OK folks, just wanted to stop in from the steamy 'burbs of DC. Hope all are having some happy stitching and a good summer.
So, here's my whine - the most bizarre boss. I took a job about 10 days ago after being phone interviewed, and then in person. Ad was for PT office management, at interview was asked if I'd do full-time as the Exec Assist to owner of this fancy dressage barn/training facility (and a bunch of other businesses), and that they would then hire a pt person to cover some other hours, more clerical stuff. OK. I explain that I can do 40 hrs - their full time is 36 - but that over the next month I do have some appts already scheduled that we'll have to be flexible with. No problem. Gorgeous facility.
Next day - to have "working interview" with the owner - who the woman that spoke with me says "has some particular habits." WARNING, WARNING WILL ROBINSON says the robot. Said position has been empty for 8 months (since last person left for medical - which was replacement for her daughter who left the year before). Go to working interview - which involves hi, here is a task for you - set them up to participate in a show at an expo for home schoolers . OK. I start going thru the folder, and it's a bit unclear what's done. And the owner talks with me about her difficulty relating to people - she seems to insult them a lot but thinks she's just being straight. But, she needs someone "quick" - and is way too busy because her mind is going all the time. OK. Meet new "working student" who will be running education programs (he's going to grad school in the fall - lovely guy from Texas - with long, braids gathered back - trust me this is relevant). This is Thursday - he was hired on Monday. We talk about the expo, get stuff laid out - after 90 min the owner comes in, asks if I'd like to work there, we shake hands on it, and agree to discuss formal details next day. OK. I agree to come in for a few hours to take care of some of the arrangements with the host comp. for the expo. Next day - as I take care, she then tells me that I should work "10-7 Mon-Fri, lunch at 1, and
9-4 on Sat, and some Sundays." Oh, there is no break room (cause she's renting it out as a bedroom to one of the farm laborers - illegally of course) and well, make sure the desk is always clean - and the prior person used to eat in her car. Not likely in 100 degree weather. Hmmmmm. We discuss that things will have to be flexible with the schedule a bit.Next week - my car loses brakes on Tuesday - what fun. So, no work. I call in 30 min early and let her know. The next day when I come to work I get yelled at for having called in an hour after I really did - which I correct. Oh, did I mention - when I called on Wed to say I was en-route (after getting car back and going to doctor) the lovely guy tells me that he was fired that morning. OK. Plus, on Friday - she had yelled at me - calmly - to say that the staff shouldn't actually "talk" to each other during the day
- that is for breaks and personal time off. Always must be "efficient" and working - that is what clients who are "very well set-up' expect. So, it's been a wondrously bizarre week. Culminating with on Friday her telling me (after I toured some potential clients around the space) that she "didn't trust them - he looks like a liar" - yes, she can read faces - because the shape of the jaw tells her these things. Uh, huh. Oh - that morning's highlight - going upstairs to make sure I know how to...shut..the..windows - to be sure they "click" into place. Then on the way down telling me that "she thinks she just doesn't understand why the staff seem not to do things exactly the way she would...maybe it's culture."
Hmmmmm - so after actually seeing her trying to ingratiate herself while clearly ignoring what paying customer was saying (while signing kid up for riding camp), and evidently bothering said customer (trying to get her to adopt a puppy even though customer is scared of dogs - there is a pack roaming - quite nice rescued dogs, but....) I was thinking - don't know how long this will last. The lovely nice guy tells me (everyone sneaks short conversations in whispers when owner is elsewhere) that the boss told the staff that she thought I was a cancer because I was so friendly and they would want to waste time and talk with me in the office. Yup, every time someone was in there for a 5 min talk - of which at least 4 was business - she would then "talk with" all parties involved saying we had wasted an hour.
So yesterday as I'm getting ready to leave I get a call from her that I needn't come in 'cause the camp was all confused (they'd over-enrolled) and she wouldn't be able to oversee me in the office. OK. I send her a note reminding her of my couple of apptmts over the next 2 weeks. At 11 last night I got an e-mail that I shouldn't feel obligated to come to work - and thanks for trying out.
DH decided that her brain works on a dog's clock - 2 minutes = 1/2 hour.
5-10 min = 1 hour. In 6 days of work I have more bizarre incidents - from the leaning over my desk to make sure I'm hitting the right keys to send e-mail, to a stream of "I told you -----" when in fact it was precisely the opposite.So - now for the cultural issue - older woman (late 60s) who left her home country in 82 (after we think burning some bridges with the governing body the sport there as in never going to make the Olympics) and went to Canada. I cannot imagine how you lovely, friendly, more casual even than us Americans, dealt with this woman. That lasted 5 years - when she came to the US - rather than wait to see if she made the 88 Olympic team (has anyone ever heard of being long-listed) to "share her knowledge" with America. Yup, then came to the horsey area here from Michigan just about 10 years ago.
So....one of the training staff says to me she applied for a job at Dover Saddlery (a fabulous horsey store that has a big branch here) - and the manager said "oh, you're the 4th one we've had from there. Big turnover." I'm thinking my ex-boss and family never left the 3rd Reich - yup. Best part - DH asks - did you mention that you speak German. I did mention that my German was getting refreshed (as she spoke in German to the caretaker for her quite elderly mother) and certain phone calls, and to the Arts teacher (also German). Easy to listen to her insulting all the staff in German.
Not unhappy to be "laid off" - just hope I get the $$. Very bizarre experience, but I'll know that you can tell how honest people are by the shape of their jaw and face. Hmmmmm, what do we think she's been reading. Not to mention the little notes made of people's race on the phone log. Lovely.
Whew - this is not my summer for work! So, the application continue while we wait to see if I can go back to the big girl job.
E