The Job From Hell

How Not to Handle Inventory

2011-04-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

For 2 weeks, I have been repeating to the manager and the boss that we were running out of a crucial item that we sell many times daily and that is needed to sell other items. Only they can order the item, but they have been just nodding but taking no action. Today we finally ran out of the item and suddenly the boss was in a big panic because we are out and customers were complaining and demanding to know when it would be back in stock! I am glad I am off for 2 days so that I won't have to constantly explain to customers all day that we don't have their crucial item. Of course, every day I have to explain to customers that we are out of dozens of important items for them, some we have been out of for 6 months or more, because the boss feels he would rather spend his money on new items instead of those that customers come in for, because new items 'create excitement.'

New Rule Means Nothing to Do

2011-04-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a slow day. The boss and the manager were both gone, which normally I would say is a good thing. Except the latest rule is that we can't do any work without specifically being assigned to it by the boss or the manager. Since neither were there, once we finished our old assignments, we had nothing to do. It doesn't matter that most of us have done this same work hundreds of times with no problems and that the boss will IMMEDIATELY forget who he assigned to work to anyway because he just is not capable of remembering much of anything.

The real reason for this new rule is that the boss has always had a big problem with paperwork, either paying invoices twice or not paying them at all. He loses them on his end, but in his mind, it must be our fault, so he is trying to fix the problem by making a lot of rules that will not fix the problem.

However, as far as rules go, this one is not very bad for me, although it is somewhat irritating to see work sitting there undone, and not be allowed to do it. I think in the past, this would have bothered me more, but since working here, I have learned to not care too much about things.

Lies and Distrust

2011-04-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

Today, the big boss mentioned in passing that the manager has been complaining about me, but he would not say about what. This comment of his is hard to interpret. I know that the big boss could be lieing about this. I know that he likes to sow dissension among the ranks, pitting one employee against another by spreading lies and distrust, or like telling one person in private to do one thing and another person in private to do the exact opposite. So this could by why he said this, just to screw with my head.

But on the other hand, now that the manager probably realizes that I know he is a player and a lier, he may be making a move to undermine me with the big boss. You would think I would be more worried about this, but ironically, if the manager attempts to undermine me, it may actually be to my benefit.

The big boss loves it when employees squabble amongst each other but are nice to him. Historically, most employees like the manager best because of the manager's vastly superior schmoozing and seduction skills. The boss, who also is a game player, but not nearly as good of one, is often frustrated and jealous of the manager's superior psychological skills.

Thus the boss may in fact end up liking me more if he thinks the manager does not like me or if he thinks I do not like the manager. Because the boss has long since realized that I am a very good worker and effective and I bring in money for him. That's all he really cares about, that and how much boot licking I do towards the boss. Luckily, I am good at the money making part because my skills in the boot licking department are still lacking. But the boss does not care if I get along with my coworkers or not. In fact, I think it would like it if I did not.

In support of this theory, later today the big boss even took me out for a free coffee at a nearby coffee shop for the first time ever. He even paid for my coffee and said I could do this while on the clock! For an inherently stingy boss, this is significant. I am not sure if I should be happy about this apparent increase in his favoritism of me or if it will in actuality just turn out to be an even more intense version of hell up close and personal with me now being even more drawn into his mind games. Probably the latter. One thing about hell is that around ever turn is just more hell. The more the scenery changes, the more it stays the same.

Introduction to Hell

2011-04-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Today was the 2nd day for our new employee. I'll call her Angie. So far, the boss has been nice to her. If he follows his usual routine, he'll be nice to her for about 2 months, giving her plenty of hours on her schedule, promising her vacation pay, speaking politely to her, etc.

Then the hell will begin to emerge. He will look for her flaws and nag on her about them. "Why can't you be more like soandso?" he will say. At times, he will become moody and yell and threaten her for some minuscule imperfection, like maybe she will forget to get the full name of someone who called on the phone. Or maybe she will not know to write the message on the one and only exact kind of paper that he will only accept messages on. "Do not hand me scraps of paper! I don't like scraps of paper!" he will scream! Or maybe she will not pick up the phone fast enough for his liking and so she will get a long drawn out lecture about the importance of picking up the phone and how he will have to cut hours if employees cannot learn to comply.

Meanwhile, during those 2 months, the manager, one position under the boss, will be positioning himself with her as well. He will have also been very friendly with her for the last 2 months. He will have been talking with her, learning her personality, pretending to be her friend, learning her secrets and weaknesses, etc. All the better to manipulate her with.

That way, when the big boss's behavior begins to deteriorate, and she realizes that he is a jerk, she will naturally run to the manager for help. At which time, the manager will sympathize with her and pretend that he will help her.

Unfortunately, this will all be an act on his part. If the manager follows his typical pattern, then he will lie to her and slowly hint about how his wife does not care about him, doesn't pay attention to him, how he has to do all the work at home and she does nothing but spend his money, etc. As time passes, he will have been telling Angie stories meant to demonstrate what a nice and caring guy he is and how he tries to help but everyone takes advantage of him. If she is anything like the other pretty girls, she will fall for it and fall right into his trap. The manager is only average in appearance but he knows exactly how to speak to a woman, how to act around her, and how to seduce her.

You would think this trap would be obvious, but the manager is a very good con artist and he has been perfecting his technique probably for most of his life. He makes you feel special and unique. He says things that make you feel good about yourself and good about him. His technique is very effective. All the girls I have seen him target, which are all the girls that are either mildly or majorly good looking, have fallen for it. Every single one. Even me.