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May 13, 2005

Posted on 05/16/2005 by Alotta Candor
Viewed: 137 times

Dear Alotta,

Please help me. My boss is a complete and utter idiot. I am not talking your average run-of-the-mill horse's behind, but literally, certifiably, a CARD CARRYING idiot. I find it increasingly difficult to work for a man whose only skill seems to be showing up to work each day. I just don’t understand how he got to be the boss and I find myself continually covering for his mistakes. Nobody notices my cover-ups either. The boss never even finds out, his bosses remain impressed with him and it gets me nowhere. My intelligence surpassed his in the fifth grade but somehow he ended up the boss and I ended up picking up the slack. My last boss wasn’t too sharp either so it leaves me to wonder, are all bosses like this? Should I just suck it up and swallow my pride?

- Pissed off in Purgatory

Dear Pissed,

They make cards for idiots?

Let me see if I have this right: you work for an idiot whom you "continually cover" for and you don't understand why the situation continues and he gets ahead. Alotta wonders if they make cards for chumps because she suspects that you might already be "pre-approved".

- Alotta, increduously

Dear Alotta,

I work for a medium sized company, doing IT work. One of my job duties is to support an application that is used for company sales. It's a pretty big application that is used nationwide in a couple of our offices. There are two of us that know how to support the application but I have been here longer and have more experience with fielding any problems. I am getting married and leaving for my honeymoon in a month and a half. My problem came up today when my two bosses called me into an office and told me that while they know "Harry" knows how to support the application they would "expect" that I bring my laptop with me on my honeymoon so that I would be available "if need be". To help their consciences or something, they kept referring to my HONEYMOON as my "little trip". Alotta, they are pushing me hard on this one and I don't see why I have to do this when Harry can do it just fine. I feel they put me on the spot so I tentatively told them I would bring it. I have been stewing so much over this today I feel like I'm ready to tell them to kiss off. What do you say?

- Grumpy Groom

Dear Grumpy,

Well once again, I've encountered alotta crap. Sounds like somebody needs to confiscate the oversized crack pipes in your medium-sized company.

Before you say, "I do" you need to say, "I don't" to your bosses. But before going so far as to quit, you need to talk to them. Explain that you originally felt pressured when you told them that you would help with support on your honeymoon. Tell them that you feel strongly that your honeymoon should be without distraction and that you will make sure Harry is up-to-speed before you go. Be clear and tell them that you understand their concern for support and are sure that they understand your need for an undistracted honeymoon. They're being quite disrespectful in the first place, so if they insist, or threaten you with insubordination, then Alotta would say it's a "quittable offense". However she would insist that you look for a new job after your nuptials, as the company is no doubt paying for your vacation days. The future "Mrs. Grumpy" will thank you for your maturity. Good luck and congratulations!

- Alotta, ardently

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