Archive through January 04, 2002

The ClubHouse: Archives: Dear Abbey...: Archive through January 04, 2002

Weinermr

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:02 pm Click here to edit this post
Heck Fruitbat, I've worn $35.00 ties that were marked down to $12 at the neighborhood Ross or Marshall's or at the nearest outlet center, and have been complimented on them many times.

Grooch

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:08 pm Click here to edit this post
TK, great idea! I will get the Chia pet and pocket the difference.

Fruitbat

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:12 pm Click here to edit this post
Betcha didn't get a compliment from me.

Weinermr

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:38 pm Click here to edit this post
Hey, at least you'd never catch me wearing a clip-on tie. Not since 8th grade anyway.

Fruitbat

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:40 pm Click here to edit this post
Good boy.

Weinermr

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:47 pm Click here to edit this post
<weinermr beams with pride, but isn't quite sure why>

Oregonfire

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 01:52 pm Click here to edit this post
Poor men and their ties! The cheap ones ARE horrid. Ties to men are like panty hose to women--socially expected, often uncomfortable, and in need of constant rotation and/or replacing. I like the gift certificate idea for the boss, or the magazine subscription. Another good idea may be one of those day by day desk calenders with funny sayings, although they are less than $25 dollars, I'm sure. One boss of mine had a day calendar of archaic words that he would post outside of his office for a bit of workplace entertainment.

Willi

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 02:53 pm Click here to edit this post
Ok Grooch. You can thank me later. This is what every Accounting department head longs for:

A bubble gum bank. You can find it here:
http://www.antiquegumball.com/novelty/bubblegumbank.htm
$24.99 including shipping!

Bubble gum is useful for oh-so-many things. He can chew it or use a few pieces to create an interesting object. In a pinch, he can use it to get the lint off his pants or hide a spot on that tacky tie he got for Christmas. (you just know he'll get one) If he runs out of post-its, well, just think how handy a bit of chewed gum could be.

And...Unchewed gumballs can serve as a form of non-threatening personal protection.

The coup de resistance, however, is the fact that he gets all that AND a bank. Any accountant (especially head accountant) should appreciate the value of that.

:)

Car54

Friday, December 14, 2001 - 02:55 pm Click here to edit this post
Perfect!

Grooch

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 12:02 pm Click here to edit this post
Believe it or not, there have been many requests to find out what I got my boss for Christmas. So here it is. I hope you enjoy this.

First let me state that I have been working for this company for almost 5 years. I replaced a person who was retiring. The one thing she warned me about was not to get involved with parties. I should have heeded that advice.

Until this Christmas, I was the only one that worked under my boss. Every year, getting him a Christmas gift was easy. He loves golf. So I would buy him a golf calander of all the famous golf courses. He always seemed to enjoy it. It was simple, cheap and appreciated.

Well, this year (even though he was the controller already) he became in charge of the a/p, a/r and the invoicing departments.

The a/r & invoicing departments are really 1 dept and they never throw parties. They don't even acknowledge birthdays. They are at that one end of the extreme.

The a/p department is all the way at the other end of the extreme. If anything at all happens, it is an excuse to throw a party. They spend more time planning parties than they do working. Plus they always seem to be finangling an extra buck or 2 out of you so they can have leftovers for themselves the next day. This year they have had so many, I pretty much dropped out of them.

Did you ever see the Seinfield episode with Elaine's job and there was a cake for some occassion for everyday, and she finally had it with them, so she said she was sick and couldn't go to the party, so they had a get well party for her? That is our a/p department to a tee.

Anyway, the head of the a/p depart came to me and asked if I wanted to go to their Christmas lunch party. It was the end of the year, I hadn't been to hardly any and it was Christmas. So I agreed to go. I was told it was $6. Fine, I said.

Then she let it slip how they always collected an extra $ so they would have extra for themselves the next day. I said, "What?"

"After all these years, I have been paying extra money, and I have never been offered to eat the leftovers with you the next day?" I was disgusted. (I am giving you the shortened version. There is so much party history crap.)

So she said, "Don't worry, just give me $5 tomorrow instead of 6. That will be enough."

So I agreed to go to the party. Then she snuck in, "Btw, we are collecting $5 from everyone to get a gift for the boss. Do you want to join in?"

I thought to myself how I always get him the calander, and I should just say no. But I was in a generous mood and figured I would give her the money and I would still get him my gift. They were thinking of getting him a shirt or something. So I agreed.

That's when she hit me with the double whammy. After I already accepted to go in on it, she asked me to go get the gift, since I worked for him the longest and knew him the best. Argh! I really hate malls and I hate clothes shopping. She lives in a mall and is a great bargain hunter. Stupidly, I agreed.

That's when I asked you guys for advice.

My boss is kind of a fussy person, and when I give a gift, I like to give something they will like and use. So I went to the mall (Where I had to sit an extra hour in traffic because of an accident that night) and looked for a shirt.

I really don't know men's brands names that well. Like I said he is fussy. So I went to Burdines. They had some great sales. I had only $25 to spend (that included my $5.)

They had some nice Ralph Lauren shirts on clearence for $30.00. That was to much money. I went to a few other stores, but I didn't know if the brands were any good or not, so I went back to Burdines (Macy's in the rest of the country.)

I looked around again and found a table of Tommy Hilfigar shirts on sale for $30 also. These were new in stock, so I figured if he didn't like the color or size, there would be plenty left that he can exchange (unlike the clearance shirts. See, I am being thoughtful.) But with tax, the shirt would come up to $33 and I only had $25.

I figured I would buy the shirt anyway and ask for one extra $ from everyone (that would be $4 more) and I would make up the difference.) I thought it would be no big deal, since they have been asking an extra dollar from me for all these years for countless parties. So I came up with a really great idea that since they are asking for the extra $ for the party and are buying extra food, why not let me go for free, and they don't have to give me any extra money. It works out in their favor. I thought I was doing something common sense wise. I should have known.

The next day, I told the head of a/p about it and she agreed and said it was fine. No problem. Later that day, the person collecting the money for the party asked for my share. I would have thought her boss would have said something. Anyway, I explained to her what me and her boss worked out.

Well that just upset the apple cart. She jumped up started talking hysterically in spanish to her coworker who started getting hysterical too, then the other girl came over and started getting hyper also. Their was much yapping in spanish (that I don't speak) and wild arm gesturings, that I just turned around and walked off. I have seen this to many times.

I called the a/p boss and she came by to my office and I told her what had just happened. She apologized. Afterwards she said she talked to them and it was ok, and it was all worked out. I then told her screw the lunch, I'm not going and I don't want the extra $ from them either because I know they are convinced that I am somehow screwing them out of one dollar. I know how this group operates.

So they put in $5 each and I put in $12. It's not about the money, but their attitude. It is constantly like this. This is why, the woman before me, warned me not to get involved with their parties.

Ok, this is a long enough post. Next year, I am getting him his calander and be done with them.

Pcakes2

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 12:41 pm Click here to edit this post
OMG Grooch! How can you deal with that insanity.

I'm got stuck with the Xmas gift giving task this year. Our dept for years had given gifts to certain people in the company who "help out" our dept, and we usually buy lunch for our production dept. Well, the list was about 10 people, and with the exception of 2 of them, no one really interacted with our dept anymore, so I decided to cut them off. They are 10 of us in my dept, and we all kicked in $20 each. We were able to give the 2 who really deserve it better gifts. We couldn't decide what to get..a gift or gift certificate...(one's a guy 30, and the other is a woman in her late 50s). I finally decided that we should each give them $100 and let them pick something for themselves. They were both thrilled, and the woman just told me she was going to " wear our Christams present" tomorrow. She bought a great cashmere sweater at Macy's (on sale). The guy is a new home owner, and he bought paint, and misc stuff at Home Depot. They both said how much they appreciated the cash!

Grooch

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 12:58 pm Click here to edit this post
Pcakes, my life is one endless Seinfeld episode. What you call insanity, is normal for down here.

At my sister's job, the owners used to throw a huge Thanksgiving barbaque lunch every year for the workers.

They finally stopped it because one year they saw all the workers making up huge plates of food and then taking it straight to their cars to take home. And then they went back to make a plate for themselves to eat.

I'm glad you had better luck with your Christmas presents. Can I come work for you?

Twiggyish

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:00 pm Click here to edit this post
Good for you Grooch! I hope your boss liked the gift, after you went to all that trouble. That was very rude of them to react like that!

Whoami

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:08 pm Click here to edit this post
Wow Grooch! What a bunch of *****(insert your own descriptive word). I worked with a bunch like that too. We'd have potlucks, and once in a while someone would be invited to eat who had either forgotten their item, or had been away at vacation and was unaware a potluck was brewing. There was always "potluck police" who would closely examine everyone getting a plate, and would loudly exclaim "hey, they didn't bring any food! They can't eat!" Once, I told them, "well, I brought this dish, and they are more than welcome to as much of it as they want!"

To me a potluck is a chance to get together and enjoy each other's company. It's also a wonderful chance to sample several cultural dishes in a company with a diverse population. There is always more than enough food. If someone forgot, can't afford to supply a dish, or for whatever reason wasn't able to contribute, I say invite them. Sure, there are your occasional freeloaders. But they are pretty easy to identify, and not likely to be invited!

Whoami

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:26 pm Click here to edit this post
Oops, thought of another story....

This also reminds me of a supervisor I had. She organized a lunch for our department, and we (I mean she) decided we'd collect money and order out KFC. She also invited her bosses to have lunch with us. She collected XX amount of $$ from each of us, telling us we were ordering 3 piece chicken meals. All the boxes were supposed to be identical, so we just each grabbed a box. Turns out, as many of us were opening our boxes, several of us only had 2 pieces, and other items in the meals were missing. We tried to bring this to her attention, thinking KFC had ripped us off. She hushed us and wouldn't let us talk. After lunch was over (and her bosses had left), she told us what she'd done. She collected money from US, invited her bosses (who she didn't collect money from), then ordered with the money she got from us. Since it wasn't enough $$ to buy meals for each of the people who were eating, she told KFC to use a few extra boxes, and scatter the food throughout all the boxes, so everyone would get something. So, basically we ordered a three piece meal for ourselves, then gave some of our pieces (and other items) to our boss's bosses! I wouldn't have objected so much if she had been up front about it. Like, ask us to each chip in .50 or so to invite the managers. But it came out as, WE put in the money, She invited her bosses (and made herself look good in the process), and then gave them our food! Again, I have no problem with sharing, or chipping in, or flat out buying dinner for someone. But just don't sneak it out of me!

Grooch

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:30 pm Click here to edit this post
Whoami, the a/p dept has pulled that stunt quite a few times too.

Have some type of party, ask $10 from us for a $5 meal, because she kept asking top management to come for free. Pisses me off. It's that whole sneaky thing that gets me.

(Potluck Police, lmao!)

Tksoard

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:37 pm Click here to edit this post
It sounds like taking from the poor and feeding the rich. Something doesn't sound right here!!

Pcakes2

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:51 pm Click here to edit this post
When we reach our Monthly goals here, our boss (who fancies himself as a gourmet) prepares lunch for us. I mean Lunch with a capital L. Last one was filet mignon, shrimp, 10 different appetizers, etc. It's a 3 hour ordeal! There are 10 of us in the dept, and sometimes extra people get invited as a "thank you for your support". Big bucks are spent on these meals, and all of us hate to go. We're thinking about asking for a 1/2 day off each in place of it next month, but my boss loves to do this. My question is...how can we do this without hurting his feelings? Also, each month we have a birthday/anniversary with the company
celebration for the dept...usually about the 15th or so. Well, there are many months (like December) when no one has a bday or anniv, but the still get a cake. What's the point?...Give me the cash that they're spending on these friggin cakes!

Grooch

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:56 pm Click here to edit this post
Pcakes, Send him to my company so he can make lunch my a/p dept. Afterdealing with them, he will never make another lunch again!

Wink

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 02:04 pm Click here to edit this post
Grooch you really NEED to get out of Miami. No seriously you really NEED to come farther north. I've picked out a perfect little place for you in la belle provence.

Whoami

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 02:06 pm Click here to edit this post
Pcakes, why do all of you hate going to these lunches? On the surface, it looks like a very generous thing they are doing for you. I don't know your full story of course, but when one of the places I worked did a thoughtful gesture only to be met with "give me a day off or just give me the cash instead" attitude, I thought THAT was a bit selfish and ungrateful. Of course, I knew those people, and the kind of personalities they posessed. So it was easy for me to form that opinion of them. I can't form that opinion of you cause I don't know what motivates your response.

Oregonfire

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 02:17 pm Click here to edit this post
Hey, Grooch, I used to be in charge of all the editors' birthday parties at my old job, and it was really a hassle. I got tired of always asking folks for money. If everyone would have put in $20 for the entire year, than it would have been easier than repeatedly begging folks for money every month.

Inevitably, someone would complain about the kind of cake I'd gotten, or that the cake was too expensive, or the card I'd gotten was too mean, meaning sarcastic, and I had to make sure that everyone signed the card too--I got an e-mail from someone once who was miffed because she had been skipped. I also had to book a conference room and do clean up. I absolutely refused to pay more than my share, because I was making about half of what these folks were making.

Meanwhile, we were a tight schedule to get pension law books and journals to the compositor by the deadlines, but everyone was focusing on this dumb party stuff (although I did like my party, that for sure!). I also had to trudge around Manhattan on foot or by subway with the cake, because no one wanted to pay for the high-priced cakes at the shop just up the street from the office. I didn't even mind being overworked and underpaid at that job, but the birthday party crap was the main reason I wanted out. Seems trivial, huh?

At another job, they celebrated birtdays every three months, so if you fell into that time period, you got a present and everyone got a little party. This approach seems more reasonable, plus the boss would go ahead and pay for everything instead of this nickel and diming the little guy business. Anyway Grooch, I empathize with you completely!

Car54

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 02:36 pm Click here to edit this post
Grooch, I have a good Christmas work story for you:
I was a manager at a large college coop bookstore with about 100 employees.

The President of the coop was really big on recognizing employees, but you had to sort of pay for his indulgence.

His office was on the top floor of the store- very remote- only accessible by 3 narrow stairwells and several remote hallways. This gentleman was a little confused- he was the president of a large store- but in his mind he thought he was the President of the United states, I think.

On Christmas each employee received a turkey AND a ham, but to get your stuff, you had to go up to the president's office and shake his hand. So all day on Christmas eve- the 100 employees would climb the stairs, bow to the king, kiss his ring, and back out carrying the turkey and ham.

As department managers, we had to form a court in his office and "introduce" our department staff to the president. All of this was taken extremely seriously and any violation of etiquette was not tolerated. It went on ALL day!
Every janitor, student cashier, security guard, warehouse guys had to come pay their respects.

This was the strangest office Christmas experience I ever had!

Mssilhouette

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 02:56 pm Click here to edit this post
As for Pcakes dillema it does seem that the boss is being thoughtful and generous and that may in fact be the case BUT if the boss is really a great guy and he really enjoys this then maybe it's not just a bad thing to grin and bear it.

If he's a tyrrant and this is just a way to make amends for his bad behavior for the rest of the year, I think I can understand why the lunch might be resented wereas the money could have just been given as bonuses for the hard work.

Also if you're being paid low wages for hard work its almost like a slap in the face to see the big expensive spread with no bonus or wage increase.

Overall pcakes, you have to determine if your boss is a good guy and is doing best he knows how by trying to make the job fun for everyone. And maybe your boss gets a thrill to cook for a lot of people. He might figure that giving cash is cold and impersonal but that by working hard on a lunch for everyone he is actually doing something for you just like the team did for him by meeting the goals.

I know you might want to have the money but I think overall sounds like a good hearted gesture.

Willi

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 03:44 pm Click here to edit this post
Grooch, had you of bought the dang gummed gumball machine, you could of winged those wingnuts with the gumballs and atleast amused yourself.


Golf calendar next year; Good plan.
:)