Friends --
A few people have been wondering about my whereabouts. So here I am, to say good bye.
I started this blog to get loose and give my take on HR and DeltaHouse. And how I would relish a chance at a new job. Well friends, I'm happy to report I landed a new job that has literally everything I wanted: an HR department, a more professional group, leadership, and HR is revered there too!!!!!
I can't wait to start working at the new place! When I got the offer, I almost ran to the new place to start work. I almost grew wings and flew. I jumped for joy (literally)! I laughed my ass off!
And I realized this: I can't do this blog and work at the new job. It won't work. I'd have to assume that I would freaking hate the new place. And I don't want to hate it. I want to thrive. I want to out-work my co-workers.
So with that, I bid you all farewell. I loved every second of going undercover and doing this. I even made some friends (well, y'know... anonymously). I'll miss the posts, the tweets, and the feedback. But most of all the friends along the way.
To those who read this because you can relate to my plight I will say this: there is hope. Never lose sight of that. I did for a long time (hence, the blog). Never lose hope.
Best Wishes,
The Venting HR Guy
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
OK, need some help here...
... I'm burned out on writing. So I'm going to let you, my loyal readers help me out.
I'm looking for guest writers.
Want to vent? Want to firebomb on your boss/company/life anonymously? Hit me up. Send me an email with your rant and I'll post it.
I'm looking for guest writers.
Want to vent? Want to firebomb on your boss/company/life anonymously? Hit me up. Send me an email with your rant and I'll post it.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Just a character flaw
I've been thinking about character flaws a lot lately. I have many (but the fact that I realize them is probably a good thing right? RIGHT?).
Some of mine:
I need praise/feedback - if I receive none, I get paranoid (hence today TheBoss asked me a question out of the blue and I freaked out, "TheBoss knows I'm alive! Uh oh, I don't have the answer to his question in front of me... THIS ISN'T GOOD!")
I also have a strong opinion about someone, or no opinion about someone. Meaning, I'm either completely biased, or not even a little biased in employee relations situations.
I take everything personally. I want you to like me even if I'm telling you that "we are freeing you up to look for better professional opportunities." I've gotten over that by a lot, but it's still there.
I get very annoyed when I'm working on something and someone interrupts with a question that doesn't involve life-or-death.
I get very annoyed when someone asks me a question that I feel that they should either know the answer to themselves because they asked me already, or could easily find out, but choose to be lazy.
The point is that I know what my flaws are. I try to deal with them as best as I can. A lot of HR is dealing with other people's intellectual and behavioral shortcomings and helping others to do so as well. (WOW! That sounded zen-like!) I know who isn't going to smile ever, who hates everyone, who isn't aware of how they look to other people, who's shy...
... who's shy. I get very annoyed with shy people.
TheBoss is shy. Someone told me this recently. And I never thought about that. But it's 100% true. That's why the DeltaHouse-saving leadership moment is never coming. TheBoss is too shy to give it. But he'll tell other people to have other people relay that message. And I was thinking about a lot of times where TheBoss being shy was the reason behind either A) really bizarre situations, or B) really bizarre behavior is deemed OK by TheBoss.
TheBoss cowers at the chance to make an address to the employees, or even write a quick note to the employee base (I do those). TheBoss doesn't walk around and ask people how they are doing (TheBoss asks me what I know about them). TheBoss doesn't tell people that they are doing good or bad work (he just asks me to can people who he's decided that doesn't like for zero discernable reason, fortunately I can stop that when it happens).
Here's why I get annoyed with shy people. Throughout my life as a child, I was shy (most children are, it's probably a natural defense mechanism). My parents refused to allow this. They taught me to shake hands with adults, look them in the eye, and greet them like a adult. And even engage them in brief conversation. This served me very well, and it helped shed shyness. But I've been constantly around people in my life that I never understood, then someone finally said, "They're shy! That's why they don't talk that much. You just have to get to know them."
HORSESH!T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to work to get to know the shy person? Really? Why? Can't the shy person practice not being shy by stepping out of his shell and speaking to me? I'm pretty easy to talk to (I've checked). No one has to work to get to know me. Why do I need to work to get to know someone who'd rather be hidden in a hole somewhere rather than have to talk to other people.
DISCLAIMER: I have no point with this, I'm just venting. And I'm not talking about people with autism, or people with severe emotional disorders than prevent them from leaving the house. I'm talking about people who can work, but can't talk to co-workers.
Some of mine:
I need praise/feedback - if I receive none, I get paranoid (hence today TheBoss asked me a question out of the blue and I freaked out, "TheBoss knows I'm alive! Uh oh, I don't have the answer to his question in front of me... THIS ISN'T GOOD!")
I also have a strong opinion about someone, or no opinion about someone. Meaning, I'm either completely biased, or not even a little biased in employee relations situations.
I take everything personally. I want you to like me even if I'm telling you that "we are freeing you up to look for better professional opportunities." I've gotten over that by a lot, but it's still there.
I get very annoyed when I'm working on something and someone interrupts with a question that doesn't involve life-or-death.
I get very annoyed when someone asks me a question that I feel that they should either know the answer to themselves because they asked me already, or could easily find out, but choose to be lazy.
The point is that I know what my flaws are. I try to deal with them as best as I can. A lot of HR is dealing with other people's intellectual and behavioral shortcomings and helping others to do so as well. (WOW! That sounded zen-like!) I know who isn't going to smile ever, who hates everyone, who isn't aware of how they look to other people, who's shy...
... who's shy. I get very annoyed with shy people.
TheBoss is shy. Someone told me this recently. And I never thought about that. But it's 100% true. That's why the DeltaHouse-saving leadership moment is never coming. TheBoss is too shy to give it. But he'll tell other people to have other people relay that message. And I was thinking about a lot of times where TheBoss being shy was the reason behind either A) really bizarre situations, or B) really bizarre behavior is deemed OK by TheBoss.
TheBoss cowers at the chance to make an address to the employees, or even write a quick note to the employee base (I do those). TheBoss doesn't walk around and ask people how they are doing (TheBoss asks me what I know about them). TheBoss doesn't tell people that they are doing good or bad work (he just asks me to can people who he's decided that doesn't like for zero discernable reason, fortunately I can stop that when it happens).
Here's why I get annoyed with shy people. Throughout my life as a child, I was shy (most children are, it's probably a natural defense mechanism). My parents refused to allow this. They taught me to shake hands with adults, look them in the eye, and greet them like a adult. And even engage them in brief conversation. This served me very well, and it helped shed shyness. But I've been constantly around people in my life that I never understood, then someone finally said, "They're shy! That's why they don't talk that much. You just have to get to know them."
HORSESH!T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to work to get to know the shy person? Really? Why? Can't the shy person practice not being shy by stepping out of his shell and speaking to me? I'm pretty easy to talk to (I've checked). No one has to work to get to know me. Why do I need to work to get to know someone who'd rather be hidden in a hole somewhere rather than have to talk to other people.
DISCLAIMER: I have no point with this, I'm just venting. And I'm not talking about people with autism, or people with severe emotional disorders than prevent them from leaving the house. I'm talking about people who can work, but can't talk to co-workers.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Two More Characters at Work
Every company has the same people as if the president went to Wal-Mart and picked up the religious zealot, the weekend warrior, the strict vegetarian, the problem drinker, the unimportant-important guy, the guy who no one knows what they're job is, and the HR person. Here are a few more...
"In my previous company." -- This person has a job at DeltaHouse. However, for reasons passing totally understanding, the company they came from did everything else better than DeltaHouse does. Which is fine in the cases where the new way is better. But I don't need to know when OldPlace had lunch, or how the offices were laid out, or that the receptionist was nicer, or that they had bagels on Fridays. If OldPlace was so f-ing great, why are you cursing us with your presence... you were fired, weren't you?
"Yeah, that's right guys." -- This person is the person who the one person who doesn't do the weekly report, or who leaves the coffeemaker on 24/7, or who leaves lights on all the time. Basically the one person in the group that hasn't figured out that they have to what everyone else is doing. So finally, the boss makes the speech to the entire group of employees saying that all weekly reports are due Wednesday at 10am. This person will look at the group like, "what's your problem?!?!" When we're talking about THEM!
"In my previous company." -- This person has a job at DeltaHouse. However, for reasons passing totally understanding, the company they came from did everything else better than DeltaHouse does. Which is fine in the cases where the new way is better. But I don't need to know when OldPlace had lunch, or how the offices were laid out, or that the receptionist was nicer, or that they had bagels on Fridays. If OldPlace was so f-ing great, why are you cursing us with your presence... you were fired, weren't you?
"Yeah, that's right guys." -- This person is the person who the one person who doesn't do the weekly report, or who leaves the coffeemaker on 24/7, or who leaves lights on all the time. Basically the one person in the group that hasn't figured out that they have to what everyone else is doing. So finally, the boss makes the speech to the entire group of employees saying that all weekly reports are due Wednesday at 10am. This person will look at the group like, "what's your problem?!?!" When we're talking about THEM!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Face-punchable offenses
So I had an angry employee email me and copy TheBoss about an issue. Here's the sh!tty part, the person sending me the email never even came to me first in order to solve the problem. They just sent the email and copied TheBoss, forcing me to quickly solve the problem - dropping everything in the process.
This such crime should be punishable by a punch in the face. The person who the email is intended for such be able to either a) slam the sender's head into a doorframe, or b) ball up the fist and blow up the sender's face.
Other crimes that deserve a face-punch/head-slam...
* Re-copying TheBoss when I reply to just you to answer your question. I tried to act like an adult and emailed you back directly, and you opted to re-copy TheBoss in your email reply when this has nothing to do with him, you are just choosing to be an ass. This is more of a head-slam offense.
* The call-no-voice-mail-call-back-repeat. This person calls you. You have no time to pick up, or don't want to pick up. So you flush it to voice mail, you'll deal with it later. Instead the caller, calls you back five minutes later. Then four minutes later. Then three minutes later. Until you pick up. This happens to me once a week by a steady rotation of former employees who are calling me to see if we are hiring again yet. This is a face-punch offense.
* The a$$hole voice mail message. You've gotten this one, "VHRG, this is Whoever. Please call me back." Whoever won't tell you why they are calling, or even what it pertains to (are they a spy? do they need the antidote? are they in jail? were they abducted by aliens? did they lose their TV remote?). They just want a call back. And your curiousity forces you to call them back. And generally the topic is something that wasn't worth the mystery in the first place. Face-punch offense.
* The illogical timetable request. This is someone that wants you to find out something for then. However the person you need to work with is in another time zone, and odds are that person is still in the shower because they just woke up. Meanwhile, six minutes after the request is made, the follow up has already happened. The second follow up is ten minutes after that. The third is four minutes after that. The fourth is them plopping down in your office until their issue is solved. This requires a head-slam.
Got others?
This such crime should be punishable by a punch in the face. The person who the email is intended for such be able to either a) slam the sender's head into a doorframe, or b) ball up the fist and blow up the sender's face.
Other crimes that deserve a face-punch/head-slam...
* Re-copying TheBoss when I reply to just you to answer your question. I tried to act like an adult and emailed you back directly, and you opted to re-copy TheBoss in your email reply when this has nothing to do with him, you are just choosing to be an ass. This is more of a head-slam offense.
* The call-no-voice-mail-call-back-repeat. This person calls you. You have no time to pick up, or don't want to pick up. So you flush it to voice mail, you'll deal with it later. Instead the caller, calls you back five minutes later. Then four minutes later. Then three minutes later. Until you pick up. This happens to me once a week by a steady rotation of former employees who are calling me to see if we are hiring again yet. This is a face-punch offense.
* The a$$hole voice mail message. You've gotten this one, "VHRG, this is Whoever. Please call me back." Whoever won't tell you why they are calling, or even what it pertains to (are they a spy? do they need the antidote? are they in jail? were they abducted by aliens? did they lose their TV remote?). They just want a call back. And your curiousity forces you to call them back. And generally the topic is something that wasn't worth the mystery in the first place. Face-punch offense.
* The illogical timetable request. This is someone that wants you to find out something for then. However the person you need to work with is in another time zone, and odds are that person is still in the shower because they just woke up. Meanwhile, six minutes after the request is made, the follow up has already happened. The second follow up is ten minutes after that. The third is four minutes after that. The fourth is them plopping down in your office until their issue is solved. This requires a head-slam.
Got others?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
I Hate Nepotism... er... Corporate Inbreeding
I mentioned this in a tweet. I pure, straight, hate nepotism. I hate it for several reasons.
1) At VentingHRUncle's company, I'd dominate in HR there. I know the company well enough that I would have totally excelled there. But, they have a hard and fast anti-nepotism policy. And I really don't like the idea of hearing/over-hearing the idea of people bashing my family, and believing that this is a face-punching offense. Nor would I like to feel people go, "the VHRG is only here because VentingHRUncle is a VIP." It also has to cheapen the overall employment experience. You didn't get the job on your own laurels.
2) I have yet to see a case where this actually worked out well for all involved. At DeltaHouse, it happens a lot (though I've tried to stop it). At HRUtopia is happened a little bit (the biggest case was a person who went to the Vegas office a lot, however the Vegas office only had seven people and he really didn't need to go out there six times a year). The original employee feels like they are responsible for themself and the relative. If the relative doesn't work out, then the original employee is less engaged. And if the original employee has real nerve, they'll talk to the VHRG about the relative's performance.
3) The death of the original idea. If I hire nothing but friends and relatives, then I get nothing but the same damn ideas over and over again. I get the same attitudes, the same perspectives, and no clean slate. The relative has an opinion about the company courtesy of the orignal employee. And because of all of this zero new leadership or original ideas occur.
1) At VentingHRUncle's company, I'd dominate in HR there. I know the company well enough that I would have totally excelled there. But, they have a hard and fast anti-nepotism policy. And I really don't like the idea of hearing/over-hearing the idea of people bashing my family, and believing that this is a face-punching offense. Nor would I like to feel people go, "the VHRG is only here because VentingHRUncle is a VIP." It also has to cheapen the overall employment experience. You didn't get the job on your own laurels.
2) I have yet to see a case where this actually worked out well for all involved. At DeltaHouse, it happens a lot (though I've tried to stop it). At HRUtopia is happened a little bit (the biggest case was a person who went to the Vegas office a lot, however the Vegas office only had seven people and he really didn't need to go out there six times a year). The original employee feels like they are responsible for themself and the relative. If the relative doesn't work out, then the original employee is less engaged. And if the original employee has real nerve, they'll talk to the VHRG about the relative's performance.
3) The death of the original idea. If I hire nothing but friends and relatives, then I get nothing but the same damn ideas over and over again. I get the same attitudes, the same perspectives, and no clean slate. The relative has an opinion about the company courtesy of the orignal employee. And because of all of this zero new leadership or original ideas occur.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Why I Blog
I tried to declare today Why Do You Blog Day. However, I was told it has already been done here and here. For me, at work, I have to pretend that I've never heard of blogging (even though I check out virtually all of my blog-amigos. Blamigos? I think I invented a word). So I missed Why Do I Blog day.
Originally, I blogged because exactly zero people at work cared about me. And I wanted to share these ridiculous stories (that I was convinced only happened to me, until Dan Johnson, Ben Eubanks, and several others told me that I am truly not alone). And... well... vent. (hence the name).
Now, I blog as a severe cautionary tale about the angst that your workforce might be experiencing. Because I'm generally someone with a good work attitude (and I fake it pretty well at work), who wants to out-work people, who can out-think the room, who knows the conversation before it happens, who thinks on his feet better than most people he knows, and who can get anyone want to join a company (even DeltaHouse).
But I'm also the result of zero mentoring (like for a his entire career), zero encouragement, absentee bosses, reversed decisions, irrational expectations, zero leadership, zero people getting my back, who doesn't get checked on (yet has to check on others - side note: BigCheese has been checking on me, kinda, but I don't trust being able to go, "I possess a strong desire to scream at so-and-so" without consequence), and who sees the ridiculousness of work and workers and bosses and wants to change it.
But my folks ain't fer fancified changes. Just ask the employee who asked if a doctor was covered in our insurance network. When I answered yes, I also included the link for being able to find physicians online (without asking me). Give a person a fish, you feed them for a day... However, the employee replied by informing my that it's my job to cheerfully find this information out. Teach a person to fish... and get yelled at.
I blog because I feel like I have to. It's therapeutic for me. Which also makes me wonder if I continue this blog when I exit DeltaHouse (what's getting weird is that several people I know via networking, etc. and they are following me as VHRG - high comedy/eerie). As important a thought, I have to warn you that your organizations have these managers and employees, and your job is to stop it.
Originally, I blogged because exactly zero people at work cared about me. And I wanted to share these ridiculous stories (that I was convinced only happened to me, until Dan Johnson, Ben Eubanks, and several others told me that I am truly not alone). And... well... vent. (hence the name).
Now, I blog as a severe cautionary tale about the angst that your workforce might be experiencing. Because I'm generally someone with a good work attitude (and I fake it pretty well at work), who wants to out-work people, who can out-think the room, who knows the conversation before it happens, who thinks on his feet better than most people he knows, and who can get anyone want to join a company (even DeltaHouse).
But I'm also the result of zero mentoring (like for a his entire career), zero encouragement, absentee bosses, reversed decisions, irrational expectations, zero leadership, zero people getting my back, who doesn't get checked on (yet has to check on others - side note: BigCheese has been checking on me, kinda, but I don't trust being able to go, "I possess a strong desire to scream at so-and-so" without consequence), and who sees the ridiculousness of work and workers and bosses and wants to change it.
But my folks ain't fer fancified changes. Just ask the employee who asked if a doctor was covered in our insurance network. When I answered yes, I also included the link for being able to find physicians online (without asking me). Give a person a fish, you feed them for a day... However, the employee replied by informing my that it's my job to cheerfully find this information out. Teach a person to fish... and get yelled at.
I blog because I feel like I have to. It's therapeutic for me. Which also makes me wonder if I continue this blog when I exit DeltaHouse (what's getting weird is that several people I know via networking, etc. and they are following me as VHRG - high comedy/eerie). As important a thought, I have to warn you that your organizations have these managers and employees, and your job is to stop it.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
OK, I'll ask...
... why do companies have such elaborate systems for applying for jobs? I'm not going to remember the password that has to have letters, and special characters, and numbers. I mean, seriously, how many different ways can I spell, "ILoveBunnySlippers?" Which is my password for everything. I'M APPLYING FOR ONE DAMN JOB!!!!!
... Not to mention that I'm uploading my resume and then filling out little blanks for what's supposed to be on the resume throughout the process. Why is this extra step necessary?
... why are all Taco Bell room temperature's kept at thirty-three degrees? Do they not have refrigerators, and are just leaving the food out?
... if you get rejected for a job, for some reason, I feel like this forever damns you from being able to apply for another job again. Am I crazy for thinking that?
... has anyone ever posted a job "confidentially" on a job board and then had the person they were secretly trying to place apply for it? This has had to have happened, right?
... every job has to suck of some reason, right? Pro athlete: you can't eating dinner be yourself with a parade of fans bugging you. Comedian: perpetual requests to be funny. Author: constant criticism. Anonymous blogger: paranoia... no pay.
... does anyone actually eat the cinnamon raisin bagel? It's always the last bagel on the tray. Can we agree to stop having them added to the batch that gets brought to work?
... do those companies that offer professional help with resumes and applying to jobs work? They seem like a scam to me, be they advertise everywhere.
... Not to mention that I'm uploading my resume and then filling out little blanks for what's supposed to be on the resume throughout the process. Why is this extra step necessary?
... why are all Taco Bell room temperature's kept at thirty-three degrees? Do they not have refrigerators, and are just leaving the food out?
... if you get rejected for a job, for some reason, I feel like this forever damns you from being able to apply for another job again. Am I crazy for thinking that?
... has anyone ever posted a job "confidentially" on a job board and then had the person they were secretly trying to place apply for it? This has had to have happened, right?
... every job has to suck of some reason, right? Pro athlete: you can't eating dinner be yourself with a parade of fans bugging you. Comedian: perpetual requests to be funny. Author: constant criticism. Anonymous blogger: paranoia... no pay.
... does anyone actually eat the cinnamon raisin bagel? It's always the last bagel on the tray. Can we agree to stop having them added to the batch that gets brought to work?
... do those companies that offer professional help with resumes and applying to jobs work? They seem like a scam to me, be they advertise everywhere.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
How long is too long?
I play volleyball with someone who said that she spent too much time (11 years) at her first employer. She's been at her current employer for four years. And she said that 11 years was too long to stay at the first job. And I agree with that (that did sound a little over forever for a first job). But I'm wondering what that number is?
What's the threshold for being at an employer too long?
And what are the signs that the job you are in is the job that you should stay with for a while?
What's the threshold for being at an employer too long?
And what are the signs that the job you are in is the job that you should stay with for a while?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
4 things I'm stunned people would rather have than money
When you buy something, what you are essentially saying is this: "I would rather have the item/service that I'm about to buy than money." Now, of course, some things are necessities: food, shelter, clothes, electricity, etc. But there are other things that I've seen people purchase/own that just befuddle me: you would rather have this than money? Really?
Here are four...
Cell phone rings that are music - as someone who does recruiting, I can't tell you how many times I'll call someone and here those nine little words, "please enjoy the music while your party is reached..." and then I'm treated to "Free Bird" or "Boom Boom Pow" or "Paralyzer" while my opinion of the general intelligence and professionalism of the candidate is being shaped. And I can't help but to think, "Instead of $2 per month (or whatever this costs) this person wants me to have Safety Dance blaring in my ear?" Perfect example, ex-employee, CokeMachine came by to pick up papers from me. Before he comes by, I call him to clarify something... and... "FREE BIRD!!!!!!" In chatting with CokeMachine, I discover that times are tough, he can't find work, and he's using my info to get state assistance. I felt like saying, "Hey, I can give you $24 per year and make you more marketable at the same time!"
Vanity license plates - Pigeon was a former co-worker of mine who I just didn't get along with. She hated working and life in general, and I wanted to see her get stuck in an elevator full of pigeons (her phobia) for several hours. Anyway, she told me time and again about the sums of money I wasted going out to lunch every day. I tried to ignore it as much as possible (though I'm pretty sure she got of a tell-off or ninety-seven courtesy of me). Then one day she came in talking about her great new car. Our group went to see it. The car was covered with sh!t, including, but not limited to: several bumper stickers, fuzzy dice, a bead back-rest thingy, a steering wheel cover, and a vanity license plate that served as a double entendre for her love of weed. Yet, I was wasting money feeding myself.
Tattoos - I have an employee who wants to discuss two things: his low-pay and overall lack of having money, and his next tattoo. This guy has one sleeve tattoo, and an outline of something involving a dragon, a centaur, and a bikini clad woman who couldn't physiologically exist on his leg. But on the flip side, money's tight.
Top of the line cell phone - now I love gadgets, but I don't need to have a combo MP3 Player/Phone/Camera/Weapon that costs $700. Lumberjack has something that I don't think airport security would let onto a plane. On the flip side, Lumberjack has had his back account cleaned out... twice (according to him, "the bank totally f*cked me over"), and has had three bank judgments levied against him that I get stuck taking out of his paycheck.
Here are four...
Cell phone rings that are music - as someone who does recruiting, I can't tell you how many times I'll call someone and here those nine little words, "please enjoy the music while your party is reached..." and then I'm treated to "Free Bird" or "Boom Boom Pow" or "Paralyzer" while my opinion of the general intelligence and professionalism of the candidate is being shaped. And I can't help but to think, "Instead of $2 per month (or whatever this costs) this person wants me to have Safety Dance blaring in my ear?" Perfect example, ex-employee, CokeMachine came by to pick up papers from me. Before he comes by, I call him to clarify something... and... "FREE BIRD!!!!!!" In chatting with CokeMachine, I discover that times are tough, he can't find work, and he's using my info to get state assistance. I felt like saying, "Hey, I can give you $24 per year and make you more marketable at the same time!"
Vanity license plates - Pigeon was a former co-worker of mine who I just didn't get along with. She hated working and life in general, and I wanted to see her get stuck in an elevator full of pigeons (her phobia) for several hours. Anyway, she told me time and again about the sums of money I wasted going out to lunch every day. I tried to ignore it as much as possible (though I'm pretty sure she got of a tell-off or ninety-seven courtesy of me). Then one day she came in talking about her great new car. Our group went to see it. The car was covered with sh!t, including, but not limited to: several bumper stickers, fuzzy dice, a bead back-rest thingy, a steering wheel cover, and a vanity license plate that served as a double entendre for her love of weed. Yet, I was wasting money feeding myself.
Tattoos - I have an employee who wants to discuss two things: his low-pay and overall lack of having money, and his next tattoo. This guy has one sleeve tattoo, and an outline of something involving a dragon, a centaur, and a bikini clad woman who couldn't physiologically exist on his leg. But on the flip side, money's tight.
Top of the line cell phone - now I love gadgets, but I don't need to have a combo MP3 Player/Phone/Camera/Weapon that costs $700. Lumberjack has something that I don't think airport security would let onto a plane. On the flip side, Lumberjack has had his back account cleaned out... twice (according to him, "the bank totally f*cked me over"), and has had three bank judgments levied against him that I get stuck taking out of his paycheck.
Monday, November 2, 2009
5 Networking Rules
I had a networking-connection-generated interview totally backfire on me. I had a phone interview and killed it. The interviewer loved me. I felt great. They had scheduled 30 minutes, the phone interview ended at 50 minutes. Great signs all around...
... until ...
... the question, "How much do you want to make?" was asked. Now, my networking contact gave me a range he believed they'd be willing to pay. Which is what I was looking to make. So I confidentally pitch out the number. Thank you... and... good niiiiiiiiii...
... WHAT?!?!?!?!
... What the hell just happened?
... What's that gasp on your end of the conversation for?
... Why do you suddenly sound tense?
... F*CK! The number was to damn high. I just freaking embarrassed myself. This isn't my fault. NETWORKING CONTAAAAAAAAACT!
As I sat there realizing what happened, I was stunned. How did this go so wrong so quickly? Basically a massive WTF happened as I realized I was going to have to go back to DeltaHouse in the morning sans hope... again.
But it also got me thinking about networking. There are no rules to networking. There's etiquette, but no real actual rules. So I'm going to take a shot at some rules to networking. Here's five that I came up with...
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE feel free to agree, disagree, add, update, or delete these rules. Maybe this could be THE preeminent networking list of rules.
By networking with a person, I signify that I understand the following...
1) ... unless we've been friends for a while, that any contact from you will be related to growing your business, job contacts, or promoting something for your business.
2) ... The Godfather Rule applies. In the movie The Godfather a man (Enzo? The baker? Was that has name?) asks Don Corleone for a favor (no, not Johnny Fontaine, the first guy). Don Corleone agrees to the request and in return he says that there could be a day - but this day may never come - where the Don asks for a favor in return, and the favor must be granted immediately. This rule applies to networking, if I ask you to do me a favor. And later on (years from then, even) if you ask me to do a favor, I'm honor-bound to do such a favor. And vice versa.
3) ... If something goes bad (interview, business deal, etc.), and I messed it up, I owe you an explanation and an apology. You put your neck out there for me, and I messed it up. Let's be professional here. The same is true in reverse. I'd love my networking contact to explain to me WTF happened with the phone interview, but no dice. He's been in hiding. I'd rather just hear what happened. I'm not mad, I just want closure.
4) ... If the networking contact produce something for you (a job, a business deal, a new connection, a new friend, etc.) you owe them a thanks. It could be a thank you note. If it's a job or a business deal, I'd hope it'd be more. If the networking contact's job interview hook-up had paid off, I was prepared to send a few bottles of wine over to him at his office as a thanks. And if any job comes through a networking contact, I'll gladly get somebody some wine courtesy of the VHRG!
... until ...
... the question, "How much do you want to make?" was asked. Now, my networking contact gave me a range he believed they'd be willing to pay. Which is what I was looking to make. So I confidentally pitch out the number. Thank you... and... good niiiiiiiiii...
... WHAT?!?!?!?!
... What the hell just happened?
... What's that gasp on your end of the conversation for?
... Why do you suddenly sound tense?
... F*CK! The number was to damn high. I just freaking embarrassed myself. This isn't my fault. NETWORKING CONTAAAAAAAAACT!
As I sat there realizing what happened, I was stunned. How did this go so wrong so quickly? Basically a massive WTF happened as I realized I was going to have to go back to DeltaHouse in the morning sans hope... again.
But it also got me thinking about networking. There are no rules to networking. There's etiquette, but no real actual rules. So I'm going to take a shot at some rules to networking. Here's five that I came up with...
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE feel free to agree, disagree, add, update, or delete these rules. Maybe this could be THE preeminent networking list of rules.
By networking with a person, I signify that I understand the following...
1) ... unless we've been friends for a while, that any contact from you will be related to growing your business, job contacts, or promoting something for your business.
2) ... The Godfather Rule applies. In the movie The Godfather a man (Enzo? The baker? Was that has name?) asks Don Corleone for a favor (no, not Johnny Fontaine, the first guy). Don Corleone agrees to the request and in return he says that there could be a day - but this day may never come - where the Don asks for a favor in return, and the favor must be granted immediately. This rule applies to networking, if I ask you to do me a favor. And later on (years from then, even) if you ask me to do a favor, I'm honor-bound to do such a favor. And vice versa.
3) ... If something goes bad (interview, business deal, etc.), and I messed it up, I owe you an explanation and an apology. You put your neck out there for me, and I messed it up. Let's be professional here. The same is true in reverse. I'd love my networking contact to explain to me WTF happened with the phone interview, but no dice. He's been in hiding. I'd rather just hear what happened. I'm not mad, I just want closure.
4) ... If the networking contact produce something for you (a job, a business deal, a new connection, a new friend, etc.) you owe them a thanks. It could be a thank you note. If it's a job or a business deal, I'd hope it'd be more. If the networking contact's job interview hook-up had paid off, I was prepared to send a few bottles of wine over to him at his office as a thanks. And if any job comes through a networking contact, I'll gladly get somebody some wine courtesy of the VHRG!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Ways you could be losing your employees
I was at a networking event recently, and in the chaos that these events tend to be, I found a group of people that I generally liked, and to a person each of us said something to the effect of, "as soon as the economy picks up, I'm gone." Turns out there's a mini-nation of VHRG's out there looking to do the same thing as this VHRG (third person... BOOM!). Reasons for the desire to move ran the gamut: money, fresh start, tired of the company, tired of the people, never any good news, beat down, etc.
But along these lines, the topic turned to what could be (or could have been, if they were as far gone as me - trust me, met a few, even at companies that I think wouldn't be too bad to work for) to save these orators, poets, and statesmen of HR. Here's some of the stuff that we came us with...
1) Spending money - GASP! Times are tough, VHRG! There is no money! True. But I'm not talking about raises or bonuses. I'm talking about a party. I'm talking about a social gathering where people remember that we are- first and foremost - people. I have two friends in the hotel industry, they are convinced that the year-end party is a dinosaur at this point. Find a place and get a deal and spend a little to have a good time. If employee say, "I'd rather just have a raise." The response is, "It's this party or nothing. What do you choose?"
2) Not checking on your employees - This is to the end of not verbally pumping up employees. Many companies think that a review equals a raise. Incorrect. A review (especially a positive one) even without a raise could make employees feel at least as if the work they are doing counts for something and is being noticed.
3) Not updating the employees - What is the company doing to try to get new business? What suggestions do you have for business success? How is the company doing? Let get everything out on the table. Have ideas of how to grow business? Bring it on!
4) Reminding them that the job market and economy sucks - Tell them that they are lucky to even still miraculously be employed while you're at it (Punk Rock HR, nailed this last week). Then kick their dog. That'll drum up loyalty real quick.
5) Not having fun - Create your own fun. Contests. Games. Parties. Come up with something, anything that you could do to make the current work situation suck less. Your goal needs to be to return the smiles to the company (even if it's for 30 minutes).
But along these lines, the topic turned to what could be (or could have been, if they were as far gone as me - trust me, met a few, even at companies that I think wouldn't be too bad to work for) to save these orators, poets, and statesmen of HR. Here's some of the stuff that we came us with...
1) Spending money - GASP! Times are tough, VHRG! There is no money! True. But I'm not talking about raises or bonuses. I'm talking about a party. I'm talking about a social gathering where people remember that we are- first and foremost - people. I have two friends in the hotel industry, they are convinced that the year-end party is a dinosaur at this point. Find a place and get a deal and spend a little to have a good time. If employee say, "I'd rather just have a raise." The response is, "It's this party or nothing. What do you choose?"
2) Not checking on your employees - This is to the end of not verbally pumping up employees. Many companies think that a review equals a raise. Incorrect. A review (especially a positive one) even without a raise could make employees feel at least as if the work they are doing counts for something and is being noticed.
3) Not updating the employees - What is the company doing to try to get new business? What suggestions do you have for business success? How is the company doing? Let get everything out on the table. Have ideas of how to grow business? Bring it on!
4) Reminding them that the job market and economy sucks - Tell them that they are lucky to even still miraculously be employed while you're at it (Punk Rock HR, nailed this last week). Then kick their dog. That'll drum up loyalty real quick.
5) Not having fun - Create your own fun. Contests. Games. Parties. Come up with something, anything that you could do to make the current work situation suck less. Your goal needs to be to return the smiles to the company (even if it's for 30 minutes).
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Halloween: Work Style!
I decided on a vampire for Halloween. And no, the VHRG (went third person on you again... BOOM!) isn't talking about the Twilight vampires. I'm talking old school black cape, pasty skin, fangs, slicked back hair, and blood trailing down the chin.
OK, I want to have the list! Give it to me. I want to know what Halloween costumes you've seen at work. What was awesome? What crossed the line? What revealed too much about a person?
I want to know what costumes you've had to send people home because it showed a little too much.
I want to know about people who weren't at all aware of their body type.
I want to know if someone dressed like another employee, and how that went.
I'll post the best comments as their own posting. I think this could be a lot of fun.
OK, I want to have the list! Give it to me. I want to know what Halloween costumes you've seen at work. What was awesome? What crossed the line? What revealed too much about a person?
I want to know what costumes you've had to send people home because it showed a little too much.
I want to know about people who weren't at all aware of their body type.
I want to know if someone dressed like another employee, and how that went.
I'll post the best comments as their own posting. I think this could be a lot of fun.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
More weird stuff that happened to me at work...
... I quit a job to work for another company, in the same building. So I basically just dropped down a few floors in an office building. However, for six months after I stopped working at the first company, the HR Manager there would tell me she had a project for me to work on, and would ask if I could see her that afternoon. I always said, "No problem."
... I had a boss that would buy anything a vendor tried to sell her, so long as they took her to dinner (and drinks... lots and lots of drinks). We had two HRIS systems because of this.
... I had someone ask my marital status in a job interview. Thank goodness I got the job. I think my first thought would have been to sue if I didn't.
... I worked with someone who sneezed so loud, I could hear her on the other end of the office.
... I had a manager who had a meeting with us. After she left, we closed the door and met ourselves to figure out responsibilities for the project she assigned. Realizing that we had a closed door, the manager came back in to clarify something, then left with the door to the room open. We closed it again. She then came back to say something else, then left leaving the door open. We closed it again. She then just opened the door and left. Clearly we weren't allowed to have a closed-door meeting.
... I was doing a phone interview, StoneCold knocked on the door. I motion through the tiny window that I was on the phone. StoneCold nodded in understanding, and then stood there staring at me until I was done with the phone interview. The critically urgent matter: He wanted to hand me a doctor's note for yesterday's absence. The company paid him $5.90 to do that, I did the math.
... I had a boss that would buy anything a vendor tried to sell her, so long as they took her to dinner (and drinks... lots and lots of drinks). We had two HRIS systems because of this.
... I had someone ask my marital status in a job interview. Thank goodness I got the job. I think my first thought would have been to sue if I didn't.
... I worked with someone who sneezed so loud, I could hear her on the other end of the office.
... I had a manager who had a meeting with us. After she left, we closed the door and met ourselves to figure out responsibilities for the project she assigned. Realizing that we had a closed door, the manager came back in to clarify something, then left with the door to the room open. We closed it again. She then came back to say something else, then left leaving the door open. We closed it again. She then just opened the door and left. Clearly we weren't allowed to have a closed-door meeting.
... I was doing a phone interview, StoneCold knocked on the door. I motion through the tiny window that I was on the phone. StoneCold nodded in understanding, and then stood there staring at me until I was done with the phone interview. The critically urgent matter: He wanted to hand me a doctor's note for yesterday's absence. The company paid him $5.90 to do that, I did the math.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
What's really going to spark the job market...
... OK, so I used to think that about a year from now, you are going to see a massive game of musical chair where throngs of people would go from job to job in a six month period because of...
a) The natural order of things. People just leave jobs. Think back five years ago, how many people are still at those companies. At SoulCrush, there are two in my group of eight that are still there.
b) People are blaming the messenger. Even if their company wasn't responsible for the crappy condition the company is in (economic conditions/bad luck/poor management), it doesn't matter, they're pissed, and they need a fresh start. They blame the company for pay-cut/no raises, increased workloads, decreased friends at work, decreased happiness at work, etc.
c) The natural throngs of re-hiring that companies would do when the economy bounced back. The ides was that if you had one person doing the job of three, then you would expect the company to add at least one more person to help.
I no longer think that these things are going to be what pulls the job market back up to where it ought to be.
I think two things are going to shepherd the job market back to proposerity...
1) The increase in green technologies. No one cared nearly as much five years ago, even two years ago as they do now on the being green. There will be green jobs created that will start a bit of light shifting in the job market that might free some opportunities up in the job market.
2) And more importantly: the stock market. The stock market was at 14,000 points at it's height before the badness that occurred. Then the, "My 401-k is now a 201-K" jokes started flying. But if the stock market can scratch 14,000 again, my thought is that the Baby Boomers - many of whom were thinking of calling it a career at some point between 2008 and 2014 - will start re-considering retirement as a possibility when the stock market is back up to the level that is was when they were in that frame of mind. Now that they don't have to work anymore... they won't. And they'll leave. And then those jobs will get created.
HOWEVER, this doesn't necessarily mean that all Baby Boomers that thought of retiring will be able to do so. Many of them will have to work past the 14,000 re-climb because they've gotten stuck having to empty their 401-k's in order to make ends meet.
Just a thought, feel free to ridicule.
a) The natural order of things. People just leave jobs. Think back five years ago, how many people are still at those companies. At SoulCrush, there are two in my group of eight that are still there.
b) People are blaming the messenger. Even if their company wasn't responsible for the crappy condition the company is in (economic conditions/bad luck/poor management), it doesn't matter, they're pissed, and they need a fresh start. They blame the company for pay-cut/no raises, increased workloads, decreased friends at work, decreased happiness at work, etc.
c) The natural throngs of re-hiring that companies would do when the economy bounced back. The ides was that if you had one person doing the job of three, then you would expect the company to add at least one more person to help.
I no longer think that these things are going to be what pulls the job market back up to where it ought to be.
I think two things are going to shepherd the job market back to proposerity...
1) The increase in green technologies. No one cared nearly as much five years ago, even two years ago as they do now on the being green. There will be green jobs created that will start a bit of light shifting in the job market that might free some opportunities up in the job market.
2) And more importantly: the stock market. The stock market was at 14,000 points at it's height before the badness that occurred. Then the, "My 401-k is now a 201-K" jokes started flying. But if the stock market can scratch 14,000 again, my thought is that the Baby Boomers - many of whom were thinking of calling it a career at some point between 2008 and 2014 - will start re-considering retirement as a possibility when the stock market is back up to the level that is was when they were in that frame of mind. Now that they don't have to work anymore... they won't. And they'll leave. And then those jobs will get created.
HOWEVER, this doesn't necessarily mean that all Baby Boomers that thought of retiring will be able to do so. Many of them will have to work past the 14,000 re-climb because they've gotten stuck having to empty their 401-k's in order to make ends meet.
Just a thought, feel free to ridicule.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
When Life and Work Collide...
There's been talk about work/life balance a lot lately. HR Happy Hour even discussed "work/life blend" a few podcasts ago. I think this is 100% correct. People that get offended about the idea of "work/life blend" still think that work looks like when Ward would come home on Leave it to Beaver, talk breifly about getting the Peterson Account and you would never hear anything more because Eddie Haskel just complemented Ms. Cleaver's rack.. of lamb.
If you don't understand the above reference it is because it came from a TV show from the 1950's when people were expected to leave work at work and home at home and that was that.
Now you are thinking about work at home and home at work. Everyone has an office phone, cell phone, three email accounts, Facebook, Twitter, and the ability to check any one of these things at any time all the time.
Enter the work/life blend.
The bad side of the work/life blend is this story from DeltaHouse...
NotReadyForLife was overwhelmed by work. She had just entered the working world, and the need to meet deadlines, and the requirement of showing up to work got in the way of her social life in a big way. Not to mention that her family was simply happy that she was employed (and occasionally called me in case FireHydrant was a meanie to her).
I think the main reason I blog is because I've been in enough companies where this sort of stuff just doesn't happen, and would NEVER happen, and could never happen. Because I know that a good company (even a mediocre one) runs much, much, MUCH better than DeltaHouse does. Because I know that half of the long-term employees at DeltaHouse would get killed in a job interview because of their personality issue that I "just have to understand" that so-and-so is crazy/racist/sexist/angry/on his meds/off her meds/lonely/horny/cranky/caffeinated/a jackass/dumb/makes poor life decisions/mean/quiet and I have to be flexible around that and just deal with it.
Anyway, I'm walking through the office to talk to LikeableQuietGirl, and I notice that NotReadyForLife is stoically puffy-eyed-and-crying. And being that I've already had to hear about how PrettyFatGirl is mean to her, I really don't want to know what she's crying over. This is sad, I know. This is also the part where you accuse me of being a sh!tty HR person.
But she didn't come to me, she's just sitting there crying. LikeableQuietGirl walks with me back to my office and says that NoyReadyForLife is crying because her parents called her fifteen minutes ago and told her they had to put her dog to sleep!!!!!!!! It is 2:30 in the afternoon. This couldn't wait until she got home? This is critical information that she needed at that moment? This ruined her work for a solid week. It made half of DeltaHouse way uncomfortable, and for what? A piece of non-urgent-yet-important piece of information that could have waited.
If you don't understand the above reference it is because it came from a TV show from the 1950's when people were expected to leave work at work and home at home and that was that.
Now you are thinking about work at home and home at work. Everyone has an office phone, cell phone, three email accounts, Facebook, Twitter, and the ability to check any one of these things at any time all the time.
Enter the work/life blend.
The bad side of the work/life blend is this story from DeltaHouse...
NotReadyForLife was overwhelmed by work. She had just entered the working world, and the need to meet deadlines, and the requirement of showing up to work got in the way of her social life in a big way. Not to mention that her family was simply happy that she was employed (and occasionally called me in case FireHydrant was a meanie to her).
I think the main reason I blog is because I've been in enough companies where this sort of stuff just doesn't happen, and would NEVER happen, and could never happen. Because I know that a good company (even a mediocre one) runs much, much, MUCH better than DeltaHouse does. Because I know that half of the long-term employees at DeltaHouse would get killed in a job interview because of their personality issue that I "just have to understand" that so-and-so is crazy/racist/sexist/angry/on his meds/off her meds/lonely/horny/cranky/caffeinated/a jackass/dumb/makes poor life decisions/mean/quiet and I have to be flexible around that and just deal with it.
Anyway, I'm walking through the office to talk to LikeableQuietGirl, and I notice that NotReadyForLife is stoically puffy-eyed-and-crying. And being that I've already had to hear about how PrettyFatGirl is mean to her, I really don't want to know what she's crying over. This is sad, I know. This is also the part where you accuse me of being a sh!tty HR person.
But she didn't come to me, she's just sitting there crying. LikeableQuietGirl walks with me back to my office and says that NoyReadyForLife is crying because her parents called her fifteen minutes ago and told her they had to put her dog to sleep!!!!!!!! It is 2:30 in the afternoon. This couldn't wait until she got home? This is critical information that she needed at that moment? This ruined her work for a solid week. It made half of DeltaHouse way uncomfortable, and for what? A piece of non-urgent-yet-important piece of information that could have waited.
Cheers to Ben Eubanks
So my guy Ben Eubanks took a few minutes to talk about the VHRG. (I just went third-person on you... BOOM!) And he had questioned the leadership at DelatHouse and TheBoss, as the primary reason for my disenchantment at DeltaHouse. And he hit the nail on the head for me. Allow me to explain using an example from this week.
MiddlePart needs a new person. A good person. The right person. I know MiddlePart needs this person. I like MiddlePart (other than a middle part that would make Dwight Schrute jealous) so this is going to be fun for me. Find someone good... I love finding someone good. For some reason, no one at DeltaHouse has a budget that they can spend. Basically, you have you ask your boss (in my case, TheBoss) for clearance to spend money. Typically the decision is made based on how serious he perceives the needs to be and if there is money. I inform MiddlePart of this and cringe as I do it because I know what TheBoss is going to say at the suggestion of spending money on a job posting... "Can't you post on Craig's List for free?"
Which is exactly what his email said two hours later when he responded. TheBoss doesn't get the VHRG's back, the VHRG tried to hire without getting enough candidates, MiddlePart makes a hire he's not too excited about, the hire has a higher probability of failing because the process that TheBoss wanted to do was cheap and sucked, MiddlePart has a bad feeling about the hire and if the hire falters, he'll be out. Crappy leadership.
Moral of the story: If you have a good leader and a good culture, hold on to it with both hands, and never let go.
MiddlePart needs a new person. A good person. The right person. I know MiddlePart needs this person. I like MiddlePart (other than a middle part that would make Dwight Schrute jealous) so this is going to be fun for me. Find someone good... I love finding someone good. For some reason, no one at DeltaHouse has a budget that they can spend. Basically, you have you ask your boss (in my case, TheBoss) for clearance to spend money. Typically the decision is made based on how serious he perceives the needs to be and if there is money. I inform MiddlePart of this and cringe as I do it because I know what TheBoss is going to say at the suggestion of spending money on a job posting... "Can't you post on Craig's List for free?"
Which is exactly what his email said two hours later when he responded. TheBoss doesn't get the VHRG's back, the VHRG tried to hire without getting enough candidates, MiddlePart makes a hire he's not too excited about, the hire has a higher probability of failing because the process that TheBoss wanted to do was cheap and sucked, MiddlePart has a bad feeling about the hire and if the hire falters, he'll be out. Crappy leadership.
Moral of the story: If you have a good leader and a good culture, hold on to it with both hands, and never let go.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
4 Types of People that Will Ruin Lunch
First thing's first, I'm going to be on the HR Happy Hour podcast on Thursday (live), or Friday (podcasted). Check it out. I'm going to tell some stories I wrote about already. And some new ones too. Back to the article.
The group lunch, the most ridiculous social experiment in the history of work. You and people that you kinda like are about to go out to lunch together. Here are the people that are going to go with you for lunch...
No Veggie Guy
This guy doesn't want any vegetables... ever. If it's green and he's eating it, it's cookie icing. His hamburger has only cheese, meat, and maybe ketchup on it. If you ask him why he has made such a lifestyle choice, he reacts like a vegetarian.
No Ethnic Food Guy
(by the way, "guy" is just easier to write. Feel free to assume I mean both genders). This person is afraid of any kind of ethnic food. And no, I don't mean the questionable Indian food buffet down the street. No Ethnic Food Guy doesn't want spaghetti or tacos, or any of that other "foreign food."
The Vegetarian
This person is scary. They go to lunch, sip diet soda, and ask for a side of rice. Then blather on about how this was the only option available to them to eat. Before lunch they "didn't care" about where you were going to go. Now that the group picked, you are treated to stories about how the cows that went into the burger you are currently eating... nevermind. You didn't want to know the first time.
The Creature of Habit
This person only wants to go the place you've been going every day for the past past seven years and order the same sandwich/salad/dish that they've always ordered. They get the shakes when you suggest going to a new place, because that new place isn't the same place you've been going to forever. And if you get lunch at the new place, that means you're not going to the same place you've been going to forever.
The group lunch, the most ridiculous social experiment in the history of work. You and people that you kinda like are about to go out to lunch together. Here are the people that are going to go with you for lunch...
No Veggie Guy
This guy doesn't want any vegetables... ever. If it's green and he's eating it, it's cookie icing. His hamburger has only cheese, meat, and maybe ketchup on it. If you ask him why he has made such a lifestyle choice, he reacts like a vegetarian.
No Ethnic Food Guy
(by the way, "guy" is just easier to write. Feel free to assume I mean both genders). This person is afraid of any kind of ethnic food. And no, I don't mean the questionable Indian food buffet down the street. No Ethnic Food Guy doesn't want spaghetti or tacos, or any of that other "foreign food."
The Vegetarian
This person is scary. They go to lunch, sip diet soda, and ask for a side of rice. Then blather on about how this was the only option available to them to eat. Before lunch they "didn't care" about where you were going to go. Now that the group picked, you are treated to stories about how the cows that went into the burger you are currently eating... nevermind. You didn't want to know the first time.
The Creature of Habit
This person only wants to go the place you've been going every day for the past past seven years and order the same sandwich/salad/dish that they've always ordered. They get the shakes when you suggest going to a new place, because that new place isn't the same place you've been going to forever. And if you get lunch at the new place, that means you're not going to the same place you've been going to forever.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Weird Question...
... How frequently should one look online for a job? Daily? Weekly? Does anyone know of a site that I might not be thinking about?
Halloween Costume Ideas? Anybody?
For some reason, DeltaHouse feels the need to have people dress up for Halloween. For even strangers reason last year, we fired a girl on Halloween. Imagine someone dressed and made up exactly like The Joker from The Dark Knight letting you go... it happened. That's the last time I call in sick on Halloween. So anyway, I need an idea for Halloween. And I figure that being that I'm the perceived black hole of all that is good and pure at DeltaHouse I ought to dress the part. Any ideas? I was thinking devil or vampire.
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