I am now Captain of the HMS Incompetancy

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So they fired my back up/only other assistant today at work. I now effectively have 5 jobs (I took over two others after the layoffs, plus they fired the receptionist previously and asked me to "do a favor" and do that, plus my original job added to the office manager and hotel operations stuff now) plus no ability to take vacation or sick days because there is no one here besides me to cover for this. I WORK DIRECTLY FOR ONE OF THE TOP RANKED PEOPLE IN THE COMPANY WHAT IS THIS BULLSHIT???

I have not received a raise or any sort of compensation or favors, but was told this is an "excellent opportunity". I assume it's an excellent opportunity to go insane.

Tell me what you do for a "living"!

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 20:37 (twenty-three years ago)

The exact same thing happened to me. My assistant left to go to school and they never replaced him. I've effectively saved this joint 25k a year.

Then it was time for raises. "Raises this year will not be based on performance" said my manager.

I feel like a running dog lackey.

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 20:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Mind you I'd like to point out that the guy who SLAPPED SOMEONE HERE still works here??

My mom made a film about it.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:20 (twenty-three years ago)

you can either man the lifeboats, demand a raise or grin and bear it. Is jumping ship an option?

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:24 (twenty-three years ago)

(Did you get the fax boy?)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:27 (twenty-three years ago)

or mutiny!! and set sail for the spice islands!!

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I think your first act as captain should be to rename the ship: "incomptenence."

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:33 (twenty-three years ago)

(NB I only said that so I could immediately go post it to the "what is the most obnoxious thing you've ever posted" thread.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:33 (twenty-three years ago)

I didn't get the fax boy! Life is unfair. Fuck this joint. Though he was here and will come back tomorrow, HOORAY. The fax boy is hot.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 21:53 (twenty-three years ago)

We had a member of staff leave two weeks ago. He had worked full-time on one project for seven months without getting near finishing it (and some time before that part-time, but I have no notion how much time). The project was given to me, and we immediately agreed that everything he had produced was crap, and that it would be far better for me to restart from scratch. I have been allotted a total of two weeks to finish it.

It's now into January that our bosses are considering extra raises (we get automatic increments) for early next year, so I'm hoping to impress the hell out of them with this work, and have been making it clear to the key people that about a third of the division now regularly come to me for help and advice on various design and programming questions (they seem to have spotted this without my nudging and pointing, which is good). (7 people today alone, a fifth of the division.) I kind of like being pressured and having loads to do - I find the time goes by much more quickly, and I am the fastest worker I have ever known (this has been true when I was washing up, preparing accounts, editing a magazine or programming computers), and it's at the pressurised times that this is most obvious, I think.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Ally, when did you go all country Madonna?

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Ally transcends such notions, DB.

I am nowhere near swamped (thank heavens) but with my boss's resignation combined with the slow grind budget crunch at the UC, the likelihood of him being replaced is starting to look dim. We're getting a little more stretched over here as a result, alas, and I'm not sure about any sort of pay increase, whether through a collective bargaining agreement or something more specific for my coworker and I. Hrm.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:26 (twenty-three years ago)

The same time Manon turned into Christina Aguilera.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 26 November 2002 22:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Office life has become a time for real pain. People who work in offices dont have unions, ths they have no real rights. your only weapon is to do a really bad job and not care.

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 03:27 (twenty-three years ago)

There is the slim possibility I might become The Company after 2/3rds of the current workforce (totalling 3 people, myself included) decides to retire IF an attempt to keep The Company going is undertaken. We are currently losing $13,000 per month due to lack of funds, meaning the kitty will be bone dry by the end of the year, and we will cease to exist - this, after many, many, many times where it seemed the end was nigh, due to organizations pulling their funding, or attempted coups against the Administrator, or someone cutting the cheese on Palm Sunday. If such resuccitation is successful, this could mean I become the errand boy for the labor organizations our board members represent, which could be good or bad. (Given how said unions have been dicking around The Company ever since I was hired nearly 5 years ago, I'm thinking that working under their direct control would be very, very bad.) (Bring on the bee stick!)

What I'm actually hoping for, come mid-to-late December, is to get laid off, get dicked over re: vacation pay & severance package type stuff (because I'll be shocked if there will be any $$$ left for the 3 of us after all leases & outstanding debts are settled - note that this isn't a "hope" so much as a fact), collect unemployment for 6+ months while attending school part-time, finagle some sort of school co-op for the fall where my CS skillz can be properly exploited, and totally cut ties w/ the folks that "funded" The Company.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:10 (twenty-three years ago)

But the folks who funded the Company = your dad? Or am I remembering this wrong?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:17 (twenty-three years ago)

my new job is so ridiculously pop-ist anyone who knows me from ilm would larf non-stop & so would dr vick

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:24 (twenty-three years ago)

What is it, Fritz?

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:27 (twenty-three years ago)

i am really joey "the fat one" fatone

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:35 (twenty-three years ago)

(not really)

my job would make you all larf but i won't tell for love nor money

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Hint?

― mark p (Mark P), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Then tell for hate and debts.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 04:49 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm really sorry to hear that Ally, it sucks. Hey, I saw we should run away join the circus together, if you're up for it (and I don't even have a jawb).

― V, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 05:50 (twenty-three years ago)

I already said I'm totally willing to join the circus, I'd make a helluva acrobat.

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 07:00 (twenty-three years ago)

When I joined here, there were 10 people in our team. That has now gone down to 5. With that loss went all opportunity to do any sort of decent project work and in came the necessity to firefight like all hell has broken loose. So, they've got everyone in the group - all of whom can administer anything from an Ultra 2 to a SunFire F15K - changing people's passwords and erroneous file permissions. Now there's value for money if ever I saw it.

― lol p xx, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 11:20 (twenty-three years ago)

You can fight fires? That's a marketable skill at the moment... ;)

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 11:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Heh - alas not in that capacity. Although I think I may take that as a compliment anyway. I've always wanted to have a marketable skill. Oooh - have to leave this message here as the hotline is going. It'll be another password change, mark my words.

― lol p xx, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 13:46 (twenty-three years ago)

It was. I give up.

― lol p xx, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 13:47 (twenty-three years ago)

this just happened to me, too. I received a promotion (and a payraise, whew), but haven't hired anyone new as yet to do my *old* job, which means I am juggling two at the moment. I don't even have time to BLINK during the day.

― Mandee, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 14:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I've never worked in an office, so I don't know how this works, but what would happen if you just did the job you're currently employed to do and ignored everything else?

― Graham (graham), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 14:13 (twenty-three years ago)

You would get fired.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 14:23 (twenty-three years ago)

The trouble is, a lot of office type jobs have fairly vague titles and often have some clause in the job description saying 'in addition to the above duties, the dogsbody may at times be required to undertake other duties, this is part of the nature of the job and does not in itself justify re-grading' etc etc. I am working up to asking for a pay rise myself and although I KNOW I've gone above and bloody beyond, PROVING it is hard...

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 14:56 (twenty-three years ago)

You can't say no to their doling out of extra bullshit, because as Dan says there are very negative consequences.

I'm on the verge of crying, please someone cheer me up. I'm NOT ALLOWED TO EAT LUNCH ANYMORE apparently. I've literally lost weight since yesterday cos I didn't eat yesterday and I haven't eaten today. I mean great, I can eat so much more pie tomorrow I guess??? WTF?

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Ally, you should get someone to bring you some food. Also, I think it's a federal requirement that employees are allowed lunch breaks; I'd double-check the laws with your HR department, as that's just too fucking far.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Also: CLICK HERE for instant cheering.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Are you unionised? Join a uninion, make you're own union up and work to rule.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:59 (twenty-three years ago)

The Federal Citizen Information Center (Pueblo, Colorado and all) says: "Some States have provisions for break times in their labor codes. Unless taking breaks is a safety issue (e.g., for some transportation workers), you should contact your State’s labor office for information about this subject."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah-ha! Check out Section 162 of the New York State Labor Law. (Read the whole thing; there's a lot of ifs and buts.)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:03 (twenty-three years ago)

No lunch break? Should be a federal crime, I'd say! Jeez Louise...follow Dan's advice and get a hold of HR. And yay Mike for the research!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:05 (twenty-three years ago)

DAN! WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT FANTASTIC LINK!

― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Blame/thank Chris Barrus on this thread.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Organise: The Union of Office Minions

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Needs something with a better acronym, Ed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Mass Office Minions Union & Society?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 20:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Well I...hey wait!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 21:05 (twenty-three years ago)

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