Things about your co-workers that annoy you

[Onkel_Udo]

I get tired of suggesting various things, only to be given the polite equivalent of the "backyard brush-off;" then, a few months later when the hired consultant tells them the EXACT SAME THINGS, they feel the need to fall all over themselves to implement them.

How stupid does a person have to be to ignore an employee who tells them "You can save up to 30% on your heating & cooling costs by simply turning on the ceiling fans that are already installed."?

End rant.
Regards, GF.

Standard corporate process honestly. When I do consultancy work, I make a point of seeking out the suggestions employees have made and had rejected. Doing so will likely find the closest thing to a magic bullet there is for fixing what ails the company. Employees' suggestions get ignored for a number of reasons but the biggest one is that the company is not paying big bucks to that employee for an unbiased analysis of their business processes.

In some cases, we have even hired said employee as a consultant if we are asked to implement whatever plan we have suggested. Usually it is a small, after hours gig, if there is no conflict of interest with their corporate policies, basically mapping the existing process and helping map the new and improved process. Another bonus is the insider information about roadblocks we will face from individuals or past failed improvement programs.

In one case we actually picked a guy up who gave his two weeks notice during the investigation stage...he turned out to be valuable on many projects as long as you did not let him interface directly with the client. He was almost 100% responsible for $500K, 9 month award for the company he left including the entire implementation strategy.

This used to be frowned on as mildly unethical but as the results tend to benefit all parties, that argument faded into the background.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I get tired of suggesting various things, only to be given the polite equivalent of the "backyard brush-off;" then, a few months later when the hired consultant tells them the EXACT SAME THINGS, they feel the need to fall all over themselves to implement them.

Yeah man.. our graphic designers keep quitting. They've gone through 4 since I started here two years ago. During the time they attempt to hire a new one, I always cover the position once I've got a lull in work. I'll even go out of my way to do some of that job in order to use a different program for a change. Anyway, I've suggested I could absorb that jobs responsibilities into my own instead of hiring someone for $40k a year. Take on that job and just keep on trucking. Instead, they hire another kid who has no idea what we do here. Will take a month just to figure out what it is we make. A month before they realize they hate it and leave.
Just don't get it.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Little miss somehow gets 40 hours on her time sheet strolled in at 9:30 this AM since the big boss is in DC. Probably won't see her after 4 or so...

I left at 3:40 yesterday to fix a plumbing issue at home that i didnt know how long would take, after getting in at 8. Put 7 hours on my time sheet even though I don't take lunch. I'm guessing that would have easily been an 8 hour day in her mind.

Whatever. I was 2.5 hours over for last week and I'm taking Friday off. I bet I won't use more than 4 hours if leave though. Hardly ever manage to use a full day.

 

[Hophunter]

So my most infuriating little petunia (as one of the other supervisors calls them) came in asking for xmas off. We are required to staff the office 365 days a year with a minimum 2 people (4 person team). I allow folk to choose which 5 pf the 10 fed holidays they would like to work at the beginning of the year. She chose xmas this year and next (2015, 2016). Her reasoning was that it is her 6th holiday (volunteered to work July 4 to save on pto, wasn't one of original 5). And secondly b/c she chose to work xmas next year and it would make 2 years in a row. You chose them you crazy idiot! Now your asking your coworkers to change plans with only one holiday left to trade? Un-floccing believably selfish. I told her I'd ask but not to hold her breath. (Or maybe she should)

 

[BreezyBrew]

Set up a meeting with a client to install software. Client asks what he needs. Great, being proactive. I write back about as clearly as I can that we need access to both pieces of software we will be working with. Get to the meeting this morning, the guy goes, well, I don't really have access to software b. Then he shuffles around, and finds the URL to get to software b. Puts the URL in, and we get to a login screen. I go "So, frisbee, do we happen to have an account we can use?" He goes, nope, I don't know it, and the folks that would don't get in for an hour. DOH!! just have to laugh at the stupidity of ppl.

 

[VApatriot]

In a word....everything....

 

[sablesurfer]

In a word....everything....

Nope. We want all the voyeuristic agony in all the excruciating detail so that we can say, "yep, your life sucks more than mine."

 

[Venari]

Who the hell designs interview questions? Don't ask me what I enjoyed about my last job, nobody likes the work they do. That's why it's called work. If I liked it, I'd probably still be there.

 

[sablesurfer]

Who the hell designs interview questions? Don't ask me what I enjoyed about my last job, nobody likes the work they do. That's why it's called work. If I liked it, I'd probably still be there.

Well, our cafeteria is better than most. And I had survived long enough to get parking in the garage. See...positives. LOL.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Who the hell designs interview questions? Don't ask me what I enjoyed about my last job, nobody likes the work they do. That's why it's called work. If I liked it, I'd probably still be there.

Well, our cafeteria is better than most. And I had survived long enough to get parking in the garage. See...positives. LOL.

The dynamic that existed between myself and most of my direct coworkers. Until management restructuring screwed it all up.

Not positive enough. How about "Its over and I do not have to go there anymore"?

 

[Grannyknot]

Who the hell designs interview questions? Don't ask me what I enjoyed about my last job, nobody likes the work they do. That's why it's called work. If I liked it, I'd probably still be there.

I'd really like interviewers to bin the "what are your goals" question.
My goal is to come work here and make a little bit more money than I was at my last job and attempt to enjoy my weekends without worrying about what is to come Monday morning.

 

[n240sxguy]

I get tired of suggesting various things, only to be given the polite equivalent of the "backyard brush-off;" then, a few months later when the hired consultant tells them the EXACT SAME THINGS, they feel the need to fall all over themselves to implement them.

How stupid does a person have to be to ignore an employee who tells them "You can save up to 30% on your heating & cooling costs by simply turning on the ceiling fans that are already installed."? The only excuse I've heard is "So & so gets cold." Well I'm here to tell you, "So & so" can damn well put on a $10 hoodie, or a $100 fashion statement sweater, or anything inbetween. "So & so" is also anorexic, has 2% body fat & needs to eat a freaking sandwich, a plate of fries & wash it all down with a couple of doppelbocks. Move "So & so's" desk so the fan doesn't blow directly on it; problem solved & 30% saved on heating & cooling costs.

End rant.
Regards, GF.

Awesome post!!!

 

[Zuljin]

What would you ultimately like to do at this company?
Retire from it.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

What would you ultimately like to do at this company?
Retire from it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Projectile vomiting on your BMW at a company function. How many days off we get a year?

 

[Zuljin]

Have you ever been denied a bond?
No, but the judge did set it pretty high a few times.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

What are your strengths?
I can manipulate any situation to get people around me in trouble with HR. It's great for settling arguments with anyone that doesn't give me what I want.

 

[drainbamage]

What are your strengths?

The ability to keep showing up every day and pretend like I give a sht, despite all the other things I'd rather be doing.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Recent interview (last week):

It says here you're proficient with multiple drafting techniques and programs... do you know AutoCAD?

 

[Renegades_Brew]

Recent interview (last week):

It says here you're proficient with multiple drafting techniques and programs... do you know AutoCAD?

No... I only use google sketchup.

 

[TheCADJockey]

No... I only use google sketchup.

It is pretty amazing how many interviews I've gone to lately that say roughly, "What the hell is architectural lettering?". I don't know, only something the university drilled us with... I love knowing it but having to do it every day for 2 years seemed a bit over the top when nobody even does manual drafting any more.

 

[Renegades_Brew]

It is pretty amazing how many interviews I've gone to lately that say roughly, "What the hell is architectural lettering?". I don't know, only something the university drilled us with... I love knowing it but having to do it every day for 2 years seemed a bit over the top when nobody even does manual drafting any more.

Yeah, I remember that section of my hand drafting course. Worst section ever...

Biggest peeve... Line weights... If you don't know how to use them and hand me a drawing that is barely legible because you didn't assign any line weights or colors to define different elements, it will not be a good day for you.

 

[1977Brewer]

Yeah, I remember that section of my hand drafting course. Worst section ever...



Biggest peeve... Line weights... If you don't know how to use them and hand me a drawing that is barely legible because you didn't assign any line weights or colors to define different elements, it will not be a good day for you.

I took AutoCad in High School 20 years ago and I know this. Wow.

 

[TheCADJockey]

I took AutoCad in High School 20 years ago and I know this. Wow.

Oh.. I thought he was talking about lineweights by hand. At least that is a challenge. If we had one imperfect penciled line or smudge, they would tear up our drawing and make us start over.

 

[1977Brewer]

Oh.. I thought he was talking about lineweights by hand. At least that is a challenge. If we had one imperfect penciled line or smudge, they would tear up our drawing and make us start over.

Oh man. We only had to hand draw one assignment. It was a gear, IIRC. Nope nope nope. Our final was to design the teachers house. He did not use anything I drew, as I was on substances most days in his class.

 

[TheCADJockey]

....as I was on substances most days in his class.

Haha.. My professors hated me since I didn't wear dress clothes like the rest of the architecture students. Sorry. Its funking college. I'm wearing plaid pants, tshirt and winter hat. Their curriculum was 2 years of hand drafting before you even got to touch a computer.

 

[Zuljin]

Whatdya mean that's broken?
Man. That never worked right. That was fuqqed up on install.
Why didn't we say anything?
I marked it up for a year! Here's the emails, the mark ups, the pictures, the work orders!
Oh...

Maybe things will change. I think I've the right person's ear now.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

the new people that come in and are all, "Why don't we just do it this way? That's how we did it at *the last place I worked*." even after you explain the reasons for our companies procedures, they try to argue on about it. when you defeat their opinions with logic and facts, they try to end it with "That's stupid." I'm all about finding a better way of doing things, but the last place you worked used wire cups to clean the mill scale off (or rather just polished it) and left weld spatter on parts. we use sanding discs to knock off mill scale and scrape the spatter off. if it looks like s#!t to the customer, then that's all it is.

 

[hunter_le five]

Haha.. My professors hated me since I didn't wear dress clothes like the rest of the conformists. Sorry. Its funking college. I'm wearing black shirt, black pants, black boots, black eye-liner, and black lipstick, to match the blackness of my soul. Their curriculum was 2 years of hand writing poems in my journal before you even got to touch a computer.

.

 

[beernbourbon]

the new people that come in and are all, "Why don't we just do it this way? That's how we did it at *the last place I worked*."

"Well, this isn't *the last place you worked*, and you work here now. That is, unless you liked it better there, in which case feel free to return there"

Once. All it took. Last time I heard "that's how I did it *there*"

 

[Psylocide]

the new people that come in and are all, "Why don't we just do it this way? That's how we did it at *the last place I worked*." even after you explain the reasons for our companies procedures, they try to argue on about it. when you defeat their opinions with logic and facts, they try to end it with "That's stupid." I'm all about finding a better way of doing things, but the last place you worked used wire cups to clean the mill scale off (or rather just polished it) and left weld spatter on parts. we use sanding discs to knock off mill scale and scrape the spatter off. if it looks like s#!t to the customer, then that's all it is.

This happens in martial arts all the time.

'My last instructor told us to do XYZ this way...'

Well **** you, he's not here. You were told to do it this way. GTFO if you don't like it.

Ki-YAAAAAI! How you like that head strike noob-ass?

Where is your god now?