GolfHos

Last Friday, I got a call from my boss (who works at one of the Battle Cruisers, rather than here on the Death Star), asking me to tell him about my BlackBerry.  (I'm aware that department heads are looking at their budgets right now, trying to trim some fat.  Our BB footprint is not insubstantial: about 25 devices deployed, each running $110 per month.)  So I honestly tell him I use the email aspect a ton.  It's especially useful because I deal a lot with law firms in other countries, where the time zones make it tough to carry on a conversation in real-time.  The BB lets the firm and me wrap up a point of discussion/instruction in 15 minutes that would otherwise stretch over 2-3 days.  I've also done my calls on it, since it's a PITA to come back to the office at 1AM for just a 15-minute call.  But honestly, it isn't critical to my position that I have it -- I can survive without it, although I'd prefer not to.  He then tells me it's being terminated when the contract ends in a few weeks (read: the other shoe dropped).

All-day meeting of senior management today, at which we have lunch ordered in (and we work through it, talking with our mouths full).  I notice we ordered twice the amount of food needed for the ten people in the meeting (sandwiches, sides, chips, drinks, desserts -- the works times 2).  I casually ask the receptionist the order total; $198.62.  She tells me they always do that -- the rest of the sales staff who occupy the floor we meet on "expect" the catered lunch, and she's instructed to order extra for leftovers for the rest of the staff downstairs so the riff-raff don't get too jealous that the upstairs folks get free lunches all the time.

So I have my job made more difficult for me to perform, yet the folks with the highest salaries in the company get free lunches.  One day of which pays for my month of BlackBerry.

 [sm_mob]

HTFU nancy boy.  ;)

Oh, I'm hard all right.  I eat office supplies and *feces* *goshdarn* MEMOS.  And the pages come out STAPLED, bitch.

You know who doesn't need a BlackBerry?  The VP-R&D, who never travels or takes work home.  Or the VP-Regulatory, who never travels or takes work home, and who deals with one outside firm ... in the same time-zone.  Or the CFO, who never travels or takes work home.  Or the sales guys, who always have their cutting-edge laptops with them and never stray from a wifi hotspot.  Or the Technology Director-Textiles, who never travels or takes work home.

Or the "Facilities Manager".  Yes, even our *goshdarn* JANITOR has a BlackBerry.

i was under the impression that "everyone" was losing their toy's. how silly of me. ::) ;)

No, I heard maybe 3 devices are being called in.

I have no need for a Blackberry.

I operate on the following concepts:

* I am not availble 24 hours a days as much as you crackers think I am
* If you need to contact me, do so during Business Hours, that's why it's called Business Hours
* I have a cell phone, fixed line, fax and email. If the fixed line is busy, don't ring the cell phone as I won't answer it because I'm already talking to someone on the fixed line... idiot!!
* You crackers send me at least 100 emails a day, I'm sorry if I can't respond within 3 minutes. Get over it and wait your turn
* I do have to eat lunch at some point. Lunchtime is anytime between 12pm and 2pm. If I don't answer the phone during this period it's more than likely that I'm having lunch
* "Out of Office" email replys are there for one reason only. I'm out of the office. If you can't read the instructions contained in this email reply, then you're a bigger idiot than I gave you credit for

 [sm_devil]

I have to use my own phone and data plan to get email and my calendar synced - I don't do business calls on it unless its short or I cannot get around it.  You have to be Director level or higher to get one paid for by the firm I think.

I'd have the data plan anyway, so I'm fine with the BYO policy.

Wow!  *fiddlesticks*ed up Claven.

Any chance on pulling the receipt for lunch and calling someone on it?

Let's just say that the guy I'd report it to doesn't have the cleanest skirt.

 :o

Damn, that sucks. You should go to officedepot.com and order yourself two cases of HTFU. (on the company credit card, of course)

If my boss were to strip me of my ability (or more specifically my obligation) to conduct work after regular business hours, I'd thank him.

I've never heard the phrase "doesn't have the cleanest skirt" before. 

I don't know what it means but, clean or dirty, I can see the benefit of wearing a skirt when conducting a testicular self-examination.

For the CEO's perspective, let me just say that there is nothing more aggravating than seeing a COST center, like a legal department, one that doesn't contribute a single dime to the bottom line, incur additional unnecessary costs such as blackberry devices and toilet paper in their shared bathroom facilities, in addition to their overpaid salaries. 

At Blader Industries, Inc., my crack team of (excessively compensated) human resources managers--through their  innovative "Don't Commute 'till You Poop" campaign-- raise awareness among our cost center colleagues to be sure to take their bowel movements at home before coming to the One Blader Plaza. 

Sweet then I wouldn't be coming in to work till the crack of noon. 

Oh and I would just buy my own Blackberry.  That's how I roll. 

I can get a second phone on the Verizon family plan for ten bucks.  I have no intention of spending an additional $100 per month so I can send/receive work email on my personal, I'm-paying-for-it cell phone.

Why come people "need" Blackberries for non-work-related email?

When I was at the hospital.  T.C. metros largest health care provider, they we're always losing their ass, and try to save money.  Pissed me off, and I finally had it and left.

They had the CEO earning one million a year(public record) telling me I got to find a way to cut costs.

Cut costs? Cut costs? I said how 'bout you switch to makin' 20 bucks an hour like the rest of us.
I'll cut your your cost.  Assclown.

The straw that went up the camel's ass was some middle management douche came up with the idea that a big waste and potential huge cost saving was office supplies.

"Do you know how much money we spend/waste per year on pens alone?  The get thrown away, take home, etc.  We need to focus more on our resources, and be more conscientious!  So what we are proposing is a pen drive.  Bring in all those pens you took home from work.  We will be placing out collection containers."

Pen drive??  Pen drive??!!

We spend millions on employee compliance after being audited from the state A.G. because you we're committing medicare fraud, and you want to right the ship by bring in Sharpies?


Why do you make a million a year again?

How many pens can you buy for what some *8==>*head bought those collection containers, and his douchebag office staff spent at Kinkos to print up 5,000 fliers for this stoopid ass bull*feces*?


*fudge* you I quit.

Me I don't since I leave my work at work, and am not expected or needed to work at home.  I can check work email on my home computer if I want but rarely do. I would however buy a Blackberry if it saved me from driving into work at odd hours.

please bring your own desk, chair, and computer into work.

I've already brought in my own desk.

 :o

Needed more head room?

I'm starting to get the sneaking suspicion you don't actually work for them. Have you verified your employment recently? If they tell you a payroll glitch is to blame for the fact that you haven't been paid in the last 6 months, suspect the worst.

LOL

Boss:  I'm sorry but we're gonna have to let you go.
Kramer:  But I don't even really work here.
Boss:  I know, that's what makes this so difficult.

paging Art Vandelay

(http://frankschilling.typepad.com/my_weblog/images/2007/06/26/latex_salesman_2.jpg)

I do not pay anything near $100/month.  Looks like $20 under my current plan for the 'data plan' (I do not use a blackberry btw).  And while I do not 'need' it, I certainly would still have it even without the work benefits.  But thats just me, many people would not.  I'm not the norm when it comes to mobile phones - I get the smart phones and use other applications (Internet access, navigation apps, etc.).  Its this style of usage that makes it a no-cost function for me.  For others, it may mean a new, more expensive phone and data plan.