So my new job is not exactly stacking up to be what I hoped. It's not a total nightmare, but I hauled myself home tonight almost in tears after having crossed my name off the list for two baseball tickets to the Orem Owls company party in late June before leaving. Kenny was a little bummed - he had wanted to go - but I told him I couldn't see voluntarily spending time with my coworkers when getting through an 8-1/2 hour day makes me want to scream. I am mystified by the people I work with for many reasons. First, despite my attempts to be friendly and cheerful, I get unimpressed silence whenever I join in a conversation or ask a question to get to know someone better. Laughter dies and people turn away when I try to share in a joke. I've recognized the need to stifle all inclinations to be warm and cheerful, but it's hard to constantly check myself. Second, my coworkers constantly use bad language. The folks who hired me were looking for someone who could overlook occasional off-color jokes or language - after all, this is a steel company of working guys. I think they hired the wrong person. I didn't expect that
everyone, not just the odd customer or the guys in the warehouse, would swear. Nor did I expect to be pelted with profanity throughout the
entire day. It really makes me uncomfortable, and I agree with Megan that it creates a hostile workplace. I don't buy the "This is a blue collar workplace - grow a thicker skin," attitude - no professional environment should allow that kind of behavior. There is a positive side to this problem, though - knowing how much it bothers me to hear profanity from others, I have strengthened my commitment to use only clean language! Another thing that really bewilders me about my coworkers is their preference for sports and each other over spending time with their families. They
never talk about their wives, and only mention their children when talking about what sports they're playing. Then it is only to express outrage that the kids aren't running in this or that track meet. The guys are constantly lining up sports activities with one another after work but never make time for their own families. One guy expressed his disgust at having to "babysit" after work, and when someone asked him what his wife was doing, I realized he was talking about his own kids! That breaks my heart - my favorite memories and the things I look forward to most are all centered around my family. These guys are in their late twenties and thirties, so part of me can't help but think, "Grow up!!!" The latest twist in the workplace that really gets to me is the way people talk about religion at work. I don't mind that not everyone believes what I do, but it really hurts to hear the Church openly mocked. (And this by people who show up at church on Sunday!) One girl was complaining today about really, really not wanting to go camping with her husband and kids this weekend and summed it up, "It's like I have a bad feeling about it." Her friend screwed up her face and said sarcastically, "Maybe you should
pray about it!" Another woman referred to something about the temple in such a way that my ears burned. I guess my belief has always been, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all;" in other words, have the decency to speak respectfully about others' personal beliefs, if only within their earshot. Perhaps I can talk my bosses into letting me come to work with earplugs in - my phone-answering prowess might be diminished, but I'll be much more content!
Here are a few shots of my office from outside - eating my lunch in the bed of my truck is like finding an oasis amidst the burning desert!
Our building.
The office, dwarfed by the warehouse.
Looking south toward the mountains.
The house across the street, where my friend the horse lives.
Looking north toward Mt. Timpanogos.
1 comment:
Seriously--just apply for that animal hospital receptionist job!!! Just give it a try. If it doesn't work out, then what did you lose? Hope, yes. But not much more than that. And if worse comes to worst, put on your missionary face and TELL people when they do something to you that crosses the line. It is ALWAYS okay to speak up for your own rights. Just be pleasant, unemotional, and direct. And ignore your internal desire to roll into a ball, hide under a chair, and DIE. Those feelings are the kind that make us women put up with nasty guys who like making us uncomfortable (remember Henry?)! Not cool!!! Plus, maybe (just maybe) these guys really are good fathers and husbands when at home. Remember how cranky Mr. Egan would get at school? We all felt so sorry for Ms. Hancock and her kids. But I bet he was juts blowing off steam and was a good guy at home. Maybe these guys just need an ear to whine to and suck it up once the clock hits 5:00. Or maybe they're all just a-holes. Who knows? I'm sure in a few years I'LL occasionally want to sell our daughter down the river, flee to Hawaii, and date Ben Affleck, who's left his family and the mainland to become a surf instructor. Let's just hope in those moments that I can keep it to myself!
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