Rant: You too can have meaningful conversations about staples

[chicagogirl]

No really. I got talked to in my normal weekly meeting with my supervisor about the fact that I handed two files to our group secretary that were stapled. They're not supposed to be stapled. I know that. I did it by accident. I've never done it before (unless you count the very first time when I started my job). And yes, we actually have a conversation about this. This secretary, who is supposed to be promoted soon, runs to them with every little thing done wrong.

Seriously.

Staples. Four pieces of paper were stapled together when they weren't supposed to be. The sky is falling. Obviously.

Lord, what a joke of professionalism. And this from a Big Ten school, and one of the top schools of the Chicago area. It's like working in high school

[winneythepooh7]

Ha ha! I have actually heard from NUMEROUS people who have worked in university settings that these places are very much like how you describe.

[DaneCA]

Yeesh. I guarantee it took her more time to complain about the excess staples than it would have if she'd just removed them herself.

At my old job, I once got a talking-to because I incorrectly hole-punched some paperwork. The woman who received the paperwork told my boss I needed hole-punching lessons. Luckily, my boss just laughed at the suggestion.

[wordsmith]

I think every work setting runs the risk of attracting somebody, somewhere along the line, who takes themselves WAAAAAY too seriously and has designated him or herself the primary authority on all issues, great and infinitesimal. Woe to those who do not recognize his or her self-appointed power!

My mom refers to them as "cash register key" people, for reasons too convoluted to go into here.

[roulettefanatic]

wow, that really is ridiculous.....i'm already convinced that the less people i have to work with the better but this brings it home......

it makes you wonder what they would do if they had a real problem to worry about.....

i hate the office culture in this country for the most part.....it's petty, immature, and serves only to tick some people off while others feel important when they're really not.....

i guess you don't want to mention the university out of fear of embarrassment for the institution......my alma mater was listed in the princeton review's top 10 list for red tape, so i'm not surprised by any of this.....it probably happens everywhere and not only at schools, that's for sure.....

[ebrillblaiddes]

OMG...staples...you need an easy button :p

[chicagogirl]

Thanks for the replies guys! It being Friday night last night, I got the chance to tell the story over drinks. Someone suggested I start mixing up what gets stapled and what doesn't, and see how fast she can run to a supervisor with it. I think I could get a pool going on it. :)

I'm still not sure what to do about her. A friend asked why I don't talk to her directly. I feel like that would make it worse. Maybe she'll settle down when she's promoted. Ha. I should add that this is all because back in the day she also interview for my job (didn't get it, obviously, as I did :) ).

I am definitely giving her fewer papers of mine, since she seems to get her giggles from going over them with a fine-toothed comb and telling someone else if there's one digit off place.

[BLK95TA]

"umm excuse me....i believe you have my stapler?"

http://www.palmettoscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/milton.jpg

"did you get the memo about the TPS reports?"


sorry i had to :lol:

[chicagogirl]

"umm excuse me....i believe you have my stapler?"

http://www.palmettoscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/milton.jpg

"did you get the memo about the TPS reports?"


sorry i had to :lol:

Lol! I had forgotten about that guy. It's funny how some people get connected to a simple office item or process and make it their own power seat.

[PenforPrez]

OMG...staples...you need an easy button :p

You can actually buy one of those. A few months ago, I was working with a high school quizbowl team, and their coach had one of those on her desk. I went nuts! :D You can press it and it actually says, "That was easy!"

I looked and I said, "They need to put one of those in Paris Hilton's bedroom!" :evil:

Paul

[ash14vwb]

No really. I got talked to in my normal weekly meeting with my supervisor about the fact that I handed two files to our group secretary that were stapled. They're not supposed to be stapled. I know that. I did it by accident. I've never done it before (unless you count the very first time when I started my job). And yes, we actually have a conversation about this. This secretary, who is supposed to be promoted soon, runs to them with every little thing done wrong.

Seriously.

Staples. Four pieces of paper were stapled together when they weren't supposed to be. The sky is falling. Obviously.

Lord, what a joke of professionalism. And this from a Big Ten school, and one of the top schools of the Chicago area. It's like working in high school

LOL I work in high school and most days contemplate driving into a tree on my way there. So... I feel your annoyance!

[ebrillblaiddes]

You can actually buy one of those. A few months ago, I was working with a high school quizbowl team, and their coach had one of those on her desk. I went nuts! :D You can press it and it actually says, "That was easy!"

I looked and I said, "They need to put one of those in Paris Hilton's bedroom!" :evil: LOL...I know...in 2001 or so I wanted to make a pin or something with one of those on it for my sister (she got around a bit in high school) but I figured the parental units would kill me...