Ok, gotta talk about this crap!

Uh, I was watching the news this morning, and found myself seriously asking this question:

"Why is Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize?"

I mean, sure, he's the first African-American President for our nation. Yes, he's actually done SOME change with our economy.

However, I fail to see how those two things qualify him for the prize.

Teddy Roosevelt earned it because of his actions in ending the Russo-Japanese war.

Woodrow Wilson earned it for starting the League of Nations.

Jimmy Carter has earned his for trying to continually promote world peace. I mean, even after being in the Presidency, he's still working for a global community!

And now we've got Barack Obama.

What is the reasoning?

"His effort to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"

Um, excuse me?

Isn't that the job description of EACH and EVERY president we've elected?

Ronald Reagan had to deal with the Soviets.

Hell, Kennedy had to deal with Castro, Vietnam, and the Cold War.

FDR had World War II to deal with. Same with Eisenhower.

Yet none of these men even got an honorable mention for their efforts.

So again, I have to ask what exactly has Obama done?

He's moved troops around in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He's trying to bring our nation back from the brink of bankruptcy (yet again!).

However, he hasn't really formally been able to conclude ANY of these actions.

There's still military actions being taken in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We're still in the middle of an "economic crisis" here in the states.

In fact, funding is getting so poor that we're having to cut costs by decreasing the time we spend teaching our children.

So as long as we can't teach our kids how to better themselves, and then can't afford to pay for them to make it to college, send them off to wars that have been brewing and going on EVEN WITHOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT, then get elected, we should consider ourselves prime candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize?

I can deal with that.

I'm running for office next year.

Write me in, and I'll be sure to keep y'all in my mind while I walk in the footsteps of giants, and take all of the credit for it!

Furious!

I'm seething.

Truly, my work has sunk to a new level of lowness.

This last week, my HR director gave out the awards to people who have been with the company for a few years.

In this company, we give out special awards for those who have been here 2 years, and then more awards at 5, 10, 15, etc..

Well, we had about 12 folks who hit the 5 year mark this year, and were all given their gifts and certificates. We applauded for them, and were happy to see that they have been such assets to the longevity of the workplace.

The next day?

My HR manager walked out TWO of the folks who recieved 5 year awards.

The reason? The lack of meeting productivity goals.

Really??

These folks have done the same job the same way for the last 5 years, and you've not seen fit to complain about it until after you acknowledge their ability to stay with the company?

I mean, you give them a small gift as a "thank you" for their spending their time and effort at your company, and then right afterwards, you kick them in the crotch, and leave them in the gutter??

I seriously hope that our HR manager gets some kind of karmic retribution for the crap that she's pulling here. I really and honestly do.

Hope you have a great week, I'm going to see about sharpening some of my letter openers for now!

You know it's the government when:

I got this little tidbit of information off my desk calendar at work..

In 2002, the Department of Homeland Security asked for, and was given funding for these national monuments that they thought were likely targets for terrorist action:

The World's Largest Ball of Paint in Alexandria, Indiana ($12 million)

Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum in Alamo Heights, Texas ($10 million)

The Museum of Bad Art in Dedham, Massachusetts ($31 million)

Carhenge (Stonehenge replica made completely of junked cars) in Alliance, Nebraska ($25 million)

And finally, The Giant Lava Lamp in Soap Lake, Washington ($143 million)

I often wonder just how much it would cost to REALLY get a security company, and charge each place this much to patrol their area..

I think I'd be able to retire nice and comfortably after a couple years of doing nothing.. Don't you?

General Ranting

I hate it when folks can't make up their minds.

Or is it that they can make decisions, but they just can't decide which decision to stick with?

Whatever the cause, it's running amok with my schedule yet again.

I was asked to switch over to 5 8-hour shifts because I was needed each day that this warehouse is open.

Yet just yesterday I was called in to be informed that I need to switch back to 4 10-hour shifts starting next week.

OK.

Quit yanking my chain, and let me know..

Is it going to be one, or the other?

My guess is that in six months, I'll be asked to switch back again..

Any takers??

Random whining

Yeah, I'm bitching..

However, this is my blog, so cope!

I'm _really_ not liking the "new" things we're doing at my work.

Each and every Friday, we're having to do a "special" project for our Quality Control department.

Because of the actions of ONE store that's located well away from our warehouse, we now are doing what I'd call "espionage QC checks" on this store's merchandise.

We're having to tear each and every pallet apart, double-check the entire store, then rebuild the pallets, and make it look like the entire thing was never touched before loading it into the trailer for shipping.

I really don't know what good this step is going to do, since all we'll be able to claim is that the merchandise was fine before it left our dock.

It still doesn't take into account the shipper needing to replace load bars between deliveries, or driving conditions, or load shifting, or many other influences OUTSIDE of our part of the delivery chain.

But I can't argue.

So I cope, and basically write off an entire day's worth of work to get that one store done.

It sucks.

Not only that, but this weekend I helped my younger brother move.

Yeah. That sucked too.

Two trips.

The first packed most of the stuff into the moving van, and I didn't do too badly until the 7th trip upstairs with a heavy dresser, or bed, or armful of boxes.

Yeah. I was hating life right about then.

But the icing on the cake was the last part I helped with.

Moving his pool table.

Getting it into the van wasn't bad at all. There were six of us to move it then, and we moved it all in one piece.

However, two of the six left right after loading the table.

So that left FOUR of us to unload the beast.

My arms are still killing me, and my legs and knees aren't going to let me forget about this weekend anytime soon, either.

Maybe it's time for me to admit that I'm getting older, and really can't quite do the things I was able to do just a few short years ago?

NAH.

I'll just take more pain pills next time!

See you all later!

Retribution..

At last! I finally have a reponse from one of those I have an issue with!

Here.. Instead of making you dig for her comment, I'll post it!

I have not bothered to comment since you deleted doggy's comments, why should I waste my time, besides nobody else seems to interested in your rants either. You are NOBODY to me and you know NOTHING about me. I choose not to blog because I respect my family's life and privacy, I have a life and a busy one at that, and blogging is not a priority for me. Show me where it says that I have to have a blog in order to comment on others blogs. I respect that others do not feel the same way that I do so why am I not offered the same in return? Why does the fact that I do not have a blog matter at all? To each his own.My issue with Dana is between me and Dana. I do not feel the need to answer to you. You have called me names, you have threatened me, you have ranted like a raged mad man over something that does not even involve you. I could do the same with you and the way you are treating doggy, but ya know I think that is between you two.Dana and I have a history of disagreeing and I am pretty sure that we are both big girls and can deal with it ourselves. I am not trying to speak for her, but really, who made you this blog god/police? Do you really think these tangents of yours make you some sort of hero? If you or she or anyone for that matter does not want argumentative comments by me or anyone else you can always go private. If you choose to make your life public you open yourself up to this.I don't know what you think gives you the justification to call me the names that you have done and you seem to be really obsessed with my weight, not sure what that has to do with anything, but I can assure you that even combined me and doggy are no where close to this 500# figure, how about you and your wifey? Maybe you are getting us mixed up. I have never called Dana names. From my view it appears to me that you are doing the very thing that you are upset with me and dogggy for doing, but you are doing it on a much grander scale. In my book that makes you a hypocrite. Seems only fair to me after all the names you have called me that I give you that one. If I was a friend of yours, I would have grave concern over your apparent anger management issues. But since you are nobody to me, I will leave that to all your adoring fans and readers.I hope this satisfies your ego that I have responded. You will not get more out of me, I have no interest in you or your little blog and do not find it entertaining in the least. I refuse to continue this with you although I find it amusing that you have been so monopolized by it. If you want to go on with it that is your choice; it's obvioulsy given you something to blog about. Get a life dude, seriously...Snugs

Yup. For someone who doesn't care, she certainly can be long-winded, can't she?

Now, let's take my highly useless college education that I received, and we'll go over this argument, and tear it apart a bit..

First off:

"I have not bothered to comment since you deleted doggy's comments, why should I waste my time, besides nobody else seems to interested in your rants either. You are NOBODY to me and you know NOTHING about me."

This is a contradiction in terms right here. Hello.. Snugs? This post you put here is called a COMMENT. Congrats on not being able to figure this out.

Secondly, you only comment if Doggy comments? Do you not have a mind of your own? Seriously? I find that quite sad.

I know something about you. You're pathetic enough that even though this _is_ a public Blog, you still feel the need to personally attack those who are willing to talk about their viewpoint and experiences. If that's such a big deal to you, CLOSE the Freaking Window!


Let's move on, shall we?

"I choose not to blog because I respect my family's life and privacy, I have a life and a busy one at that, and blogging is not a priority for me. Show me where it says that I have to have a blog in order to comment on others blogs."

Um, what does blogging have to do with your family's life and privacy? I've read DoggyBloggy's blog, and it's about food. How exactly does that impact his family life?

Granted, WRITING a blog isn't one of your priorities, but apparently reading and commenting on blogs IS.. I mean, you comment more and read more blogs than I do in a week!

You don't need to write one, but if you really want a foot to stand on argument-wise about blog content and what "should" and "should not" be posted on a blog, then walk where others tread before deciding that it's not a path for you.

Moving right along:

"I respect that others do not feel the same way that I do so why am I not offered the same in return? Why does the fact that I do not have a blog matter at all? To each his own.My issue with Dana is between me and Dana. I do not feel the need to answer to you."

I have to call BS to the first line. Actually, you DON'T respect other viewpoints, or we wouldn't really be having this argument (sans comments and blog posts) over your behavior, now would we?

The fact is that because you don't have a blog, you still feel the need to tell others what to do or say. Fascism at work here, ladies and gentlemen! I mean, what's next? You're going to tell me that even though we've never met, I'm not going to be fat/thin/well-dressed enough for society's views?

You issue with Dana has caused a poor display of childishness, and that involves WHOMEVER reads Dana's blog. It's just between Dana and you?? If that's the case, then your whole argument about privacy is CRAP, since you decided to air this PUBLICLY on Dana's blog. You hypocrite.

You don't feel the need to answer to me? Funny, then what is this comment and rant all about then?

Moving onwards, and further into her sick, twisted mind:

"You have called me names, you have threatened me, you have ranted like a raged mad man over something that does not even involve you. I could do the same with you and the way you are treating doggy, but ya know I think that is between you two."

I've called you names, yes. Why? because I'm tired of your attitude and belittling of someone who is just trying to air their dirty laundry. Is it REALLY any business of yours how she does this?

NO.

But then you take your high-and-mighty act, become a total bitch, and post some snide and evil remark just to try to get her goat.

Yeah. Like I said before, I don't take well to bullies.

I've threatened you?? How so exactly?

I'm sure there have been many folks who have offered bodily harm to me over the internet, but have I actually felt threatened?

Nah. Not so much.

Ranted and raved like a madman. You know, I kind of like this.. Mind if I take it, and use it for my blog tagline?

Over something that doesn't involve me? Are you serious? You take pot-shots and make cheap and snide comments on a public blog, and think that it's none of my business? See again the point about this being a PUBLIC blog, and where privacy ends, please and thank you!

You could do the same, and complain about how I'm treating Doggy, and right there you just did! Congratulations! Yes, this is between him and I, and it's also between you and I as well! You also take cheap shots at me EVEN ON HIS BLOG. You can't take the time to open your own page, and just rant like I do about it, so you clamp down like a leech on someone else's work, and air your complaints. You know what? The reason I think you don't is because you're afraid of the rejection that _NO_ readers would even bother LOOKING at your blog, much less reading your crap.

Contrary to popular opinion, I actually DO have a couple of readers. They faithfully read, even when I have absolutely nothing to say. I kind of like that.

However, in this point, I'm sure they'll agree with me that your actions have been reprehensible at best. That you should actually feel the need to defend yourself over this SHOWS everyone that you KNOW DAMN WELL that you're in the wrong, and that you're just trying to justify it in some sick and twisted way for your own self-satisfaction.

Moving onward:

"Dana and I have a history of disagreeing and I am pretty sure that we are both big girls and can deal with it ourselves. I am not trying to speak for her, but really, who made you this blog god/police? Do you really think these tangents of yours make you some sort of hero? If you or she or anyone for that matter does not want argumentative comments by me or anyone else you can always go private. If you choose to make your life public you open yourself up to this."

Of this I have no doubt. You are both old enough to know better. However, Dana has taken the high road, and tries not to rise to your childish behavior.

To be honest, I wrote to her BEFORE I started this, and told her what I was going to do. I can't sit around and watch someone get belittled for their actions by a couple of folks who really don't have much of a clue what she's going through. So yes, I was given (minor) approval for my actions. I don't think she knew the lengths I was going to, but that's my problem, since I'm an adult, and can vouch for my own actions here, thankyouverymuch.

I don't think of myself as a hero. I'm actually trying to teach you and Doggy a lesson here about RESPECT. You're not going to get any from me until I see that you're actually trying to show some to others... Do you recall that one Snugs?

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Amazing what truth lies in such a nice, little statement, don't you think?

So if we don't want to have argumentative statements, we need to hide away from everyone else. That's your solution? Well, that can go two ways. If you don't want someone attacking you for being an overbearing selfish bitch, then you shouldn't post argumentative comments on a public blog, now should you?

Digging further:

"I don't know what you think gives you the justification to call me the names that you have done and you seem to be really obsessed with my weight, not sure what that has to do with anything, but I can assure you that even combined me and doggy are no where close to this 500# figure, how about you and your wifey? Maybe you are getting us mixed up. I have never called Dana names. From my view it appears to me that you are doing the very thing that you are upset with me and dogggy for doing, but you are doing it on a much grander scale. In my book that makes you a hypocrite. Seems only fair to me after all the names you have called me that I give you that one. "

You don't know what gives me justification in calling you names.. True. I'm a jackass for doing so. but I've never made apologies for who I am. Like I've said before, I'm an ass.

I seem obsessed with your weight? I've made two comments about it, and that's an obsession?

Then obviously you're OVEROBSESSED over Dana's blog, since you can't seem to leave her alone. Let's count how many times I've made mention of your weight, and how many times you've gone the extra mile to belittle her blog postings..

Yeah. eat that one Snugs.

You've never called Dana names. But you have insinuated that she's a bad parent, a bad person, many other things. What's worse?

Yes! you get the picture here! I'm treating you and Doggy EXACTLY like you've been treating Dana! How does it feel? Like it? I hope so, because until you start to mature, and clean that SHIT up, I'm going to keep doing it!

Oh joy.. Here's my name:

I'm a hypocrite. *shiver*

Actually, this is what is called "poetic justice". I mean, after all of the nastiness and crap that has been spewed from your comments, you're daring to call me a hypocrite for daring to treat you exactly like you've been treating someone else?

Yeah.. Priceless.

Continuing on:

"If I was a friend of yours, I would have grave concern over your apparent anger management issues. But since you are nobody to me, I will leave that to all your adoring fans and readers.I hope this satisfies your ego that I have responded. You will not get more out of me, I have no interest in you or your little blog and do not find it entertaining in the least. I refuse to continue this with you although I find it amusing that you have been so monopolized by it. If you want to go on with it that is your choice; it's obvioulsy given you something to blog about. Get a life dude, seriously...Snugs"

Rule number one here: You're NOT my friend, Snugs. Nor will you ever be. I don't want to associate myself with someone who not only doesn't care about what others read, but then feels the need to belittle those who are really writing from the heart.

That kind of small mind just isn't something I'd care to surround myself with, thanks.

Adoring fans and readers? I don't know.. Why don't you ask them? More often than not, I really feel like they're just folks waiting for some kind of nasty car wreck, and then they can come out and gawk at the mess.. Then again, some of them really do like what I write, so that's just one more bonus notch for my belt, isn't it?

Yes Snugs, my life is complete now that I've had you comment a couple more times on my blog. Life is full, I can die happy. If it also amuses you, well then I've been able to strike gold not just once, but twice. Oh happy day!

For some reason, I highly doubt that you aren't going to stop posting, especially when this personal character attack on you that I'm posting hits tomorrow. (I'm writing this on Thursday, since that is when I got the comment!)

Like I've said before: Until I see some kind of change of heart from EITHER of you two in regards to your childish behavior, I actually AM going to keep up with this vendetta of mine.

I hope you enjoy this Snugs, I really hope you do. Maybe somewhere along the line, you'll be able to grow up a little, and learn something in the process.

Many happy returns!

A rant for those who could care less....

I'm writing this for all of my blogging friends...

Who really needs the added hassle of an anonymous commenter that writes with nasty sarcasm and vile towards something you've written?

I can't think of one.

Unless you're really into it, I guess.

As a form of self-flagellation, I could understand posting controversial things in order to mentally flog your self-esteem, and cause emotional scarring.

Other than that reason, I can't think of any use for an acidic remark from anonymous posters.

What could make someone want to spew nastiness on a person's webpage, and then decide to remain anonymous instead of stand up for their opinion or comment?

I mean, when I've got something to say, I really make no apologies for it, and say what I feel. If it's taken in the wrong context, I can better explain my meaning, but for the most part I'll make no defense for my opinion. However, I'll also make sure that folks know who it is who's doing the talking, and not wonder about the nameless faceless ass who rants and raves but doesn't believe in taking credit (or blame) for their decisions and actions.

In this day and age, it seems to me that it's more acceptible now to be faceless. That way, you can do or say what you want, and yet be "appropriate" when it 'really' matters.

Public opinion is as fickle as a teenage girl choosing a boy for her prom. They want it to look good, yet be fashionable. Trendy. Something that they're willing to show off, and make themselves look good.

This blog of mine isn't like that. If that's what you're looking for, let me save you the trouble. Go someplace else. I'm opinionated, and I really could care less if you agree or disagree with my stance. What I'm about here is letting you all know who I am, what I stand for, and what I believe in. Plain, simple, to the point.

No, it's not always going to be factual. Why? Because I'm going to be giving it my personal slant. A sliver I get might only be a tiny piece, yet the pain it caused me could make me feel that I've found Paul Bunyan's lost twig, and it's pierced me to my core.

That's called creative writing. Deal with it.

In closing, I'd just like to say that I don't mind comments. I love them, actually.

What I'd really like is for all that comment to at least own up to these comments, and not be some nameless faceless lump with acid for a tongue, and decide that anything and everything that I write is crap because it doesn't jive with what they believe in.

Be a real person, and disagree with me. But do it with a bit of dignity, and own up to your comment.

I'm done for now.

Have a nice day.

Not a Creature was stirring.. Not even my Manager!

Can you believe that this day, Christmas Eve, when we're already working a shortened day so that employees can get together with family, that my Manager would do even LESS than he normally does?

Yeah.

Let's see..

Hos job duties, as described in the handbook are as follows:

Patrol the warehouse, doing random checks of order selectors, loading personnel, inbound receiving clerks, and replenishment drivers. Do a weekly yard audit of all trailers outside, ro ensure proper storage and movement of inventory coming into and going out of the warehouse. Randomly check on inventory in stock, including reserve items. Participate in one store audit per day, making sure that QC associates are doing their jobs correctly. Inspect and audit 5 company stores per week, limited to no more than two stores per day, one store visit per month.

Yeah. Those are the duties he's been slacking in. He hasn't left his office since the end of Summer! He sits in his office, browsing the web, and sometimes filling out enough paperwork to walk it down to the front office. Yeah, he does leave from time to time to go to a meeting, but 95% of the time you can find him sitting at his desk, talking on the phone (usually with his wife and kids), or browsing some internet site totally unrelated to work.

I can't really fault him for the internet use, I mean, look what I'm doing on company time!

But seriously, to shirk all of those other things, and pawn them off on the rest of the crew? Don't you think we should get some kind of pay raise for doing his job?

Nope.

Not even a "Great job this year, you all make me proud" kind of speech.

The last "talk" we had was his instruction to buckle down, and do a better job, because we missed a HALF POINT in the last corporate audit we had.

So we got beat down because instead of the 100% he was expecting, our department got a 99.5% rating.

Oh. My. God.

Someone fire me because I didn't do his job for him.. again.

I hope that Karma means he'll get something worse this year than what I've dealt with...

And I hope to you, all of my readers, that your Christmas is filled with life, love, happiness, and joy.

Merry Christmas, and I'll see you all on Friday!

2-Fer Tuesday Post #2

Well, I'm kind of curious about y'all.

Yeah, I said "y'all".

Sue me, some of my family have spoken like that for years, and there are some "country" phrases that just say it all, so there!

Anyway, back to my question..

Do you look forward to, or do you fear, the company Christmas dinner/party/whathaveyou.

Me? I can't stand it.

Why?

Because we've got an absolutely CLUELESS HR person, and she doesn't understand a thing about the employees.

Each and every single function we've done these past 5 years has been a complete and total FLOP.

She picks events, food, entertainment et all to her personal preferences, and not to the general consensus.

If she wanted to do something like that, why not put on her OWN party, and invite us over? Don't use the company money and time to make the associates grumble and gripe over what they're not getting, and how silly the theme is, or anything of that nature..

I'll give you a couple of examples of her style.

First, we've got the company gift-giving process we do each year.

Before we even got started on this, the warehouse personnel decided to save up funds to help the "Make A Wish" program for kids with, or recovering from, cancer.

What this program does is give the child, and their close family, the chance for a vacation of a lifetime. The only request from the foundation? $5000 for each child you want to try to sponsor.

If your facility is able to make that goal, you get to "adopt" a child's family, and you usually will get a visit from them once the trip is over.

If you make more than that, but less than enough for a second child, then the extra is put into a pool fund to help out causes who are falling short.

The last 4 years our facility has been able to support 4-5 kids per year. That's between 20-25k a year to a charitable cause.

This last year? She stopped it. When questioned why, her answer was this:

"I feel that we're putting WAY too much funding towards these kids, and not enough of it towards our own goals."

Translated, it means that she was hoping that the cash that we'd generate for the kids would then be diverted towards her coffers, where she could delegate the spending.

Sad to say that this year's Christmas gifts are going to seriously be lacking compared to the last few years. All because of some selfish reasoning.

Another example is the picnic we tried to plan for this year.

We tend to try to take pride in being a family-oriented business. Healthcare is paid for in full by the company, and that policy is blanketed to cover not only the associate, but his entire family of dependants as well.

Because of the family focus we have, the picnic planners decided to try to hold a carnival-type of cookout. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Corn Dogs, Fries, Pizza, Clowns, a couple of trick pets, and some games were in the works.

Enter in Ms. HR.

The picnic ended up like some kind of school fair, with cash being REQUIRED to be able to play the games.

What kind of games?

A cakewalk, that cost $5 per entry. It made exactly $0.

A water balloon toss. $2 per entry. It made $4.

A "Dunk the manager" contest. $1 per entry. This made $10.

No clown. No pets. No bounce house. No fair or circus-type of attitude anywhere.

Only 25 out of 300 employees showed up for it, once it was announced that games would cost cash to play.

There were 20 gifts to be awarded, and 10 were returned because they were things like $1 sun visors, or Water bottles that could be bought for less than $.50 each.

Needless to say, there were plenty of outraged folks over this.

And now we're hearing the plans for the "banquet" we're supposed to be having for this Christmas dinner.

Are we having anything traditional?

No.

Chinese Take-out is the menu.

Sure, it's being catered. However, Chinese food for a CHRISTMAS dinner?

Where's the ham? Roast Beef? Turkey? Mashed potatoes?

Wherever it is, I know you're not going to find it at my dinner.

And the prizes?

Well, like I said, 300 employees, and there's only 15 gifts to be given out.

Odds are that there are going to be some serious rumblings about that one.

Oh, and also add to that the news that the Christmas bonus program that everyone looks forward to this year has been decided upon (by HR) to be diverted towards a disaster relief program for this area in case of flooding or severe weather.

Last time there was something that severe around here, the employer I work for was just buying their first storefront back East!

That was 35 years ago!

So yeah, I'm pissed, I'm disgruntled, and I know that I'm going to hear about it from other workers.

What can I do about it?

Well, you're reading it.

Hope yours isn't as bad as mine's going to be!

2-Fer Tuesday secondary post..

Today I finally got a chance to let someone else know the pain I experience while dealing with "corporate" folks who are about 3,000 miles away.

I had to get on a conference call this morning, and go through a "refresher" course of how to enter in service requests.

Because of the nature of the beast, I had to also get my backup person in on the phone call as well.

So, before the call, I tidied up the office a bit, got some tea and soda, and one more chair.

Then, my "assistant" showed up, we entered the conference call..

Only to be met with complete silence.

Yup. We were on time, but the call hadn't started yet, and we were stuck in a no-man's land of "when is this show going to get started?"

So we made small talk, and idled about my office trying to patiently wait for the call to get started.

About ten minutes into the wait, the online presentation fired up, and we were able to see that everyone was there, just not able to get into the telephone part of the conference.

About ten minutes after that, the "moderator" for the call showed up, and we were able to get into the call.

So nearly a half hour was wasted on killing time for ONE person.

Now, there have been MANY problems with the way the service requests get done. Mainly the biggest problem for the group that were all in this meeting was dealing with setting up new hourly hires.

Not management, not salaried positions, nothing like that..

Just working grunt joes. Nothing fancy.

How did the conference start out? By telling us how to get things set up for Salaried employees.

Next? How to set up management.

Then, he tried to close, saying that everything had been covered.

Immediately there were 10 cries for explanations for hourly employees.

This is when we found out something I don't think the folks "back east" were wanting to admit to.

When they implemented this request plan, it was initially set up for ONLY salaried and management folks. Hourly associates weren't going to be needing anything from it.

However, when the company grew, it became necessary for them to implement changes in the request process, and hourly employees wound up needing things off the service request menus.

Just because this happened didn't mean that the company actually CHANGED anything, it just meant that we, as remote technicians, had to come up with new and interesting ways to request things.

Now, since the new audit, things have to change. Because of this, we can't request things for new hourly employees until the changes are made.

This means that any new hourly hires are effectively STUCK doing NOTHING worthwhile until the company changes their software and policies.

My "substitute" went NUTS when this bombshell was dropped.

"How are we going to get new folks set up if we can't get them access?"

The response?

"Have them do menial labor jobs until we can implement the change."

So, instead of being able to use the new folks to help with the work that they've been hired for, they're going to be pushing brooms, picking up wood particles, stacking pallets, and anything else that doesn't require some corporate security clearance.

When is this supposed to change?

Implement date is set for the beginning of next year. Tenative date that I was told about is February 10th for finalization.

Forgive me a second, but it's just now December, we've currently hired 12 folks, another 10 are on their way, and so I'm going to have 22 people doing crap jobs for THREE months while the changes that should have been made YEARS ago are finally done?

Yeah. My assistant was able to feel my pain today.

She's glad that she doesn't have to deal with this as much as I do.

Main reason? Because of the call, she went and ate a candy bar, and had three cups of coffee.

Me? I just tacked up yet one more note about things that need to get done once someone finished their job, and then sent off the required emails to my bosses.

Eventually, someone might get something right, and things will operate like they're supposed to.

Right now, I'm just having a tough time recalling who I've allowed to get away with what around here so that folks can actually work instead of play with dirt or pallets!

Anyway, I've got some new hires to fake credentials for, so I'm going to be busy the rest of the day.

You all have a great day, and I'll chit-chat with you at some point tomorrow!

Remember: WTF Wednesday, and I've got a doozy for ya!