Monday, July 2, 2012

Welcome to Tales of an Angry Admin


I’m beginning this blog because I truly believe I’ve reached my breaking point at work.   Oh, I know I’m lucky to have a job; the economy is terrible, I shouldn’t complain, blah, blah, blah.

I get it.  I know I’m lucky to have a job, or at least I’m lucky to have a paycheck and some benefits, paltry though they may be.  I don’t, however, think I’m so lucky to work in a place that’s likely going to cause me to wind up in a mental institution.  I don’t think it’s lucky that in spite of doing a lot more work I haven’t had a raise in four years.  I don’t think that’s lucky at all.

I’ve been in a support position for about ten years now, and I’ve reached the point where I’m rather desperately wishing life gave you do-overs.   I’d do it over and go to school for something else.  I have no idea what, just not something that would land me where I’m at now.   Unfortunately life doesn’t give you do-overs, so here I am. 

So, here’s my little bloggy about all of the things at work (past jobs and present hell hole included) that drive me nuts, push me to my breaking point, and make me faithfully buy a lottery ticket every week.  I’m hopeful that if you’re in a similar position we can commiserate some.  Misery loves company, right?  Or, if you’re in a position where you have support staff, I sincerely hope you’ll learn some things.  You really don’t want to be the object of this much silent animosity. 

So, for the first tale of an angry admin we’ll start with being a mystical being capable of rare and mysterious feats such as adding paper to the copier, picking up documents off of the fax and printer, and the highly specialized skill of being able to walk to another department within the building.

Rare and Mysterious Skills

Let me start off by saying that every place I’ve ever worked in this capacity has never added support staff positions at the rate they add “higher up” positions.  They’ll add multiple “higher up” positions without adding so much as a single part time support staff position.  Sometimes they even eliminate a support staff position in the process of adding more “higher up” positions.  It’s always “understood” that because of this the higher-ups will be responsible for doing a little more of their own clerical or support work.  Of course, it’s never understood by the higher-ups themselves.  No, they keep right on calling you down the hallway to go pick up something off of the printer for them, or pulling you off an urgent phone call you’re making on behalf of another higher-up to walk something to another department. 

This is especially annoying to me when the person who can’t walk across the hall to another department to drop their own paperwork off likes to tell you how athletic they are.  Umm, really?  Even with my life-lifelong love affair with carbohydrates I can walk across the hall.  I would assume that a highly educated, very athletic person would be able to as well.

Let’s not forget the rare and mysterious skill of being able to find all misplaced items.  That client file that you alone have had for six months and is buried somewhere in the pigsty you call your office?  Sure I can put my hands on it, from the other end of the office.  We wouldn’t want you to stress yourself by actually opening your filing cabinets, or moving some of the debris on your desk.  Of course not.  It’s much easier to get on the intercom asking me where it is.

Then there’s the rare and mysterious skill of being able to add paper to the copier.  It’s harder than it looks, you know.  And it’s not like the “add paper” light flashing gives you any clue what you might need to do.  Of course, even if you do figure it out, it’s not like you can find the paper that’s sitting right next to the copier.  No, you need to start frantically yelling for the one support person, who is across the hall delivering someone else’s paperwork to another department that “something’s wrong with the copier”. 

So what about you?  Do you have any rare and mysterious skills like these?


11 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Hi Angry Admin,
    A warm Welcome to this wonderful world of blogging
    keep writing. Your first post itself is very interesting.
    this is really wonderful
    I am so happy to be your first follower and first commentator.
    Keep going
    Best Regards
    philip ariel
    india
    PS; Please take out the word verification to it irritates your readers
    phil

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    1. Thank you very much. The word verification is off now. I didn't even realize it was on, so thanks for letting me know.

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  3. Coming over from the comment you left on Nicole's guest post on my blog. I've added myself as a follower.

    This is a nice start to your blogging career and I wish you luck in maintaining it. Your situation sounds similar to the one I had before I lost my job 3 years ago. I kind of wish I still had the job, but the place shut down because of the economy. I'd worked for that company for over 30 years.

    My amazing powers currently revolve around sitting in my chair and blogging.

    Good luck with the blog!


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Thank you very much.

      That's terrible to lose your job after 30 years. I know I really complain, but sometimes I just have to vent a little.

      Thanks again for your encouragement.

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  4. Hello Sir! I kindred spirit. As an IT guy, I've always felt a kinship with the Admin staff.

    I too have some rare and mystical powers. I like to call them common sense, and I hate the fact that they are, indeed, rare.

    New follower here, thanks for stopping by thegrumpyitguy.wordpress.com!

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    1. I think Admin staff and IT definitely have a kinship; we both have to deal with morons, and be reasonably nice and polite about it.

      It is sad that common sense has become rare and mystical.

      I love your blog.

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  5. Dammit... that's "A kindred spirit..." Wish they'd let us edit our comments...

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    1. There's probably an AA and IT person at Google begging for them to add the ability to edit comments but the "important" folks just won't listen. ;-)

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  6. Welcome to the Blogosphere! What a great idea - a place to let off some steam about your work woes since Corporate America has no place for negative emotions. I look forward to your rants - and who knows? I may offer up some of my own in the comments! Cheers!

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    1. Thanks for the welcome. I'd love to read your rants in the comments. We all need to blow off a little steam sometimes.

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