Stormig Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Here's my "problem" - I admit it's no big deal and I am no hopeless case who needs a daily "fix" of caffeine - BUT... Here's the situation... Daily we all in the office are served coffee at a certain time by our dogsbody. I don't like her one bit because she is as coarse as a city-dweller can possibly be, usually say "Good morning" every other day so that she gets a chance to say "Good morning" every once in a while, though none has been forthcoming, and the unspoken feelings are mutual. Still I thank her for the coffee and for anything else. Lately, however, I have gone three days in a row without being served coffee, and I usually realise this by the time everyone has had their cups collected. Worse, still, the last day I had any she didn't come to collect my cup until the next day when she was collecting everyone else's as well, knowing well that I hadn't got any that day - either that or she is really retarded. It is not about whether I can make my own coffee or not. It is unfair, unprofessional, you name it. And I intend to deal with it. However, given that my initial/priority fantasy goes something along the lines of catching her in a blind alley, I need advice from someone who is not worked-up about it. Mind you, this is not the first time this has happened, but three days in a row is a tad bit too much to overlook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aSoldier Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 why not confront her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubépine Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 It's a thing that is typically Turkish and something I really dislike. People here really liked to be served and by people who may be more than twice their age. The same goes for my office. I think I'm the only one who makes her own tea in the office. I find it quite disturbing that someone else is having to attend to basic needs as getting your tea and other errands. Because people may be born into better circumstances they can't even grasp this. It's no different than having your own house slave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVO Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 I have to disagree, Its not typically Turkish, Armenian, German .... Its just office politics/drama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yervant1 Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 (edited) I don't like her one bit. She senses this and she is behaving bad to get back at you. Why don't you change your approach and try to be extra nice to her for a while. Who knows it might work. Edited August 24, 2007 by Yervant1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 (edited) Did you try asking for coffee? (nicely I might add). You ask once, twice, three times, and by the 4th time she'll get annoyed enough that she won't forget. But I have to say it is a very strange concept for me to be served coffee at work. In the US there are usually coffee stations that you just go and grab as much as you want. Some places you drop some money in the community jar that is used to pay for the coffee. Some places the employer pays for it. But I guess American coffee is much easier to access than the mud-in-a-cup kind. Edited August 24, 2007 by Sip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted August 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 I have no problem getting my own stuff. I found it quite strange since in my previous job there was no such routine/custom. (I imagine our then-counterpart would have rather flung a pan on our heads than go near anything of the sort.) In fact I detest the way everyone piles up their dirty plates/mugs at the sink for the lady to wash - I wash mine and put them away. I however do not like being treated differently when something goes for everybody else, especially since the coffee in question is brewed once in the day (mud in a cup style), the equipment put away, and then that's it. It's not fair to smell the coffee and not have any when everyone else has that pleased look on their face. Otherwise I very well know how to fill myself a cup of hot water from the fountain/samovar and make myself instant coffee or dab a tea-bag. Puh-leez. I think my course of action will be to grab the equipment after it has been put away and make my own as a sign of protest. Anyone will be welcome to ask why I spend 5-10 minutes over a cup of coffee in all this crazy mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted August 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 I find it quite disturbing that someone else is having to attend to basic needs as getting your tea and other errands. Because people may be born into better circumstances they can't even grasp this. It's no different than having your own house slave. That's overly dramatising it. Nobody gives orders or abuses the person in question, and it is a service agreed to within the scope of employment. It is not a degrading job. It is a positive benefit for the workers. Nobody has to ask for it - it is expected just as someone is expected to dust your desk. In some places it may be the case that you dust your own desk or take turns carrying out the garbage or doing the dishes. Still others provide you catering in the office. Whatever the custom is, it is - nothing to negotiate about or object to. Now just imagine that you don't get your desk dusted when everybody else does - or how about not getting served your meal because they don't like you? Sure I know how to make myself a sandwich at home and carry it to work in a "Hello Kitty" box... That's beside the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted August 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 why not confront her? As in tell someone/insinuate that they're not doing their job properly or are being discriminatory/disrespectful? I may correct mistakes related to work, but it is not the province of one worker to evaluate another worker. If anything, it reflects worse on the messenger, IMO. The most I have done so far has been to ask why I wasn't made a cup the first time. "You were not in your seat," is the answer I got. Yes, teacher. I was in the loo and am almost always in the office, for goodness' sake... Update - I'm not alone in my cell today, so I got served coffee instead of being overlooked. How 'bout that... So - until I get worked up again... N.B. - this post was more about ventilating than anything else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakachik77 Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 what's a dogsbody? I never worked anywhere where somebody supposed to serve coffee for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubépine Posted August 27, 2007 Report Share Posted August 27, 2007 A dogsbody is someone who does all the odd jobs in the office like errands, photocopying and cleaning etc. Even the word dogsbody is quite condescending. It only reflects people's own attitude towards others. In Turkey this can be the office-boy (odaci) or the tea-lady (çayci) mentioned above which is more common. I've seen many people who are anything else but considerate towards them and act as the a-holes they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakachik77 Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 A dogsbody is someone who does all the odd jobs in the office like errands, photocopying and cleaning etc. Even the word dogsbody is quite condescending. It only reflects people's own attitude towards others. In Turkey this can be the office-boy (odaci) or the tea-lady (çayci) mentioned above which is more common. I've seen many people who are anything else but considerate towards them and act as the a-holes they are. thanks is storming in Turkey or US or some other country, just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abass80 Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 (edited) u know what u should do stormig? u should make ur own cold nescafe frappe, sit on ur desk, take a sip and all ur problems will go away! :D Edited August 28, 2007 by abass80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormig Posted August 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 A dogsbody by definition does a bit of everything not within the scope of others’ assignment. It’s a sailors’ term, not a slur. It is usually those who have a chip on their shoulder, for whatever reason I do not gather, that automatically assume that the position carries negative connotations and contempt. Usually the train of thought is that since the job is “menial,” it is reserved for people who are located lower on the economic ladder and who are uneducated. While more often than not true, it is also usually confused with an obligation to pity the worker in question and overlook/tolerate their shortcomings and whims as if they are subject to abuse and thus somehow deserve some sort of “compensation” by cutting them some slack and babying them around (boo hoo - will a billionaire with two Ph.D.’s cut me some slack anytime soon so I may fulfill my responsibilities only partially instead of busting my arse like everyone else – everyone except the person in question?), as if they are beyond criticism and can do no wrong, consequently neglecting to take into consideration that they are people like everyone else, individuals with different personalities who can be very nice (like the lady in the previous workplace) or downright rude and in fact even asinine or anything in between, expecting you to be sorry since possibly typically in your private and snooty conversations you say, “Honey, if she were smart, YOU would be serving HER tea” – though I must admit that I’d have difficulties calling the previous one a dogsbody – tastes too much like Blackadder. She was just so nice and proper, a noblewoman in comparison. At least she treated everyone equally, listened to your grievances, and didn’t ogle you... Frack the comparing per position, she was just a normal person as any other. We still keep in touch. So yes, ultimately it does have something to do my opinion of either. Big whoop. Any other creative ideas? The frappe is a good one, and it’s bound to produce more noise and draw more attention than any other option. I’m not asking anyone anything, so no suggestions to that effect, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 I think my course of action will be to grab the equipment after it has been put away and make my own as a sign of protest. Anyone will be welcome to ask why I spend 5-10 minutes over a cup of coffee in all this crazy mess. The best answer back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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