Let's bitch about our stupid, annoying co-workers

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jesus

scout (scout), Friday, 15 July 2005 06:31 (eighteen years ago) link

i'm so glad i have an office to myself. so so glad.

gem (trisk), Friday, 15 July 2005 06:36 (eighteen years ago) link

sorry, ai lien, you're right that you shouldn't really have to protect yourself from malicious idiots.

> but i want to hear more about the new air conditioning saga!

got in this morning and we seem to have reverted to using the windows as windows and the ac isn't even plugged in. (mind boggles at waste of money but is happy that we aren't wasting more).

koogs (koogs), Friday, 15 July 2005 07:59 (eighteen years ago) link

tories are legion from female coworkers who, not realizing she was using the toilet stall (her feet don't touch the ground, see) walked in on her doing her business

Doesnt she lock the stall door?!?

Trayce (trayce), Friday, 15 July 2005 08:45 (eighteen years ago) link

THE SECURITY GUARD WHO SAYS HELLO TO ME EVERY MORNING HAS A GOOGLY EYEBALL AND SHRUBS GROWING OUT OF HIS EARS.

Lupton Pitman (Chris V), Friday, 15 July 2005 13:09 (eighteen years ago) link

THE SECURITY GUARD WHO SAYS HELLO TO ME EVERY MORNING HAS A GOOGLY EYEBALL AND SHRUBS GROWING OUT OF HIS EARS.

he sounds very polite.

not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 15 July 2005 13:14 (eighteen years ago) link

im not sure if he is saying hello to me though because of his googly eye.

Lupton Pitman (Chris V), Friday, 15 July 2005 13:16 (eighteen years ago) link

you never can tell which i to look at can you?

not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Friday, 15 July 2005 13:22 (eighteen years ago) link

ONE GOES LEFT AND THE OTHER GOES RIGHT? IM NOT SURE HE'S EVEN LOOKING AT ME. I THINK HE IS SAYING HELLO TO THE TV.

Lupton Pitman (Chris V), Friday, 15 July 2005 13:25 (eighteen years ago) link

My annoying colleague wants us to get Linux in for all of our desktops and servers because she has heard that it's really cheap. She knows nothing at all about computers. She rings me up to tell me how cheap Linux is. Like I haven't heard all this years ago. Like no-one has ever suggested this to our company before. Like she's the first person to ever think of running Linux on the company's machines.

I hate it when I have to talk to people.

accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 15 July 2005 16:58 (eighteen years ago) link

He's sitting four feet away from me and dropping the worst assbombs and then just getting up to walk away... I'm on a conference call and therefore chained to my desk and sitting amid the stink oh god send help eyes watering death imminent ...

luna (luna.c), Friday, 15 July 2005 17:03 (eighteen years ago) link

Cue the Gap Band.

Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Friday, 15 July 2005 17:07 (eighteen years ago) link

Why do my coworkers always give me spreadsheets to update but then not close out of them on their computers?! The dumbesT!

Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 15 July 2005 17:19 (eighteen years ago) link

I had an intern who was 5 years older than me, and a whole level-of-education up on me, and balding a bit--just enough of all of the above to make me feel utterly unqualified to be telling him what to do. Until I discovered he is utterly unable to do what I tell him to do. Or probably tie his shoes (albeit untested).

We once asked him to call a whole slew of actors to get their social security numbers, which he recorded on the spreadsheet from whence he got their phone numbers. This took 4 hours. The spreadsheet was sort of a public document, so we told him to take the social security numbers off there, as they are private, etc. Which he did, with success. Except he DID NOT RECORD THEM ANYWHERE ELSE. And then just left. Successfully undoing his entire days work.

He looks exactly like Buster from Arrested Development.

now now now, Friday, 15 July 2005 17:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Some days I think I am working on a suicide hotline that operates out of a high school locker room.

Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 15 July 2005 18:11 (eighteen years ago) link

My coworkers are reasonably okay, a lot of overgrown sorority girls really. I just don't like it when they talk to me in their batshit approximations of an English accent (yes this old chestnut). They say "hallo A-dom!". I don't pronounce my name anything like "A-dom". Shut up you.

L@@K !! *RARE*!! (nordicskilla), Friday, 15 July 2005 18:20 (eighteen years ago) link

They don't know that you're Scottish?

Dr. Glen Y. Abreu (dr g), Friday, 15 July 2005 18:22 (eighteen years ago) link

Every time I think it would be nice to have coworkers again, this thread gets revived. Thanks.

Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Friday, 15 July 2005 19:04 (eighteen years ago) link

My colleague is a 23 year old called Caroline. She's not lazy. She's a know-it-all and a braggard. She loves to correct what you say. Recently she told me I couldn't possibly have checked in 2 hours before my flight from Heathrow as check in was apparently 3 hours. Never mind what my actual experience was. What she says goes.
There is nothing in the world you can do, or have, or know, that she can't top. Every single conversation with her ends the same way. And if she can't personally claim to have a 12 inch waist be able to speak Cantonese, you can bet she'll have a friend or a cousin who does. Here's a selection of some of her more memorable boasts.

Workmate: I think Irish accents are really sexy.
Caroline: I know someone from Ireland
W: I like Spanish accents too.
C: I've got a friend who's Spanish
W: And West country accents
C: My grandfather was born in Bristol

Me (to a colleague) My car broke down in ***** (an exclusive area in our town)
C (from across the room) Why are you talking about ****?
Me (resigned to inevitable brag) My car broke down there.
C: My friend lives there.

Workmate: Old John's so switched on, he can speak 4 languages.
C: I know someone who can speak 5

Workmate: So I'm off to Las Vegas for my hols. I can't wait!
C: I know loads of people who've been there.

Workmate: My mum's tiny, lucky thing. She's only a size 8
C: My sister's a size 6.
(the week before her sister's height was apparently 5' 11". At size 6, she really needs to see a doctor)

Caroline also catches the spirit of the age. When our manager's brother left the army to join the clergy, Caroline suddenly had a grandfather who is a C of E vicar. When the Pope was dying and everyone chatted about it at work, suddenly Caroline's family became devoutly Catholic, with her describing a fire and brimstone upbringing completely at odds with her earlier portrayals.
And Caroline plays on her age. At 23 she's the youngest in our department and mistakenly believes that it makes her beautiful and nubile. If you saw her you'd think otherwise. She makes constant comparisons to my age (29) and seems to imply that I'm over the hill. If an oldish song comes on the radio and you say: "That reminds me of a great holiday in 1997", Caroline will say: "I was only 15 then." and I feel like replying: "So what? Were you a fat wallflower then like you are now?"
With the more senior of our colleagues, Caroline will ask what year a certain song came out. When the answer is 1974 or whatever, Caroline will say: "I was minus 8 then." and it's her chance to catch some envy that she mistakenly believes these women have of her.
Some colleagues actually manufacture conversations in order to watch Caroline jump through hoops in order to impress. It can be quite funny but more than anything it drives me crackers.

Beverley Nicks, Sunday, 24 July 2005 17:00 (eighteen years ago) link

That sounds infuriating, but I think your coworkers have the right idea. Goad her into one-upping absurd things and contradicting herself. Surely such transparent insecurity cannot be too difficult to manipulate.

Laura H. (laurah), Sunday, 24 July 2005 17:25 (eighteen years ago) link

right, but then you'd have to talk to her.

teeny (teeny), Sunday, 24 July 2005 17:34 (eighteen years ago) link

she sounds like my older sister... always trying to prove her superiority as the oldest child.

i am off in a few minutes to a baby shower for my very annoying pregnant coworker. this girl is several years younger than i, got herself knocked up by her stupid boyfriend (who already has another child with whom he has no involvement), and they fight every single day. i get to hear about their arguments (or maybe i should just say argument since it's always the same thing over and over and over) all day at work. she's also continued to smoke newports for the duration of her pregnancy, and then complains about how she doesn't feel well and is uncomfortable. occasionally she'll call at 1 am, crying over something ridiculous, and the other night she asked at 12:30 if she could come over to "talk." NO! STAY AWAY FROM MY HOUSE! i feel bad because she really is a nice girl, just stupid and rather naive; however, i really do not feel like going to an annoying baby shower to pretend to be all excited about this kid.

famous and fabled, left to right (tehresa), Sunday, 24 July 2005 17:41 (eighteen years ago) link

I have to confess Beverly, if I had a co-worker like yours I would be merciless in my interrogation of her to try and catch her out like Laura suggests. Also, I fear I proabably would have made the "fat wallflower" comment to her face.

Trayce (trayce), Monday, 25 July 2005 00:17 (eighteen years ago) link

i can't really answer this thread question and that makes me very, very thankful.

joseph (joseph), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:28 (eighteen years ago) link

(well, for my current job anyway, i have a whole backlog of stories from the two years i worked at a pizzeria)

joseph (joseph), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:30 (eighteen years ago) link

My only beef would be with my main freelance client, who always overrules subtle, tasteful design choices with loud, gaudy technicolor stuff. But as far as our working relationship, no complaints.

Truckdrivin' Buddha (Rock Hardy), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:49 (eighteen years ago) link

but if Matt got the manager's job he wouldn't be able to go to Clitheroe and find heavenly wines, would he?

As of September 19th Matt will HAVE that manager's job. The trips to Clitheroe will only increase, that wine list isn't going to know what hit it.

Matt (Matt), Monday, 25 July 2005 09:37 (eighteen years ago) link

and nor are the chefs, for that matter

Matt (Matt), Monday, 25 July 2005 09:49 (eighteen years ago) link

just stop getting up and walking around, cunt.

N_RQ, Monday, 25 July 2005 12:45 (eighteen years ago) link

I work in hospital admin. One of my duties includes making appointments for patients over the phone. Most are normal, pleasant people but we get a small percentage of morons, nutcases and rabblerousers. Like this one:

Patient (in a strange, sarcastic sing-song voice that would continue throughout the call) I'd like to see the Consultant this week.
Me: Sorry, I'm afraid he's fully booked up.
Patient: My next appointment isn't for another three weeks. Why the hell should I wait that long?
Me: Looking on our system here, Mrs Smith, it appears that you've cancelled a number of appointments before now...
P: So?
M: This is why you've had to wait so long. You keep cancelling your appointments.
P: I'm a busy woman. I have school runs to do. I also have shopping trips to make. Every appointment I've been given is on a Wednesday. I can't come that day.
Me: Unfortunately that's the only day the Consultant has a clinic. If your condition needs urgent treatment you should go to ******** hospital (the nearest A&E)
P: Well that's not good enough, is it? What am I supposed to do?
Me: What we tell all patients Mrs Smith, is that if they really need the hospital appointment they will have to make time in their private lives to come in.
P: I don't believe this. Listen to me, My husband is a (middle ranking man in the Services) and I see no reason why I should be kept waiting so long.
M (nonplussed and pissed off) I'm afraid your husband's status is neither here nor there, Mrs Smith. Patients are seen on medical priority only.
P: I am a very busy woman.
M: The consultant is very busy too. This is why an appointment system is in place.
P: Why can't he see me tomorrow?
M: He doesn't run clinics on Tuesday. He'll be in threatre.
P: Let me speak to him.
M: He's not here, in our office.
P: Well where is he?
M: I'd imagine he's operating as we speak. Now can I take it you will be coming to see the Consulant in three weeks' time?
P: I am a wife. I am a mother. I don't have time for this. Are you going to tell me exactly who is going to pick my children up from school if I do?
M Well many other patients arrange for a friend or a relative or a child minder to do it.
P, now shreiking: Are you telling me how to run my life? How dare you be so patronising. What's your name?
M: I'm not t rying to patronise you. You asked me a question-"
P: The conversation has now moved on. I asked for your name."
M: Beverley.
P: Thank you Beverley. Must get your name right if I'm getting you your marching orders.

This conversation took place around three months ago. Nothing's come back on me so i know I did nothing wrong. But I'm left wondering if this woman goes through life rubbing up ppl the wrong way. A colleague, oblivious of my encounter with "Mrs Smith" came back from reception duties to say she'd just dealt with a patient in clinic who was the rudest she'd ever encountered. Yes it was Mrs Smith. But apparently the sight of the Consultant made Mrs Smith come over all girly, a la the sketch on the Fast Show.


Beverley Nicks, Wednesday, 27 July 2005 20:24 (eighteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...
I think I have steam coming out of my ears today, and well, maybe it's not REALLY the stupid annoying coworkers' fault, just my bad hormones. But fuck it.

Coworker 1 brings back some CDs I'd labelled for him, apparently complaining they are wrong. Each CD is in fact labelled exactly according to what he wrote on the disc. Since I am not at my desk he leaves a post-it note on each CD telling me what the label SHOULD be. The post-its are entirely unintelligible. I copy them exactly anyway, but doubtless they will be 'wrong' again.

Coworker 2 wants lever arch files. But the lever arch files I have in the stationery cupboard are too tall. She wants short ones. I already told her last month we don't get different sizes. In some cases I might do a special order, BUT she doesn't even really work here any more, and as such isn't entitled to ANY stationery. Kindly, though, she has put lots of photos from a party last term onto CDs for all of us. But wants me to reimburse her for the CDs. Arrgh you are a very nice woman but STOP TAKING THE PISS.

Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 16 August 2005 12:02 (eighteen years ago) link

two weeks pass...
It's half-five on a Saturday afternoon, and I'm trying to have a nap, when the work phone rings.

"I'm in Word, and I'm trying to write a letter, and the text is too small, and I don't know how to make it bigger."

GRRRRRR. I do not work Saturdays. We do not have such a thing as "on call". Moreover, I should not have to explain things like "press Ctrl-A then look for where it says '8' on the toolbar and change it to '12'" EVERY BLOODY TIME YOU TRY TO WRITE TO SOMEONE.

Forest Pines (ForestPines), Saturday, 3 September 2005 15:38 (eighteen years ago) link

You should've told them the only way to get bigger text is to buy a bigger monitor.

internet comedy novice (Matt Chesnut), Saturday, 3 September 2005 16:27 (eighteen years ago) link

Hah. No, because he would have expected me to go into work there and then to fit one.

Forest Pines (ForestPines), Saturday, 3 September 2005 16:28 (eighteen years ago) link

ask him if he has a licence to be operating the computer. when he says no, suck air through your teeth and tell him he's in breach of the internet act 2004, and risks arrest should he continue.

anyone that fucking stupid will almost certainly believe you, leaving to to kip in peace :)

grimly fiendish (grimlord), Saturday, 3 September 2005 16:42 (eighteen years ago) link

Must he dramatize the fact that he is chewing peanuts. Chw-chw-chw.

Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 12:50 (eighteen years ago) link

My god, FP, that is mad! Why are they allowed to call you on Saturday?!

I'm sure upthread somewhere is the time when my colleague called me ON HOLIDAY to ask where a folder was. ('Under your biscuit tin' turned out to be the answer but I wouldn't have known that.) And when Matt was called by someone asking him where the scissors were. Haha.

Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 12:56 (eighteen years ago) link

Greatest idea in the entire universe: When someone responds to a mass email using Reply to All, send another Reply to All to ask people to stop using Reply to All - except make a typo so that someone else Replies to All to ask for clarification. Clarify using Reply to All.

robster (robster), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:29 (eighteen years ago) link

"Hi there! You appear to be pressing Reply To All! 90% of the time this will make you look like a moron! Are you sure? Y/N"

tissp! (the impossible shortest specia), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:46 (eighteen years ago) link

GRR grr, there was that time my former boss, who had not been my boss for six months, called me on holiday, knowing I was on holiday because she'd already spoken to people in my new office, to ask details about a spreadsheet I had not looked at for six months and was not able to look at just then either because I was ON HOLIDAY, grr GRR.

Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:47 (eighteen years ago) link

hurray! my co-workers aren't here today! it's just me!

ai lien (kold_krush), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:48 (eighteen years ago) link

there was that time my former boss, who had not been my boss for six months, called me on holiday

But that would be great, because you could tell him to go fuck himself with a melon baller, without repercussions!

Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:54 (eighteen years ago) link

Nah, that only works if you've gone somewhere completely different. I had moved department and building but was still in the same faculty. However, it did mean I could Make A Complaint.

Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:56 (eighteen years ago) link

Hm. Thread connections ahoy: I suspect that the super-indulged noisy brats from the other thread will grow up to be the stupid annoying coworkers of tomorrow. That classic 'world revolves round my needs' attitude...

Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:56 (eighteen years ago) link

OMG I just read that as "world revolves around my neds".

And verily I was sore afraid...

Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:58 (eighteen years ago) link

Soon I won't be having to put up with said co-workers, or (best of all) the more annoying customers. I told some (patronising, unpleasant, golf-club frequenting, impossible to please. The sort who really get a kick out of ordering waiting on staff around, the sort who say "make sure the white is cold, will you?" despite knowing perfectly well that in the five years they've been eating here they've never once had a warm bottle of white) regulars that I was leaving and they asked me what I was going to do.

"Well" I said "the day after I leave, I'm going to track down every customer who's ever been needlessly unpleasant to me, and beat the living daylights out of them"

Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 14:01 (eighteen years ago) link

Woot!

And God I hate that. It's like saying 'oh and make sure the sun sets tonight, will you? I can't STAND it when it doesn't and I Am Very Important you know.'

Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 14:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Dear Guy Over There On Other Side Of Room:

1) Please turn volume of ring tone down by at least three bars

2) Please change ringtune from Bodyrockers to something more enjoyable and cool e.g. pneumatic drill

Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 14:09 (eighteen years ago) link

I like my co workers, although there is this weird guy upstairs called Stevie who keeps talking to me and stuff.

Raston Warrior Robot (alix), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 14:14 (eighteen years ago) link

OMG I just read that as "world revolves around my neds"

I thought it was "world revolves around my nads."

Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 14:14 (eighteen years ago) link


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