This is the second job I've had where my male boss spends a good 10 minutes in the morning every two weeks CLIPPING HIS NAILS AT WORK.

Drives. Me. Bat-SHIT. I am at my desk and I swear, his office must have an amplifier - or he specifically chooses times where you could hear a pin drop... "CLIP...CLIP....CLIP". It goes on and on. I'm a girl and it doesn't take me nearly as long. Just when you think he might be done...pregnant pause...."CLIP...CLIP...CLIP".

It is so unnerving to me (don't know why exactly) that I have to drop everything I am doing and go downstairs for a cup of joe.

I've actually came back to see he had been interrupted apparently, because as soon as I sit...it resumes.

I just googled "clipping nails at work"...There are more out there...

Posted by: Feebie at September 1, 2010 7:29 AM

That is TOO horrible, Feebie!

Posted by: Amy Alkon at September 1, 2010 7:57 AM

It's something that's a pet peeve of mine in general, but doubly so at work where people are being paid to do a job: in the last few years I've noticed that a lot of people seem to think the word "help" was redefined to mean: "do my job for me."

We had one guy at our office until awhile ago that was so bad people learned to always look busy or have some other backup plan ready when he came by, because you knew he was trying to offload his work on you. He was also notorious for treating people (especially me) as his human google proxy. Apparnetly his time was so much more important then mine, that I wouldn't mind dropping whatever I was doing to save him a fee seconds on google himself.

I have no problem helping people. I'll give pointers or even do something you just don't have time to do if you ask me. It's the lame atttempts to make it sound like you're just going to do a little bit to help out, but quickly realize they've offload the whole load of work on you that just drives me insane.

Posted by: Miguelito at September 1, 2010 8:30 AM

Although I work in accounting, we have no receptionist, and since I spend 99.9% of my time at my desk, I get to answer the phone. Here's my list of pet peeves:

Robocalls. 90% of them are from collection agencies. NO ONE ever calls these back - WHY keep using them? I hang up on them, but damn, I get like 10 or 20 a day, especially now, since we're closing up shop in about 10 days.

People who don't understand the concept of voicemail. You call for someone, I send you to their extension, they're not there. LEAVE A MESSAGE. DO NOT call me right back and say, "Um, yeah, they're not answering their phone". Then they are BUSY. NO ONE in this office blows off anyone, so if they didn't answer the phone, it's because they were helping someone else. YOU ARE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD.

And, if I DO page that person for you and they STILL don't answer, there is ALSO a good reason - don't get all huffy with me or act like OMG the world is going to end if you can't talk to someone RIGHT FUCKING NOW. GOD, that makes me mental.

Magazine salesmen: I have about a bazillion people calling here to offer us their "free publication" for this and that magazine. Dude, we throw ALL junkmail away. When I tell you we don't want it, HANG UP, OR I WILL. The same thing goes for the asshats masquerading as representatives for the copier company trying to sell us overpriced toner. Dude, that is the FIRST THING they warned me about when I took this job. Just stop it, already.

I swear, the next job I get, I hope I don't have to do this crap anymore.

Posted by: Ann at September 1, 2010 4:52 PM

On the subject of messages (in office and personal life really):

Voicemails of "Hey, call me" are useless! Give
at least some context so I know how important it might be compared to what I'm working on.

Actually leave a message if you want a callback. I've had people get pissy because I didn't call back when they didn't get a call and they ask, "didn't you see I called?" Yes, but if it wasn't important enough to leave a message, why should I assume I need to call you back.

Alphanumeric pages or txts of the same "call me" or worse, a phone number, without any context drive me insane. When people actually take the time to send the mail/txt but don't include any context or reason at all.. why bother. I stopped calling those (unless it's something like my boss).

Posted by: Miguelito at September 1, 2010 8:32 PM

One day a distressed co-worker came to me for comfort. She explained that since her brother's death a few years ago, her parents have given up on living and take no interest in her or her sister. In an attempt to comfort her, I told her that my sister-in-law's child died several years ago and that, despite the tragic and horrible loss, she is now able to smile and laugh and, given time, one day her parents will be able to find some pleasure in living.

I am not a social worker so if my response was a bit lame it was obviously meant kindly. Her reaction to me was to spit, "White people don't love their children like her people do, white people aren't close to their families like her people are. It doesn't matter if a white kid dies."

I did not point out to her that according to her, her parent's don't give a shit about her because she is a girl and her culture places no value on the lives of females. Nor did I say that my s-i-l has another child for whom she makes an effort to live because that would have been like telling her that her parents don't think she is worth living for, even though it is true. My s-i-l hides her misery every day so that her son does not have to face the depths of her despair.

Personally, I find malicious joy in the knowledge that this woman was fired (for being lazy), just after spending tens of thousands on a wedding to a recent immigrant. Being a recent immigrant he is not able to work, he must go through a long process to have his credentials recognized in this country and, as a foreign trained engineer, his chances of finding work are incredibly slim since we have a surfeit of engineers and English speakers are, for obvious reasons, given preference.

Posted by: Ingrid at September 1, 2010 8:33 PM

I have a co-worker that leaves her cell phone on her desk all day. She does not turn it on vibrate and the ring-tone is on High. So when she is away from her desk and her family calls (they won't leave messages, they just keep calling) I have to listen to the theme song of Law and Order.

"Bah bah bah bah bah baahhhhh baaahhh ba bA!"

The co-worker on my other side? She has mouth/lip only conversations with a gal at the other end of our floor. But first, to get her friend's attention she does the "Pssst....Pssssttt....PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST". Out of conditioning or something I ALWAYS looked over and she would wave me off "not you".

One day I confronted her about it. I told her she sounded like an air-hose at a Gas-and-Go. I also asked her if she knew how to work the internal messaging system (chat).

For the record, I know this was passive-aggressive on my part. I didn't see it that way at the time. Now I think I would be more direct and polite in the request, but at least she stopped doing it.

Posted by: Feebie at September 1, 2010 9:18 PM

As someone who works with the public, I *hate* being yelled at for policies I don't make and have no control over. If you dislike a policy, please don't scream at the poor girl behind the counter. She probably hates the policy more than you do because it leads to these scenes.

We don't give free library cards to people who don't live in our county. You can pay to have a card ($40 - the price of two hardback books) for a year, and there are exceptions made for students, teachers, and military.

This leads to some nasty confrontations. The last time I had to deal with it, it was a young guy, probably late-twenties. He came in and practically threw his application at me. "I need a card."

"Okay, sir." I look over at the application and notice that he has an out-of-county address. "Well, unfortunately, it looks like I can't get you a card today because-"

"What the hell? What do you mean I can't get a library card?" Okay, now we're amping up the aggression.

"Well, sir, it looks here like you currently live in [blankety-blank Beachtown]. Is that your correct address."

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, unfortunately, that's out of county. To get a free card, you need to live in [cd county]. But, if you like-"

"You gotta be kidding me. I grew up here. I went to [cd elementary]. I used to live right up the street!! What the fuck do you mean I can't get a library card?"

Okay, now he's cussing me out. Awesome. I tend to the get the shakes when customers chew me out like this, and he's being really vocal about how pissed he is.

"So [blankety-blank beachtown] isn't your current address?"

"No, that's my address."

"Okay, well, I'm not allowed to give out free cards to people who don't live in [cd county]. I'm really sorry, and if you like-"

"THIS IS FUCKING RIDICULOUS!! I can't believe you goddamned people!" And he storms off.

I was shaking so bad after that. The supervisor on call was really cool about it, and told me later that I had every right to go tell him to fly a kite after the first time he started cussing. She was the first supervisor I ever had who told me I could refuse to serve someone for being rude or abusive.

Posted by: cornerdemon at September 1, 2010 10:01 PM

One more on the same subject (because once you pop, the fun don't stop).

Children's room computers are for children. We make exceptions for adults with very small children. And that's *it*. It's policy, and it's a reasonable one, seeing as how there are plenty of computers in the adult area to work on.

It's a slow day, however, and this woman comes in. She walks in like she owns the place and proceeds to try to get on a computer. I walk up to her.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but do you have a child with you today?"

"No, but I used these computers last night."

"Okay, well, I'm sorry but these computers are for children and their caregivers only. So I'm going to ask you to use the computers in the adult room."

She smiles and giggles a little. "Yeah, but some of the people up there are a little disruptive and I'm a medical student. I've got some tests to take and it was fine for me to use them last night."

"Well, I apologize, but whoever let you do that was breaking the rules. These computers are not for adults, they're for children."

"But there's no one in here."

"No, but these computers are reserved for them. Please understand that if I let you on these computers, then the next person who comes back here and asks is going to say 'But you let HER do it'. So I can't make an exception for you."

"Yeah, but you can just tell that person no."

[At this point the voice inside my head is screaming that I'M TELLING *YOU* NO!]

"I'm really sorry, but I have to ask you not to use these computers."

"Is this conversation making you uncomfortable?"

[What the hell does that even mean?] "No, ma'am. I'm just saying that the policy is not to let adults on the children's computers. It doesn't matter if you're a medical student or a homeless man."

"Okay, well, I'm gonna go check on that then."

The story gets weirder (as she goes and lies about talking to my manager, who I then have to get to explain to her that the policy does, indeed, apply to medical students), but I never quite got over the whole, incredibly cheerful "You can just tell the next person no!"

Posted by: cornerdemon at September 1, 2010 10:20 PM

Oh, I have another one.

Sometime in July, we found out the plant was closing in September. So, the guy who owns the vending machines in our breakroom gets wind of this and races up to my office to confirm the rumor. So I tell him yeah, it's true, and then suddenly my plant closing is ALL ABOUT HIM. Seriously, he was worried about losing the income from THREE vending machines (out of the fifty or so he owns all over town) but the fact that 60 people are losing their jobs is really not all that important.

Asshat. And he has the nerve to think that, if I ever get in another job where I can recommend a vending company, I'll give them his name.

Oh, I'll give them his name, all right. Yes, yes I will.

Posted by: Ann at September 2, 2010 5:28 AM

I really, really, despise pushy, rude customers. The louder and more aggressive they are, the more likely they're trying to score something for free or at a substantially reduced cost.

Last week, I had a customer who called and tried the haranguing, tried the raised voice and when he realized he wasn't getting anywhere, pulled out the "I know the owner" card.

I told him I was the owner.

He accused me of lying.

Posted by: Sarah at September 2, 2010 5:36 AM

I have a question for people, is it rude to cook smelly fish in the office microwave?

Posted by: Ingrid at September 2, 2010 8:07 PM

Just because no one is openly "out" at work, it doesn't mean no one's gay. So someone coming into the office bitching loudly about those filthy, God-hating fags and dykes - pretty rude. Delightful to me though, when "someone's" supervisor is a friend. A friend who's introduced me to her lovely girlfriend. "Someone" just couldn't figure out why she was suddenly getting all the shit assignments.

Ingrid: Yes. Any really overly-smelly dish, really. Even microwave popcorn (which I love).

Posted by: Kimberly at September 2, 2010 8:56 PM

I think I could write a novella on lunchroom microwaves and refrigerators.

Yes, popcorn and smelly fish is just rude. It wafts through the entire office. I like fish, but I don't want to smell that at my desk.

The refrigerator. O.M.G. This has been a problem at every job I've ever worked at. Things I can't stand:

1) Brining in a months worth of groceries to put into the refrigerator that has to be shared by everyone on the floor. (We have two people at work who bring in - literally - bags of groceries and food items that completely take up all the cupboards so they can make shakes, large salads, etc..) Everyone else has to work around their space.

2) Leaving food in the refrigerator for months on end until it resembles a specimen in a petri-dish - which can then be smelled a good five minutes after one opens and closes the fridge.

3) Leaving food with an open container (sodas half full) that can spill out or fall over.

4) Craming your food on top of my sandwich - thereby crushing it beyond all recognition.

5) Using my butter, milk, or any condiment especially if it has my name on it.

6) Stealing my food.

Posted by: Feebie at September 2, 2010 9:18 PM

I don't mind the popcorn so much, as long as they don't BURN it. Then, it's nasty. If you're going to pop popcorn, you need to watch that shit.

And for God's sake, STOP bringing those Lean Cuisines to work. They smell like ass.

Posted by: Ann at September 2, 2010 10:34 PM

Back before I was married, I worked for a medium size corporation. I was a mere peon but I was fairly aware of the corporate way of doing things.

When my man and I decided to marry, I went to the human resources department and inquired about name changes, address changes, insurance changes etc. I got the scoop on how to do all of those things and life continued on as expected. When hubby and I finally got our wedding stuff straight, I asked to schedule my vacation days, intending to go on a honeymoon.

I got my vacation scheduled and life was good. About three days before I was to marry and holiday, my boss revoked my scheduled and approved vacation days without any warning.

It seems that someone else wanted those same days and he bumped me in favor of them. So I told him I really could not reschedule my plans and would simply take those days off as unpaid leave. Boss lost his temper and told me I had to stay and work. I told him I would not be there since I had already cleared the days (with him) in advance.

When he asked me what my plans were that could not be changed (which was none of his business) I told him I was marrying and going on a honeymoon and he didn't believe me! Asshat.

Posted by: LauraGr at September 4, 2010 12:10 AM

Oh my do I have stories. See, I work in a cubicle world. And not the tall, more private, cubicles, we have the short cubicles. So, every day I am serenaded by my neighbors. I get to listen to an old man farting and cussing, a female smack and chew her food, and another female speak loudly on the phone in another language allllllll day long. I also have one who seems to have an addiction to sunflower seeds. I hear the shells pop, pop, popping all day. Then there's the guy who must have some sort of extra phlem issue because he must hack it up at least twice a day.

Oh and the fish smell from the microwave! Don't get me started. I work with many Asian people and I'm sorry, but whatever they are heating up has a NASTY rotten fish smell. I often have to leave the building during lunch time.

Now lets talk about the bathrooms at work. Who the heck are the ones that don't flush, leave urine on the seat, and toilet paper all over the ground? Do they do this at home? EW! And I watch who washes their hands....not many. And quickly getting your hands wet then using a paper towel is not WASHING your hands.

Ok, one last vent...the people who continuously come into work when they are sick. I work in a building that has three wings. You can literally watch the virus travel from one wing to another. I happen to be disabled (still able to work). I have an autoimmune disorder. I catch every virus that comes into this building. I take extra precautions with cleaning, hand sanitizing, not touching things....all I ask is if you are sick do not come and hang out near my cubicle hacking and coughing all over. If you are sick and must come to work, stay in your work area and keep it to yourself! There are 200 people in this building that do not want what you have.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 5, 2010 12:19 AM

Speaking of bathrooms: Okay, look, I know we can't always control when nature calls. But there are a couple of women in my office who use the bathroom every day -- at the same time every day -- to take a smelly dump. That half of the building reeks the whole day long. We actually have an IM flag system going that warns people on my (non-bathroom) end of the building to not come down there during the worst of it, if at all possible.

I know you can train your body to have a different schedule, because I've done it. My husband and I live in a one-bathroom house, and if I hadn't re-scheduled myself, one of us would be using the yard. I don't know how to discuss this with them without causing their eternal mortification, though.

Posted by: Rose at September 7, 2010 5:57 PM

I've got one. For some reason, the sponges in the sink are always going missing. Are you kidding me, people? Who does that? We've figured out that they onlt take them when we get the good ones, so now we al have t make due with cheap sponges. Can these people really not afford a damn sponge?! It's left me scrubbing out my lunch dishes with my nails more that once. Gross.

Posted by: Kimmy at September 8, 2010 6:55 PM

Kimmy - here's my take on your situation. From working in an office with a communal break room from the time I was about 14 I've noticed one thing that is always a given - communal sponges SMELL BAD. Mostly because people do not squeeze out the excess water after RINSING them out after use. Bacteria grows on their and it starts to smell like a Phys-Ed locker room.

I usually run it through the dishwasher or stick it in the microwave (although this one is tough because it does smell bad) when the stink gets unbearable. Finally, if those don't work - I usually toss it. I will always look for a replacement. If there isn't one, I'll ask the Admin on our floor to order more.

Sometimes those things just get too disgusting and germ ridden to keep around. Blech!

Not sure if these are old ones being thrown away at your work, but it reminded me again about more break room etiquette.

Posted by: Feebie at September 9, 2010 6:58 PM

People who steal the plates, silverware, coffee, sugar, creamers, and tea from the kitchen! And those people who steal TP and paper towels.
Seriously. Stop it people.
I am the one who places the order every week and I can't keep placing emergency orders to replenish our supplies because you are too cheap to buy your own damn shit. Those emergecy orders actually cost more because our suppliers charge a delivery charge for unscheduled deliveries. Worse yet, you people who take a pile of plates because they are having a party at their house this weekend and don't feel like buying thier supplies themselves! That $5.00 pack of plates plate you thought was no big deal to take home for your party, actually cost us $10.00 to replace. You justify it by saying, "Well the company can afford it." Um no, they can't. That eats away at our very small budget for things like that. And if we go over budget, guess who's ass in on the line? MINE!

Just because it's there doesn't mean "it's free". It's there as a courtesy. For everyone to use. It's pricks like you who ruin it for everyone.

Management doesn't have to supply that stuff but they do because they like to try to make the employees as comfortable as possible. However, their kindness is limited when they think they are being taken advantage of, or when they losing profit. They will once again this year be looking for more ways to cut the budget (we are in hard economic times ya know) ino ur annual budget meeting, and I will whip out my handy dandy spreadsheet that I keep regarding "misc" costs like coffee and supplies. And they will see what I am spending a week just to replace what goes missing. And they will want to hear my suggestions to cut costs. And they will likely follow my suggestion to eliminate everything but coffee and tea because believe it or not, money speaks louder than your "inconveniances". The coffee will be the cheapest brand I can find and the tea will be Lipton. There will be no silverware, plates, cups, fancy paper towels, and good creamers. You will have to bring your own cutlery, cups, and plates (which will probably be better for the environment anyway). I will go to standard flavorless powdered creamers, and giant tubs-o-sugar. There will be no sweetners. And the employees will get those hard, low quality public school paper towels to dry their hands with. It will be bottom of the line and "just good enough". And they will all come and complain to me about it. I will tell them all that they can thank all the office thieves for forcing us to take such drastic measures to cut the coffee supply costs. And trust me, after a while, they will start ratting you out. Stealing is stealing. Whether is be a tv, stapler, or some plates from the office kitchen. And stealing is a fireable offense. And when you get ratted out, I will laugh heartily at your demise.

Posted by: Sabrina at September 21, 2010 9:29 PM

The last time I worked in retail (and I hope to Crom it will continue to be THE LAST time I wroked in retail) I had this real piece of work for a boss. She was every bad stereotypical trait a woman boss could have. Cliquey, gossipy, menopausal, bitchy, overbearing and indecisive (at the same time) and just . . . not a good person.

One day, while she was on one a buying trip I got a customer call inquiring about a special order. Store policy was to check the special order book, and inform the customer what the status was - no big thing right? Well this nice lady's (and she really was so very pleasant through this whole thing) order had been placed in June and it was now January. And apparently at some point she had gotten a call from us that her order was in and then when she came in she found out the new girl had accidentally sold the item instead of holding it. I told the Nice Lady that I'd check the status of the new order and get right back to her.

The order hasn't even been placed yet. So I call the company and make sure the item is in stock and we can get it overnighted. Yay! So I call my Boss and ask for permission to order the item and get it overnighted so that the Nice Lady can have her seven month old special order.

Boss screams at me over the phone. Apparently I was supposed to have inferred that Nice Lady was a lawyer and was quite upset with Boss. Boss swears at me and demands to know every exact phrase I spoke to Nice Lady. I am forbidden from talking to Nice Lady again, forbidden to check the special order book, and forbidden to answer the phones.

Two days later Boss is back and continues to yell at me over my inappropriate handling of this situation. And I mean she is *yelling* - eyes popping, veins bulging, and all that. And we're on the sales floor. When she calls me a "Fucking bitch" who "doesn't know a goddamned thing about running a business" I walk out of the store. I come in the next day just long enough to officially quit (because I knew she wouldn't fire me. Just do everything she could to "encourage" me to quit).

Posted by: Elle at September 23, 2010 8:09 PM

People who use up all the paper in a photocopier or printer and then neglect to refill the paper tray so that the next person has to do so.

Posted by: MIOnline at December 3, 2010 6:19 PM

I worked in a small office of about 12 employees and one was new and very chatty and boring. She would complain about the other coworkers to me. I never gave her any reason to think this was a good idea or even acceptable, but she would come in my office and yammer. I was the receptionist and didn't really have anything to "do" if the phone wasn't ringing or someone was stepping in the door, so I couldn't find a good way to get her to leave. Anyway, I got married and left the job shortly after she was hired. I came back about a month later to drop off some paperwork and she said "are you trying to get pregnant?" I was so caught off guard! We were newlyweds, I'm in my late twenties, so I get why she's asking, but seriously, MYOB. I said, "well, that's really none of your business is it?" with a smile on my face.

Related: An acquaintance who knew I was married but who I hadn't seen in some time asked if I had had any kids yet
Me: no
Him: I thought you'd be popping them out like chicklets by now
Me: yeah, well . . . (and thinking--I just miscarried a week ago, asshole)

So while only tangentially related to the workplace, my point is that unless you are very close, intimate confidants, friends, or family, it is rude to ask someone when they are going to get pregnant. Don't worry, she didn't forget to tell you! And if you think someone might be pregnant in the very early stages--dont ask! She has probably decided to wait a certain amount of time before telling, and that probably includes telling you.

PS-I'm pregant now (took long enough, as one family member insightfully and most helpfully remarked)

Posted by: Lindsayloo at November 22, 2011 4:30 AM

Office pet peeve #1

Actually, this happens all over. People pushing their way IN to the the elevator before people LEAVE it.

I was going to leave an elevator on the ground floor at the VA hospital. A person in one of those chair scooters started to zoom in to the (half full)elevator. I stepped up and blocked him: 1) because what he was doing was rude and 2) a very elderly couple were also leaving. He looked at me and in a nasty tone said "Excuse me, I am trying to get on!"

I stood my ground and replied "This elevators is not going anywhere until all of us get off. Please step aside. After we depart, THEN you may board the elevator". He said "I'm disabled, you should let me go first; it's only polite." I looked at the other people in the elevator, and back at him and laughed "Sir, this the VA hospital. Everyone here is disabled. That's why we are here! No please, move aside and let these nice people out."

Posted by: Keliandra at November 30, 2012 8:12 PM

Office pet peeve #2

Two people having a conversation in a corridor where they are standing so that they block the entire corridor and you have to rudely barge through their conversation to get through.

I actually stopped once, waited, and then asked "Do you mind if I barge through your conversation? I'd like to take my lunch back to my desk and you are blocking the corridor."

That was after one person told me how rude I was to walk between two people talking.

Posted by: Keliandra at November 30, 2012 8:21 PM

Office pet peeve #3

The bathroom. Our bathrooms are well ventilated and the floors are free of toilet paper. I know people even wash their hands? How? Because they leave water all over the counter! It drips onto the floor. If I accidentally brush against the counter, whatever I am wearing suddenly has a wet spot.

Seriously people, how hard is it to dispense soap onto your hands BEFORE you stick them under the automatic faucet? Do you really have to cup your hands and fill them with water, then drop that water all over the counter while reaching for the soap? Do you then have to grab another handful of water before you move 3 feet to the paper towel dispenser, dropping more water as you go? Is it THAT hard to turn and take 1.5 steps and wipe the counter down with that used paper towel?

Posted by: Keliandra at November 30, 2012 8:30 PM

I worked as a cashier at Wal-Mart for 2 years before I finally quit because I just couldn't take the constant abuse from customers anymore. There are 2 instances that stand out in my mind as being as examples of the worst of what I used to take from people.

The first happened when I was still "green" and had only been working as a cashier for about a month. I was at an express checkout lane (20 items or less) and a woman with a full cart came to my lane. At that time we were directed by management NOT to correct customers with large orders in the express lane so I bit my tongue smiled at her and said "Did you find everything ok today?" (as we were trained to do) She said "Excuse me!? How about saying Hello? God, your minimum wage job isn't THAT difficult that you can't bother saying hello to the person paying for your paychecks is it!?" I just looked at her confused and said.. "um.. Hello?" She then proceeded to yell at me for being too rough with her carton of eggs before I had ever even touched them.. they were still sitting in her cart. When I pointed out that I hadn't scanned her eggs yet she called me stupid and said to keep my damn smart mouth shut and to do my job. She kept berating me the whole time and I was in tears by the time her order was done. The whole time management was ignore my blinking light that you flip to ask for management assistance at the registers.

The second was a very large, tall man that came to my register (again the express lane) with a package of combs and a bottle of cough medicine. He wrote a check and the register rejected it and printed a receipt indicating that the man had over $50 worth of returned (bounced) checks on file with us. I handed him the paper and quietly explained to him that we couldn't accept any checks from him until he paid the returned checks off and directed him to customer service. He flipped out and called me a stupid "see you next Tuesday" and commanded me to put the check through again. I told him the register physically will not allow checks from him to go through until his unpayed checks were taken care of. He began to stutter and said "you know, you're a terrible person. a TERRIBLE person! I hope you get cancer and DIE because that's what you deserve!!"

Looking back I'm surprised I lasted 2 years in that Hell hole. People act like it's a God given right to shop at Wal-Mart and they should be treated like kings no matter how disgusting their behavior is because THEY'RE the customer.

Posted by: Elizabeth at December 5, 2012 3:59 PM

Too many women don't want to work and then they either complain that they have too much work and/or expect you to do it for them and fill up their time with gossiping with other people and/or on the telephone. They are also arguing constantly and giving their opinions on anything and everything when no one asks from their opinions and have no tact and diplomacy when it comes to giving advice to other people. They also put their noses into areas that is none of their business. I had one secretary that was aways asking me why some other people were not being invited to other meetings. I finally had to take it up twice with her boss to mind her own business. She also put her hands on my arm twice and the second time, I told her not to do it anymore because she would not like it if I did it to her and I informed her supervisor about it.

Rude bosses particulary women and minorities let even their lowest supervisor positions go to their heads. They also don't want to crackdown on their rude subordinates because of too much paperwork and/or are friends with the rude people. They like to violate other people's rights and then have the gall to complain about their own rights plus complain about how hard it is being a manager. If they didn't want the job, then they should have never apply for the position. It is amazing they like the perks but can't or won't take the responisibilty for being a manager.

Posted by: Gunther at July 9, 2013 3:54 AM

Wow, Gunther, I wonder if anyone has ever suggested that you might have issues.

Too many women don't want to work, spend all day gossiping, and complain that their work is too hard?

Women and minorities let even the lowest level of supervision go to their heads?

I guess I'll give my "opinion on anything and everything" in your post and suggest that all these women might not be the only people who "have no tact and diplomacy."

Posted by: Delislice at October 7, 2013 3:30 PM

I work in a nursing home. It is a very nice facility, professionally decorated, with carpeting, artwork, oak handrails, large windows, nice curtains.

Last week included a holiday, which meant lots of families coming to see their aged loved one.

So it could quite possibly have been a visiting child instead of a co-worker who spit their gum into the wrapper and dropped the wrapper onto the floor, leaving a large wad of gum exposed.

Which my new, $120, ortho-specialty work shoes found.

If you must chew gum, please make sure it is completely wrapped up before disposing of it. And please dispose of it only in a trash can.

I suppose it's fortunate that my shoe found it, and not a resident, unsteady on his/her feet, for whom the hitch in the step would have resulted in a fall.

Posted by: Beth at December 31, 2013 3:06 PM

My husband is terminally ill, and I've had to take several days off work to care for him, most recently following a stroke. (Made possible only by my boss and a couple oher absolute angels who reorganize my workload to be manageable on my return.) Most recently when I was making arrangements to go pick him up upon discharge from the hospital following a stroke, another coworker says, "Another vacation day, huh? Must be nice." I explained that no, not a vacay (haven't been able to do THAT in years!) but FMLA leave instead; she responded, "Well soon you won't have to worry about that anymore." And smiled.

Posted by: Virago at May 16, 2014 10:07 PM

"Another vacation day, huh? Must be nice." I explained that no, not a vacay (haven't been able to do THAT in years!) but FMLA leave instead; she responded, "Well soon you won't have to worry about that anymore." And smiled.

Wow. I am so sorry to hear what you're going through, Virago. I hope you have some friends who are pitching in at least a little.

I write about this in "Good Manners For Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck" -- how to help a friend who is seriously ill or who has a loved one who is. A lot of people who might come around, Virago, maybe haven't, out of fear that they will do or say the wrong thing. Not excusing them, just explaining in case you're going through this. (I had a good friend, sadly, who was terminal.) People need to understand that they just need to show the hell up -- unless they're told the person or people need to be alone -- and to ask what specific things they can do.

Posted by: Amy Alkon at May 16, 2014 11:34 PM

Oh, and a package did come over my fence -- not the right one. I chased the carrier down the block -- Jose, temporarily delivering on my block, very nice. He later personally delivered the missing package -- what a wonderful guy -- after hearing the story.

Unbelievably -- or actually, not -- the supervisor at the post office DIDN'T BOTHER LOOKING AT THE REDELIVER LIST THIS MORNING. So none of the things on it got redelivered.

UPS is not run like this. If the Post Office were a business and not part of government, it sure wouldn't be run like this.

Posted by: Amy Alkon at May 17, 2014 4:56 AM

I worked in a small law office. We had 2 firms sharing the same office space. All together there were 6 attorneys and about 15 secretaries. Many of our clients would screen their phone calls. Then they would call back and say "You just called me." I would then go on to explain that we have 6 attorneys and 15 secretaries and did they leave a voice mail so I know where to direct their call. They would then answer "I don't know I didn't check my voice mail." One girl told me she had 64 messages and she wasn't about the check all of them. Is this a new level of lazy or what.

Posted by: DiDi at August 2, 2014 10:49 PM

I encountered a shockingly rude fellow businesswoman recently. I had scheduled a meeting with just her husband (so I thought) at a prestigious place in the city where other business people from all over the world were hang around too for conferences, meetings and networking. I tell you this because the context made her behaviour all the more shocking.
I had arrived half an hour early. I had a choice of a sofa with a small coffee table or a traditional table with two chairs. I opted for the latter, so we could more easily look over the project we were considering doing. Well there I was, hot coffee, open laptop, phone on desk, coat off, notebook out too; waiting for this woman's husband to show up. Just after the time he was due, I got a tap on my shoulder from behind. A woman. ''Are you CEO, meeting with Project Guy?' ' she asked. 'Yes, I replied. She pointed to a sofa behind her on the other side of the room. 'We're over there'. She went back to her seat 'over there' and all I remember is her husband approaching me at the table, me standing up to greet him, him staring at me like a zombie and not saying a word. I could see her watching from 'over there' out of the corner of my eye. I then realised she was expecting me to move, and he - completely muted into submission (he looked petrified) was unable to say a word. I asked him politely, 'Oh so are we sitting over there then?' No reply, he just stared at me! Given the context, I (feeling furious but nonetheless trying to act like a grown up), gathered up all my things as best I could - open briefcase bag, open laptop, hot cup of coffee, notepad, pen, phone, coat...and struggled over to where Queen Bee was sat. As I struggled to put everything down on the tiny little table and equallytiny spare tub chair she asks 'Can you manage?' 'Just about' I replied sarcastically. It doesn't end here either. Three times throughout the meeting she made eyes at her husband in front of me and put a frowning face in over something I'd said, deliberately trying to destabilise me and make me feel uncomfortable. I'm much younger (in my 30s) but she didn't realise I could see right through her and I think she thought she could intimidate me. Then towards the end she did a nice, smiling version of those looks, as if I had gained Her Majesty's approval. As the meeting conversationally came to a natural close she began to make eyes at me. I looked at her. 'Thats it' she said and gestured as if to indicate I should leave. I felt embarrassed because meetings with others have never ended like that, people have just kind of been relaxed etc. 'Oh',I said. 'Are you guys sticking round here then?' 'Yes' she replied. Now I too had planned on sticking around too, as it was a nice place to do some work, but I just replied that I was off to find food. I said goodbye as I made my exit but got no reply. As I was almost out of the door I looked back to see them leaving too!! So it was just a power game I think that she was playing.
What bothers me is that this woman runs supportive circles for women who run their own companies, and so it makes her behaviour even worse! I shan't be going to any! She is quite possibly one of the rudest businesspeople I have ever met in my life.

Posted by: CEO at September 8, 2014 7:06 PM

Love that you had her number, CEO.

Posted by: Amy Alkon at September 8, 2014 9:33 PM

I work in a small post office: 2 indoor staff, 2 mail carriers, all female. We sort the mail in one large room. Due to weight issues, the postmaster and one mail carrier insist on working with the door open ALL the time! One day I was wearing 4 wool sweaters on top of my uniform.

I have asked for other cooling solutions: we have fans and an air conditioner! to no avail. I know if I ramped up my complaints I will be jeopardizing my job. I now hate going to work, I feel extremely disrespected.

Posted by: Sally at April 19, 2015 5:53 PM

Coworkers who insist on loud snorting all day long - like every 2-3 minutes. So loud you hear it over several aisles. She says excuse me every once in a while - not good enough. Completely gross. Blow your damn nose or take a pill, I’m trying to work here! Also chews gum loudly. When I say something about the gum I’m the bitch. I’m not the one making noise so I don’t see why I should have to wear headphones to block the noise. How about the person making all the noise stopping? There are other people around you!! Drives me batshit crazy.

Posted by: KMM at June 14, 2018 6:03 PM