It’s Happened!

So I’ve been going on about Fred and how I need a new job. Guess what? It happened. And quickly! NEW JOB!

I applied with a technology staffing agency, and had them work as a head hunter for me. Within a few weeks, (4ish at the most), I had a call.

They had an awesome opportunity for me. There was a company that was moving all of their tech support to here. They were hiring for Tier 1 help desk support. It’s for a medical technology company. They were not concerned much about the limited knowledge, in fact almost none for their software, they’re going to train me. What they wanted to know, was about my customer service background, and my waitressing background. All in all, I have about 12 years, at least, experience of dealing with the public in a professional way. I think one of my favorite questions was “I’m sure you had to deal with cheeky customers as a waitress, how did you deal with them?”

I’m honest. Very honest.

“Well, it all depends on the customer. Some are just having a bad day, so it’s trying to kiss up to them in a way. Hey, this round is on me, or, you know what, let me get you guys something to snack on while you’re waiting. Other times, I give it right back to them.”

“How so?”

This is a dangerous question. How to answer without incriminating myself?

I know!

“I’ll match them for their tones, or I am as sarcastic as possible with them. One guy that was trying to be as girlie as he could be and was being harassed by his friends, well, I joined right in. (Back story, he was/is in a heavy metal band.)He ordered a salad and a light beer. I told him no, he had to order something else. ( I may have called him something that sounds like a cat, I didn’t say that in the interview.) Only very few girls even order that. Be a man, order some real food. He did. Some wings and a real man’s beer. On top of that, he tipped me 120%.”

“So you made out huh?”

“Yup, just knew how to read him.”

I’m sorry, I cannot help but be myself on interviews. I give as good as I get, it’s who I am. I had the guy interviewing me cracking up. I told him that he cannot like certain sports teams otherwise death may ensue. True story. I also couldn’t help but notice that whilst I had to dress to impress, he was dressed in a Superman T-Shirt, a bit of a scruffy look going on, and the other manager, looked as if he rolled out of bed.  He asked me if I had an issue with that. Does a fat kid love cake? He also asked me if I had any problems with joking and goofing around. About as often as I’ve been hit by lightning. At that, we chit chatted about randomness then headed on out.

So 2 hours after the interview, I received a call from the staffing agency. They loved me, I rocked the interview. (Her words, not mine.) I have a yes, I just needed one more. I’ll find out the next day.

So, as I’m driving home from work, I receive an awesome call. I nailed it and am hired.

I start on the 28th. Writing that letter, stating I’m done on the 23rd was the best feeling ever.

Want to know something else. This whole week and a half, Fred has been nice, pleasant, and even got me a snack. He also had an interview yesterday.  Looks like he is getting a new job too. They liked him. Good bye customer service department. We’re all gone at the end of the month. I am laughing. Lots and lots.

Guess what this means…. more and more dealing with the public stories for you!

Life as a tech support, it’s never dull.

There’s Hope!

Fred.  You have issues. I’m not the only one to think so either. Have you noticed the sudden silence when you walk into the pod. The other pod people think you need to go. Yes, the boss thinks you’re god’s gift, but we, we think you are bantha fodder. No, I take that back, you are worse than bantha fodder. We’ve taken a vote, into the Sarlacc Pit you are going. Sorry Fred, the leg’s gotta go, and unfortunately, you are that leg.

Yes, Fred has got to go, unfortunately, that will not happen as he is the official wiper of behinds. That nose is the brownest I’ve seen. It’s like chocolate! That has a video running through my head… anyone know what it is?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th_aBzrV37M

Ok, now that is out of my system. I think…. Well it could come back, we shall have to see.

Any who.  I said that there is some hope. Now as we know, I think, I’m signed up with a few staffing agencies. Girl has to keep her options open after all. Ok, where was I.. oh yes. I received a phone call yesterday while at work in the am time. Glancing down I recognized the number. Quickly I switched my work phone to away, grabbed my phone, and ran from my desk to the hallway. It was the phone call I needed. The one agency has a company that is interested in me. More money, change to grow and move up, and it’s what I like and want to do. They want to interview me this coming week.

Fingers crossed!

So shortly after I got that awesomesauce phone call, Fred decided that since it was nice outside, he suddenly had a headache and had to go home. Perfect timing. It was a day where as soon as you started in on one issue, 5 to 10 problems would explode, which carried on into today, and was still going on when I left. Yesterday I never took any breaks, including lunch. I worked straight through, and stayed late trying to get things under control. Today, Fred was back, and complaining, running to boss when he thought his nose was losing some color.  He managed to accomplish nothing. Myself, and the older lady that works in the department that is retiring next month took over everything. Sorry if your service requests were not gotten to. We had emergency after emergency.

Again, I took only half my lunch, and none of my other breaks. I jumped right into issues before I was even on the clock today as my phone was ringing with problems I was dealing with from the day before. One of them was because Fred decided to blame something on me, that wasn’t even my fault. But that’s ok, we can blame me, after all, he’s perfect, that’s why I kept finding nothing but his errors for the past 2 weeks. Figures huh? So my phone and email are blowing up, it took me all day to finish something I started… 2 days ago. There have been so many other issues popping up. I should have stopped taking calls, but it’s not in me. Every call was another problem I was solving.

During this, what do I hear, Fred, stating he’s not taking anymore phone calls, or helping anyone because he had too much to do. Each time myself, and the other pop person turned around, he was doing nothing and complaining. Here’s where I have no sympathy. He said he had a headache. I’ve had migraines for 2 weeks straight ( don’t worry, dr visit is coming), I hurt every day from fibromyalgia, and I’ve been having insomnia episodes again, thus on no sleep whilst I work. I’m sorry, you want to compare how you feel, don’t pick me. I’m at work, managing more than you are, and not complaining. Stuff it. Wait, no, you’d probably like that Fred. 

Just wait, he’s also running to the bosses telling them that myself and the other pod person do not do any work, and he does all of it. YAY! I’m an ultimate slacker.

A new job cannot come fast enough. I hope it works out, because I cannot spend much more time dealing with him. It’s coming, the blow up and it will be epicawesome. It will people. Just wait and see.

 

Stalemate!

First off, sorry it’s been a while since I’ve written here. It’s been a rough going of things, personal life is up and down, and work, it’s just a mess, but it’s created more fun times with Fred to share.

Let’s start off with a catch up. It reached a boiling point with Fred where I sent an email to my boss describing how things have been, and stating that I need changes to be able to continue working. This resulted in a meeting. This meeting was basically just listening to me, then the one comment I got hooked on, and really irked me, was “He’s just upset that you went on vacation, so he’s probably just taking it out on you.”

Seriously!? Are you kidding me? This is all my fault because I went on a 4 day holiday? Note to self, never take a short holiday.

So this talking to lead to 1.5, almost 2 weeks of semi a semblance of peace.

Then…. BOOM! goes the dynamite.

Oh yeah. And with that, it’s on like Donkey Kong people.

It started with me coming in 5 minutes late due to multiple accidents on my way to work.  I was told by a few coworkers, that right before I came in, I was thrown under the bus. Apparently, he told the team lead, that I’m in late everyday to work. What!? I’m that person that feels compelled to be into work at least 5 to 10 minutes early.

FOUL!

The next day, I came in (8 minutes early! ) and as I turn the corner to my pod, I hear, “Can we please have a meeting about cherry-picking from the inbox? I feel she keeps taking all the ones that she only wants.” I was 4 feet away on the other side of the cubicle wall.

Here’s the thing, when I was trained, I was told take the next email in the box, don’t read through, just get the next one. So I do, I’m not afraid to ask questions if it’s confusing me. However, when I get to the inbox, half of the messages are read, but not moved out, and he will have his name tagged to randomly on emails. Hmm. And I’m the cherry-picker for taking the next one in queue.

It wasn’t too bad the next 2 days, and then it was the weekend basically.

This week, uh oh.

Let’s start with Monday. Everything I do is wrong. Why is it wrong? Oh that’s easy, because it’s not done his way. It’s Fred’s way, or it’s not right. So everything I did was picked apart, and taken to the manger to show how bad I am. Yesterday (Tuesday), uh. Yes, uh. He cannot stay in his seat, everything I did, was pulled back, and taken to the manager. He managed to do a total of …. 4 things! Oh it was so hard to apparently, let me tell you. Also, if I was trying to get any assistance, I had to yell to get attention. Then it comes to today. The bloody wanker has become more devious.  So devious that this needs a new paragraph.

Let’s start with the fact that when I left the night before, the email boxes were pretty much under control. I caught everything up before I left, despite this major influx of phone calls. There were about 10 total issues that needed dealt with. Want to know what it looked like when I came in? 50 some emails. about 1/3 of them were already read and nothing done with them. So, wanting to know what was going on, I looked at the sent box. Are you ready? 2 emails went out. 2! Bastage! I mean it too. Bastage!

But don’t worry, it doesn’t stop there. Not at all. He was at his desk for what, maybe 45 minutes total it seemed in the morning half, and slightly more in the second half ( this would be because the boss was gone after around 3). The phones were going off the entire time. In fact, there were times that I didn’t even put the phone back into the cradle after a call hung up and I was already on another one. Meanwhile, he had no calls. Oh he was logged in, but the child had his phone away the whole time. He decided his work was more important. His waiting for replies to emails. I was juggling 3 emergencies at the same time. It was insane. It took me forever to deal with things that should have taken 30 minutes each.

What is the point of all of this?

I have 2 agencies looking to place me now. The one that got me this job, it took me repeatedly going to them with my issues to finally take action. I’m unhappy. Work is literally battle grounds. Usually, I have headphones in to try and keep myself from turning into The HULK. I will, don’t doubt it, I’m way worse than Bruce Banner. But apparently Fred didn’t like it. So the boss told me to no longer use them. Now I have iHeartradio playing. It’s been on hard rock lately. It keeps me focused. Keeps the beast at bay.

http://www.comicartists.org

Very much at bay.

I’m hoping that the agencies find something soon. I need out of there, quickly, or one of us won’t make it.

I Need Peace from Fred.

Fred is at it again. Today was no different. He is rather upset lately that he is losing at his own game. ( I did say I don’t like to lose. It’s not my fault his errors cost the company money, and I just happen to point them out to him, just to watch his face as he tries to lay the blame elsewhere). I thought that perhaps he would calm down whilst I was away for a few days.

I was wrong.

The first day back, no, not even back in the office yet, and I had an email detailing what was done wrong. These were not even my mistakes, but I was to take the blame for them. Fine, 2 can play at this game. You’re on Fred! 10 minutes into the work day, I get a phone call. It’s an upset customer, they requested for a proof of their order to be sent to them before it was printed, and they never received it. I take their information, and begin to trace what happened. I find the email chain (I love Google for conversation mode, makes it so much easier to see the errors Fred makes), and found that they did request a proof, but someone (FRED), never passed this information along. So now the order has shipped to the customer already, and if it’s wrong, we will have to print it again and mark it as a loss to the company. Thanks Fred! Great way to spend the morning.

This doesn’t end there though my fine feathered friends.  Not at all! Once this whole error was sorted out, guess who had to call the customer back, and if you say Fred, I’ll take your money now because you lost.  He made me call them back, explain the error, and then say if it’s wrong, we’ll reprint it for them. They made sure to write my name down, making this look like my error. Trust me, I made sure everything was noted in the logs about this one. Fred’s name is everywhere showing how he screwed up.

Only took 3 more hours before I find the next one.  My files were out of order, and not marked and updated. They were suppose to be. So now I look like an idiot as I’m trying to follow up on things that were already done and closed. I come across as super smart! Go me! That’s ok, he got his back 10 fold. He was thinking he knew all without actually reading the emails, and proceeded to get back replies stating how I have already dealt with it. His own stupid fault.

Yes it knocked him down a peg or so, but wow, is he a vengeful little snot.

Today Fred decided to triple my work load. He tagged all but 3 issues with my name (cherry picker), and proceeded to spend all day working on 3 things. Mind you sometimes things do take all day to work on, but these were things that normally would take 10 to 30 minutes and they would be solved. I was stuck with everything else. I only got through what was not dealt with yesterday. I hate to see what things will look like tomorrow.

Anyways.

As he’s taking his time working on his “issues” (as we know he as a whole lot of his own to work with), he thinks it too much to deal with, and takes his phone out of the call queue. I ended up on about a 45 to 60 minute stretch of nonstop calls. Normally I wouldn’t mind, but I happened to glance over and he wasn’t on his phone. “Fred, is your phone on? I’m trying to go on my break and the calls are nonstop, yet you’re not getting any. Funny how that works.” (Yes grease monkeys, I really said that to him). What is his reply? “I’m working on something and I cannot afford to take calls.” Wrong thing to say.  “You better log in because I’m taking myself out of queue and taking my break. Deal.”

I know I’m going to hear about this tomorrow. He happens to be teachers pet. He can do no wrong. After all he takes the credit for all that goes right ( I should know, he shows my work as his), and when something goes wrong, he’s always pointing the blame at someone else, never him, even if I can prove it’s his fault.

Oh well.

Tomorrow he will regret going on lunch break. I have my metal cutters and the t pins. I’m not fooling around this time. He will be sitting on them. And I cannot wait to see his face and then ask him what happened.

Mwahaha.

Yes, I can be that evil. You work with him for a day. I dare you.

Fred made a game

Honestly Fred, how childish can one be? I’m sure that you are more than willing to prove to me that my nephew is more mature than you are.

Again you say? Yes, again. I find it sad that I am not making these up, that these are not works of fiction from my crazy kind, but alas, he is really like this. I wonder how he is able to function at all.

Fred likes to always be right. He is “never” wrong. I have a new game. It’s fun, and it’s all Fred’s fault. How is it his fault? Fred believes he can do no wrong, that he’s always right, and that I know nothing and am always wrong.

Did you guess the game yet? No you say. Ok, let’s give some more background.

Every morning, and every time I come back from break, there are new post it notes on my desk. These post it notes are full of what was not done or done wrong. A lot of research goes into these, which explains why nothing has been done while I’m not there. It’s weird things like I forgot to make a note that a person emailed. So, the email in the inbox marked that I’m working on and have no more information to mark is wrong, ok thanks. It’s notes about things like that I am always finding. Fun times. Fred does this all the time instead of actually dealing with problems. And he wonders why I get irritated when he keeps throwing problems my way.

So do you know what what the game is yet?

You are so right!

I play the “You made an error! ” game with Fred. Fred doesn’t like it all. I’m really good at it too, as I’m always correcting his errors instead of just marking them for him to fix himself.

I have a notebook that I write down all his errors and when he tells me I’m wrong, I show him his 8 to my one. Fred then pouts and refuses to talk for over 2 hours unless its to give a snide remark to me. I guess that means point for me.

I think my 2 favorite examples are from today. Fred wasn’t happy either time. See:

Yeah his face looked like that after each time. Kinda funny. Anyways. Back to story.

The first instance today was I was putting a quote into the one system. He swore up and down that I was putting it into the wrong system. This argument got rather loud so the next group of pod people heard as well. I know that the loudest voice is not correct, but to be able to get over the voice in his head telling him how awesome he is, you need to speak up. Anywho, he finally admitted defeat and allowed me to go about it my way. Then I get the quote back and guess what? I was right. He was so wrong. I just had to make sure that he knew. For 5 minutes there were file drawers slamming and grumbling a ensuing.

The next one just made me grin. There was am email about an issue if an order not dropping into the system. It happens from time to time. I put my flag on it to research. As I’m researching it, the number attached to it comes up as invalid. What the frak? It shouldn’t be. I double and triple check. Holy Asgard! It is. As I’m looking, the number was put in by Fred. I get a huge grin. “Oh Fred! Would you mind looking at this? The number keeps coming up as invalid.” Snicker snicker.

He looks. “This can’t be right. I know I put the number in right. It must be messed up on the vendor end.” He calls the vendor. The person tells him he was going by the number Fred sent him. Fred was wrong. Fred messed up. Fred got mad. Fred threw papers and stormed out of the pod. I fell out of my chair laughing. No it wasn’t mean. He left 3 post it’s stating I punctuated wrong. Karma is awesome if you respect her.

Fred is still not speaking to me, and left 3 more post it notes for me.

Someone asked. Why does he leave post it notes. That’s simple. I talk back. That must mean I am scary.

Personalities

I am constantly being told by acquaintances that I am like other people. I figured every few days, I can share with you who I am like.

Apparently, I am a very diabolical sort. Ok, yes, I admit it, I am rather that way. All you have to do is read about Fred and my thoughts on him.  Thus, this friend has told me I am like Wednesday Adams. He also sent my a youtube clip I shall share with you about “my” best moments. Enjoy!

Now, do you think I’m really like that?

Fred has a Hissy Fit

Another day with Fred. Another day he almost did not survive.

Fred likes everything to be just so. As long as its how he decided it should be. I found out how much so the other day.

During the hour after Fred leaves and I’m by myself, I was asked if our department could make use of a rolling file drawer. I jumped at the chance. It was just perfect.

Why was it perfect? Because Fred has declared that all files will kept in his drawers. So that means for all the calls I take, all the emails I am dealing with, and anything else, I must get up and walk around to his desk to get them. This means that I have to place irate callers on hold, thus making them more irate. Perfect, just keep taking it out on me why don’t you. Thus why I thought this was perfect.

I took all the files, kept everything in the same order, and put them into the rolling drawer. Said drawer went between the cubicles were it was easy for both of us the access without having to put anyone on hold. Problem solved.

Or so I thought.

I go into work in the morning to find said drawer shoved into my cubicle, and Fred slamming things around. He ignores me except to berate me for putting the drawer there.

“I keep banging into it. I’ve done it already 3 times this morning. ( which wouldn’t have happened, I made sure it was placed in an ok place) I never had to use this the whole time I’ve been in this department (ya think! You keep them in your desk). I don’t see why we have to have it now!”

So I tell him I’m tired of always having to put people on hold to get the files, I shouldn’t have to do it. I tell him fine, I’m keeping it. To which he again tells me we don’t need it. He didn’t need it before. Oh really? Well it’s probably because not only do you keep the files with you, but for every 6-8 problems I’m dealing with you have 1. Just one! Arrogant piece of ….

So I kept the file drawer in my cube. 10 minutes later he decides to check in everything. This is usually something he does before I get there. Nope, not yesterday, because we had to show me how hard it is to work. We made a big display of getting up and walking 2 steps to grab the files. Then made a huge production if removing the files. Apparently he had the worst problem of removing files. They were banged, thrown, and dropped for 3 minutes. Lots of sighing and bemoaning the files. Arse.

Next he is sitting down huffing and tossing things around and grumbling. He was grumbling about the files. Yes, the files moved and he couldn’t handle them not being in his drawer. He went on like this for 10 minutes longer. Then announced he couldn’t work this way.

You’re kidding me right? Please say yes. Nope, wrong, he got up and walked away sulking. This is a 39 year old guy throwing a tantrum like my 4 year old nephew does.

No compromising with this one. All the files ended up back in his drawer. I’m back to putting people on hold. All because he only deals with the files for 10 minutes each day. That’s it, 10 minutes, but because the ere not next to him he couldn’t function, and like the child he is, complained to the boss and got his way.

This why he will not make it to his 40th birthday. He has much to learn, and the dark side was welcomed me. Welcomed me with open arms and lots of cookies. It has shown me the way. And the way is revenge and torture with Fred as my target.