Indentured servitude?
14 – emails received before lunch
17 – phone calls
28 – instant messages
1 – sighting of my boss this week
I love my job. I really do. For once in my life, it’s good. I am proud to work where I work; proud of who I work for. But lately, I’m just annoyed every time my computer makes any sort of “ping” or “bloop” sound, because it usually means I have yet another email or instant message from my boss. And every time the phone rings, I’m scared to look at it and find out that it’s my line, signaling an incoming call from my boss.
Let’s get this straight: I like my boss. She’s a very nice, hardworking lady. But she’s kinda spastic and forgetful, which results in numerous phone calls about the same issue. As soon as she hangs up, she remembers another detail that I just have.to.know.
It’s enough to drive anyone crazy.
Lately, it’s resulted in me turning off my cell phone as soon as I get home because IF I HAVE TO HEAR A PHONE, THE PHONE, ANY FUCKING PHONE RING ONE MORE TIME, I MIGHT KILL MYSELF.
Usually I can just grin and bear it. But lately? Lately, I’ve been losing my temper a little bit. Granted, not in front of her or anyone else at work, but several times this week I’ve needed to excuse myself from my office and go to the bathroom or take a walk around the building to cool off.
I don’t mind if she really needs me to do something, like say “CP, would you mind faxing over this contract to X,Y,Z for me?” or “I’m away from my computer, so can you please read something to me over the phone from this document so I can pass along the information?” No, those things I don’t mind. The following example is of something that I really really really DO mind:
“CP, I need to locate the file named [redacted]. Can you please send it to me in an email because I don’t have the time right now to look for it.”
“Sure, no problem,” I reply. I had found the document and emailed it to her within 30 seconds.
Approximately 30 seconds later…
“CP, I need to locate the clause on payment. Could you tell me where it is, by indicating which section?”
I quickly scanned the documents, located the clauses and indicated them to her. This was all via instant messaging.
10 seconds later…
“I’m really in need of the exact wording and this document won’t let me copy and paste what I need.”
“I know,” I explain, “it’s a read-only file. It won’t let you change anything, so copy and paste is not a workable function.”
“Oh. Well, then would you mind typing out the clauses for me in a Word document, attaching it to an email and sending it to me?”
This is where I kind of started to go a little crazy. I found you the document. I emailed it to you. I pointed out the clause. Now you want me to go in and type out the text of the clauses you need and email them to you? Just so you can copy and paste them? ARGHHHHHHHHHH.
“Sure, not a problem,” is what I replied.
“OMG, fuck the clauses!!!!!,” is what I was thinking.
Seriously, there’s a fine line between needing an assistant, and needing a slave.
I hate it when people don’t even TRY to learn how to do something. My boss always asks me to “send” him stuff. It’s easier for me just to e-mail it to him than try to explain how to access the network every flippin’ time he needs something.
That’s a little ridiculous – and would drive me nuts, as well.
I’m so sorry girly! Although at work I’m known to be upfront about what I will and wont do (i dont have room to talk, im an fn intern!) but if I cant type/copy/paste something, I stand up and say no i cant i’m very busy. Period. sorry, I’ve got stuff to do. sometimes a solid policy makes people respect you more. only an idea
Aww. My boss is kind of the same way with the phone calls every five seconds some days. I cope with it by screaming ’stop calling me!’ when I hang up with her.
Hang in there! Hard work and nice manners are always rewarded!