Haha, yeah, being a bit of a dick definitely gets you ahead in most jobs. But only really if you are a dick when it comes to work, being a laid-back dude outside work matters is extremely important too.

I hate it when people try to impose some sort of bizarro responsibility or corporate culture on me. To give a (stupid) example: in my previous job, I always walked in a few minutes before 9 AM. After a while, one of the supervisors was making this joking-but-not-really remark at how it took a good 10 minutes to get set up every morning so I should try to come in quarter to 9 instead every day. I told him, sure, but then I'm gonna stop working at quarter to 6 PM (instead of 6) every day too; in order to shut down the pc, clean my desk, get my stuff and walk out the door in time.

It's not even that I mind doing overtime - I usually don't. But I don't need people treating me like I'm 6 years old. Another example: I'm a college graduate and a civil servant. With my degree I have access to A-lvl jobs, the highest pay scale. However, I'm currently in a B-lvl job (bachelor lvl). Now, people around me often go "can't you take this or that up" or "we were kind of expecting you to support the boss in these matters because you've got this degree" and blabla. I always tell them that the moment I get paid as an A lvl, I'll gladly take up their duties. But fuck if I'm gonna bend over backwards for my current pay.

That soudns like a fairly healthy outlook Ox. I'll raise a glass to that

hear hear, i'll have a vodka and red bull to that tonight.

It's very important to separate your work and real lives. A lot of people seem to forget that or even expect your private life to revolve around your work. Screw that.

Most people I work with are surprised how nice and laid back I am outside of work. They just know me as this total dick. It's ok, I've moderated myself some. At least I don't totally chew people out any more for asking stupid questions.

btw, as promised I had a red bull and vodka on Friday night. And another. And another. And another. And another. I ended up fully clothed and passed out on the living room floor.



So, beware, that stuff'll sneak up on you.

Hmm...
http://www.ridgewoodsoils.com/pavers/pavers.htm

Mmh...

don't worry, my chosen nickname has no foundation in popular culture/reality...there's a personal history behind it.

this is awesome. a white bread wrist wrest.



http://toys.brando.com.hk/prod_detail.php?prod_id=00376

I am the one who told Satis what "satis" means. He wasn't less surprised.

However, I don't do that stuff on purpose. I am just curious to see what will come up when I type it.

well, I had to sign my yearly employee handbook. Pulled out a few gems. Please note that at the beginning there's a legal disclaimer basically saying the whole handbook isn't legal enforceable.

Be healthy; no smoking -
I love how a company can tell you not to do something that's perfectly legal.
Outside employment requires explicit approval from the [Company] CEO
Any employee who is charged with a crime while employed with [Company] must notify [Company] Human Resources immediately
They want to know if I have VD too? How about when I'm on my period?
[Company] permits the employment of relatives so long as such employment does not create actual or perceived conflicts of interest, a direct reporting relationship, or working in the same department with other relatives
Except our CEO is the father of the head of our IT department.
When an employee leaves the company, we do not pay for unused PTO days. This policy will be varied to comply with applicable state laws (e.g., California).
So when you want to quit, just take your vacation and never come back.
Inappropriate displays of anger are not acceptable.
Lols
Alcohol at a corporate function must be approved by a member of our executive team. No [Company] employee should ever drink excessively at a company function. Excessive use of alcohol can be dangerous and is not appropriate at any [Company] sponsored event, dinner, or where [Company] is paying for the alcohol.
double lols...especially when they're paying! Alcohol is expensive!
[Company] may tax employees’ health benefit premiums if they continue to smoke.
Smoking/tobacco breaks should not interfere with an employee doing their work. A smoking/tobacco break is not a guaranteed right.
More anti-smoker discrimination
Employees should have no expectation of privacy when using [Company] communications or network systems.
Funny since this has already gone to court and the employee DOES have an expectation of privacy.

Anyway, blah.

My own host (not ISP) detect my IP as Saudi Arabia in statistics. The both (ISP, host) are stated in Sofia, Bulgaria. The IP is of course bound to the same location. It's for real.

Lol @ company guidelines.

I don't know about US labor law - I imagine it's a little looser on employee protection side - but some of the shit in there does indeed sound completely illegal.

At my last job, there was a similar thing: they offered a one-time bonus of a month's salary once you signed up if you came from abroad; ie a relocation bonus. Now, you have to sign an agreement that says that you'll pay back that money to the company should you leave within a year.

I checked with some Czech colleagues, and they all said the same: if you take it to court, you'd win the case hands-down. A company can't force you to pay back money they gave you (well, as long as it was in honest and legal conscience, obviously, not by accidentally depositing 2 grand on your account).

Actually, I turned down a promotion while I was there because of a similar scheme. They were looking for people who could speak French as well as Dutch and I applied...they offered me an upwards move of one 'grade' with a small salary raise. But, and here's the catch, we would have had to spend 6 weeks or so for "process shadowing" in Brussels first.

They considered it to be "training" and basically said that we'd have to pay back up to a certain fixed sum if we were to leave the company within a year. I was like...yeah...no way. Either I get a contract without any stupid conditions like that or I'm not signing. They left me in limbo for like 2 months, with my co-workers assuming that I'd leave them and transferring my tasks to other people in the company. Then ONE DAY BEFORE THE PROJECT STARTED they called us in and told us about the final conditions (which were more lenient but still crap) and that we had to "take it or leave it".

I told them to shove their promotion up their ass, and that I had said from DAY ONE that I wasn't going to repay them a dime, so that I didn't appreciate them waiting so long with this and giving me an ultimatum. My boss was there, and she was like "But X, that means you're leaving the company?!" I was like "Erh..what? No, I'm just gonna stay where I am" (ie the job everybody assumed I was leaving).

Maybe I need to relax a little on my principles, but hey. I don't appreciate being fucked with. As for the conditions...again, you could fight them in court. I never ASKED to be sent out on job-training, the company WANTS me to. So I don't see how I should pay anything back. But starting a lawsuit against a big corporation in a country with a huge bueaucracy and a language barrier is just too much trouble for a little bit of money (in comparison).

Don't relax your principles.

As I was told in the Army, integrity is like virginity. Once you lose it there's no way to get it back.

Anyway, I agree. I wouldn't take a promotion if it had any stupid provisions.

It reads approx. "Mean the shit."



Coca-Cola cult?



It reads approx. "Except for the needs of graveyard inhabitants"



Far sight, Mr?



Um... ok?

Proof that reality is often still stranger than fiction:

http://www.popcrunch.com/george-bush-shoe-video/

GWB avoids them like a pro!