Hiding isn't an Option

In an office environment, it is never a good thing to avoid the boss.

Ignoring phone calls, emails or calendar events only aggravate people.  Leaving the task of hunting the person down.

Too bad I can't fit people with GPS transmitters like they do to wildlife.

Refrigerator Courtesy

Refrigerator real-estate is a precious commodity.

Admin Gal has become the bad guy in the battle of the refrigerator space.  She is the one who must decide what can stay and what must go.

The general rule of thumb followed: No expiration date = wastebasket.

Are there some misses?  Does Admin Gal care? NO.

Soliciting...

Admin Gal recognizes that the world is turning, companies are struggling to drum up new business.  She receives dozens of cold calls during week of products that will better the bottom line, provide outsourcing services that will save the company and make us heroes (not), or have the next best widget in the universe.

What Admin Gal sincerely dislikes are sales people who call with the sole intention of annoying her.  Aside from their actual existence, no sales person should annoy Admin Gal or any other person on her staff.

Today's winner in the 'Uber Annoyance' category is a repeat caller.  This individual sole goal was/is/will be to speak directly with my boss.  I have indicated numerous times our specific process for handling these requests. After repeating the instructions three separate times in one conversation, Admin Gal asked the individual to repeat back what had been said.  What did the individual do?  'I can't tell you specifics, only Mr. XXXX.'

ARRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!!

No reference to the instructions Admin Gal had given were acknowledged.  Finally, Admin Gal said (in clear and concise language), "Do not call back.  We are not interested."

Admin Gal is positive there will be another call in approximately 3 weeks.

At my Expense

Expense reports can be the bane of any admin.  Crumple, coffee-stained receipts in foreign currency.  Tips and mileage.  Meals where clients are entertained.

Admin Gal doesn't mind processing the reports, she minds having to mine the receipts from the people she supports.  Or, the straggling receipts, 'Oh, I forgot to give this one to you.' The minute after you submit the report for processing.  Worse are the unidentifiable expenses in the expense report system, that are over the limit for not having a receipt and the individual just says, 'Process it anyway.'

Admin Gal's reply to all this?  If you don't produce what I need, the Auditor will get you!


Auditors make very effective bogeymen.

Red Light, Green Light

I remember playing Red Light, Green Light  when I was a kid. The purpose of the game is to reach the 'stop light' without being caught in a moving violation (red light).

The corporate work place is somewhat similar. We are all heading for the same goal, but the journey there is fraught with obstacles, lights and diversions.

While the game is often a singular event, in the corporate environment the employee is seldom alone.  We should be working together to obtain the goals and projects given us.  Checks and balances exist to help us keep moving along.

Sometimes, we hit the Red Light.  The key to surviving the sudden stop is to be paying attention to everything around you so you are not benched.