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The office 'scolding email' thread

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.


Expecting staff to leave the office in a reasonable state so that it can be adequately cleaned for the benefit of all isn't treating staff like children, quite the opposite.

I wouldn't want some of my colleagues to treat the office like they do their own homes tbh. Some people are untidy and whatless when it comes to hygiene and hoarding at home. I personally can't relax, think or work in such environments, I don't think the majority of people can.
 
As to untidy desks, the last place that had a boss, she wanted us to go paper free. 20 odd staff, three of us ignored her and carried on with paper. She labelled us three 'dinosaurs', without thinking that dinosaurs lived far longer than humans have done. Seems that us three dinosaurs were responsible for 90% of the sales. We all left, company went bust. Extinct you may say, just like...
 
As to untidy desks, the last place that had a boss, she wanted us to go paper free. 20 odd staff, three of us ignored her and carried on with paper. She labelled us three 'dinosaurs', without thinking that dinosaurs lived far longer than humans have done. Seems that us three dinosaurs were responsible for 90% of the sales. We all left, company went bust. Extinct you may say, just like...
Paper free is pointless in my line of work. I can review a hardcopy agreement draft a lot quicker than on a screen, plus I always need reference copies.
 
We are "paperless" but I still print stuff to review. It's no big deal. it all goes in the confidential waste afterwards. It just doesn't go into a file, it is saved in the system. Which one day will be hacked by the Russians, so clearly keeping everything in the "Cloud " is better.
 
Cupboardgate strikes again.

------
IT IS NOT MY JOB TO CLEAN UP THE STOCK CUPBOARD.


We all use the cupboard, we ALL should be cleaning it up regularly. Any cardboard needs to be taken outside and put into recycling, if you take a box of something from the shelf PUT IT BACK AFTERWARDS.


This is not difficult, I can’t believe that I’m having to moan about it again.


Pick up after yourselves, your mother does not work here!


FFS.

------
 
dervish - that could very easily apply to our tool cupboards !

I so want to put up a notice - it seems nobody is capable of washing up cups after tea break.
They get the tea / coffee / milk / sugar and proper mugs provided and one or two of the lads take it in turns to do the brew ...
( And one or two seem unable to take their mugs back into the kitchenette )
 
dervish - that could very easily apply to our tool cupboards !

I so want to put up a notice - it seems nobody is capable of washing up cups after tea break.
They get the tea / coffee / milk / sugar and proper mugs provided and one or two of the lads take it in turns to do the brew ...
( And one or two seem unable to take their mugs back into the kitchenette )
I am this close to putting up a notice at work that says 'PUT YOUR FUCKING CUPS AND GLASSES IN THE DISHWASHER NOT THE SINK NEXT TO IT, YOU LAZY TOADS'.
 
I'm a big fan of understated and minimalist scolding messages: especially if the office is likely to get visitors, those ferocious messages can offer a "back story" that isn't always what you want the punters to see.

I got good results the other week with "Cups not left in the dishwasher or sink will be put in the bin" :)
 
I'm a big fan of understated and minimalist scolding messages: especially if the office is likely to get visitors, those ferocious messages can offer a "back story" that isn't always what you want the punters to see.

I got good results the other week with "Cups not left in the dishwasher or sink will be put in the bin" :)

Reminds me somewhat of a sticker an ex put on my socket set case "Open this way up or we all fall out" :D

She was right, too.
 
We have a box where leftover tupperware goes in. It's had a post it on it saying it will all be reappropriated by next Friday if not claimed.

There was a guest that came into the kitchen the other day saying they have exactly the same box in their kitchen.
 
We have a box where leftover tupperware goes in. It's had a post it on it saying it will all be reappropriated by next Friday if not claimed.

There was a guest that came into the kitchen the other day saying they have exactly the same box in their kitchen.
Anything still in the fridge at 5.00pm on Friday gets binned at my workplace.

Seems to work.
 
Anything still in the fridge at 5.00pm on Friday gets binned at my workplace.

Seems to work.
I once worked somewhere where all the out of date food was binned at 1om on a Friday (office was on a half day so cleaners came round then). Went to get my lunch at 1.30 and they had binned my in date lunch :mad:
 
This is how you do it to make people laugh rather than roll their eyes.

So it has been a while since I have sent you one of my emails….but don’t think this means the expectations I have of all of you has slipped, been pushed to the side or through my start into a new decade, I have simply given up and turned a blind eye.

So let’s go through my expectations…or rules some may say…

Food

Breakfast – eat in the kitchen


Lunch – eat in the kitchen

Dinner – look you should be at home I don’t care where you eat at home (but for some reason if you are here, then kitchen)

Snacks – Can be eaten at your desk, if I have to explain to you what comes under the snack category then I’m gonna have to write a strong worded letter to your Mother

Eating in meeting rooms and pods on the 5th Floor

I suggest you read the above statement….


Hogging Meeting space


Guys come on this isn’t acceptable, these meeting spaces aren’t made for one person to sit in all day, I don’t care if you are in conference with the Pope and if you are you can speak to his holiness in your own time.


The weird Store room not everyone knows about….


Ok so there is a storage room on the street side of the 5th floor, not everyone knows it is there but the people who are aware of its existence have filled it with sweaty pants, tops and socks. When I say have filled it what I mean is they have flung their sweaty clothes in there like they had 30 seconds to get changed and run to a meeting. If any of these clothes belong to you, please can you take them home with you before they grow legs and walk off an hog a meeting pod.


So think that’s most things covered, now remember I have currently about 15 spies/spotters who report to me on a weekly basis. If you want join my army of spies, please speak to me directly, there is no extra money or certificate just the satisfaction of…”I told you so”.
 
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