Hell, or something like it.

[Madrone]

I know I enjoy reading about other people's "bad days" here. It's nice to know you're not alone when things have turned to shit and you see someone else echo that. Because of that, I decided to post my shitty day, to share with anyone who cares and might need a little misery to keep them company...

Sometimes, life is hell.

Today started like any other Monday. Alarm going off, hitting the snooze buttom multiple times, finally getting up to start the coffee and let the dog out.

Typically, Mondays at work are the worst. After our office is closed for 2 days people with issues build up and they flood the phone lines all day. Today was no exception.

The exception today was the obvious rudeness of some of my coworkers towards me, and my inability to suck it up and let it ride.

The most notable things that set me off were:

1. Earlier in the day I was on the phone with a customer, walking them through a computer issue. My boss was looking over my timesheets, and I heard him ask my coworker if 10 hours was reasonable to spend fixing a computer. Background: another worker in a different department had her computer start crashing no matter what she did. After a couple of weeks of doing everything possible to prevent a format it came down to the fact that the only thing that would fix her problem was a complete clean install of Windows and everything else on her computer. This was my job. To start, the My Documents folder that needed backing up was over 3 gigs. This one folder alone took 2-3 hours to back up over the network. Then, of course, there are multiple other things that needed backing up beyond the My Documents folder. I brought the computer down to my work area to work on it. I'm the only one that answers the phone so I'd get a call, have to stop what I was doing with the format/reinstall, then get back to it after the phone call. I got it done and back to her finally, after 2 days, and thank god everything went smoothly or it would have taken even longer. I can't just drop EVERYTHING else I'm responsible for and go full out fixing the problematic computer - I have to answer phones, take care of service orders, and whatever else someone needs done in between. Anyway, after my boss asked my coworker if 10 hours was reasonable I heard my coworker reply (I was - you guessed it, on the PHONE) snidely, "Well, for 'Jennifer', it is". My feelings were instantly hurt and I remarked that that wasn't very NICE.

2. At the end of the day the phone was ringing off the hook. I was trying to get the calls, give people support, do service orders, and everything else that needed doing before I went home. A customer I've been dealing with for a week or more called shortly before it was time to go home. I've tried EVERYTHING to get her issue resolved (can I take a moment to mention here that Windows XP can be an infuriating piece of shit!!?) and she hasn't been able to do anything online for over a week because her Windows DNS problems refuse to be resolved. I start walking her thru a registry hack (deleting the Winsock folders) that is supposed to solve the problem. "Technically" - we aren't supposed to do that. "Technically", we aren't supposed to do a LOT of things we do every day - so I didn't feel it was a big deal. In the middle of all this I look up to see my boss hanging over my shoulder looking like he wants to say something so I put the lady on hold. He asked me a question regarding another lady he was on the phone with that I'd been talking to regarding her DSL problems. I answered him, and went back to my call. During this call I hear my boss and 2 coworkers having a huge, ranting discussion. This discussion entails helping people perform registry hacks, being on the phone helping people do things we're not "supposed" to, and other people (god forbid!!) having to take phone calls because "one person" (that would be ME) is on the phone walking someone thru something we aren't "supposed" to be doing, thereby pissing everyone ELSE off because they (god forbid!) have to answer a fucking phone. This was a huge rant, and it went on for a long time. It was still going on when I got off the phone and was making my notes regarding the call. Then I hear my boss bitch about the DSL lady and how of course there were no NOTES mentioning that she had come in (in between PHONE CALLS I was on) and gotten new filters to see if that fixed her trouble, and that I had hooked her DSL modem up at my desk and everything worked perfectly. At this point I interjected that there were NOT any notes because I'd been on the PHONE and hadn't had TIME to make them but would DO so as soon as I COULD. Then, they start talking to me. I am so upset at this point I am mustering up every bit I strength I can to keep from bawling. I said I was SORRY I was trying to help the lady with the registry thing but I'd been dealing with her for over a week and her issue was not resolved. I was just trying to get her taken care of so I could move ON. If it was a problem, I wouldn't do it again and I was feeling picked on by this whole conversation going on like I wasn't in the room because everyone was so pissed off at me. Furthermore, everyone was pissed off at ME for something I wasn't the only one to have ever done. At this point, the same snide commenting coworker from before said - snidely - (paraphrased) "You ARE the only one that has done that, none of the rest of us have, EVER." - Still trying not to bawl, I said "Oh, okay. I'm the only one then."

At this point, my boss asked me to come over to "their" side of the room and join their discussion. I'm facing away from them making the comical twisting facial expressions that denote trying like hell not to cry like a goddamned baby and I can't talk because talking will take away from the sheer will I am using to not bawl - I finally manage to croak out a "No". No. Just like that - No. That's all I said. To my BOSS, no less. Stunned silence from the other side of the room. And a shocked response in the form of a question I can't answer - "No?"

I said nothing. I couldn't. The only thing on my mind was finishing up the work I was in the middle of and trying to stop the facial contortions that proved me a crybaby and refusing the tears to fall - just long enough for me to leave my desk and walk out of the room showing them my face.

I shut my computer down and headed for the other room, then the bathroom where I could lock myself in and allow the tears to flow freely. I still had one more customer I had to call back, but I couldn't do it. I took her information in the bathroom with me so when I composed myself I could place the call from the front office, away from my department, and head home for the evening. It took about 20 minutes in the bathroom, and a lot of cold water on my face to try to lessen the telltale proof I was indeed, a crybaby.

I went and made my phone call, and of COURSE had to go back into my office to retrieve my keys and cell phone left lying on my desk. Discussion in there was still going STRONG. I didn't look at anyone, just grabbed my stuff and left.

And I feel like an idiot. Fuck! I'm not usually so easily upset, or very emotional. 2 things happened today - I've felt this attitude from my coworkers for awhile now, but they've never been this blatent about displaying it. It's been bothering me though, and I've been feeling pretty shitty about it. The other thing is the curse of the female monthlies and the hormonal fluctuations that come with it - and couldn't have come at at WORSE time.

Fuck!

I feel completely overwhelmed and unappreciated - and today, for the first time, I actually considered walking off the job and never returning. I can't believe it. I really love my job - it's being the red-headed stepchild I despise.

Here's hoping tomorrow is 100% better - and I'm not in a worse world of shit for saying "No" and leaving instead of staying and dealing with the situation. Typically, I would NEVER do that - but there was just no way in hell I was going to sit in front of everyone I work with blubbering like a baby because they were "picking on me" - not gonna happen.

[ornotna]

1. Thanks, I feel better now

seriously though, I hope you have a much better day tomorrow.

[Girlfriday]

2. Sounds like you were having a typical Monday

Don't worry, tomorrow will be better. It sounds like your boss is a real tool. Even if he doesn't appreciate you, your clients do, and that's why you're there - right?

[SOteric]

3. How 'bout

a rootbeer,



and a hug

:hug:

[Elidor]

4. You handled it the best you could

And there's no shame in that. The shame is that you have to put up with a coworker putting knives in your back.

You sound like you invest too much emotion in your job. The good things are completely unrelated to the bad ones. Don't let them make you eat shit for a paycheck.

The only things you need to address are the comments of the snide co-worker. The kind of remarks this person is making have to be vigorously disputed with all the evidence available, in as calm a manner as possible. Don't let this person paint such a grim picture of you to the boss.

You sound like a very competent, diligent and qualified tech support person, and your record should speak for itself. When it doesn't, don't be afraid to reiterate it for them. Don't let them attack you for free. There has to be a cost, to dissuade such behavior.

[Metatron]

5. As an ACTUAL redheaded stepchild . . .

I can only say that I sympathize. It sounds like your co-workers are whiney babies, and you can tell them that I said that!

Hope someone apologizes to you tomorrow at work. Keep your chin up.