With that being said, I would like to use this blog entry to vent about said place of employment. I'm positive that those of you that call me "poopsie" would be surprised that I have chosen to spend ALL of my career so far at this disgusting place. This is not a typical "poopsie" surroundings. Quite the contrary. Our facilities truly are embarrassing, and just plain freaking nasty. Allow me.....
Exhibit 1 -- Ramona
If you were sitting in my desk right now, and you looked up and about two ceiling tiles in front of me, this would be what you would see. Let me introduce you to Ramona, the roach. Unfortunately, Ramona went to roach heaven almost 4 years ago, but she remains (in body) in my sight for 9 hours a day while I work. We have become friends.... I no longer gag when I look up at her, and she....well.... just just lays in that insect tanning bed and continues to broil every day. She is truly an asset to the organization.
Exhibit 2 -- Vent Sprinkles
As I sat at my desk one day, I began to hear a crackling / sprinkling sound above me. My natural reaction was to look upward to determine what it was. At that time, I got a shower in my eyes (no lie) of dirt, dust, and God-knows-what-else. This crap was coming OUT OF THE VENT directly above my desk and settling all over my things....not to mention in my eyes, hair, drink, keyboard, etc. The picture above doesnt do it justice, but it was the best I could come up with. We had a thin layer of dirt on the top of the shelves, the cubicle dividing wall, and my desk. I mean, really.....can I sit at my desk, attempt to be a professional and not have SHIT fall out of the ceiling and land in my eyes? Is THAT too much to ask? WHO'S CALLING ME POOPSIE NOW???
I walked down the hall to my boss' cubicle and she asked me what was wrong (since it appeared I was crying). I informed her that I was not actually crying, but that I just got a shower of DIRT from the vent above me, and some of it was in my eyes, thus causing the redness and watering. She said she would immediately call maintenance to make sure that didnt happen again. She called, and sent an email...I was cc'd so I know that she did in fact send it. No response.
(Note: My employer is a union organization. Many of the positions are represented (hourly / union) jobs. I will blog about this in another entry, but suffice it to say that generally the mentality of the represented work force is VERY VERY different than that of the salaried workforce. Nothing is urgent, and for-the-most-part, their goal is to do as LITTLE as possible during their 8 hour work shift. Most of them exceed this impressive goal)
The maintenance crew is union represented, so we heard nothing back from them. I was fine for about 2 days, until I got my second "shower of shit" from the ceiling. I marched my happy ass back down the hall to my boss to inform her that my desk was again covered with dirt. She again made a phone call. This time, we got a response....3 days later, but hey, we cant be picky. I'm sure the maintenance man was VERY busy dreaming up ways to not come to work, still make over time, and work as little as possible. Dont judge....that takes brain power. Anyway, Billy Bob showed up at my desk aggressively eating an apple (that's a nice way to word what appeared to be cud-chewing that I witnessed). In the most perfect "typical union" southern boy, uneducated accent I was informed that "we dont do that..... another group will come and fix that problem". My inner dialog was kick-started....."Ok Beth, dont get smart with this guy. You need him, or you will possibly lose your vision from whatever debris is falling into your eyes or contract some terminal funk from drinking the crap that falls into your drinks. Be kind to him.... kind to him? He's chewing like he's been raised in a barn, and showed up to tell me he doesnt do this? I dont care what he DOESNT do....I want whoever can fix this nonsense going on above my head....deep breath....." I politely asked Billy Bob if he could expedite whoever the correct person was that could fix my little issue. About 3 days later, I came in to work to find this.....
Exhibit 3 -- Filter Fix
Ok, this pic doesnt adequately depict what this truly is. This is a bright purple covering over the vent. My instruction was to "watch this b/c sometimes they fill up, get heavy and fall down from the weight of the debris that is being caught". Oh, fabulous, so now instead of sprinkles, I will have just one giant DUMP of crap on my head? Perfect....thank you for your help! And oh yeah, they dont tell you that you dont feel heat or air coming out of this lovely "filter fix" either. It is now January and we FREEZE because we no longer feel the heat coming from the vent. Did I mention that I actually DO like my job??
Exhibit 4 -- Danger Warnings
Before providing the exhibit, allow me to preface this. I have been working out in the building that houses our hazardous chemicals, paints, sealants, flammables, etc. I am not actually in the warehouse part, but I am working a project in the cubicle area. Today, I read this sign posted in the hallway between cubicles.
I'm sorry.....is this a joke?? I would assume it would have to be, or OSHA would have shut us down years ago (at least that's my hope). I turn to the guy (who happens to be a union steward, no lie) and ask if that was a joke. I KID YOU NOT..... His response was "I dont know, it's been there the whole time I've worked out here".
HOLY GOD IN HEAVEN.....ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Um, I dont mean to alarm anyone, but cancer kills!! I'm pretty freaking sure I would check into that before I accepted my workspace in a cubicle on the other side of the wall that holds this sign! I started laughing out loud (not professional, I know) and said to the group (about 5 of us)...."Is anyone else alarmed by this sign? Um, has anyone READ this sign?" At this point, they are now laughing with me and we all agree that no, no one had actually really read the sign. I'm speechless.
I believe Ron White said it best ......"you cant fix stupid"....... Touche.
AWESOME!! Although, pointing all this out is really making it hard for me to turn a blind eye to all the lovelies that I work with... :)
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