I’m that petty, especially after all the crap that’s gone down lately. Oh no, that’s not petty. Or if it is, I never want to be mature again. > [@brewha](#): > > \*is repeller not a word? Repel. Repelling. Repellent. How do you say “to repel”? Repellent (or repell **a** nt) can be used as either an adjective (“repulsive”) or a noun (“thing that repels”). ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1658 "2011-07-14T17:42:29Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’m extra-tired so it took me an embarassing extra second to parse this, but once I did … 😛 I would SO buy one and wear it. (Good-bye job! Hello new money making idea!) 😉 > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > More like “What Would SFG \*Like \*to Do.” Sigh. In stupid corporate situations, the best solution is usually, “When in Rome, out passive-aggress the passive-aggressors.” Alas! Yet you’ve hit a good title for a new self-help book for us working folk. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1659 "2011-07-14T17:45:27Z")
I have had, count 'em, no fewer than NINE phone contacts and a couple additional email contacts for a job since 10 this morning. Three of those contacts came from the same recruiting firm. All for the same requirement, that I’ve already been submitted for by a company that contacted me yesterday. :rolleyes: I need good luck! This position is within ideal commuting range, and even if the recruiting company’s benefits are minimal (health only, no vacation/holiday/sick), it’s work, the rate isn’t bad, it could go on for a long time … and you never know, the client might even take a wild hair and decide to convert me. It’s happened before. _hope hope hope hope hope_ ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401/1660 "2011-07-14T18:00:06Z")
Fucking high maintenance customers. That is all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=82) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workplace-griping-anyone/560401.md?page=84)