Annoying things your work colleagues do all the time? #4

[idk21]

Overheard in the office today.

A manager, who has a vacancy to fill:

'Yeah this recruitment campaign better be successful cos we're screwed if not, we'd be seriously under resourced if we dont get a successful candidate'.

Later on, same guy: 'HR sent the question list and I've picked all the hardest questions, I really want to test the candidates'.

If I had a vacancy to fill I'd pick easier questions to increase the chance of someone passing the interview.

So many managers treat interviewing candidates as a power trip.

I interviewed at an NHS Trust like that once for a Band 6 role. They had a half-day stage 1 assessment centre (followed by a stage 2 interview if successful) and the person leading it said that they need people as they have “lots of work coming in”. It was such a long and arduous process and the interview questions were quite harsh. I didn’t get the role.

Luckily, my team within the NHS Trust that I was already working in had a Band 7 role open up very shortly after which I was successful in getting. So, stuff the other NHS Trust… their loss

 

[TheDragonWithAFlagon]

Omg, report report report!!

I used to work in a call centre and some horrid caller said he wanted to know my surname, I was like no way, can't give that out. For someone you work with to give that information out, feck me. It's not hard to find the buildings of call centres/ offices either

I'd be mutinous over this. I hope you are ok x

I had a bloody good rant about it this afternoon (I'd dealt with some massive, critical issues today, only to have her bark orders at me to take calls again, so I wasn't in the best of moods) and it's being acted upon next week.


I don't like getting on my high horse, but I have worked my way up to a highly specialised, technical and professional role over the last five years. And she won't even do the fundamentals that I had learned by the time I was 20. duck it, I'm ranting and I know that work see me as that professional, not glorified admin - one who takes on all manner of tit to help people, but if I say no to something, it means NO - and what's more, you do not break all the rules to punish me for that.

 

[If you say so...]

I always ask this before I even interview. I'm nit interested in any 9-5 full time office job. The office environment is dead to me.
My friends aren't even applying for jobs that don't offer WFH or flexibility.

Out of interest, what puts you off a full time office job? How long do you tend to stay in jobs? It was the norm pre-covid times in my sector. Our office is heaven and we work so well across teams because we are mainly office based.covid caused such a problem with training and development. We have air con at home but why the hell would I want to pay the electric bill for that when I can get it for free at work? same for the heating bills in winter also, unlimited coffee and biscuits so it’s a no brainer for me

 

[JustmeKC]

Out of interest, what puts you off a full time office job? How long do you tend to stay in jobs? It was the norm pre-covid times in my sector. Our office is heaven and we work so well across teams because we are mainly office based.covid caused such a problem with training and development. We have air con at home but why the hell would I want to pay the electric bill for that when I can get it for free at work? same for the heating bills in winter also, unlimited coffee and biscuits so it’s a no brainer for me

I want a remote job because not commuting to my office would give me back 3 hours a day of my life

 

[DA Stella]

I want a remote job because not commuting to my office would give me back 3 hours a day of my life

That's my issue. It's not working in the office I have a problem with (communal food is a big time NO for me, BTW), it's getting up at 4:30 am and having a 2 1/4 hour round trip commute. I moved where I currently live based on working remotely. And just because, someone decided it would "look good" for us to be in the office three days a week. We all get the same amount of work done remotely and are much happier. But some bigwig wants us to sit in the office. It's ridiculous.

 

[Hellofish]

Out of interest, what puts you off a full time office job? How long do you tend to stay in jobs? It was the norm pre-covid times in my sector. Our office is heaven and we work so well across teams because we are mainly office based.covid caused such a problem with training and development. We have air con at home but why the hell would I want to pay the electric bill for that when I can get it for free at work? same for the heating bills in winter also, unlimited coffee and biscuits so it’s a no brainer for me

Before cpvid I did a full time 9-5 job for 8 years! And covid opened up wfh which we were told was IMPOSSIBLE before. Cut down my 50min plus commute (trains canceled, early wake up etc) and I'm just not bothered about working in an office, i love the quiet at home, I have own time, eat what I want for lunch and the electric/heating bills haven't gone up so I'm saving money! A no brainer tbh!

I would add my job is full time...i haven't cut my hours. I still do a full time job all week ha

 

[JustmeKC]

That's my issue. It's not working in the office I have a problem with (communal food is a big time NO for me, BTW), it's getting up at 4:30 am and having a 2 1/4 hour round trip commute. I moved where I currently live based on working remotely. And just because, someone decided it would "look good" for us to be in the office three days a week. We all get the same amount of work done remotely and are much happier. But some bigwig wants us to sit in the office. It's ridiculous.

Communal food is generally rubbish anyway, although I order for my office and try to get what I know people like.

the 3 days a week does me in, I get less work done because people remember I exist and look for more from me, and want to chit chat mindlessly. Working from home suits my inner introvert!

 

[JustmeKC]

Somebody on the general enquiries line has decided that they are actually a switchboard operator in 1986, employed to sound posh when speaking to men in three piece suits and bowler hats.


Despite having task oriented email addresses specifically to allow for differentiation of tasks, sharing of workload, monitoring AND protection of individuals from absolute basket cases who can and do hunt you down if they take exception to the font you've used in an email, never mind emailing them something they don't like, this absolute tool has unilaterally decided to give angry randoms my full name, the work 'personal' email address, the direct telephone number, the precise working pattern, that I'm alone in the building from x o'clock because it's easy for me to get home in (just off the street where I live), that there is no security at that time of day so it's easy to just walk in off the street AND promised each one a personal callback during the period in which I am lone working to 'explain and apologise'. You've just bleeping doxxed me because you don't want to do your literal bleeping job.


head head head head head.

Does this not constitute gross misconduct?

 

[blahblahboring]

Absolutely! It goes beyond incompetence and is definitely worth an official warning!

Does this not constitute gross misconduct?

 

[Emsie]

Out of interest, what puts you off a full time office job? How long do you tend to stay in jobs? It was the norm pre-covid times in my sector. Our office is heaven and we work so well across teams because we are mainly office based.covid caused such a problem with training and development. We have air con at home but why the hell would I want to pay the electric bill for that when I can get it for free at work? same for the heating bills in winter also, unlimited coffee and biscuits so it’s a no brainer for me

For me it's being able to pick my kids up, to be more present at home, to fit in gym workouts before work, to walk my dog at lunchtime, peg my washing out and have a better work / life balance which means I can carve out proper time for myself over free biscuits any day.
I'm fully WFH since the pandemic. I go into the office maybe once a month.
I'm refreshed and happier which has huge positive impact on the rest of my household.

 

[MediumLoad]

We have someone like this but she will add random people into it who I don't know. Like, she will be talking about her shopping in Aldi and then will say "and then I said to George" and I'm like "who is George" and it will be the security guard or something. Just say the security guard how would I know his name is George. Drives me insane!!
She also says "I said to dad...." It's "I said to my dad" your dad isn't my dad. Stop itttttttttt

We have someone like that as well. She's lovely but, with the best will in the world, she uses her sexual orientation as a stand-in for having a personality. That and every single mention is of her partner. I'm an evil-minded bastard so I can't help but smile at yet another anecdote of how her partner encountered someone who "rubbed her up the wrong way." Honestly, her partner is a living example of the "If you meet an hole every day....." meme.

 

[earlgrey]

Out of interest, what puts you off a full time office job? How long do you tend to stay in jobs? It was the norm pre-covid times in my sector. Our office is heaven and we work so well across teams because we are mainly office based.covid caused such a problem with training and development. We have air con at home but why the hell would I want to pay the electric bill for that when I can get it for free at work? same for the heating bills in winter also, unlimited coffee and biscuits so it’s a no brainer for me

Are you my boss undercover

In all seriousness, a better work life balance, time to exercise and do chores, being home with my dog, being able to tailor my environment, spend my period working with a hot water bottle and blanket, not having the low level constant stress an open plan office gives someone with mild social anxiety, good coffee, cooked lunches, time saved from no commute, slippers instead of shoes, being able to change job roles to a department based in another city, being able to get up and walk around/stretch without weird looks, all beats free custard creams for me.

I go in about once a week to socialise and wear a cute outfit but I don’t get half as much done on office days. I’m a video editor/animator so my job is very focused and requires quiet concentration with headphones on. It’s much better from home.

 

[ChastityDingle]

We have someone like this but she will add random people into it who I don't know. Like, she will be talking about her shopping in Aldi and then will say "and then I said to George" and I'm like "who is George" and it will be the security guard or something. Just say the security guard how would I know his name is George. Drives me insane!!
She also says "I said to dad...." It's "I said to my dad" your dad isn't my dad. Stop itttttttttt

Oh don't ask her who George is. That's encouraging her in her monologue.
Just nod slightly gormlessly while looking past her.

 

[DA Stella]

I'm in a vile mood when I get home after my hour and 15 minute drive home from the office when there's literally no need for us to be sitting in there. I love my job but I'm seriously considering transferring to a closer location just because of the commute.
My manager keeps cancelling our 1:1 meetings but I'm going to insist on having our next scheduled meeting. And I'll tell him I'm considering transferring. He may or may not care and he may see it as a veiled threat, but I can't worry about that.
Having donuts provided to us one day a week doesn't make up for the awful commute.

 

[Mamacita]

Are you my boss undercover

In all seriousness, a better work life balance, time to exercise and do chores, being home with my dog, being able to tailor my environment, spend my period working with a hot water bottle and blanket, not having the low level constant stress an open plan office gives someone with mild social anxiety, good coffee, cooked lunches, time saved from no commute, slippers instead of shoes, being able to change job roles to a department based in another city, being able to get up and walk around/stretch without weird looks, all beats free custard creams for me.

I go in about once a week to socialise and wear a cute outfit but I don’t get half as much done on office days. I’m a video editor/animator so my job is very focused and requires quiet concentration with headphones on. It’s much better from home.

That's exactly it for me, you perfectly put into words the part about low level stress of an open office! Also now I go back once a week I notice how bloody uncomfortable it is to wear shoes all day. We don't get free coffee or biscuits at work and I have a coffee machine at home so not spending a fortune on coffee out, have all my food and snacks here without having to prep everything the night before, and, most importantly, save at least 8h a week of commuting time.

Also air con at the office is a huge negative for me, hate it so much!!!

 

[earlgrey]

That's exactly it for me, you perfectly put into words the part about low level stress of an open office! Also now I go back once a week I notice how bloody uncomfortable it is to wear shoes all day. We don't get free coffee or biscuits at work and I have a coffee machine at home so not spending a fortune on coffee out, have all my food and snacks here without having to prep everything the night before, and, most importantly, save at least 8h a week of commuting time.

Also air con at the office is a huge negative for me, hate it so much!!!

I never realised working in an open plan office was causing me to be at a constant level of mild anxiety when it was an everyday thing! Everyone being able to see my massive screen (as someone doing visual type work this is awful, people seeing and commenting on half-done designs and videos), people coming up from behind me, looking over my shoulder, listening to my phone calls, trying to eat a snack or cough when it’s library quiet, getting a fright when someone comes up to me when I’m editing sound with headphones on. I can work so peacefully at home.

 

[Norfolking Good]

Has anyone noticed that you don’t constantly get sick when WFH! It’s amazing I went in for one team away day and came out with a stinking cold and chest infection.

 

[Rxt156]

OMG I would love to wfh. I am so anti social, it is literally my dream🫢 no chance in my field of work though.

 

[cowtastrophe]

In my previous job, I was in the office 7am to 5pm with a 40 min tube journey either way. Until I got my current wfh job, I had no idea how much time being in the office took away from me and I wouldn’t go back to it unless I was on my uppers. Now, I can go to the gym before work, I can nip down and put washing on, I can listen to music, it’s just so much less stressful. I hated the commute as well and the twice daily pushing and shoving and delays and overcrowding on the tube just left me in a terrible mood all the time.

I actually now have two part time jobs and I’m so much more productive than I ever was before. I do go into the office a couple of times a month but it’s bookable desks so I have to be organised about it.
---

Has anyone noticed that you don’t constantly get sick when WFH! It’s amazing I went in for one team away day and came out with a stinking cold and chest infection.

Yes! I used to get colds and bugs *all* the time and it was so wearing. The last three months before I got made redundant and covid hit, I had three colds and one sickness bug.

 

[ShadesMint]

One of my colleagues is always talking about how much her husband earns, and how she spends vast amounts of money on things to improve her house, or a nice holiday. It really gets on my wick and tbh I've started avoiding talking to her for too long because it really winds me up. He earns significantly more than her (and therefore me), I just think its really tone deaf atm, cost of living crisis etc but me and my partner have barely anything at the end of the month so it really hits a nerve.