Showing posts with label Job Chronicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Job Chronicles. Show all posts

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Uneven

Like this tile floor, I'm feeling uneven. I think it's mostly work. I know there are other things, too - lack of exercise, no time spent making art, not enough time outside.
I'm not happy at work. I'm so glad I don't have a doofus for a boss anymore. Daily I'm grateful I don't have to deal with that idiot of an ex-boss. New boss is good -real good, but tells me more than I need to know. So much so, I feel like I'm not sure what the truth is. Am I a good employee? Is upper management pleased with my work? Or am I not working hard enough? Do I need to improve?
I know the field I'm in is not one I want to stay in, regardless of whether upper management wants me to advance (or not). I want to get back into a creative environment. I want to work with hardworking open minded people. I also want to ride my bike or walk to work.

Fortune: Look forward to great fortune and a new lease on life.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Double Phew

It's kind of amazing I survived last year financially. When I did my taxes this year I finally saw the whole picture - I had to add up two W-2's plus a 1099. I made $12,000 less in '07 than I did in '06. There were some scary bill paying moments along the way, but I pulled through. (It would be an understatement to say I freaked out when my car didn't pass inspection because my window didn't roll down.) I'm glad that bumpy road has ended. Of course, the way the economy is headed I can't say I feel 100% secure job wise. I do, for the moment, feel financially fit again. Finally.
Another relief is finding out new boss isn't an uptight doo-doo head. Nothing to worry about at all. New boss likes the work I do. New boss respects me. New boss offers assistance when asked. It's totally f*#$%^g amazing. (I don't feel ashamed about my job anymore.) New boss has quirks, but nothing I can't handle. It's refreshing to work again with a boss who knows how to communicate - and lets me do my work without bother or any type of annoying disruptions.
I think I'm gonna sleep well tonight.

Fortune: You are cautious of showing your true self to others.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Be Careful What You Wish For...

The rumor turned out to be true. Boss -yes, the annoying one- is transferring out of the office! In 2 weeks! Hooray! Hurrah!

Of course, it can't be utterly blissful news because of the flipside. Which is: we are getting a tough boss. Very good for business. And hopefully good for us employees and our clients. But coworker is concerned about new boss.

We are both familiar with new boss. I've worked with new boss via telephone. Coworker has actually trained a couple of new boss's employees (in new boss's old office). Hence, coworker has seen new boss in full on boss-mode. Coworker says new boss wasn't very nice to one staff member. Coworker has always been glad to leave new boss's office after a training session.

I know new boss is going to be an asset. Work will get done. Questions will get answered. There will be communication. There will be listening. Instuction will be given without a bunch of gibberish and nonsense thrown in. There won't be ignorance. Oh my gosh - I can't wait for that!

Will the dress code become more strict? Will time off be harder to take? Will a big fuss be made if you need to adjust your schedule for an appointment? Or are ten minutes late? Will we be unable to use the "bonus time off" we are given!? Those are the little things I'm worried about.

When I heard the rumors that boss might be transferring, I started to think what it would be like to have a "normal" person as a boss. I wondered how I'd feel if new boss was all the things I wanted personality wise, but was a demanding micro-manager. I dunno. I decided I would rather have the non-ignorant, non-phoney boss. I don't mind working hard at all, but I don't won't to lose the bonus time off we get either because of a boss who feels it's necessary to always crack the whip.

*Why is the spellcheck in Blogger not working? It's been this way for about a week now.

Fortune: Your secret desire to completely change your life will manifest.
(gulp)

Monday, February 4, 2008

An Employee Walks into an Office

Kinda like one of those a-guy-walks-into-a-bar stories. Only not funny.

I walk into the office and boss is talking to a client. Blah, blah, blah.

After client leaves boss says, "I told them they should smoke across the street because their smoking is bothering other people."

I say, "Sounds like a good idea."

Boss says, "If they smoke across the street they can just throw the butts into the river."

Assuming she is being sarcastic I respond, "Yeah. We can put up a sign telling them to toss them in the river."

Boss says, "We can't put that on a sign. Blah, blah, incoherent nonsense...but if they were to do it at least we wouldn't have to look at those disgusting ashtrays anymore."

Oh. Um. Apparently boss is unaware of a thing called pollution.
Boss seriously thought it would be a good thing if people threw the butts in the river because ashtrays are gross, stinky eyesores.

Loser.

Should I realize a human being who has no idea how to recycle paper, plastic, cans, cartridges, etc. could care less about littering and pollution?

Fortune: The greatest danger could be your boss's stupidity.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

More Chronicles of Bah!

Today boss told me it wanted to review my evaluation with me. I said, "Okay. How about this afternoon?" It agreed.

Boss managed to be busy doing other things all day. Twenty-five minutes before my departure time boss asked if I'd like to do the review now. Note: it takes boss an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes (on a good day). I said, "No, let's do it tomorrow."

Boss went on blubbering about the evaluation forms stating no one receives Above Standard ratings unless they do outstanding work and have been with the company for many years. And added, "You really can't give a new employee an Above Standard rating because then they have nothing to strive for."

Are you for fudgin' real, boss!?

Boss proceeded to tell me I'm an outstanding employee and I'll probably have a bunch of Above Standard ratings on next year's evaluation. What about this year, you idiot!?

Then boss had the nerve to ask coworker and I if we were pleased with our increases. (Everyone got a 2.3% cost of living increase - supposedly.) We both commented on how it's not really an increase since the cost of everything else is up. It's only about 20 bucks more a week before taxes, so it's not a whole heck of a lot.

So then boss says something along the lines of, "I didn't put in for merit increases for anyone because gibberish blah nonsense gotta fill out a form." And I say, "Uh. What? What is the procedure for merit increases?"

This is what boss does. Boss says a bunch of words I know and understand, but strings them together in ways that make absolutely no sense. Most of the time boss stammers and then stops mid sentence before going off on some unrelated tangent.

I asked boss again to explain. More nonsensical strings of words.

We'll have to hire an interpreter. Now we're never gonna get those increases.

Fortune: Never tell employee you didn't put in for merit raise - she apt to spit in tasty coffee she make for you.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The Chronicles of Bah!

At work today we met a new colleague. New colleague works for an agency we deal with a lot.

New colleague is cute and petite. After new colleague leaves boss tells me, "I told new colleague, 'Good things come in small packages.'"

Is anyone else bothered by this? Why point out new colleague's size? You want points for that, boss? Geez.

Leave it to boss to always make note of the obvious.

Perhaps I am so annoyed with everything boss says I can't think straight.

Know what it (I haven't wanted to reveal boss's gender, you know...to protect the ignorant - from this point forward boss's pronoun is 'it') said to me today? I was trying to fix some technical issues we were having. I was perplexed. Technology is not my bag. Anyhow, it said, "I like when you don't know stuff."

I said, "I like it when you're not here."

Naw. Didn't really say that. Only because when boss isn't in it will call the office and say, "Hi!!!! (yes - with numerous exclamation points) I'm calling you. On the phoooone."

Yup. It is all about stating the obvious.

Fortune: Tomorrow will be better.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Bah!

Got a copy of my evaluation from my boss Friday.

My job title at the time was bookkeeper/reception, but the only evaluation form for office personnel is labeled "administrative assistant." All of boss's comments refer to me as an administrative assistant.

Evaluation ratings are; Needs Work, Meets Standard, Above Standard.

Boss is continuously giving me praise - verbally and in emails - yet I did not merit one "above standard" rating.

Unbelievable the person who is considered my supervisor lacks basic writing skills and is clueless about spellcheck (among other things). Boss doesn't even know how to spell my last name and I've worked 9 months with boss.

Here are a few excerpts. I've left the spelling errors - wonder what upper management thought when they read it.

Job knowledge:
Z is the front line of walk in's for applicants and clients for recertification process or paying bills. In a very quick paced office, Z excels at her responsibilities of accounts payables/receivables along with the abundance of documentation such as purchase orders in an organized system. Z has implemented many systems to track and monitor administrative/office functions. Z has mastered excel systems as well as the company's accounting system. Z is exemplary in her roll as administrative assistant as well as her strong bookkeeping skills. Z's level of dedication is exemplary.

Dependability:
Z by far is exemplary when it comes to dependability and reliability. Z is always eager to take on additional work when needed. If Z is uable to, she will be honest and state what she has in front of her to do then ask when do you need it? Z's level of support and dedication is excellent. Z takes pride in the quality of her job performance and can always be counted on.

Productivity:
Z has strengthened the office procedures with her excellent comuputer and organizational skills. Z's communication with office staff as well as with maintenance staff is very positive. Z maintains timely and accurate payroll records. The accounts payable and receivables has improved greatly over the past 4 months due to Z's strong business sense. Z takes her job seriously. Z takes pride in her level of organizational and her ability to achieve quality assurance with all administrative functions. Z is instrumental in achieving accurate client files as well as vendor files and correspondence.

Interpersonal Skills:
In an office that can be extremely challenging, Z has done well with welcoming the general public. All too often, Z is answering a phone with an individual who is demanding and, for example, when explained the application process, can be quite difficult.
Z has developed a great rapor with vendors and agency representatives as well as client relations.

Communication:
Z excels at her ability to clearly and convincingly express her ideas, facts, suggestions and direction in a written and oral manner. Z presents herself well to staff as well as clients. Z is instrumental in her ability to flow the activity within the office as well as on the field with maintenance staff to get the job done.

Boss is exactly the same in person - speech is jumbled and nonsensical. And boss thinks boss is better than most of our clients.


Fortune: One day you will have stupid boss.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Tale of an Annoying Boss

Boss is at the reception desk, which is about 5 feet away from my desk. Boss is assisting a client with paperwork. Boss has been helping client for about 15 minutes. I can hear everything boss and client are discussing. Boss knows this as boss has included me in parts of the conversation. Phone rings. I answer. Call is for boss.

me: It's Bob Bobbers - do you wanna talk to him or should I tell him you'll call him back?
boss: Can you tell him I'll call him back? I'm meeting with a client right now.

Oh. Is that what you're doing? I had no idea.
Really. Boss says it like I have no clue. Perhaps boss wanted me to tell Bob Bobbers, "boss is with a client." But Bob Bobbers doesn't need to know why boss can't take his call.

Boss did something similar awhile ago whilst an auditor was in our office. I answered the phone. Call was for boss. It was the director of one of our programs. Boss was on another line. As per usual, when someone important calls I let boss know - even if boss is on another line.

me: Big Wig is on the other line. Wanna take the call or should I tell him you'll call him back?
boss: (suddenly talking loud enough for auditor to hear) Big Wig is the director of the ABC program - I'll take his call.

No shit? I had no idea Big Wig directed that program. Thanks for pointing that out, twit.

Fortune: Working out the kinks today will make for a better tomorrow.