September 25, 2006

>> Promoting Stupidity

[ Fools ]

Anonymous writes...

"I work in the HR department of a major university or perhaps better described as the twilight zone department. I was quite naive when I came to work here having never worked in HR or higher education. For five years now I have witnessed this ship of fools operate, for the most part unscathed by their numerous acts of idiocy. HR is divided into divisions, or should I say turfs, such as labor relations, hiring, benefits, compensation, etc. For the most part the directors of these individual departments engage in daily turf wars trying to see who can climb the farthest up the VP's butt, or implement a new useless policy, or claim a new innovative strategic goal. That's just the background.

This story is about a woman hired into labor relations three years ago at a salary of $42K with no college education what so ever and experience in only one company that had one union. The university here has five unions on campus and labor relations is charged with interpreting agreements and policy.

While those who hold comparable positions have at least a four year degree, this woman has not one iota of college, nor does she intend to take advantage of the tuition remission to earn a degree.

From day one she would reply to questions with "I don't know. I've only been here 3 mos., 6 mos. and now she says I've only been here 3 yrs." She is constantly interrupting others work to ask questions that she should know the answer to by now. She has no technical ability. She doesn't even have internet access at home. Most positions at her level are connected to the university 24/7 either by email, or cellphone. I don't think she has a cellphone either. She constantly gives out incorrect information. She creates more work for those of us around her because of her technical ineptness and her just plain stupidity. She loves to give detailed descriptions of her latest ailment or she'll bore you with personal stories about her family. If you strike up a conversation with her about anything she'll turn it around about her.

So what happens to an employee who is incompetent,unqualified for the position and a general pain in the ass? They get a promotion and a raise!"

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled

September 21, 2006

>> Psycho Coworker

[ Fools ]

BlueFire writes...

"This psycho woman that works in the same area is about to drive me insane. We frequently have suppliers and the upper-echelon of our company in the same area, or within earshot, so I do not understand how she gets away with her crap.

My job requires my 100% concentration, and I rarely have time to socialize. I frequently wear steel toes with dress pants, because part of my job requires physical labor. I am realistic and do not wear makeup or fancy clothes on days when I know I am going to work outside. Psycho has made fun of me by wearing sandals with socks, and clothes I would not wear to mow the yard in. She won't directly say anything, but when someone else says something, she looks at me then laughs.

She has screwed over everyone that has tried to be nice to her, but hides behind religion, so the people who have not been that close to her still think she is an "angel."

She talks on the phone all day about people, and what I overhear is vicious and outright ugly. She gets mad and jealous when I talk to other people about work-related subjects. She is constantly looking over my shoulder and asking what I am doing.

She gets totally outraged over things that are no cause for being upset. Of course, I am the only one that gets to witness all of these things; when other people are around, she puts on the "angel" face.

She has some general responsibilities, but gets mad when she has to do any kind of real work. Like, she couldn't handle my job at all, with people calling up yelling and screaming, but she tries to make me look like I'm the bad person when I get up and walk around or do something different before addressing a hot issue. This is after she has been playing religious music or stuff that no one else wants to listen to, and singing to it.

She has already lied to the bosses about other people. She has stolen from me, and now that she can't since I lock everything up, she has decided that it was acceptable to take my coat without asking.

I have confronted her about her behavior, and her reaction was that I was over-reacting, and maybe I had a lot of stress to deal with, and personal problems. I am not the only one she has tried to make out to be the bad person in the situation.

She lied about being hired. She takes credit for things that she had no part of. She got mad when she found out this guy that was working with her will be getting a good position, so she will have to do all of her own work again.

She will say the strangest things to me, like aren't I proud of her for getting the same thing that everyone else gets just for being there, and then tells me her schedule, and we do not answer to the same supervisor, or have business that coincides. She is obviously jealous of the fact that I work with a lot of people and get to talk to a lot of people, but when situations arise where she has to talk to them, her response is "I don't deal with that person," as if she is better than the rest of us.

She talks really loud on the phone and about things that no one wants to hear, like really gross things about her bodily functions.

I don't understand how she can get away with her crap. I am doing my best to forgive her and pray for her ignorance, but I am also tired of the day-to-day bull."

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled

September 18, 2006

>> My letter of Resignation

[ Boss ]

IM OUTTA HERE writes...

"Dear Employer,

As an employee of an organization spending 100'S of 1000'S of dollars in Federal Funds, I have a few very basic expectations. Chief among these is that you have an intellect that ranges above the common ground squirrel. After your consistent and annoying harassment of myself and my co-workers during the commission of our duties, I can only surmise that you are one of the true genetic wastes of our time. Someone call NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE!

Asking me, to explain every little nuance of everything I do 9 months to a year after I have started it, each time you happen to realize that you do not know what the hell is going on, is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of my precious oxygen, in lieu of the fact that either you can't

frigging hear or you have the mental comprehension of 3 day old road kill.

I was hired because I know what the hell I am doing, and you were apparently hired to provide amusement to this network, who watch you vainly attempt to understand the concept of "cut and paste' or here's a good one 'Ctrl-V" for the hundredth time. You will never understand, you can't! Something as incredibly simple as 'SAVE' still gives you too many options, that I am incessantly required to explain to your stupid, idiotic, retarded ass at every turn.

You will also never understand why people hate you, but I am going to try and explain it to you, even though I am sure this will be just as effective as telling you what a static IP address is or explain evolution; a theory and process that obviously skipped you. Your shiny new Dell with a flat screen monitor and DVD player has more personality than you ever will. And scarier yet is the fact that it has more human like intelligence, despite your 20,000 hours of internet 'Solitaire and Hearts' play. You walk around your building ¾ of the day, shiftlessly looking for fault and failure in others only to slouch back to your office to forward a few 100 hoaxes and 'Friend Sends', which make you feel really good about yourself for their informational/up-lifting messages (IDOIT)! You have a sharp dressed hillbilly, useless look about you that obviously worked for your interview 20 years ago. But now that you actually have responsibility, you pawn it off on overworked, under-paid staff, hoping their talent will cover for your glaring ineptitude. In a world of managerial evolution, you are no higher in the chain than the fungus under a toe nail. Managers like you are a sad proof of the Dilbert principle and a direct cause of attacks in the work place. Your ass has more sense regarding what to spew than your mouth.

Seeing as this situation is unlikely to change without you getting a full frontal lobotomy or a severe ass kicking (both of which I have considered providing you), I am forced to tender my resignation.

Thank you for entertaining my few parting thoughts."

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled

September 14, 2006

>> Wasters of Time and usual Politics

[ Boss ]

Government Bullshit writes...

"Wow, imagine this a government story!

So basically there are 4 managers 4 specalists and 1 director.

Just a litttttttle top heavy. Most of the managers, well, they take forever to make a decision and suffer from "paralysis analysis". Except for one. She just likes to make you the statue to her pigeon act. She is never clear,but says that she is. She lies that she has given documents that she never has provided. She will even poison and interrupt conversations by shouting or describing how your skills aren't required.

and then she will not only edit your work, but continually edit it. She will suggest one wording, you cross it out, then she will change the whole sentence by the third revision. What a waste of freaking time.

An example..she debated between using "transparent" and "clear" for 3 revisions, and then decided to scrap the word all together...on the 5 revision. Pure government bureaucratic bullslip.

Of course everyone notices these things with her, but no calls her on this stuff. Why, you may ask? Because since she's been there 20 years, she knows everyone, so she's seen as a valuable resource.

I'm ready to cut to another job in 4 months, and when anyone asks, I can only say this: Managers are not leaders, and if you wish to be a manager, you better realize how to interact with people and get results.

Unfortunately, I have to figure out how to deal with this schmuck for my performance update. Time to kiss ass a bit."

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled

September 12, 2006

>> Dress Codes - Pick on the Men

[ Boss ]

Teacher writes...

"I am a male teacher in a catholic girls' school. There are about 20 male teachers in a staff of 100. Six months after I take the job my crazy boss decides that she wants all male staff to wear ties. Our female colleagues all dress decently but certainly not at a "corporate" standard. We have protested, our union has too and I (sadly alone) have consistently refused to wear a tie. I dress neatly and professionally at all times, usually in a suit.

None of this matters to this crazy woman, she is now insisting that if I do not wear one, I will be dismissed. Worse than this, even though I am currently complying with her stupid code (ties not "compulsory" in hot weather) she is requiring me to give a statement of my future intention or she will sack me. For not stating a damn intention!!!

There are no other concerns about my work, I am a highly regarded teacher in a subject area that is difficult to staff and she acknowledges this. My head of department and all of my colleagues are horrified at my treatment.

I am so sick of this that I will find another job. This crap school is bloody lucky to have me, the principal employed me at above award salary (extremely rare in this profession) as she knew what my work is like. Their loss. However, this whole episode has caused me a lot of anguish and I think I might even leave teaching. There are too many complete idiots to deal with (not the students, they're generally great)."

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled

September 11, 2006

>> Just a moment...

[ Other ]

My heart goes out to all those affected by 9/11 hopefully some stories of fools in the workplace will at least lighten the mood.

I assure you I do plan to have at least two stories a week to get things rolling again. Sorry for delays you'd be surprised how much a month of email adds up! Also started some new freelance gigs time is limited.

Thanks for all the support...

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled

September 04, 2006

>> Happy Labor Day

[ Other ]

Well well well... I am back from my summer break of sorts. More of a break from the computer. Sometimes helps to "reset" oneself if you know what I mean. Hope everyone had a great summer.

I need to get organized and look through a ton of email here. I will try and get stories back up and running shortly.

But, thanks to everyone who wrote very kind letters and it seems many enjoyed the archives. Lets see if we can get back on track at exposing the fools out there in the workplace!

--Digruntled Worker

01:00 AM - Posted by Disgruntled