In interviewing people for our upcoming book, I Hate People!, we uncovered a lot of stories about all the different ways that people in the office environment piss off the people around them. But we realized that being just two guys with audio recorders we couldn't cover that much ground. We want you to share YOUR stories of interoffice grief generated by cubemate, office oafs and client clowns. Here's the place to to do it -- just file your grievance as a comment below!
The cream of the crop may make it to the front page of the blog, and if you're brave enough to include a working email address, we may contact you to send you a free book or other I Hate People! goodies. On the other hand, you're free to stay anonymous and blow off as much steam as possible. Try to stay away from using the names of people and companies involved or, for legal reasons, we may have to edit or excise your grievance.
That caveat in mind, rant away!
Check out some real world workplace horror stories as collected by Inc.com, the online side of Inc. magazine! Such as the boss who used company expenses to get a bulletproof vest and handgun to protect himself after firing half his employees, and the business developers who didn't realize until they showed up for their sales call that Naked City, their potential client, was an office building full of nudists.
http://www.inc.com/multimedia/slideshows/content/horrorstories_pagen_1.html
Posted by: Marc Hershon | May 19, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Why do people always focus on things that aren't their concern? I work in HR at a computer company. The latter isn't important. But I have people who come into my office asking about their fellow employees as if I was their BFF. I just want to scream,'Hello, I'm HR, you idiot!' I HATE PEOPLE!
Posted by: Marsha B. | June 19, 2009 at 09:36 AM
I've always worked for great bosses ... until last October. My new boss pursued me with gusto, wooing me with promises of more money, better hours and a "familial" work environment (He didn't lie about that part. He does remind me of my mother -- you know, the one who asks you, "Are you going to wear that?" with an acid tongue and a stupid smile).
He's a micromanager, yes. Phony, too. But the topper is he does illegal crap and gets away with it.
A few weeks back I asked for an afternoon off. He said yes, but with the tone you might use when finally giving in to your 3-year-old''s demands for candy. So of course I stayed at work.
The next day he called me into what I like to call the "You Know You're in Trouble when (insert name here) 'Invites' You in Here" room. He told me that since I am a single mother, I should use my vacation time more wisely (illegal). "Familial," my single mother, no vacation time ass.
Posted by: K.B. | June 30, 2009 at 06:27 AM
I HATE PEOPLE WHO LOOK THROUGH YOUR STUFF FOR NO REASON. AND THEN THEY USE IT AGAINST YOU. MY SISTER'S BOYFRIEND AND HIS FRIENDS LOOK THROUGH MY PERSONAL AND PRIVATE STUFF AND THEY ALSO TEASE ME ABOUT IT. THEY LAUGH AT ME, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THEIR FACE THAT ITS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!
Posted by: Snooped | August 02, 2009 at 01:22 AM
I went through the ten least wanted and I didn’t see the passive aggressive MBA, CAE that cannot read a financial statement, won’t talk to you face to face or make eye contact, only sends cryptic emails with requests for information needed within 24 hours 15 minutes before you leave for the day, Eyeore, who can’t travel alone, employs their grown children when temps are needed for projects, can’t see the bigger picture for the minutia, sits with their head down/arms or legs crossed in staff meetings who spends their day peppering their direct report with: “Did you do this? Did you do that? Make sure you... Don’t forget to… You should… Before you leave…Copy me… Call them…” oh and how could I forget the periodic crying and walking around barefoot.
No I am not in an insane asylum even though sometimes I feel like I should be pushing a cart dispensing meds.
Posted by: Knatknits | June 22, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Knatknits, thanks for your comment. Sounds like you've got a real winner. Or is it WINNERS? You could be talking about a bunch of different people or just one giant "Combo Platter". As we describe in "I Hate People!", that someone who has qualities of two or more of the Ten Least Wanted.
So let me try to break this one down...
"Passive aggressive" falls under the Smiley Face designation, while being unable to digest a financial statement is real Know It None behavior. The last minute requests for vital info could either be Minute Man territory or Switchblade, if they're trying to set you up to fail.
Someone who can't travel alone sounds like Sheeple to me, and hiring relatives instead of temps is the sort of thing you often see from the FlimFlam-as-boss. Not being able to see the big picture due to drownage in minutia (or manure) is totally Spreadsheet. Defensive body language in meetings is the purview of the Stop Sign, and the barrage of housekeeping questions is, again, very Spreadsheety.
So you've got a five or six-layer Combo Platter there — a real challenge. And you've caught us out on the crying and bare feet elements but we're nothing if not improvisational. Taken by themselves, these are the tools of the Disrupters, and people displaying these two particular traits are hereby dubbed Drama Queen and Caveman, respectively.
— Marc Hershon
Posted by: hershco | June 22, 2010 at 02:50 PM
Being unhappy is like an infectious disease.
It causes people to shrink away from the sufferer.
He soon finds himself alone,miserable and embittered.
There is,however,a cure so simple as to seem,at first glance,ridiculous;if you don't feel happy,pretend to be!
Posted by: coach handbags | June 23, 2010 at 08:15 PM
Being happy is a sort of unexpected dividend. But staying happy is an accomplishment,a triumph of soul and character. It is not selfish to strive for it. It is,indeed,a duty to ourselves and others.
Posted by: coach purses | June 24, 2010 at 01:14 AM