And So It Is...
I'll preface this entry by saying that rarely do I think the goings-on of my daily life are livejournal-worthy but for some reason I imagined telling this to my best friend and her saying "Michele! Livejournal Gold!"
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I know people have horrible bosses. I know most bosses are absolutely vicious. But, I also know that some (read: very few) bosses are kind.
Well folks, I have THEE WORST kind. I have the 'kill-em-with-kindness' boss. I am not going to speculate as to why my boss is like this, although there have been rumors. (read: overly controlling husband at home)
See, in most work places if your computer breaks you call the IT person available and they come and fix it. Quick, simple, effective. In my place of business, if my computer breaks, if the copy machine jams, if there's gum on the floor, or if there's no toilet paper in the COMMUNITY (read: public for all on the first floor) bathroom my boss has GOT to know. And if something happens and she DIDN'T know about it, she doesn't yell or throw a tantrum she makes a 'kind' comment under her breath and steam in her office.
She rarely raises her voice - she chooses to berate you in a calm, soothing tone. She's a smart ass and she's SO-INCREDIBLY-RUDE.
On December 10, our corporate office was having a Christmas Party. Only corporate was allowed to attend so they let all of the branch offices go home at 12. I decided at that point to see if any of my co-workers wanted to get together and have lunch at Don Pablos across the street. I sent around an e-mail to them and got 99% of a positive response. Later on that day I was confronted by the K.E.W.K. and asked "who told you it was OK to do this?" and "It's not your job to invite people to lunch." and the even better, "why do you think any of these people would want to get together and hang out with each other after we're closing early?" After explaining to her that I was merely inviting her to go because the rest of the office was going, she just told me I "had no right" and went into her office. Let me remind you again that she isn't saying this with an attitude, but with a smile. Which makes it that much more aggrevating.
(Let me just notate here that within this time I was written up for personal internet usage while at work.)
Last Thursday I won a radio contest by which I had to submit a request in to the dj via e-mail with 3 song requests and my place of business. The prize? Lunch for 20 for your office from Sonny's. Needless to say, I won the contest and lunch was delivered to my office today. Everyone was so thrilled and thankful for my winning. She came up to me and proceeded to tell me how much she loved Sonny's and I tried to make small talk about some of the stuff they had there b/c I was not too familiar with the restaurant. She told me the table was all set up and that everything was ready to go when the radio station got there. Food arrived, everything is going smoothly until....(sigh) She says to me (read: in front of everyone) "So Michele, did you notice that I didn't say anything about your having to e-mail the DJ during work hours? I guess it's ok if you actually won something for us but, don't do it again. Unless of course, you're going to win something for us then it's ok." I responded with an obviously fake laugh and continued handing out plates.
To make that situation even worse, while everyone was eating she announced "Everyone don't worry about bringing a lot of food in tomorrow. We'll just put this in the fridge (waves over towards the Sonny's) and heat it up and serve it tomorrow."
"What?" I ask, increduously.
"Why, were you going to bring it home or something?"
I regained my composure, "Well, I have 2 grown men at home and no food so yes, I was going to bring it home."
HER incredibly fake smile surfaced and she replied simply, "Well! It sounds like you have to go grocery shopping then!" She turned away from me and faced everyone and said "Well everyone! Nevermind! Just go ahead and bring what you were planning - MICHELE is going to just take all this food home with her!"
(Seriously, even re-telling this story makes me just shake my head and roll my eyes
(Tomorrow we have a "Holiday Luncheon")
We have this luncheon, and our Thanksgiving luncheon was so incredibly lousy I decided to be a rebel and not participate in this one. (I didn't REALLY think I would get away with it, but it was nice to think) There's a list RIGHTBY her office to sign up. "Finger foods only!!" I never put anything down, I never even stopped to look and see what other people were bringing. I wasn't gonna eat or participate or anything. I had almost done it to, until she walked up to me and said "Oh Michele, I noticed you hadn't put anything on the Luncheon list, I just wanted to ask what you were bringing." I SO wanted to say something smart alecky but, my notorious "attitude" just crumpled away. "Oh! This fabulous Garlic and Herb dip. I must have forgotten to write it down." I am such a pussy. She clasped her hands together and said "Terrific!" (There wasn't going to be someone not bringing food to HER party!)
This is so long, but I figure if I started Livejournal-ing my boss, I should give some sort of idea of what she's REALLY like.
---------
I know people have horrible bosses. I know most bosses are absolutely vicious. But, I also know that some (read: very few) bosses are kind.
Well folks, I have THEE WORST kind. I have the 'kill-em-with-kindness' boss. I am not going to speculate as to why my boss is like this, although there have been rumors. (read: overly controlling husband at home)
See, in most work places if your computer breaks you call the IT person available and they come and fix it. Quick, simple, effective. In my place of business, if my computer breaks, if the copy machine jams, if there's gum on the floor, or if there's no toilet paper in the COMMUNITY (read: public for all on the first floor) bathroom my boss has GOT to know. And if something happens and she DIDN'T know about it, she doesn't yell or throw a tantrum she makes a 'kind' comment under her breath and steam in her office.
She rarely raises her voice - she chooses to berate you in a calm, soothing tone. She's a smart ass and she's SO-INCREDIBLY-RUDE.
On December 10, our corporate office was having a Christmas Party. Only corporate was allowed to attend so they let all of the branch offices go home at 12. I decided at that point to see if any of my co-workers wanted to get together and have lunch at Don Pablos across the street. I sent around an e-mail to them and got 99% of a positive response. Later on that day I was confronted by the K.E.W.K. and asked "who told you it was OK to do this?" and "It's not your job to invite people to lunch." and the even better, "why do you think any of these people would want to get together and hang out with each other after we're closing early?" After explaining to her that I was merely inviting her to go because the rest of the office was going, she just told me I "had no right" and went into her office. Let me remind you again that she isn't saying this with an attitude, but with a smile. Which makes it that much more aggrevating.
(Let me just notate here that within this time I was written up for personal internet usage while at work.)
Last Thursday I won a radio contest by which I had to submit a request in to the dj via e-mail with 3 song requests and my place of business. The prize? Lunch for 20 for your office from Sonny's. Needless to say, I won the contest and lunch was delivered to my office today. Everyone was so thrilled and thankful for my winning. She came up to me and proceeded to tell me how much she loved Sonny's and I tried to make small talk about some of the stuff they had there b/c I was not too familiar with the restaurant. She told me the table was all set up and that everything was ready to go when the radio station got there. Food arrived, everything is going smoothly until....(sigh) She says to me (read: in front of everyone) "So Michele, did you notice that I didn't say anything about your having to e-mail the DJ during work hours? I guess it's ok if you actually won something for us but, don't do it again. Unless of course, you're going to win something for us then it's ok." I responded with an obviously fake laugh and continued handing out plates.
To make that situation even worse, while everyone was eating she announced "Everyone don't worry about bringing a lot of food in tomorrow. We'll just put this in the fridge (waves over towards the Sonny's) and heat it up and serve it tomorrow."
"What?" I ask, increduously.
"Why, were you going to bring it home or something?"
I regained my composure, "Well, I have 2 grown men at home and no food so yes, I was going to bring it home."
HER incredibly fake smile surfaced and she replied simply, "Well! It sounds like you have to go grocery shopping then!" She turned away from me and faced everyone and said "Well everyone! Nevermind! Just go ahead and bring what you were planning - MICHELE is going to just take all this food home with her!"
(Seriously, even re-telling this story makes me just shake my head and roll my eyes
(Tomorrow we have a "Holiday Luncheon")
We have this luncheon, and our Thanksgiving luncheon was so incredibly lousy I decided to be a rebel and not participate in this one. (I didn't REALLY think I would get away with it, but it was nice to think) There's a list RIGHTBY her office to sign up. "Finger foods only!!" I never put anything down, I never even stopped to look and see what other people were bringing. I wasn't gonna eat or participate or anything. I had almost done it to, until she walked up to me and said "Oh Michele, I noticed you hadn't put anything on the Luncheon list, I just wanted to ask what you were bringing." I SO wanted to say something smart alecky but, my notorious "attitude" just crumpled away. "Oh! This fabulous Garlic and Herb dip. I must have forgotten to write it down." I am such a pussy. She clasped her hands together and said "Terrific!" (There wasn't going to be someone not bringing food to HER party!)
This is so long, but I figure if I started Livejournal-ing my boss, I should give some sort of idea of what she's REALLY like.