Office Vignettes 1

From an internal office memo dated August 16, 2010:

Please note that if you are filing a leave or swapping your shifts, submit the request three weeks before the schedules are released.

Immediate Boss

I met up with the band of brothers sans Cubao Boy last week.  We decided to have a few drinks at my place, even if meant I had to call in to Immediate Boss for a sudden half-day.  It was definitely worth it, since I haven't seen the guys in a long time.

We ended up deciding to explore Man4Boys' childhood haunts over the next weekend.  There was little hitch though: I had work on that day.  That meant I'd either be absent, or find someone I could swap shifts with. Fortunately, an office mate of mine graciously agreed to the exchange.  I told Immediate Boss about the arrangement, and he said he'd inform the HR about it.

A few days later, I followed up my request with Immediate Boss.  Since he was just beside me, I noticed at once that his brows were gathering in a knot.

Uh-oh.

"They said yes to the swap.  Next time, tell me way in advance. I had to exchange a lot of e-mails to get approval," he said curtly.

Oooops.

I ended up giving two mini-packs of Ferrero Rocher as a thank-you token; one to him, and another to my office mate.

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In my idle moments, I take time to talk to the powers that be on the floor.  I usually ask about what they job entails them to do and why they chose to be in that particular department.  These conversations turn out be be very interesting.  I get to learn more about the ins-and-outs of the whole business.  It gives me a clearer perspective on what path to take in terms of career-direction in the company.  It also makes me visible to the higher-ups, too.

It isn't because I need to be all the more visible.  This early, I'm already infamous as they guy who lugs around a whole 1.5 bottle of Coke Zero on the floor.  Whenever I have lunch in the pantry with some of my floor mates I still haven't interacted with, I inevitably get asked the question, "Can you finish up the whole bottle?!"

Of course I can, you silly boys and girls.  Not to mention it gives me some sort of trademark within the office.  Very nifty branding, isn't it?

But I digress.

Being on the radar has its own disadvantages, too.  Remember Department Head I was introduced to by Big Boss?  He's a very gay animated and accommodating guy to converse with.  I never fail to say hi to him whenever I see him on the floor or the smoking area.

However, soon after I hit the floor, he told me across the aisle, "I'm gonna listen to your next call!"  

It's usually the coaches who  just do that; Now, I'd end up being monitored by the coach AND him at the same time. On my third day!

"Make sure it's a quick call a," he said jestingly.

I almost peed in my pants when the screen flashed with an incoming call.

Office Vignettes 2