So in The Lounge this week, we’re talking about horrible jobs and work situations.
My favourite boss Michael Scott, from one of my favourite shows
Right now, I work for some excellent managers and with some fine teachers.
But throughout my career, I’ve worked with some interesting characters, let me tell you…
Here’s a compilation, the best of the best.
The Office Manager
During my four year tenure at this company, I endured countless incessant, one-sided discussions with The Office Manager. Her tennis lessons, her volley, her bad knee, her renovations, her hair, her family, her ski trips… I cannot tell you how many hours I wasted, leaning against her door, being ear-bashed by this woman.
She was known as the person in the office you didn’t want to ‘get started’. Her level of self-absorption was phenomenal, her self-awareness, non-existent. The only upshot of working for The Office Manager was that if you ever felt like not working, you could head into her office for a guaranteed way to murder 40 minutes.
The HR Manager
I worked with this guy for a period of about three months. He seemed nice enough and the girls felt a little sorry for him; talked often about a girlfriend he’d left back in his home state. Whenever the conversation would steer to anything remotely personal, he would always discuss her, in great detail.
At one Friday drinks, some male colleagues called bullshit and The HR Manager was unexpectedly ‘outed’.
Within a few weeks, there was an angry visitor at reception, a young outwardly gay, young man. He claimed that The HR Manager was his estranged lover and in actual fact, a HUGE sexual deviant. That day, there were elaborate details screamed across the lobby of our building and the HR Manager left our workplace that week.
The Marketing Team
Have you ever met a person and clashed immediately? This happened to me at my second ‘proper’ post-university job. I was working in a Marketing Team with a number girls and their male boss, but it was a disaster. The manager was nice, but oblivious to the cut-throat women who decided to not like me.
The Marketing Team withheld information, excluded me from meetings and lunches, acted as though I should know information that they failed to share… It was a terrible period for me, one of exclusion and self-doubt.
Of course I did nothing about it, even when I resigned two years later, but looking back I wish I had. It was workplace bullying at its finest. Marketing Bitches!
Annoying Teacher
I currently work with Annoying Teacher and on a daily basis, she makes me want to punch something. If there’s a problem, she can solve it. If there’s a crisis, she can fix it. She eavesdrops, she butts in, she offers advice when it isn’t requested, she dominates staff room conversations with her ridonkulous pet stories and inane chatter about her absurd hobbies. She never listens to a word anyone says, always preferring the sound of her own pathetic opinions. She is yet another colleague who has absolutely zero self-awareness.
The only amusing aspect to working with Annoying Teacher is that before too long, most new colleagues ask the question: Is she for real?
Unfortunately, she is. Some days, I want to hurt her.
The Food Thief
This colleague is so unbelievable she has her own personal post that you can read here.
The Milk Guy
The Milk Guy was caught drinking milk from the communal supply in the kitchen.
Still turns my stomach.
Lunch time Jogger
Never, ever used deodorant. Ever.
It was a close work situation. The worst.
Mrs Camel Toe
High-waisted slacks. It was not nice first thing in the morning.
Every morning.
Coffee Breath CFO
Need I say more?
I have worked in several workplaces and with hundreds of people. This post is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to weirdo colleagues. I could go on. And on…
The only positive that comes from having a colleague from hell, is that you inevitably bond with someone else through shared disbelief.
Have you worked with anyone who has made you shake your head?
Link your work posts with The Lounge, today over at Kim’s Blog.
Love,
Robo X
