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Topic: Stupid rant
| Author | Message |
| PluckyPane | Posted – 11/15/2007 1:03:18 PM | show profile | email poster My boss owns several companies under one roof, two of which are my magazine and a paintball company. My office is directly next door to the paintball office, where immaturity is not only encouraged, but a job requirement. All day, every day, I hear their music, hear them reacting to the baseball game that they are streaming online, hear their loud phone conversations (nothing to do with work), and their general goofing off. One woman talks to her baby on the phone making those obnoxious baby cooing noises. Today they have "video Thursday" where they watch DVDs at work while "working." Basic Instinct, anyone? They brought in advanced sound equipment so the surround sound and bass bounce off our common, paper-thin wall. I mostly ignore it, but sometimes I just can't get anything done. To make matters worse, the company fired their manager so they go without babysitting. I'm losing my cool here. What the hell? Have I skipped over the generation where people worked for a living and respected their office mates? This feels more and more like a frat party rather than work. There is no one willing to switch offices with me (they secretly know they can't work with that noise), but no one is willing to stand up to these immature, does-no-work-well-with-others bullies. Everyone in the office wants these "cool kids" to like them. HR, my boss, and the president tell me to put up with it. Um..backbones? What the heck can I do? |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 11/15/2007 1:29:15 PM | show profile Well, let me ask you this -- which makes more money for your boss: the magazine or paint ball? -- HR, my boss, and the president tell me to put up with it. Um..backbones? What the heck can I do?-- |
| mkelly | Posted – 11/15/2007 1:40:53 PM | show profile >>My boss owns several companies under one roof, two of which are my magazine and a paintball company. That is just the coolest thing I have ever heard of. Do you ever challenge interview subjects to a few rounds of paintball? Do you get free time there? |
| PluckyPane | Posted – 11/15/2007 1:53:38 PM | show profile Three years ago, the paintball company was leading us by about $500,000. Sales tanked shortly thereafter (due to changes in the industry) and they are now about $1.5M behind us. We've both had one huge failure in the last two years: a supplemental issue we tried bombed (we lost about $175,000) and their new marker had fatal flaws (about $1M lost in R&D and production, with another $2-$4M lost in anticipated sales over three years). |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 11/15/2007 2:57:37 PM | show profile This is a really odd situation, to point out the obvious. It is really strange everyone kowtows to these characters. Some of the stuff doesn't concern you -- whether they're goofing off, talking to their babies, etc. The only real issue is excessive noise invading your workspace. That is the only thing I would focus on. Depending on how much it bothers you, you could tell your boss that either they have to rein in the noise, improve your wall, or let you work from home. It all depends on how much you want to push it. |
| keltoi2 | Posted – 11/15/2007 6:57:01 PM | show profile Don't know if I'd challenge the kids next door too vigorously. Those paintballs sting like the dickens and leave a nasty welt at close range. Barring an office move, what about a good set of headphones with your favorite tunes? |
| wineaux | Posted – 11/16/2007 10:43:19 AM | show profile Put your ipod on! I have to do that or I'd never get any work done. My kids make the walls rattle regularly. |
| UGoGirl | Posted – 11/16/2007 10:48:57 AM | show profile Sometimes when I get frustrated or annoyed with people, I try to say to myself, how would I react to these people if I was a buddhist monk? I would be more compassionate and find humor it in it all. But seriously, treat yourself to a high quality personal audio system and tune it out. |
| PluckyPane | Posted – 11/16/2007 12:08:17 PM | show profile | email poster Thanks! :) I do use the headphones already, but I'm thinking it's time to invest in the noise-deafening kind (or some quality time with monster.com). It, unfortunately, doesn't help when I'm interviewing someone on the phone or in person. I had an interviewee in my office yesterday and he looked positively horrified by the noise. Oh well, what can you do? If sports professionals won't grow up, surely I can't make a bunch of aging, 40-something bachelor paintballers act like corporate grownups. Right now they are running through the hallways tagging each other, accidentally shooting walls and leaving bright purple, red, and orange splatters that are running down to the carpet. It looks like an episode of CSI. And yes, paintballs do hurt. I've been tagged more than once by a stray. I guess I'll just laugh it off for now. If this company ever goes public, I'll have a great "tell-all" to publish. Oy. Have a great weekend everyone! |
| beenthere | Posted – 11/16/2007 1:27:55 PM | show profile I have a similar issue with a coworker who has no awareness of her behavior. She talks incessantly, laughs hysterically at nothing all day long, taps her feet, yells at her computer, and even falls out of her chair. She chews so loud when she eats and bangs/clanks her silverware that I can hear it OVER my headphones. I and two other editors have complained a number of times, but management does not care. She's been "talked to" and will curtail her behavior for a week or so, but it always rachets back up. No one likes working with her because she is so unbearable. Frustrating as hell. The girl needs medication. Seriously. There is definitely something mentally wrong in in her head, as she believes that everyone in the office loves her. I put off calling a client the other day, even though I specifically said I would in that particular day because she was in full form, outbursts all f-ing day long. I would be too embarrassed to explain the noise in the background. I can only offer my sympathies. |
| WritingEd | Posted – 11/16/2007 1:56:05 PM | show profile Hope the OP isn't wishing to remain anonymous! |
| siperrono | Posted – 11/16/2007 2:38:09 PM | show profile Can you get another job? I personally could never work under those conditions....UGH, getting hit by stray paintballs???? |
| bart23ny | Posted – 11/16/2007 2:46:07 PM | show profile If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. |
