Straight out of "Office Space" we had Hawaiian Shirt day at work last Friday except they called it "Paul's Paradise" (Paul is the first name of our CEO) . His assistant sent out an email the week before letting us know Paul's Paradise was coming blah blah blah and he has "been kind enough" to let us wear "tropical shirts and blouses" on top of our "regular appropriate business attire" to work that day. The e-mail also went on to say that there would be a "feast fit for a hawaiian king or queen". Do you know what they served us????? The "Hawaiian Feast" pizza from Domino's Pizza...you know the one with the pineapple and ham? DOH! On top of it they didn't even have enough to go around and we all got like 1 1/2 slices a piece (who me? bitter?) While we were eating/snacking our beloved Paul himself appeared and gave a little speech about how we, his employees, are like the hawaiians because we're sweet like sugar cane and wacky like macadamia nuts!!! All while standing in a white button down shirt and pin stripe suit pants. No aloha for him I guess. Anyway I guess he meant well, but I can't help feeling like a kindergartener instead of a salesperson who is valued for his work. I went out and bought a flowered shirt and wore the stupid thing to work so I wouldn't look bad but there I stood holding my single slice of rationed pinepple pizza feeling like I was getting madder and madder. I feel somewhat devalued and insulted but I can't put my finger on why. I think that people with power do this type of thing to make you look stupid, keep you under their thumb so to speak under the guise of "doing something nice for the employees". It's not really something nice if people hate it and have to spend money on a stupid shirt and spend the afternoon attacking the vending machine for cheetos because there wasn't enough food to go around and then come home angry and annoyed.
POST A COMMENTSpencer(08/03/2005)
You feel like you're in kindergarten because they're treating you that way. I worked for a woman who would give us trinkets (mag lites, golf balls, decks of cards, candy, mousepads, stickers, etc) as rewards for working long hours or getting a massive project done. I don't want trikets, lady! Show me the money! Or at least treat me like an adult for crying out loud!!!
AZGEM(08/13/2005)
I used to work for Huges Aircraft. I had a stupidvisor just like that. Here we are putting together defense materials for ships and airplanes and we get a lifesavor or bubblegum ball if we are all seated at the appropriate times. She went all out one time and gave us a cookie cause we were good girls and boys. I think she was an old schoolmarm back in her day.
HappyAtLast(08/15/2005)
At my former job, we were always getting "trinkets" at staff meetings as prizes for talking at the meeting. I got a rubber jar opener! Made me want to speak up more often (not).
grenadine(08/15/2005)
Me too. Once they had a contest/extra credit/job requirement. You had to come up with "bright ideas" to save money or do things more efficiently. To inspire us, they gave us all lightbulbs. (big inspiration) The "prize" came when you submitted 5 of these bright ideas. You had to wait to see what the prize was by waiting for someone to get 5 (or getting 5 yourself) They promised it was going to be something really really good that you could use for your "house or your car". We got exctied and tried to each get 5 submitted. That is...until...we found out the prize was a mini keychain maglite. Yes. You read that right.
FormerSalesClerk(08/15/2005)
What's funny is when I viewed this story, the top of the page was FILLED with ads for hawain (sp?) shirts
the confessor(08/16/2005)
I think the content of the story is keyed in with like-minded ads. PLEASE,no one type in a story about Britney Spears!
Spencer(08/16/2005)
LOL! But that may be hard because I am sure there are lots of stories from people who work with her!
Walk the Planks (08/03/2005)
Aloa -- I'm sorry; I couldn't help but laugh. I'm surprised that nobody handed out any leys, but then I guess not. You barely got any pizza. It's so sad :(
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