View Full Version : Stepford office
I am at my wits end. My job has always been stressful, but the bs we're now having to deal with is over the top. It's Stepford office stuff.
The head boss for our office resigned maybe a month ago. A VP is covering for now. She is a real corporate type. It's been mandated we have to set up our desks exactly the same way, phone in the exact same place, for example. That is beyond stupid. I'm right handed. If I had to move my phone to the left side, it would be a mess.
Now we are also told that there cannot be any files on our desks except the specific one we're working on at any given time. We have a cart for files in progress. We have one small file drawer at each cube with wide shelves built under the desktop on one side. One very small, shallow drawer for supplies. We've been told we have to have NOTHING on these shelves. Nothing. We are cursed with this very inefficient workspace due to a previous executive who designed our current space 4 years ago.
Even the box of tea I kept on the open shelf in my cube has to go!
Because of my customs compliance position, I have a ton of reference materials I need to have handy. No one has been able to tell me what I'm supposed to do with everything and has gotten hostile when I ask. It is stupid beyond belief.
Yikes. That is stupid. Where exactly are you supposed to put things like a purse?
would they fire you if you had your reference materials at hand? I mean, what are they threatening you with if you don't comply? this seems ridiculous!
I have to say, though, I'm right-handed and I like my phone on the left so I can hold the phone in the left and write with the right as I'm talking.
Teacher Terry
11-3-17, 3:44pm
Ask them do they want work to get done or to pay you to put your manuals away and back out all day long? This has got to be one of the stupidest things I have heard in a while.
I would find a sweater with enormous pockets and put my box of tea and maybe other things in that.
I have heard of a clear workspace when you leave at the end of the day, especially if you are desk sharing with another shift, but this is another thing altogether. Sleeping with the Enemy came to mind, where the Julia Roberts character knows her creepy ex broke in to her apartment because all the cans in the cupboard are perfectly aligned. Total control freakishness. Do you know if they have any candidates in mind so the VP can go back to her own job?
I feel for you, Tradd. I retired this year, but the MegaCorp. I worked for fell in love with the minimalist look, too, although it was only in certain work areas. Much historical archival material was tossed because "no one is interested" in the company's history (which actually had a lot of great and innovative things to be proud of).
On top of that they decided on the "no assigned cubicles" scheme for their HQ, and in select parts of the division I worked for in AZ. What a nightmare, I'm so glad I avoided that.
It seems CEOs everywhere are entranced with the look of a Google workspace without thinking if that really applies in their own business.
I have my phone on my right since I dial with my right. I have a headset so I'm hands free for longer calls.
Today was interesting...took everything off my cube low walls (including phone extension list). Put it in a file somewhere. Had some old files (from long departed customers) I no longer needed. I pitched and pitched. Coworkers came over to see what was going on because they kept hearing the thumps of stuff being tossed into the trash can. I asked my boss if I needed to take my framed brokers license home. She just stared at me.
The VP wants bare, she's got it. I'm going to prove how unworkable it is. I even took down my one personal item - a funny greeting card with a diver and sharks, plus a small sign that says "Great Lakes: Unsalted and Shark Free." I dumped my pen holder into my small supplies drawer. Several coworkers asked me if I was planning on quitting.
I spent several hours this afternoon trying to work the way we're supposed to now. It's so impractical it's ridiculous. I needed to have multiple files out as a customer had called asking about them and I was given the stink eye when VP walked by. I spent more time trying to keep stuff neat than actually working. Stuff went undone because of it.
rosarugosa
11-4-17, 6:34am
My workplace went through something similar several years ago as part of the move to a "Lean" inspired corporate culture. My dept has two locations, and while we interpreted the guidelines pretty reasonably in Boston, apparently our alternate location was quite draconian, and one employee was reduced to tears when told she could hang up a picture of her family or an award certificate, but not both. I just don't know how anyone could have imagined this was a good idea. I have worked in HR for a long time now, and I've concluded that people come up with new stuff on a regular basis to justify their existence, and much of it is absurd.
Williamsmith
11-4-17, 9:49am
Reminds me of Les Nessman on WKRP in Cincinnati and his “office” problem.
https://youtu.be/SkP9DKnOgn0
iris lilies
11-4-17, 10:38am
Well, I will confess to having had a few rules on cubicle crap in my days as a manager. I told employees they could have unlimited stuff hanging on their walls but personal objects on their work surface, nope. Like your cute little stuffed hippo? So take a photo of it and hang that on your wall. Get the glitter fairy shit off of your monitor, IT dept. is cranky about that.Maintenance Department couldnt work on the vents last week because you guys had plants all over the vents on the window sills. Christmas was 8 months ago, those pointsettias look like drek, get rid of them.
Clutter creeps in, humans like clutter, it is constant work to keep the place clutter free.
Oh that sounds horrible, I like a little personal stuff. Honestly no one cares about my space and it is a freakin' disaster. I have a small room for me and my assistant and we store pretty much all our supplies for programs there as well.
I know my ex worked in a classified environment and they had to clear the desk every night. Many things had to go to a safe. However I think he was allowed to put his phone his own way and have a photo up.
I just read an article about stupid sh** that makes good people want to quit. One is to take a problem of one or a couple people and then turn the solution into a policy for everyone. Another was being excessively controlling. I don't know if your new guy is just controlling or if they can't manage that one messy desk person. It is poor management skills to make everyone follow a rule to manage one employee.
IL - I had a 'pens without caps' rule. It came after pen leaks over and over.
I have no issue with the "clean desk at end of day" rule. But making us keep a nearly totally clean desk during the workday is the problem. We have file carts with hanging files showing 1-31 tabs. Anything you have to do on a particular day goes in that specific day. It's our habit to pull out all the same kind of files, for example, all the ones that need customs clearance that day or needing to trace on the railroad or with the airline. Pull out stack of files for tracing, trace them, then put them in the next day. If some are available at destination, and need to be dispatched to trucker, put those aside to take care of at once when tracing is done. Like with like.
But this BS of do a file, put it away, take out next file, then put it away, is very inefficient and a total waste of time.
Then there's us not having enough space for reference materials due to the cube shelves that have to be kept totally clear. I've left my reference materials where they are for the time being. They are mostly in binders, so they are neat.
We are a very file heavy industry. One file for each shipment. Lots of paper. The Google office look does not work for our industry.
It seems like a typical new manager who does not know the job you do and just wants to prove authority. Another common scenario is a promotion of someone who sucked at the job and now wants everyone to do things his sucky way. I hope that his head is removed from his hind regions soon. Is he walking around and checking too?
The VP is a she and a total Barbie. She used to be the HR manager which makes her essentially "the enemy." She has industry experience, but it's been a long time since she did operations.
Teacher Terry
11-4-17, 4:05pm
When I worked for the state we had offices with windows. It was nice. Then they decided to not pay for as much space and started chopping up the spaces smaller and smaller and some offices did not have windows. They decided that they wanted the people that worked more closely together right next to each other. So for instance they put a secretary in an office next to a counselor, etc. It was a stupid idea because our office space was not that big to begin with. So my work group was only 4 people and we got moved to the worst offices with no windows. They were very small and the air and heat did not work so well. 3 of us were professionals yet the secretaries for the other department had much better offices. So I had a professional photographer take pictures of all my 4 dogs posing individually and together. I printed them out and papered the entire wall behind me in my office with them. I was told to remove them and said no unless I get a office with a window or show me a state rule. They backed off pretty quick and I think the reason why is because I was doing the work of 2 people after we lost a position and I could have slowed down instead of working like a maniac.
Lord save us from petty tyrants.
Total control freakishness. Do you know if they have any candidates in mind so the VP can go back to her own job?
I strongly suspect that if Tradd's new supervisor reports to the VP and the policy does not bomb out as totally unworkable (i.e., it costs the company money somehow), the policy will stay even if it has to be mandated down a couple of layers of employees.
Sounds like it's time for a little job-action strike (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/work-to-rule.html)...
Steve, the temporary head boss for my office is the VP. My direct manager and supervisor have been the same for more than a year.
Well, VP hasn't been in the office today and we're all just working as we ordinarily would, with lots of files out while we're working. LOL. Direct supervisor and manager think the VP's edicts are stupid.
Well, VP hasn't been in the office today and we're all just working as we ordinarily would, with lots of files out while we're working. LOL. Direct supervisor and manager think the VP's edicts are stupid.
That seems helpful at least, when the VP is out everyone can do a regular type of work!
Weird update of sorts:
I always get a box of candy from a customer for Christmas each year. This has been going on for 11 years. I always have a few pieces and share it with my department. When it came, boss opened the package even though it was clearly addressed to me, let me have 1 piece, and then put it in the lunchroom, where the many warehouse workers quickly ate it.
The rule now is that all food items received as gifts have to be shared with everyone. We can't even keep items to ourselves in the office. if you even bring anything to the office to share, it has to be put in the lunchroom, which means the warehouse workers who are many, will quickly devour anything put out.
So if you brought homemade whatever, you can't even offer it first to the office folks, it has to immediately be put in the lunchroom. There's an off chance there will be some left by 10am.
I'm not going to bring anything to the office anymore. The warehouse folks are primarily temps and just trash the lunchroom daily. I'm not feeding 50 people just because the big boss has some weird ideas about sharing. The warehouse folks are always bringing in stuff amongst themselves, right down to Birthday parties at lunch to which they keep amongst themselves.
catherine
12-19-17, 3:03pm
Are you serious? I never even opened my daughter's mail, never mind an employee's. Wow. I agree. When it gets to the point where sharing cookies with a cube-mate is contraband, that's too much.
So....are you back to checking to see if any other offices across the country need help? There are other places to check out the scuba scene.
I'm so sorry it's become to toxic there. Unbelievable.
sweetana3
12-19-17, 3:38pm
Probably not even worth raising the issue of the inequality of warehouse workers not sharing in the same manner. The manager is ultimately very short sighted. He should be working to increase morale of the office workers as well as the warehouse workers. He sure is not.
Here's an idea.........Make some chocolates laced with ex-lax and address it to you and send it to your office. :devil:
Sounds crappy, and that you were already sharing nicely. I wouldn't be happy.
I do have experience with lunch rooms being trashed by people and it is really gross. I started bringing some lunches in warmer weather that don't need the lunchroom microwave and then eat outside. Not such a good option in your climate and this time of year!
Come to Denver, lots of booming economy and legal substances, but crazy rental prices.
Our bigwigs seem to be taking all our holiday treats. Today a coworker was talking about sending a package anonymously to our department to see if we get it.
I don't mind because it helps me stay on my diet.
sweetana3
12-19-17, 8:33pm
We only had clean lunch/break areas with either
1. Assigned clean up duties and rigid rules. Like everything in the fridge is thrown out Friday afternoon. Period.
2. One employee just assumes the clean up duties. Not fair but others just let them do it. The messies are not even embarrassed about it.
I have been looking for another position. The problem is that with my experience (nearly 25 years), education, and brokers license, many people consider I should be in management. I don't want that at all. The positions available that are sort of equivalent to what I'm doing now would require a $15K-$20K pay cut.
Most positions open are for management. The positions out of my area will not pay any sort of moving expenses.
Could you start your own consulting company, or do the same work you do now as an outsourcer?
I would not want to go out on my own. Don't have the savings for that. And no to the other.
Weird update of sorts:
I always get a box of candy from a customer for Christmas each year. This has been going on for 11 years. I always have a few pieces and share it with my department. When it came, boss opened the package even though it was clearly addressed to me, let me have 1 piece, and then put it in the lunchroom, where the many warehouse workers quickly ate it.
The rule now is that all food items received as gifts have to be shared with everyone. We can't even keep items to ourselves in the office. if you even bring anything to the office to share, it has to be put in the lunchroom, which means the warehouse workers who are many, will quickly devour anything put out.
So if you brought homemade whatever, you can't even offer it first to the office folks, it has to immediately be put in the lunchroom. There's an off chance there will be some left by 10am.
I'm not going to bring anything to the office anymore. The warehouse folks are primarily temps and just trash the lunchroom daily. I'm not feeding 50 people just because the big boss has some weird ideas about sharing. The warehouse folks are always bringing in stuff amongst themselves, right down to Birthday parties at lunch to which they keep amongst themselves.
This is so wrong. Make manager a special batch, send to her by mail and see if she spends all day in the restroom or if it goes out to the warehouse bunch...........
I was thinking that chances are she/he is this clueless in other areas of life. My ex was so clueless this way. For awhile he would listen to me when I explained social rules, once he was earning a much better income he stopped listening. maybe the same thing with this person, they are promoted so they think everything they do is fine now. I just recall getting the phone calls the day after a party telling me something he had done that was innappropriate, again.
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