New update, after almost 5 years
It’s been literally years since I updated this blog and in fact,
I thought I had shut this down after being accused of logging in at work a few
years ago and I almost got the sack over it. It’s a bit of a story and I am still
a bit peed off about the way I was spoken too.
Where I work is a bit of an odd place, as its all about the business
only, and the people who work there, are nothing but numbers. There is no
culture of gratitude for a job well done, so consequently there is no pride in
the company and literally everyone has a negative opinion about the place. There are no bonuses or incentives, no goals to work to or even feedback, unless you course you make a mistake or do something wrong. It
also means that there is very little communication between people or
departments. However, they are now working to change the whole culture of the
place, which can only be a good thing for all.
So how did I almost loose my job a few years ago?
Well, we got a new guy who was, and still is, updating our website
and improving our online business, and he is doing a terrific job. One of the
first things he did, when he started a few years ago, was to open an internal
intranet communication board called SLACK, which is designed to promote communication,
teamwork and for me, a culture of belonging and community, where we could
all talk to each other or leave posts, comments and suggestions.
We all got an
email and we were asked to post photos, stories, jokes or
really anything that would just get us talking to each other. I thought this
was a fantastic idea and despite being told by more than a few people who have
worked here, way longer than me "this is only there to get people in trouble"
and I was advised to keep well away from it.
I believe or should I say, I believed, that you should throw yourself
into things and give it 100% as I could see what this new forum could bring
to everyone in the company. To me, this new SLACK forum, could only ever be a
good thing which we could all build on, and we could all start feeling we were
part of the company and not just a number.
So, like a fool, I took the bait, hook line and sinker.
It was a nice sunny
day and a lot of people in the office were sneezing with hay fever. So, when it
was less busy, I downloaded a funny inoffensive photo from my blog, of Rocky
the boxer dog licking his face and nose. (didn’t log in to the blog) I did this
as I thought it would be something everyone would chuckle about and bring a positive
smile to everyone. Here is the photo below. As you can see, there is nothing
offensive about the photo at all.
So, I posted the photo and thought nothing more about it. Until
I was called up to the office by one of the managers and my supervisor. I was
told I had made a few mistakes (which I did) as it is very easy to add the wrong
product or delivery code or even number of products. Now I always would
rather know what mistakes I make so I can rectify them and try not to let it
happen again also, everyone makes almost the same mistake due to our system and how we work. I got to be honest, three years later, it sometimes still happens,
and it happens to, customer service, reps and customers alike.
So that was grand, as I had something to work towards or a
goal at least. I would always take these things and work towards a positive.
BUT then, the atmosphere changed and the tone turned really serious as my supervisor
then said in a not so nice and an accusing way “ OK these are just mistakes, but
that's nothing to what you did. The worst thing you have ever done and there can be no excuse for it,
you logged into your blog using work computers during working time, which goes totally against company policy”. Honestly, its
hard to put into words the way I was spoken to, and it was almost like I was
being accused of theft or murder. Imagine watching cop shows and the crook in
the interview room, being accused of a crime, well that is what it was like. I felt highly insulted and shocked, considering that
one of the managers used to regularly check the football and sports on the sky
news website and almost everyone uses it to check local and national news.
I took a deep breath and looked at the them both, manager
and supervisor. As they looked down at me like I was a piece of scum, or a criminal
they were going execute. I could almost imagine them both holding a hangman’s rope,
with the noose, ready to go around my neck, to be strung up, tried and sentenced for execution.
So how come I am still here, two or three years later? It was obvious from the way I was talked too;
I was going to be sacked, as I was told, it was the worst thing I have ever
done.
What did I do? What did I say? How did I get a stay of execution?
This is what I did.
I started to laugh, I looked at them both and started to
laugh. I said, “just give me a minute, I just don’t want to laugh too much” Of
course I was being sarcastic, but I was also being humorous. (I feel sarcasm
can be very insulting, but bringing some humor into it, kind of neutralized the situation).
I said to them both, “just give me a minute”. I took another breath and told
them the truth, 100% the truth.
I said “first of all, I did not log into my blog”
which I didn’t. I said “what I did do however, in the interest of
participation, in the spirit of sharing and also doing as we were all asked to do. I downloaded
a funny photo that would hopefully cheer people up, create a buzz and attempt to
foster a good atmosphere that we can all work in. It was a gesture of openness that
would hopefully make a positive impact, as small as it may be”
At this, both of them looked at each other in what I thought
at the time was, shock and also relief. And at that. almost as if someone had
turned off a switch, the grim atmosphere dissipated to nothing.
OK, it is true that I am still a little peed off about how I
was spoken too, but I can, too a degree understand that they must off thought I
was just surfing the web, instead of doing my work. Yes, it is true that I felt and still feel
insulted that they did not trust my character, but at the same time, my inbound calls and sales
were way lower than anyone else on the floor. I later found out a good while
after, my outbound calls, of which I was the only one doing outbound calls at
the time, were never taken into any consideration. Talking to my supervisor a
year after that, I got the impression she wasn’t aware I was doing so many outbound
calls and had no idea how much time they took. I used to have a long list of needles outbound
calls, that were a complete waist, and it was only when I said this to one of
the managers, did the manager say to me that they had already discussed this
and I can start cutting the calls to customers who do not buy. In fairness,
they could have just said this too me and it would have saved so much
time doing unnecessary calls. See, that’s a prime example of the lack of communication
within the company.
Apart from the way I was talked to by my supervisor, and also the lack of trust, the
thing that really peed me off more than anything else, and to a degree still
does, is the fact that my colleagues warned me not to go near this new Slack
forum, as it is only going to be used to get people in trouble. How right they were.
Hopefully things have changed in my job, and it seems that
they are now trying to create a better culture in the place, and make it a
better, more fulfilling and maybe rewarding job for everyone.
I am very lucky
as I really do like the customers and my work colleagues, but to be honest. this is the only
thing that keeps me there. These two things are really the only positives in
the place, but maybe, just maybe, that will change in the near future.
Enough ranting about work, the reason I am updating this
blog now is because a few weeks ago I was doing a google search on Viking
shields (I am making a new shield and I am looking for some design ideas )
Anyway, when doing a google image search, I kept finding images of my shields
and when I clicked on one of the images, it brought me to my old blog. So, when
I logged back in, I checked the stats and could see that I get quite a lot of
traffic every day, and from all over the world. It turns out that
people use my blog as reference for building Viking shields. I had no idea
that there are so many people building shields, and no idea they were
using my blog to do so.
So, I think it may be time to bring my blog back to life
again.
If you followed my blog in the past, you will know it was
something I used as a coping mechanism when unemployed. I had time to do the odd art project, which
was great, but not having a job, sucks the life out of you.
Since being back at work (almost 5 years now) I haven’t done
very many art projects and no painting or drawing., but I do hope to change
that.
I did however make a Viking inspired chest, so I will get my
photos together and post them in the next few weeks.
Also, I will be posting a few more poems that I wrote a few
years ago.
So, till next time, thank you for reading my blog and please leave
a comment if you wish.
