If it’s not your job to tidy the stock room, why are you tidying the stock room? The only way people will learn to take responsibility for themselves is if you stop doing it for them. You fixing their problem is teaching them it doesn’t matter if they make a problem.
The office 'scolding email' thread
- Thread starter Badgers
- Start date
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
Every good scolding email needs a typo.
StoneRoad
heckling from the back!
First job for me in the morning (when I worked as the samples librarian) would be to have a quick tidy of the shelves and collect up the sample books from the design studio to put them away, and have a hunt around for the stuff that had been "put down for a minute" - the conference room usually had a few things left in it - rather than put into the return to library "bin" ie box on wheels. What I didn't want was the stuff stashed under desks, nor put away randomly - logic being that other people couldn't find it.
This was the official / standard procedure - I liked the stuff signed out and returned via the box - but had to issue several scolding missives reminding the designers. And to stop them nicking stuff off my desk before it had got into the system.
This was the official / standard procedure - I liked the stuff signed out and returned via the box - but had to issue several scolding missives reminding the designers. And to stop them nicking stuff off my desk before it had got into the system.
dervish
if you flibble when you wibble, don't wobble
There are three of us that use the stock room regularly, one of us has been asked to do a different project so hasn't moved from his desk for weeks, this entire email was aimed at one person, he's been told, I've moaned to management and he's still not got the message. This is the last time I'm polite, next time I'm taking the key and telling him he needs to ask permission to use the cupboard.
ETA: And I've tried that, I didn't keep it tidy and in two weeks it was a state.
I'm going to speak to the department head (above my line manager) when he gets back on Thursday about this and the useless member of staff doing no work in general and my manager doing nothing about it.
So it’s a message to one person you’ve sent to everybody?
dervish
if you flibble when you wibble, don't wobble
Yep, cos otherwise it might upset him, and we can't have that, cos he's trying really hard apparently.
This is poor person management.
dervish
if you flibble when you wibble, don't wobble
Tell me about it. This is the best job I've ever had, with by far the most pay for least amount of work and I'm thinking about getting another job I'm so pissed off. My manager's management style is to not do any management. This is not sustainable, but it's been like this for years.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Lot of it about. In my experience the one person makes things difficult for management by throwing a tantrum, so management get scared of setting them off again. Which means the person generally does as they please.
Far better to speak to the person and if they start kicking off, explain their behaviour is unacceptable leave them to calm down and then explain that they need to start doing XYZ which is part of their job. And if they don't there may be consequences.
You know, be a manager.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Night shift left pizza boxes out overnight a while back, prompting an angry note asking people to clear up after themselves and put them in the bin.
They've done it again but left a 'not sorry' note, prompting another angry note below
They've done it again but left a 'not sorry' note, prompting another angry note below
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
People who don't clear up after themselves are the worst.
There's two dishwashers in the work kitchen. At least one of the directors dumps his mugs in the sink instead of the dishwasher, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE SINK. The cutlery caddy sits on the draining board and people put teaspoons next to it.
Dicks.
There's two dishwashers in the work kitchen. At least one of the directors dumps his mugs in the sink instead of the dishwasher, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE SINK. The cutlery caddy sits on the draining board and people put teaspoons next to it.
Dicks.
A380
How do I change this 'custom title' thing then?
You should make a pencil alteration. It is impossible for electricity to be the subject of theft. The offence he is talking about is abstraction of electricity. I'm sure they re the sort of person who would be happy to be so corrected.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
And annoying when notes are left accusing people generally of doing something that only one person has done. Someone at work one time said his milk (or equivalent) had been used and everybody denied doing it. I said no only one person denied doing it, the rest of us didn't do it.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
I think it's more than one person doing it at my work, otherwise he's drinking around 20 cups of coffee a day.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Easy to spot him though
purenarcotic
Conveniently Pocket Sized
They’re there to clean the office so it’s tidy and hygienic, they aren’t there to tidy up other people’s spills or dirty cups or whatever. It’s about having respect for those who have to tidy up after you.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Then what's the issue?
tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
But excellent Sunday afternoon entertainment.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
My latest scheme to stop milk shrinkage at work:
tim
EXPLODED TIM! (Help me!!!)
Some appropriation going on there! Get your bastard bosses to provide milk for the masses
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Treacle Toes
Time
There is a difference between cleaning and tidying. Cleaners can't clean if a place is untidy.
I agree there are some real issues at play here, for sure. But... where do you draw the line? Do you make everyone have to tidy their desks up at the end of every day so they are completely clear? Some people work better with having stacks of papers around them and why should they be told to work differently?
I think that having a positive and relaxed atmosphere is more important than worrying about a few untidy desks. I think that people working in and visiting the office are more likely to notice, and respond more positively to, a relaxed and positive atmosphere, than they would react negatively to a few untidy desks.
I agree that respect for all is important but I don't think that the office manager gives us the respect we deserve. They treat the office like an extension of their house. In certain aspects that can be commendable but it can be a bit much when lots of people have to work here.
I think that treating staff more like children can become a self fulfilling prophecy and that seems to be what has happened here.
I think that having a positive and relaxed atmosphere is more important than worrying about a few untidy desks. I think that people working in and visiting the office are more likely to notice, and respond more positively to, a relaxed and positive atmosphere, than they would react negatively to a few untidy desks.
I agree that respect for all is important but I don't think that the office manager gives us the respect we deserve. They treat the office like an extension of their house. In certain aspects that can be commendable but it can be a bit much when lots of people have to work here.
I think that treating staff more like children can become a self fulfilling prophecy and that seems to be what has happened here.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Corporate espionage is a real risk, now more so than ever. Asking people to make sure their desks are tidy and clear of confidential and proprietary information at the end of the day isn't treating people like children, unless they are deliberately flouting policy.
Yes, people work differently, some tidier than others, but generally most companies expect desks to be clear overnight, not during the working day. If there is not enough storage space for everyone a clear desk policy won't work from day 1.
You can still have a friendly and relaxed environment whilst safeguarding corporate information.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
It's all gone. Thieving perverts.
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