Working Daze by John Zakour and Scott Roberts for May 02, 2024

" I do all the work" – who needs two syllable words!

My work makes money for you. (That is fewer total syllables than Rita allowed, so I’m going with it.)

I put out fires.

Better coding, writing better programs.

I make you look good

A couple of decades ago, I worked for Xerox. I had a manager come to me and say almost verbatim what Rita said. I told him to let me think and come back in half hour. He left, I got some boxes from supply, packed my personal stuff and walked out, dropping my id card on the guard’s desk. I get a call the next day about why I am not at work, by my ex-manager. I told him that to go somewhere, that if he didn’t know my value, I didn’t need to be there. The next day, I was hired by IBM as a mid-level manager. I get a call from my ex-manager’s manager, telling me that he is no longer with Xerox and please come back. I explained that I couldn’t, because I had a five year contract with IBM.If someone asks you that question, they under value you work with the company and it will cost you money come review time.

“Handle Urgent Requests!” (based on the wall behind him)

Know. Where. Bodies. Are. Buried.

I work here for you.

“I fix your mistakes.” (Well under budget!)

“Repair Bosses’ Errors…”

17 syllables on artist rice paper with duan inkstone, sumi ink, and brush.

Also watch out when a manager wants you to write your own job description…

He fixes problems.

My work makes fatcats rich.

After a massive layoff my position evolved into something new that wasn’t at any other sites. I picked up courses from 3 people who were let go at other sites and taught them everywhere. And then I created a new position creating our own computer-based training that became the standard for the company. After 15 years someone noticed that my position was unique and upper management doesn’t understand unique. So they transferred me back to my old job with the understanding that I’d continue to do my present jobs. But a new supervisor decided that was all gone and I’d have to do only my old job. It didn’t matter that the 2 courses that I taught were necessary job qualifications that no one else did. Or that if the online training crashed people were literally locked out of the plants. So I quit.

“Poisoned your water bottle.”

“Am I allowed to use more words and syllables to inform you of the antidote?”

I carry Rita’s work load

Urgent stuff