Tough Day at Work…

My other go to with being highly nervous in public situations is to make inappropriate jokes.

So so many times I’ve been in trouble for saying stuff I shouldn’t. Once at my grans funeral I was approached by three really sweet old ladies who in offering their condolences said it was terrible at the moment as they had been to three funerals that week alone.

“Still, it gets you out of the house” isn’t an appropriate response apparently.

I'm not at that point here yet thankfully, but my last job had several days of back to back meetings. Had to get a wired pair of headphones as I wasnt even making it to lunch on a pair of fully charged airpods.

Had 3 full days chock full of meetings and my fuckwad of a boss questioned why I hadn't been able to deliver something.

At my place they have recently introduced a gathering for 30 years - you get an hour or so reception with buffet and people invited who used to work with you over the years (that somehow they still have contact details for). So far they have done two that I know of and I really don't fancy it. I'll be 30 years in 2025 so need to have quit by then or go on a really long holiday to coincide with the date.

Of course, I'll still sulk if they don't do something for me.

30 years?! Bloody hell, I start going stir crazy if I get past 3 in the same place.

A few weeks after I had joined in 1995 a guy was leaving who had been there since the first days of the company, ammassing nearly 20 years I think. I remember it vividly as he sent around a leaving email about all the travelling he was off to do and I was fondly thinking that that would be cool when I got to his age but I really couldn't beleive the amount of time he had spent at this one company. Now I have been there longer and it seems like only yesterday in some sense.

Like life, you really do blink and miss it.

I hear you. Quite a few of my old work colleagues have either retired or are about to. It makes me feel very old indeed.

I don't think I've ever worked more than 3 years for the same company. But honestly I'd love it if I could find a company where I would feel like I have enough agency to fix stuff so I don't have to leave all the time. Starting to get a bit tiring.

But as an example my current situation. I've got the cushiest job imaginable, with an okay salary. Very flexible in terms of remote working and hours worked etc. But I've got an issue with my line manager. He's a lovely guy, very friendly, very accommodating with anything that's to do with things that are in his immediate control. But zero follow-through on anything that's beyond his scope.

When I started 2 years ago I wrote a couple of simple changes that would need to be done to make sure our team is able to work efficiently to address shortcomings in how the project was initially set up (we're a trial project, so that's normal).

Then I followed up on them. Every time my manager is very friendly about it "These are great suggestions, thank you for writing the rationale so clearly, I'll be sure to put them forward." But it's like a black hole. Nothing ever happens.

Now two months ago we started having meetings with the project development group, who are above my line manager. They were shocked to hear of the issues that we've had to deal with for the past two years. They had never heard any reports at all from us, they had no idea.

Why do I bother trying to fix stuff if the business structure makes it impossible for me to affect anything? So, knowing that I cannot change the company my only option to keep my sanity is to pack my bags and go.

But I'd love a company where I can actually do stuff.

What's your nickname?

As long as they're not offensive nicknames it sounds like some of your colleagues need to pull the stick out of their arse.

I mean, some people just want to be called by their names. Isn't that ok?

If I told someone I just met "hey man, my name's x, but people call me y", and then that person decided to just call me something else entirely, I'd be... not offended exactly, but perplexed.

I dunno, it's just a bit weird to me.

^

Before we can judge.

"Ammo"