Archive for the ‘Work Moments’ Category

I have heard a lot of talk about how grumpy people seem to be at work this holiday season.  I do not necessarily think that is an unusual observation.  Each year, the day after Thanksgiving begins an influx of stress as we enter the holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate.  Gifts to buy, lines to wait in, food to make, parties to attend and relatives to avoid…on top of all of the end of the year deadlines to meet at work.  Think Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

The complaints that I have heard most recently relate to regulations that are communicated within organizations around the holidays regarding “proper” conduct.  Most often the regulations include comments about holiday décor, inter-office parties, gift exchanges, etc.  Rightfully so, there is a big focus on diversity.  In my opinion I believe the grumpiness may be a reaction to how the official “regulations” are communicated within an organization rather than that they have been developed.

I believe most people understand the importance of respecting diversity during this time of year.  However, if the regulations on “proper” conduct are communicated in a negative manner or in response to someone being offended then there is a guarantee that they will ruffle some feathers. 

I recently talked with a colleague who works in the public sector about a specific regulation that was released just as holiday decorations were being hung throughout the office.  Depending on how much time an individual spends with the public (employees), the individual is held to different standards than all others.  The idea seems to stem from the fact that due to the high degree of public relations involved with a position the individual is responsible for ensuring that any holiday decorations within their personal office do not reference a specific religious holiday.  In some cases I have even heard of not referencing any specific holiday in general, non-religious Christmas for example.  In this case hanging up a wreath or snow flakes is acceptable.  A tree however, not so much.

I understand people have varying religious belief and that we should be respectful in these types of situations.  Nevertheless, it bugs me when organizations get extremely “nit picky” when it comes to the holidays.  I am not a religious person but I have been offended in years past by the way organizations have dealt with the holidays.  This is supposed to be a joyous time for all – not a reminder that we are just cogs in a machine.

What do you think?  How does your organization handle the holidays?  Are they flexible or do they follow strict protocol?

As we move into the holiday season, it appears that no one is indifferent to holiday office luncheons and parties.  Twitter has begun to flood with snarky comments on the subject.  Some of us enjoy planning and participating in these events while others dread them like the plague.  We recently asked a few colleagues what they like and dislike regarding holiday gatherings in the office.  This little survey was then translated into the following two top 10 lists just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday! 

Top Reasons We Love Holiday Office Gatherings

1. I love the way everyone comes together to plan a great meal and time together.
2. Where else can we get a great Thanksgiving meal without doing anything but paying my $3?
3. I love the homemade pumpkin pies and desserts! 
4. It’s so nice to be able to interact with the boss in an informal setting. 
5. The diversity of our staff always ensures a delicious variety of foods. 
6. I love the camaraderie amongst the staff.  
7. Making our own decorations is a lot of fun.
8. It’s nice to hear what everyone is thankful for this year.
9. Everyone looks so festive in their fall colors!
10. It’s unpatriotic to not celebrate Thanksgiving! Even the Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving!  

Top Reasons We Hate Holiday Office Gatherings

1. I volunteered to organize this luncheon because I thought it would be fun. It isn’t – no one is interested in helping. Do they think these luncheons just magically happen? 
2. Three people signed up to bring dressing and no one did.  How can we have turkey without dressing?
3. I get so tired of grocery store pies and cookies.  Doesn’t anyone know how to make a real dessert?
4. I always get stuck sitting next to the boss. He’s a messy eater and I never know what to say to him.
5. All those vegan dishes are more than I can handle.
6. It’s enough that I have to work with people I don’t like. I shouldn’t have to share a meal with them too.
7. Did a kindergarten class make our decorations this year? These are pathetic!  Who knew pilgrims looked like Shrek?
8. If I have to listen to one more person say how thankful they are to be working here, I’m going to get sick.
9. Bedazzled appliqué sweaters make me feel I’m watching the Quacker Factory lady on QVC.  Frightening….
10. I don’t like my job.  I hate turkey and I’m Canadian. Our thanksgiving was last month.

Desk job…oh how I miss you!  It has been six months since I left my job as COO for a successful software development firm.  Why you ask?  Let’s just say it is a long story that results in 90% of my workforce leaving, including myself and our CEO!

I knew leaving was a big risk but one necessary if I wanted the professional reputation that I have built for myself to remain intact.  What I didn’t realize was how hard unemployment would hit Florida’s capital city.

To give you a little idea of what has been going on in Tallahassee let me discuss Big Bend SHRM.  2008 was a big growth year for us.  As of December 31, 2008 our membership totaled 247 people, an increase of 79% over the previous year.  For the first time in our Chapter’s history we had reached 200 members.  With the economic crisis taking its toll we planned to see our numbers drop in 2009, which we have.   We knew that companies would begin reworking budgets and cutting expenses.  What we found was that a majority of our members who did not renew moved out of the area (most out of Florida all together) because they or their significant other was laid off.

With that said, the past six months have been rough.  Not too many human resource jobs in the City of Tallahassee.  Not giving up on the job hunt I quickly realized I had to expand my search, which is now covering most of Florida as well as Cincinnati, Boston and Atlanta.  I am optimistic that I will find something soon.

Now for the craziness that is my life.  At the end of May I made a drastic decision after crunching my budget and moved all of my things out of my apartment and into a storage bin.  A few days later I packed up my Civic with clothes and my dog Scout and embarked on the long voyage up to upstate NY.  I made it in 20 hours and an overnight in Harrisonburg, VA.  The following day my nephew Weslee was born to my sister – 9 lbs 4 oz, one big boy!  As my sister gets everything situated at home I am taking her place working for the family business – a discount wines and liquors emporium. 

My life for the past few weeks has been nothing but lifting boxes, restocking shelves, pricing, organizing and dreaded customer service.   I am completely and utterly exhausted.  My feet hurt, my back aches and I sneeze constantly from dust.  I went to business school so I didn’t have to do manual labor like most of my family!  Manual labor is NOT for me!

Of course I am exaggerating about how much I loathe manual labor (or am I?).  It is a blessing to be able to come back to NY and spend time with my family every day – especially my niece and nephew.  What I do realize from this experience is how much I miss sitting behind a desk processing forms and dealing with employee’s problems.  You may think I’m crazy but I did go to college to study human resources and it is actually what I am practicing.  The moral of my story:  don’t take your desk job for granted!