Many decades ago I was working for a computer manufacturer as a software support analyst. We were the ones the guys in the field turned to when they couldn't help their customers. The company came up with a time accounting system that required us to submit weekly reports detailing how we spent our time. The activities were already on the card, we just had to assign an amount of time to each one. One of the activities was time accounting, reporting how much time we spent completing the form. My office mate and I started filling out the card by showing that the bulk of our week was spent filling out the form. A few weeks later the system was abandoned. A year later I abandoned the job.
I can’t imagine getting a bad score because you didn’t unlock the door for a lone person that is knocking loudly. I always shout that it’s a security risk and that usually calms down management.
Our computer system, when we turn it off, means that unless we know something off the top of your head, doesn't allow access to the info he needed, and my boss said I did the right thing
My husband worked at a biotech company where management never figured out that scientists are trained in critical thinking. Thus, "You'll need to put in extra hours to make sure this project is completed on time so Russell (the boss) can get his bonus" was not the motivational home run they expected. (1) Russell set the timeline with no input from staff, (2) experiments take the time they take, regardless of what Russell wants, and (3) f**k Russell.
Back in the Before Times, I worked for a well-known retail grocery. Part of their mission statement was to leave customers ‘delighted.’ Employees were less than delighted. Like you, to ease the stress I made cartoons, and put them up in the produce prep area near the cardboard compactor where managers hardly ever went. My coworkers loved these weekly offerings, even when I poked fun at them and their individual quirks. “Children of the Corn” had a good run, but I doubt anyone who hadn’t worked at that particular retailer would understand half of them.
I endured that particular store for thirteen years before I managed to escape. I love your comics: while they sometimes bring painful flashbacks, enough time has passed that I can laugh now, and feel sweet relief that I am no longer in that environment. My current work environment has its own issues and stresses, but compared to retail, it’s a cakewalk.
Thanks for sharing your cartoons. As a retail survivor, I really appreciate and enjoy them!
40 years ago, I was a part of an audience participation “Dawn of the Dead” midnight show crowd in Dallas, and most of the cracks that got the most laughs were based on real retail experiences, particularly involving the people beating on the doors an hour after closing because they want “just one thing.” (In my case, I worked in a liquor store, and in Texas, stores that sell liquor HAVE to close at 9:00 pm, no exceptions by state law, and staying open as little as five minutes later opens the store to fines as much as $25k per incident. We also had to be closed on Sundays, which meant we’d get a rush of idiots at 8:55 who came “for just one thing” and then wanted to go wandering for an hour. I regularly closed the gate at 9 on people who came screeching up to fend off their Sunday DTs, rushed out out of their pickups, and started bashing on the metal gate with rocks and baseball bats because we wouldn’t reopen just for them. One even proceeded to shove his arm under the gate as it closed, frantically tapping his watch to show that according to King of the Procrastinating Drunks, he still had ONE WHOLE MINUTE to go shopping…and then shot at the store sign with a shotgun when we wouldn’t reconsider. The store has been closed for 15 years, and I expect that old regulars are STILL coming out there on Saturday nights, screaming about how we were there “just the other day…”)
Yeah, I was gonna say you are MUCH better than Scott Adams. I enjoyed Dilbert when it first started but drifted off cuz it seemed to get repetitive. Maybe that’s the difference between being a cubicle worker and a retail worker. The cubicle worker is a restricted environment but retail is wide open. Yours make me laugh and are so relatable. It’s a shame that Adams made bad choices and became problematic. I don’t read many comic strips anymore but I sure do enjoy yours.
Thank you for that! Not everything is somebody’s cup of tea. I was never a big Dilbert fan, but he certainly earned his millions of readers. However (there’s always a however), Adams became so repugnant that I fully understand why his publisher dropped him.
Many decades ago I was working for a computer manufacturer as a software support analyst. We were the ones the guys in the field turned to when they couldn't help their customers. The company came up with a time accounting system that required us to submit weekly reports detailing how we spent our time. The activities were already on the card, we just had to assign an amount of time to each one. One of the activities was time accounting, reporting how much time we spent completing the form. My office mate and I started filling out the card by showing that the bulk of our week was spent filling out the form. A few weeks later the system was abandoned. A year later I abandoned the job.
Hahaha! I love that!
My office closes at 14:00.
At the time this happened we had two trains and hour, 14:03 South and 14:07 North.
My window shutter was down at 14:00 exactly, both trains were running 5 minutes late.
At 14:12, I'm finishing my paperwork, the North bound service pulls in, and 20 seconds later there's a knocking on the metal shutter.
"We're closed."
"I just want to ask some questions."
"We open at 6am tomorrow, and are open for 8 hours."
"I just want to know the times to..(insert some godforsaken place in the middle of Wales or Scotland)."
"Sir, we're closed, come back tomorrow or go online. I'm not able to give you that information as the machine is off."
"But can't you help me?"
I didn't reply, and a few seconds later heard footsteps walking away.
3 days later, I get a call from my manager.
I have a zero percentage mystery shop.
I ask for the report, the first line is...
"I arrived 12 minutes after the office closed, and the staff member refused to help me....."
I can’t imagine getting a bad score because you didn’t unlock the door for a lone person that is knocking loudly. I always shout that it’s a security risk and that usually calms down management.
Oh my manager totally agreed with my decision.
Our computer system, when we turn it off, means that unless we know something off the top of your head, doesn't allow access to the info he needed, and my boss said I did the right thing
My husband worked at a biotech company where management never figured out that scientists are trained in critical thinking. Thus, "You'll need to put in extra hours to make sure this project is completed on time so Russell (the boss) can get his bonus" was not the motivational home run they expected. (1) Russell set the timeline with no input from staff, (2) experiments take the time they take, regardless of what Russell wants, and (3) f**k Russell.
Back in the Before Times, I worked for a well-known retail grocery. Part of their mission statement was to leave customers ‘delighted.’ Employees were less than delighted. Like you, to ease the stress I made cartoons, and put them up in the produce prep area near the cardboard compactor where managers hardly ever went. My coworkers loved these weekly offerings, even when I poked fun at them and their individual quirks. “Children of the Corn” had a good run, but I doubt anyone who hadn’t worked at that particular retailer would understand half of them.
I endured that particular store for thirteen years before I managed to escape. I love your comics: while they sometimes bring painful flashbacks, enough time has passed that I can laugh now, and feel sweet relief that I am no longer in that environment. My current work environment has its own issues and stresses, but compared to retail, it’s a cakewalk.
Thanks for sharing your cartoons. As a retail survivor, I really appreciate and enjoy them!
Nice! Thank you so much. I’m glad you drew cartoons about it. It really is the best therapy.
I fill out surveys (and on-line "How did we do?" surveys).
I always respond with one star.
My comment: "Quit being so needy!
It's like being in a relationship with somebody who needs constant reassurance.
It’s not exactly a Gallup poll, is it?
“Why don’t you like me?”
“Because you’re a complete bastard.”
“I’m serious, Vyvian.”
“So am I. You’re a complete bastard and we all hate you.”
(Dismissive laughter) “I find that rather difficult to believe.”
40 years ago, I was a part of an audience participation “Dawn of the Dead” midnight show crowd in Dallas, and most of the cracks that got the most laughs were based on real retail experiences, particularly involving the people beating on the doors an hour after closing because they want “just one thing.” (In my case, I worked in a liquor store, and in Texas, stores that sell liquor HAVE to close at 9:00 pm, no exceptions by state law, and staying open as little as five minutes later opens the store to fines as much as $25k per incident. We also had to be closed on Sundays, which meant we’d get a rush of idiots at 8:55 who came “for just one thing” and then wanted to go wandering for an hour. I regularly closed the gate at 9 on people who came screeching up to fend off their Sunday DTs, rushed out out of their pickups, and started bashing on the metal gate with rocks and baseball bats because we wouldn’t reopen just for them. One even proceeded to shove his arm under the gate as it closed, frantically tapping his watch to show that according to King of the Procrastinating Drunks, he still had ONE WHOLE MINUTE to go shopping…and then shot at the store sign with a shotgun when we wouldn’t reconsider. The store has been closed for 15 years, and I expect that old regulars are STILL coming out there on Saturday nights, screaming about how we were there “just the other day…”)
Dawn of the Dead was a fantastic commentary on consumerism as well as a great zombie movie.
I’ve noted that it’s also the best documentary about life in Dallas in the 1980s ever made.
I agree
Excellent. You are wonderful.
Thank you!
Yeah, I was gonna say you are MUCH better than Scott Adams. I enjoyed Dilbert when it first started but drifted off cuz it seemed to get repetitive. Maybe that’s the difference between being a cubicle worker and a retail worker. The cubicle worker is a restricted environment but retail is wide open. Yours make me laugh and are so relatable. It’s a shame that Adams made bad choices and became problematic. I don’t read many comic strips anymore but I sure do enjoy yours.
Thank you for that! Not everything is somebody’s cup of tea. I was never a big Dilbert fan, but he certainly earned his millions of readers. However (there’s always a however), Adams became so repugnant that I fully understand why his publisher dropped him.
This is great, wish I had discovered it sooner.
This is a compliment.
That’s the guy who did Family Circus, right? I agree, he wasn’t funny at all. This is far better.
Dilbert. He was dropped by my syndicate because of racism.