Azat Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 (edited) I have to say that until the past couple of years I use to work for software R&D organizations mostly and the office politics for geeks is so much easier to handle than office politics in other settings. Today I work for the IT organization and while people are still somewhat geeky, they also are all into the politics. Things that drive me nuts 1. people complain about the types of chairs that they have. They all use to have crappy chairs and couple of the people complained of back pain 3 weeks ago so immediately we got them nice chairs. Within a week everyone was up in arms about why some had new chairs and they did not. So we went out to buy nice chairs for all. Well the local office depot ran out and 4 had to get a similar chair but a bit different. Now everyone has found out that those 4 chairs were 20 more and we have complains for those guys. Apparently the lower back support is not as good on the cheaper($329) chairs... Go figure. 2. Cubical location/size. 2a. Office location and size for the managers 3. Lighting 4. Parking space(front or back of the office) 5. Hours of work 6. I have 2 guys who travel over 50 miles each way to work so one day a week they can VPN in and work from home. Now everyone wants VPN I can go on and on but I am tired of it all. I just want to know if this is true in other offices as well or is it just here... Edited May 3, 2005 by Azat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Azat, I think politics is everywhere. Everyone maximizes his/her benefits while reducing the cost. The society, where the only real social constraint is law, is penetrated by politics from top to bottom. And it is a non ending bargain process so one better get used to it like a normal factor of life. There is even family politics (like children's right etc.) not to metion office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakharar Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 (edited) Azat, are you the person in charge? Edited May 3, 2005 by Nakharar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 (edited) Azat, you would love it if I worked for you. I never complain and am obedient and I deliver all the time. I would have some things to say about politics, too, but I think I'll try to deflect my attention from the unpleasantries. Edited May 6, 2005 by Stormig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakharar Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 1. No one dares to complain about our chairs. Not that they aren't comfy. 2. We don't have cubicles in my workplace. We work in offices with 3-4 people. Open offices in Europe are quite rare. 3. Lighting isn't much of a problem. Most of the desks are near the windows. 4. I use the S-Bahn (commuter train). Public transport is the No. 1 means of transportation. 5. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in theory but usually 7 p.m. Some days we overwork until 9 -10 p.m. Plus we get the weekends off and there are lots of holidays not counting the one month paid leave. 6. What's VPN? Then there are many EU regulations made to improve the work place and are impossible to implement because they contradict each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakharar Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Stormig, what kind of company do you work for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted May 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Nakharar, I am in management. 1. Chairs are nothing, they complain about everything. 2. Some managers have windows some do not. Managers complain about that. Employees are all in cubicles and in different sections of the building(Old building) so they complain why they are at one section vs another. 3. I personally hate the florescent light as well but I have a window office and hardly ever turn on the lights. So I do understand about the lighting, but not much I can do in the cubical environment 4. No Public transportation. 5. 8-6 I would be thrilled. 8-5 I am OK with, most of the new employees start out putting lots of time but soon get poisoned by the long timers and do not even spend a full 8 hours at work. Weekends, only idiots like I come in on weekends. 6 VPN - Virtual Private Network. A method of allowing people to login from home to their computers at work and it looks as if they are in the office as they drive the computer at work. Here is another one that is a huge thorn on my side. Some employees complained of eye strains and got flat panels and all new employees are getting flat screens, but more than half are still on CRTs. guess what. They all have developed eye strains in the past month or two. Armen, I agree with that an in general I can manage it well(I can shovel the shit with the best of them) but it really is different in R&D. Quality of people is much different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted May 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Stormy, you're hired. But you better not try to outsource your work to your friends with kickbacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 I have to say that until the past couple of years I use to work for software R&D organizations mostly and the office politics for geeks is so much easier to handle than office politics in other settings The worst office environment is a Law firm office (especially big or medium size company). It is a living hell with few exceptions. Unfortunately, some people are so used to that that they find it normal. Everything is a problem - starting with dress code and finishing with job responsibilities and performance. Not to speak about the curse - BILLABLE HOURS! The irony is that people put so much efforts to get there (university, bar exam, etc..) and after few months they get cold shower. Few more months and they already hate themselves. Don’t get me wrong. I blame the System, which was founded by…. Lawyers! Life is easier if one looks at it from a relaxed non-professional perspective. Like being a clerk or maintenance guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted May 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Life is easier if one looks at it from a relaxed non-professional perspective. Like being a clerk or maintenance guy. style_images/master/snapback.png or the pool guy who gets all the desperate housewives on his route. Oh wait that was the plot of a porn flick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armjan Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 (edited) I have to say that until the past couple of years I use to work for software R&D organizations mostly and the office politics for geeks is so much easier to handle than office politics in other settings. Today I work for the IT organization and while people are still somewhat geeky, they also are all into the politics. Things that drive me nuts 1. people complain about the types of chairs that they have. They all use to have crappy chairs and couple of the people complained of back pain 3 weeks ago so immediately we got them nice chairs. Within a week everyone was up in arms about why some had new chairs and they did not. So we went out to buy nice chairs for all. Well the local office depot ran out and 4 had to get a similar chair but a bit different. Now everyone has found out that those 4 chairs were 20 more and we have complains for those guys. Apparently the lower back support is not as good on the cheaper($329) chairs... Go figure. 2. Cubical location/size. 2a. Office location and size for the managers 3. Lighting 4. Parking space(front or back of the office) 5. Hours of work 6. I have 2 guys who travel over 50 miles each way to work so one day a week they can VPN in and work from home. Now everyone wants VPN I can go on and on but I am tired of it all. I just want to know if this is true in other offices as well or is it just here... style_images/master/snapback.png it sounds like your company is small in size and very efficient. if we were to requests charis, it will take atleast 2 months. i can understand your pissed off about the circumstances. the best thing to do is just don't think about it, don't give a damn. "oh john needs a chair, good for him. What's that gotta do with me." Try to keep 65% of all u'r conversations on a hi 2 bye basis. if you feel a conversation is going too long, say things like... "oh that sounds great", "thanks for stopping by", "oh it's almost 3 oclock" "i think we should revisit this sometime later" "yeah i can tell u'r busy, so i'll just..." and when u walk, don't walk too slow, walk like you r going somewhere or have something to do. ppl will stop u much less often. as long as u avoid eye contact, u will be hassled less with useless conversations. unless it's u'r manager, then just smile even if they don't say anything. we are blessed to have offices, so u have u'r privacy. Edited May 4, 2005 by armjan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 I'm sorry Azat - I cracked up reading this.... I work in a communications firm, and we have similar problems, but not exactly the same. Things that drive me nuts 1. people complain about the types of chairs that they have. They all use to have crappy chairs and couple of the people complained of back pain 3 weeks ago so immediately we got them nice chairs. Within a week everyone was up in arms about why some had new chairs and they did not. So we went out to buy nice chairs for all. Well the local office depot ran out and 4 had to get a similar chair but a bit different. Now everyone has found out that those 4 chairs were 20 more and we have complains for those guys. Apparently the lower back support is not as good on the cheaper($329) chairs... Go figure. We got a few new chairs last year - I was one of the ones that didn't get new chairs - mine has a broken pin on one of the wheels, sometimes it falls off. I find it funny. 2. Cubical location/size. 2a. Office location and size for the managers 3. Lighting We have some quasi cubicles - we have an open-concept office that's kind of nice. Almost everyone gets light 'cause of the atrium. People still complain about their location and who they're sitting close to. 4. Parking space(front or back of the office) Only paid parking around my work - except for the VP & Pres. I take the metro. 5. Hours of work: 8-6 I would be thrilled. 8-5 I am OK with, most of the new employees start out putting lots of time but soon get poisoned by the long timers and do not even spend a full 8 hours at work. Weekends, only idiots like I come in on weekends. Looks like we're both idiots Actually I have a pretty flexible schedule. Sometimes I come in a little late - 9h30 knowing that I'll be working late. Well, some of the babies get their diapers in a knot. 6. I have 2 guys who travel over 50 miles each way to work so one day a week they can VPN in and work from home. Now everyone wants VPN. We don't have true VPN, but those of us who have some admin priv. on the servers can tunnel in through a shell (PPTP). This can be very handy. I just want to know if this is true in other offices as well or is it just here... style_images/master/snapback.png It's everywhere buddy.... everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Azat, you would love it if I worked for you. I never complain and am obedient and I deliver all the time. I would have some things to say about politics, too, but I think I'll try to deflect my attention from the unpleasantries. Let's just say that I'm an underling and not a manager. And let's just say that I'm so pissed off at my employers that I have my friends outsource work we outsourced to them so I can earn more cash, because even though I can do what they're outsourcing they wouldn't pay me extra wage, "reasoning" that I should be able to finish it up during office hours when in fact I'd have to put in extra time. Hello, if you're outsourcing, it means I don't have the time anyway! So I do what I have to do behind their backs. After all, they're friends I referred and they owe me. style_images/master/snapback.png Storms, you should work for our government. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Hey Azat ... I have a hypothetical for you ... Suppose someone were to remotely work for you ... if that person bitched enough, would he or she get a new chair, LCD monitor, and maybe some other stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 My chair sucks, I work 9-10 hours a day, too many people bug me and drag me into useless meetings, but I have such a nice view to 2 states at the same time that I have no complaints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 ... as for office politics, I would hate to be involved in any politics, but I simply have no time for that. Whenever someone tries to engage me into politics type of talk, I respond minimally, try to cut it short and then rush away to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted May 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Hey Azat ... I have a hypothetical for you ... Suppose someone were to remotely work for you ... if that person bitched enough, would he or she get a new chair, LCD monitor, and maybe some other stuff? style_images/master/snapback.png Sip, its almost 3 O'Clock, I got to run, we should talk about this some other time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted May 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 (edited) My chair sucks, I work 9-10 hours a day, too many people bug me and drag me into useless meetings, but I have such a nice view to 2 states at the same time that I have no complaints style_images/master/snapback.png wow Sas. will you hire me as your assistant. Although my view sometimes is more interesting. Right across my office is Vivid videos and whenever a limo pulls up I am looking out as interesting women come out of the limos Edited May 4, 2005 by Azat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 wow Sas. will you hire me as your assistant style_images/master/snapback.png Azat jan, I would like to stay free from responsibilities of managing other people. But I have an opening for a boss who works more hours than I and gives me promotions every 6 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 (edited) Nice view Sas - now is that your actual boss's description, or the one you have in mind as a replacement? Edited May 4, 2005 by vava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Nice view Sas - now is that your actual boss's description, or the one you have in mind as a replacement? style_images/master/snapback.png Nope, that's the profile of a desired boss. Actually I kind of work independently most of the time because my current boss does not know the ins and outs of what I am doing. It's not bad, but he prefers to work less than me and I don't like that. Also sometimes in the past he tried to have me change the code that I write, it pissed me off, and every time I told him he was wrong and I did the right way and didn't change anything. Eventually he learned to keep away from my work (something that he has little competence in) and leave it up to me how I design and code. Sometimes you need to educate your boss. In my case I am lucky that he is reasonable enough to live with my habits, but I hear there are really bad bosses around who would push their way even if it is wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasun Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 and when u walk, don't walk too slow, walk like you r going somewhere or have something to do. ppl will stop u much less often. as long as u avoid eye contact, u will be hassled less with useless conversations. unless it's u'r manager, then just smile even if they don't say anything. style_images/master/snapback.png I find it very effective to have some papers in hand and look at them as you walk around. Pretend that you see nobody and are concentrating on your papers. Another way to avoid conversations, usually people stop by at my desk with questions or what not. So they say "Do you have a moment to discuss someting?" I don't say yes, I say "Ummm...". Then most of the time they feel obliged to keep it short. Or they ask, "Hey, are you busy?" , "Or are you very busy?" I always say yes, even if I am browsing the internet (I can always tell them I am running a program in the bacground). That works too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armjan Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 I find it very effective to have some papers in hand and look at them as you walk around. Pretend that you see nobody and are concentrating on your papers. Another way to avoid conversations, usually people stop by at my desk with questions or what not. So they say "Do you have a moment to discuss someting?" I don't say yes, I say "Ummm...". Then most of the time they feel obliged to keep it short. Or they ask, "Hey, are you busy?" , "Or are you very busy?" I always say yes, even if I am browsing the internet (I can always tell them I am running a program in the bacground). That works too. style_images/master/snapback.png u are probably a manager or someone high up there, b/c those types of suggestions reflect experience/maturity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armjan Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 My chair sucks, I work 9-10 hours a day, too many people bug me and drag me into useless meetings, but I have such a nice view to 2 states at the same time that I have no complaints style_images/master/snapback.png are u guyz looking for a part-time janitor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armjan Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 (edited) My chair sucks, I work 9-10 hours a day, too many people bug me and drag me into useless meetings, but I have such a nice view to 2 states at the same time that I have no complaints style_images/master/snapback.png sasun, is that NY and NJ u r referring to? were u at work on 911? Did u actually see the planes hit the towers? Edited May 4, 2005 by armjan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.