My Time Has Come

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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:04 pm

They are making me move out of my office today.

My lovely office, that I got when I first started working here - having almost never had a "real" job (lots of temp work). Suddenly I had a computer that people couldn't look over my shoulder at, a door, and a view.

Today I move to the reception desk. Though I am NOT a receptionist.

It's not in my job description - though I do answer phones.

I work for a market research firm as my day job - we have no one to receive to WARRANT a reception desk. Seriously. Nobody has ever come into our office that didn't already work here. And now I'll be open on all sides....vulnerable to attack.

I am NOT pleased.

Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:15 pm

OMG that seriously sux. Evil or Very Mad

I'm sorry, you have my deepest sympathies. You could chain yourself to the desk & refuse to move. Laughing

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:06 pm

I am just waiting....WAITING for someone to say, "So how's the new desk?" so I can give them my withering glare and say politely, "Well..........it's a reception desk." Then wait a little for it to sink in and say, "....and I'm not a receptionist." and then give them a "do you get it?!" kind of look.

The internet is not yet hooked up, apparently. So I have retreated back to my office. Cords everywhere, things askew. Grr. This has potential to put a serious crick in my baiting, which I would be oh so ticked about.

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:09 pm

So, who is the chimp that is moving into your office? Do you know where they live (yet)?

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:18 pm

^^I don't think he needs to find out where that new guy lives. He could stage a simple haunting of the office. The spirits will not stop until Peanut is restored to his rightful place in his office. A trip to a magic shop/voodoo priest should do the trick.

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:30 pm

Oh I didn't even tell you that part.

NOBODY is moving into my office.

That's right. It will sit vacant, along with several other offices.

They recently reconfigured our office suite (put up a wall here, expanded our kitchen there) and BUILT a reception desk. And since they BUILT one, they figured someone needs to SIT at it.

My official title is "Graphics Specialist". I make all their powerpoints for the analysts and such. However, I also answer the phone (about 6 calls a day. Maybe.) So guess who they put there?

Burns me up.

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:54 pm

That is a TOTAL outrage!!! Evil or Very Mad

I would approach my boss to let him/her know how I felt...& then bait him/her into letting me back into my office.

You have some good arguments for not wanting to be in the reception area. And what happens when/if they hire a receptionist, they get your office?? Plus it makes you feel unappreciated & undervalued that given your experience & contributions to the team, they stuck you out in reception when everyone else gets to stay in their office, blah blah blah. Let them know point blank your career aspirations do not include you being a recptionist and you feel this seriously hinders how your colleagues view you and your capabilities. You should remain professional & dignified tho despite the urge to throw death rays about, so when/if you bring up your dissatisfaction no one can point to your bad attitude about it.

Of course, they will never ever find out about the pins you are sticking in their company portraits in the privacy of your own home. Twisted Evil

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:30 pm

How totally stupid. They have a reception desk therefore someone needs to sit at it? Do they have toilets too? Better watch out or you'll be sitting on one of those all day next.

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:41 pm

Of course they could just hire a shiny new receptionist to sit at the shiny new receptionist's desk. Was that option not considered?

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:46 pm

Well the thing that REALLY boggles my mind is that I don't think there really is enough WORK around here for a receptionist to do.

Nobody comes into our office (those two chairs we have out there will NEVER be sat in).

I order office supplies maybe once a month. Takes me 10 minutes.

We get about 12 calls on the busiest day of the week. And 8 of them are sales calls that go to someone's voice mail.

I sort the mail that comes in....2 minutes of work.

There is my "office manager" work - though I share those jobs with another woman who works here. I ship stuff out via DHL/FedEx. I send out honorarium checks....but these things I wouldn't want to give to some temp or something.

Ech. It's pretty ridiculous. My office will be used for the co-president of the company whenever he's "in town" (he works from home 99% of the time in Michigan).

There are two OTHER offices though. Vacant.

Let's all have a "Pity Poor Peanut Party" Crying or Very sad

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:38 pm

Mr Peanut, would you be a dear and get me some coffee??? Laughing

Man, that sure sucks. They move my desk around often and have had that 'open' feeling to know I much prefer some cubical confines at the min.

Master Baiter Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 126

Seeing as it's not in your job description they should pay you for your normal job and your new job as receptionist..
to ease the pain Wink

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:47 am

Peanut, that sucks! Mad

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:03 pm

Well, they finally made me move. I'm up at the front desk - exposed for all the world to see.

The major problem, as I see it, that my computer screen faces all who walk by - making me feel VERY conspicuous, as I can't see who is behind me at any given time!

But I have outsmarted them.

This morning I installed a webcam, secretly hidden inside a light bulb box that I have set waaay under my desk on top of the PC pointed directly behind me. I keep it trained on the offices and space directly behind my back, and now nobody can sneak up on me.

I keep some important looking document within easy access so I can flip right to it in case the boss wanders over.

Nobody is getting the drop on me!

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:13 pm

Why does Stephen Root's character from "Office Space" spring to mind whenever I read this thread? Laughing

Peanut, you'll be okay... just as long as they don't take your stapler. Wink

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:37 pm

....I'll burn the building down.

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:41 pm

Can't you rearrange your desk set up? I mean they put you out there & you can't even control how you set your desk up? You're not in kindergarten! I'd switch it around so I can see all who are approaching. But i do like the web cam Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:01 pm

Believe me I would LOVE to set it up so I can see everyone who is coming at me - but WHEREVER the monitor goes, it faces the hallway. And it's a permanent "reception area" - not a moveable desk. Sad

Sorta like this:

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=dmyame2l0hn&thumb=4

and here's what I can see on my computer screen:

http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=8zmioympxgs&thumb=4

Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:00 pm

I've just moved office.

Slightly smaller but better shaped desk, new chair, bay window that I can use as an arm's reach storage surface, larger bookcase, carpet on the floor instead of wood, ceiling fan, and best of all...

...a lock on the door to keep the boss out! Very Happy

Can't see the trees anymore through Sad

Oh well, can't have it all. At least not when the company is paying.

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:03 pm

It won't let me open the 2nd link. Evil or Very Mad

You can also get one of those privacy screens for the comp. so now the nosy bitches will only see a black screen unless they are up on you & you would already know b/c of the webcam anyway Twisted Evil

I would hate to sit like that. I don't like my back to anyone like that.

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:07 pm

Dear Callum:

I hate you.

Love,
Peanut.

Wink

I thought about those privacy screens...but they cost about $140 and the angle most people see my screen when walking around the corner is STRAIGHT on - so I think it wouldn't do much for me. Sadly. Good idea though.

I don't know what's going on with that link. It's a simple .jpeg. Check back tomorrow after mediafire has calmed down.

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:30 pm

It's probably my comp. I'm at work forced to use IE Evil or Very Mad

Start plotting your return to your office. Tell your boss you want more responsibility & a raise. If you get it, they can't keep you in the reception area. Are you still allowed to hang out in the old office since it's empty? Do you have a laptop? You could set up the old office like a little retreat, like when you don't want interruptions to get your work done. Then just stay in there most of the day.

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:06 pm

No, they want me out here.

I think it would look odd to be told I'm moving to the desk out front - then continue to work in the old office.

Also - no, no laptop sadly. I'm locked in to this desk.

But c'mon - how secret agent is this webcam?!

It's disguised inside a lightbulb box and looks like a random box under the desk Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:16 pm

Hidden webcam in a box? Keep it up and you'll be recruited by the FBI, Yahoo division in no time. Laughing

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:00 pm

Don't get me wrong, the webcam is ingenious! Just trying to help get you back to your rightful place. Laughing

I can't wait to get home where I can see what you can see.