Job newcomers should study cast of workplace characters

Seattle Times ^ | June18, 2006 | Patricia Kitchen

[MotleyGirl70]

Never, EVER get drunk at any office function. In fact, keep yourself away from alcohol at all times when close to the boss.

It's the best time not to drink.

[Lurker]

How about this:

Show up on time.

Dress appropriately.

DO YOUR JOB

Keep your pie hole shut unless you're discussing business.

The rest will pretty much take care of itself.

L

[MotleyGirl70]

Eyes: open Ears: open Mouth: closed

Pithy and spot on!

[MotleyGirl70]

Bump!

[MotleyGirl70]

Great thread. I'll bump it once for tomorrow.

I'm way past bedtime.

G'night all! :)

MG70

[MotleyGirl70]

Bump.

[phantomworker]

My second to the last supervisor had a copy of "Office space" at his desk and let anyone borrow it. He was a funny guy. But almost got fired for being too personally demanding of an employee. LOL! He wanted the employee to drive him around.

I think managers might almost be under more pressure to be politically correct than the employee now a days.

[JRios1968]

I had a boss in 2004, I wanted to be drunk around him, so as to not have to put up with his BS.

Fortunately for me, I quit before I could go postal on him.

[GSlob]

Unless you do not need such advice, already knowing all there is to know about it - avoid the morass as much as possible. He who handles sewage, picks up its stench.

[phantomworker]

Good one. LOL

[martin_fierro]

Anyone have advice on workplace politics?

If keeping your head down, showing up every day, working your butt off and otherwise doing your job the best you can isn't enough to save your job, screw 'em. They're worthless Liberals anyway.

[martin_fierro]

Women are extremely caddy.

Cool.

[martin_fierro]

Most importantly; DON'T GET DRUNK AT THE OFFICE (CHRISTMAS) PARTY LIKE THIS GIRL!

Oh, man. That was painful to watch.

[Gingersnap]

Here are the biggest mistakes I see:

Act like you are a intern. Dress down, come in late, blow off the administrative assistants, spend loads of time texting your friends and your Mom.

Say everything you think right away. Detail your personal life - especially your weekends. If you have a minor illness or food issues of some kind, make sure everybody knows about it right away. Pass along all gossip immediately and pump others for more details.

Pretend your Mom or your roommate will check your work. Never double check figures or spellings. Assume the spell check feature is right 100% of the time. Never check dates. Rely the ESP of others to make sense of your emails and reports. If you normally text a lot or use l33t, assume everybody does.

[MotleyGirl70]

I had a co-worker once ask me if she needed extra postage added to a .32 letter going to New Mexico.

I'm not even joking!

[MotleyGirl70]

Detail your personal life - especially your weekends.

Lol. So true.

Here's another one:

Be sure to tell me every single activity your child does.

Sure, I have an hour to sit here and look interested. Don't worry that's 8:00 in the morning and I have a case of the Mondays because I'd rather be on the lake fishing on a beautiful day like today.

But go ahead, tell me everything your kid did over the weekend--the suspense is killing me.