So, I hate my job. Everyday reminds me exactly how much I hate my job. I do stupid stuff. I have no idea what I’m working on so every 10 minutes I go ask someone else how to do it. Essentially, there are all these differtn code types and depending on which one is passed in it does different things. Well, that makes it sound simple, but it’s not really. Cause you have to try to run the queries with one code, then roll it up by geogragpy, than the other code, then roll it up , then try a different level of the code…blah blah blah…bullshit, poor design…why we don’t code for what actually exists in the data is beyond me.

To top it off…my boss has a “special assignment” waiting for me….
Cause the 3 systems that are around the corner aren’t enough.

GET ME OUT OF HERE!

So, I forgot to mention the I got a lead on a job. Co-worker from my last job just started somewhere he thinks could use someone. And it’s in Tampa…no more driving to Palm Harbor! Woo Woo…
keeping my fingers crossed….seminole heights to westshore would be much better.

What a day…This morning started out with my having almost nothing to work on. Then a client calls and I’ve got corrupted data to contend with as well as some spot “enhancements.” Than I’ve got other people too lazy to track things down coming at me, and changes to something I thought was done (basically a re-write of an entire section). Oh and did I mention I have no clue as to what it’s actually supposed to do? I don’t have a clue about this data. Ther there’s the boss telling me to try my monitor over where I was again since he looked in the ceiling and separated some wires (that were disconnected from my machine and definitely not the cause of the problem).

Okay, I know, it doesn’t sound like much but it’s frustrating none the less. I’ve been spoiled and I’ve gotten used to the calm…Talk to ya Monday.

They actually let me move. So now I’m in another office (same building) until an electrician can come and hopefully add some shielding or something so I don’t get horrible migraines from looking at the vibrating screen.
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I’ve moved to another building at work. We’re in 3 buildings now. The only reason we’re in three buildings is because the boss refuses to move out of the “historic” area where we are currently located. Keep in mind that the chamber of commerce in this “historic” area would rather have retail stores move in, not the expansion of some pseudo dot-com type business.

The boss should buy a bigger building that can house everyone. Right now, whenever I need to talk to the three people I deal with most, I have to walk across the street/parking lot. That’ll be fun in the rain and heat this summer.

On top of that I’m located directly outide the production manager’s (we’re a factory like facility unfortunately) office. This means I’ll be lucky enough to get questions like, “Where’s Buddy?” and “Do you know when Buddy will be back?” To top it off, the area is really more of a hallway and I get lots of traffic behind me.

Now my monitor has this slight vibrating effect ocurring and I get beautiful migraines from working on it. The net admin has been working on it, but he’s pretty convinced it’s because of where I’m located and that they need to get an electrician out to see what’s in the wall. I’ll be blind from the eye strain before theat actually happens.

In the past my work has decorated for the holidays by running strings of lights inside and out. Today they bought and set up a Christmas tree. Not a big deal right? Well, it wouldn’t be, except that I’m jewish. I don’t mind the lights since they really just create a festive atmosphere and there is no religious connotation in lights.

The tree though, that’s another story. The moment a tree is set up, I expect a menorah as well. Is that wrong? I made it a point to ask when the Hanukah party was when the e-mail about the “Christmas Party” went out. I was just being a smart ass then, but a tree carries significant religious connotation.

True, the history of the tree dates back to druids burning evergreens in a winter solstice ritual, but it was adopted by early christians in an attempt to convert the pagans and now is a christian symbol.

When I was growing up, we did not have a tree. That meant we were different. I was 12 or 13 before I experienced any sort of involvment with a tree. Our neighbors invited me to help decorate theirs. I was clueless as to what I was supposed to do. Now my only involvment is when I hang a single ornament on the tree at my in-laws and pull gifts out from beneath the same tree the next day.

In the future Gianna (the wife) and I will probably have both a menorah and a tree (in fact we’d have a tree this year if we weren’t moving), but regardless of all that. I’m jewish and feel I deserve to be represented in the holiday decor.

So anyhow, I asked about the menorah and was told one is on its way (in other words they forgot and will get one). I thanked this person as they walked past my office. They then proceeded to put a small little Christmas stocking on the desk next to me and walk out . In fact, she’s been in here a couple of times. Would it be wrong now to ask where my dreydel is?

Update 12/6/2002: Yeah. So today this person comes by and asks if it’s still okay to put a menorah out since tonight is the last night (or is it tomorrow?). I pointed out to her that the point is to represent Hanukah, not celebrate it. It’s not Christmas and the tree’s out isn’t it?

I just realized that in the last 30 days five people have quit. FIVE. 5. That’s a lot. Of those 5 I think 3 actually gave 2 week notice. My roommate was the latest one to be lucky enough to find a job somewhere else.

Hopefully the boss will wake up and conditions will improve. I’m actually happy that this is all happening only weeks before my annual review/raise.

The manual was emailed to everyone in the company yesterday at 5pm. Yes, you heard me right; emailed. They didn’t even use a pdf, just a good ole word document. That’s not why I’m here though, let’s talk content.

Nothing you wouldn’t expect from another company. There’s the normal leaglese mixed in that basically boils down to, “If we change this, that’s too bad for you.” Overall though it’s not bad at all. I’m actually going to get an additional vacation day each year (that’s 12 vacation days if anyone’s wondering), and an additional sick day. Overall that’s not too bad. I don’t really like the “To take vacation, employees should request sixty (60) days advance approval from their supervisors.” clause, but that’s been there and not enforced.

Overall, I don’t see anything too bad yet. I need to sit with a printed copy and read through it more carefully though.

On a slightly different although equally sour note, let’s talk about my supervisor. I hesitate to refer to him as my “boss” since he really has no decision making power regarding what I work on. What he does do, is take care of filtering higher level information (payment questions, policy information, etc.) to my boss. Herein lies the problem. He doesn’t do it very well. It’s a sad comment when I need to tell the client, “Yeah, you might want to call him and light a fire under him.” It’s even sadder when a client says, “We never did recieve an answer on the question we sent about X 3 months ago.”

Then there’s the repeating theme of “Here’s my time estimate for the requested work so you can give the client a quote”
Two months later when the client asks about it again, “Can you give me that again?”

Damn I need another job.

Tomorrow the employee handbook comes out. Prepare to be awed by my insightful rants on poor managment practices…

UPDATE: As usual, the company I work for has made a promise and then failed to keep it. No employee handbook. Although we were told it goes into effect tomorrow, so remember…ignorance of the law is no excuse.