January 22, 2007
The Gauntlet
Well, I think it's safe to assume that blogging at work is definately BACK ON. I seem to have developed somewhat of a lax attitude about my employment here. Go figure.
This morning, at the Monday Mornings Managers Meeting, G.M. apologized to all of the managers for his bungled handling of Switchboard Relief.
Hey, guys? Where's my apology? Where's the apology for the person most heiniously fucked by G.M.'s bungling?
Don't worry, my darlings -- I'm not holding my breath.
Flashback to January 2nd. I received, via Lotus Notes, a meeting invitation. The meeting agenda? Switchboard relief. The other invitees on the list? G.M., G.M.'s Assistant, G.M.'s Assistant's Assistant, and the current Receptionist.
I took this to mean that I was the only non-Administration Dept. support staff lined up to help with switchboard relief. This did not sit well with me, as you may imagine. There are a dozen other secretaries in this company who know how to answer a phone. Why was I the only one invited to the meeting? Could it be... oh, I don't know... because G.M. hates me with a seething hatred usually reserved for the Packers/Bears rivalry?
Jokingly, I just thought to myself, Heh. I should just decline the meeting. But the more I thought about it, the less of a joke it became. Why shouldn't I decline it? I was being "volunteered" unfairly and against my will! At the very least, I wanted to talk with Head Boss first.
So I did the unthinkable. A staff support person actually DECLINED a meeting with the G.M. I'm sure a series of small strokes followed, which would explain his irrational behavior since then.
I declined with some comment to the effect of:
I would like to meet with my supervisor before committing to any responsibilities outside my department, especially considering that I now work half the hours that I used to.
And thus began the power struggle. Mind you, it is expected of me, according to company protocol, never to let work outside of my department interfere with my main function here -- to support my department. And while I have many, many times over the years volunteered to help out in other departments, I've always made sure I got my work done first. As expected.
But declining a G.M. meeting, well, I pretty much just slapped him in the face with my glove, as far as he's concerned. "I WILL NOT BE IGNORED!" I expect to find Stella boiling in a pot on my stove when I get home today.
I won't detail the numerous trips I made to H.B.'s office in this Battle of Wills. Too long and boring. Besides, I don't remember. I will just highlight a couple of things:
One. Never, at any point, was I allowed to speak to G.M. directly. Have to go through the "proper channels," doncha know!
Two. H.B. didn't really express his own thoughts as much as he relayed mine. So actually, I doubt he did anything the a carrier pidgeon couldn't have done. And far cheaper.
Three. I verbalized many rational points. I'm doing the same amount of work in half the time; I'm the only non-Administration person being asked to do so much switchboard relief; I don't report to G.M.; he's singling out because of the email fiasco. H.B. agreed with all of these points but couldn't make them stick, once he was in G.M.'s presence.
Disappointed in him? Yeah. JUST A LITTLE.
To be continued...
Comments
But more importantly - what are you wearing during these proceedings? A stained long sleeve tshirt with a pendant?
Posted by: Nicki at January 22, 2007 08:16 PM
You're almost done working aren't you? You'd think it wouldn't be worth their time to go through all of this for only a few weeks.
Any ideas who they'll pick on when you're gone?
Posted by: Hope at January 23, 2007 12:45 PM
Why is the GM of the company spending so much time on who does switchboard relief? Does he have nothing better to do? Okay, I just answered my own question.
Posted by: Billi at January 23, 2007 01:33 PM