Small Town office dilemma

[Gugny]

[Guffalo]

On 1/8/2020 at 10:25 PM, Gugny said:

 

Catholic?

Charming

[DC Tom]

28 minutes ago, Guffalo said:

Charming

 

"Comely."

 

It's a great word for insulting women: it sounds like "homely," so they get pissed off, but it means pretty much the opposite.

[That's No Moon]

On 1/8/2020 at 10:12 PM, WotAGuy said:

Walk up to her and get about two inches from her face and call her the c-word. Women generally hate that. She won’t be back. 

Or you could try imagining that she was your grandmother, decide how you would like someone else to treat her in a similar situation and then do that.

[UConn James]

As someone who is on the autism spectrum, I would say that if a developmental disability  is a possibility here, you need to be very direct in saying that everyone in the office needs to be doing their jobs and really do not have time to talk. If you want to deflect blame from yourself, you can possibly say that the corporate / head office has noticed on security cameras that ... blah blah blah productivity blah blah blah and I’ve been told that blah blah blah and that if it doesn’t stop everyone in the office is going to get in trouble. Passing the buck up the ladder takes the blame off of y’all and puts it on a faceless entity.

 

But please do recognize that this might come as another hit to what may be a limited social life and a history of ostracization. Does she have family members in town that you could talk with to explain the situation so that they can then further explain and enforce it with her? Are there any local or regional activity groups or volunteering (e.g. senior care facility, if she likes to talk so much) that you could point her to and maybe follow up on her involvement in? 

[BringBackFergy]

4 hours ago, UConn James said:

As someone who is on the autism spectrum, I would say that if a developmental disability  is a possibility here, you need to be very direct in saying that everyone in the office needs to be doing their jobs and really do not have time to talk. If you want to deflect blame from yourself, you can possibly say that the corporate / head office has noticed on security cameras that ... blah blah blah productivity blah blah blah and I’ve been told that blah blah blah and that if it doesn’t stop everyone in the office is going to get in trouble. Passing the buck up the ladder takes the blame off of y’all and puts it on a faceless entity.

 

But please do recognize that this might come as another hit to what may be a limited social life and a history of ostracization. Does she have family members in town that you could talk with to explain the situation so that they can then further explain and enforce it with her? Are there any local or regional activity groups or volunteering (e.g. senior care facility, if she likes to talk so much) that you could point her to and maybe follow up on her involvement in? 

She is definitely on the scale somehow. That’s why I feel bad about coming right out and saying “we’re too busy for you”. As Gugny said above, I will probably take the middle ground and ask her to take a seat for a few minutes while we finish some things up, then let her talk after that for 5-10 mins, then tell her we have to get back to work on an emergency file. Trying to handle it with kid gloves to some extent. 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

On 1/11/2020 at 3:44 PM, BringBackFergy said:

She is definitely on the scale somehow. That’s why I feel bad about coming right out and saying “we’re too busy for you”. As Gugny said above, I will probably take the middle ground and ask her to take a seat for a few minutes while we finish some things up, then let her talk after that for 5-10 mins, then tell her we have to get back to work on an emergency file. Trying to handle it with kid gloves to some extent. 

 

You’re going to grope her with children’s gloves on?  Brilliant!!

[KD in CA]

On 1/11/2020 at 12:44 PM, BringBackFergy said:

She is definitely on the scale somehow. That’s why I feel bad about coming right out and saying “we’re too busy for you”. As Gugny said above, I will probably take the middle ground and ask her to take a seat for a few minutes while we finish some things up, then let her talk after that for 5-10 mins, then tell her we have to get back to work on an emergency file. Trying to handle it with kid gloves to some extent. 

 

Better yet, give her a job.  Put her in a room with the Pensky file.  Ask her to see what she can do with it.  When she fails, tell her she's not Pensky material and that she's fired.

[apuszczalowski]

42 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

You’re going to grope her with children’s gloves on?  Brilliant!!

If the glove don't fit, you must acquit! 

[Gray Beard]

On 1/11/2020 at 3:44 PM, BringBackFergy said:

She is definitely on the scale somehow. That’s why I feel bad about coming right out and saying “we’re too busy for you”. As Gugny said above, I will probably take the middle ground and ask her to take a seat for a few minutes while we finish some things up, then let her talk after that for 5-10 mins, then tell her we have to get back to work on an emergency file. Trying to handle it with kid gloves to some extent. 

I believe the proper terminology is your entire staff is needed at a “High Level Business Meeting”

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

Any updates on this?

[Formerly Allan in MD]

If your secretaries are good looking, replace them.

[BringBackFergy]

On 1/20/2020 at 5:21 PM, ICanSleepWhenI'mDead said:

Any updates on this?

I was out of town Friday through Monday. I assume she made her visit and I would guess it was in the 10-15 minute range judging by the 1/2 pile of work still untouched. 
 

Yesterday was “Oh Fergy is back...I need an appointment this morning” and return emails and calls. I could have used a visit from Town Crier friend. Would have been a nice break. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

On 1/20/2020 at 5:21 PM, ICanSleepWhenI'mDead said:

Any updates on this?

 

LOL 

someone has frequented the UFO on the ocean floor thread 

7 hours ago, BringBackFergy said:

I was out of town Friday through Monday. I assume she made her visit and I would guess it was in the 10-15 minute range judging by the 1/2 pile of work still untouched. 
 

Yesterday was “Oh Fergy is back...I need an appointment this morning” and return emails and calls. I could have used a visit from Town Crier friend. Would have been a nice break. 

 

This weeks door sign 

 

 

I just returned from China.   

 

Enter at your own risk 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Any Update on this?

 

I heard that she's been MIA for the last week.

 

Have you sent out a search party @BringBackFergy ????

[Hapless Bills Fan]

On 1/11/2020 at 2:44 PM, BringBackFergy said:

She is definitely on the scale somehow. That’s why I feel bad about coming right out and saying “we’re too busy for you”. As Gugny said above, I will probably take the middle ground and ask her to take a seat for a few minutes while we finish some things up, then let her talk after that for 5-10 mins, then tell her we have to get back to work on an emergency file. Trying to handle it with kid gloves to some extent. 

 

This might be totally cray-cray but she sounds like someone who is starving for social interaction and purpose.

Is there any way that you could harness this?

 

Say you ask her if she would be willing to pick up lunch for you and your staff at a sandwich shop every day, in exchange for a sandwich.  She shows up, you greet her happily saying "great, we're starving! here's the order!"  She brings the sandwiches (your secretaries could call in the order if need be to get it right), you eat and chat in the normal duration of lunch, then you tell her you have some urgent, all-hands-on-deck business so thank you so much for her help which will let you all return to work full go, see you tomorrow!

 

Just brainstorming a different approach - could be a poor idea for 1000's of different reasons.

 

 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

According to Fregy his town is soooo small he can yell food orders out the front door and have the food delivered by a Laundry line on a pulley system 

 

[LeviF]

4 minutes ago, SlimShady'sGhost said:

According to Fregy his town is soooo small he can yell food orders out the front door and have the food delivered by a Laundry line on a pulley system 

 

 

I've been there.  They haven't heard of pulleys yet.

[BringBackFergy]

3 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

This might be totally cray-cray but she sounds like someone who is starving for social interaction and purpose.

Is there any way that you could harness this?

 

Say you ask her if she would be willing to pick up lunch for you and your staff at a sandwich shop every day, in exchange for a sandwich.  She shows up, you greet her happily saying "great, we're starving! here's the order!"  She brings the sandwiches (your secretaries could call in the order if need be to get it right), you eat and chat in the normal duration of lunch, then you tell her you have some urgent, all-hands-on-deck business so thank you so much for her help which will let you all return to work full go, see you tomorrow!

 

Just brainstorming a different approach - could be a poor idea for 1000's of different reasons.

 

 

Food is always a good payoff!!

[Gugny]

3 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

This might be totally cray-cray but she sounds like someone who is starving for social interaction and purpose.

Is there any way that you could harness this?

 

Say you ask her if she would be willing to pick up lunch for you and your staff at a sandwich shop every day, in exchange for a sandwich.  She shows up, you greet her happily saying "great, we're starving! here's the order!"  She brings the sandwiches (your secretaries could call in the order if need be to get it right), you eat and chat in the normal duration of lunch, then you tell her you have some urgent, all-hands-on-deck business so thank you so much for her help which will let you all return to work full go, see you tomorrow!

 

Just brainstorming a different approach - could be a poor idea for 1000's of different reasons.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, BringBackFergy said:

Food is always a good payoff!!

 

I like this approach.  But I still think it's important to be honest and set expectations.  "Okay, Karen … now that lunch is over, we need to get some work done.  See ya tomorrow!!"  That should be the consistent message.  Normal course of business, rather than a fake emergency.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

hell man,  just tell her to bring lunch for the crew and y'all can talk during lunch 

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

I have no life, so I need an update on the Small Town office dilemma.

[BringBackFergy]

3 hours ago, ICanSleepWhenI'mDead said:

I have no life, so I need an update on the Small Town office dilemma.

LOL. She has been in several times since last update. She takes a comfortable seat next to the staff and talks while they work. I think she actually enjoys telling her stories about what is happening in town while my assistants go about their tasks and give the occasional “uh huh” and “oh really”. I walk into the foyer and she just keeps talking. Yeah, I’m not very intimidating. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

It is so wonderful to finally see Fergy come around and realize the value that interacting with others can bring.  Pushing boilerplate documents around all day can get pretty stressful and tiring... And very boring.  Glad he didn't use one of his cease and desist letters on that poor sweet lady.  I bet she tells wonderful stories... I like people like that.  Real talkers in an otherwise unoriginal existence.

[Guffalo]

Why do I get the image of Aunt Bea wandering along the streets of Mayberry stopping in various places while Fergy is the Andy Griffith of the story. You need a Barney Fife to put this woman in her place. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

2 hours ago, Guffalo said:

Why do I get the image of Aunt Bea wandering along the streets of Mayberry stopping in various places while Fergy is the Andy Griffith of the story. You need a Barney Fife to put this woman in her place. 

Agreed.  Nip it in the bud.  (Although that moment has long since gone.)

[Cripple Creek]

12 hours ago, BringBackFergy said:

LOL. She has been in several times since last update. She takes a comfortable seat next to the staff and talks while they work. I think she actually enjoys telling her stories about what is happening in town while my assistants go about their tasks and give the occasional “uh huh” and “oh really”. I walk into the foyer and she just keeps talking. Yeah, I’m not very intimidating. 

Remove the comfortable seat.

[Another Fan]

12 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

It is so wonderful to finally see Fergy come around and realize the value that interacting with others can bring.  Pushing boilerplate documents around all day can get pretty stressful and tiring... And very boring.  Glad he didn't use one of his cease and desist letters on that poor sweet lady.  I bet she tells wonderful stories... I like people like that.  Real talkers in an otherwise unoriginal existence.

Lol, one way to look at it

 

Corporations keep suppressing individuality more and more 

[/dev/null]

Try to steer the conversation to politics and figure out if she's a Republican or Democrat.

If she's a Republican, sprinkle some pictures of Obama around the office.  If she's a Democrat, sprinkle some pictures of Trump and maybe a strategically placed MAGA hat.

[BringBackFergy]

26 minutes ago, Cripple Creek said:

Remove the comfortable seat.

Where will paying clients sit?

[Cripple Creek]

28 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said:

Where will paying clients sit?

Shouldn't that be the inner sanctum? 

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 hour ago, Another Fan said:

Lol, one way to look at it

 

Corporations keep suppressing individuality more and more 

Worker production is about 8% higher than stagnant wages at this current time in the US.

 

@BringBackFergy gets 50% more worker production.  @Gugny gets 90% over his slave wages and he as a "leader of people" still doesn't think that is good enough!  Fergy is coming around, hid secretarial staff production is lower than Head Junta Gug, but he can live with the 50% higher production over the pittance he offers.

 

Oh... Those two will think they can take these shoutouts and run roughshod over me... But, no sirree!  Even as a gov't worker my wages are still lower than my output... Hard to believe and crazy, right...

 

#TheTruthHurtz

#BeKind2Vagrants

#GovtWorkersCleanUpPrivateIndustriesMesses

#FreeTheCarp

 

 

 

 

[Augie]

On 1/11/2020 at 3:44 PM, BringBackFergy said:

She is definitely on the scale somehow. That’s why I feel bad about coming right out and saying “we’re too busy for you”. As Gugny said above, I will probably take the middle ground and ask her to take a seat for a few minutes while we finish some things up, then let her talk after that for 5-10 mins, then tell her we have to get back to work on an emergency file. Trying to handle it with kid gloves to some extent. 

 

Let this work FOR you! Let her cater lunch every day. Lunch is over - back to work!  

 

This sounds like a real thing for you. Mrs Augie and I had this conversation just yesterday. Where did all this ADHD and autism stuff come from? I don’t remember this as a kid. Did I not notice, or is it exploding? Way back when, we just all grew up at different rates.

 

The girl up the road who probably had 1600 on the SAT and went to law school AND medical school (for fun) walked by our place headed for the pool....already wearing both her flippers and her mask. 

 

Are things really that different, or do we just label it more? 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

On 1/7/2020 at 12:22 PM, DC Tom said:

 

Find out where she lives, show up at her home every evening for half an hour and talk her ear off.

 

she probably would love it.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2020 by Buffalo Barbarian

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Snipe her

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

4 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

she probably would love it.

 

 

 

 

 

*Considering if she's homeless...

Hopefully, it makes:

@BringBackFergy , feel like a bigger heel than he already is with her.  But... He's coming around to accept what part she plays in Small Town, U.S.A.  Hopefully, the enlightened ones in this thread, like others and myself, have shown Mr.Ferguson, Esq. the "light."

 

Gotta hand it to him... First step to resolving a personal flaw is to seek help and admit to that flaw, and that this thread does achieve!

 

*[Thank You Fergy, that will another billable 1 hour of my services.  I will take my fee for service at the end of each month].

[Another Fan]

8 hours ago, Augie said:

 

 

Are things really that different, or do we just label it more? 

I tend to wonder this a lot as well.  Environmental factors at play or just diagnosis has gotten so sophisticated over the years to pin point everyone’s quirks?

 

Its funny though when I read on historical figures like Einstein for example.  Apparently he’s had every mental disorder possible.  Kids with Aspergers can claim they have Einstein. ?

 

Whatever helps with confidence I say 

[Beerball]

10 minutes ago, mayalison said:

I relate to this so much. I have a small business, small team. Spent a great deal of time looking for a cozy small office

Do you kick the elderly out of your office because they "smell funny" like the OP does?

 

[BringBackFergy]

1 hour ago, Beerball said:

Do you kick the elderly out of your office because they "smell funny" like the OP does?

 

I do not!! I love the elderly. This particular person has looked at my door every day during and since the pandemic waiting for me to take the “No Walk In Appointments. Sorry” sign down. I took it down for a day, she came in, and the staff asked me to put another sign up right away. I feel rotten. 

[Just Jack]

On 2/16/2020 at 11:46 PM, BringBackFergy said:

LOL. She has been in several times since last update. She takes a comfortable seat next to the staff and talks while they work. I think she actually enjoys telling her stories about what is happening in town while my assistants go about their tasks and give the occasional “uh huh” and “oh really”. I walk into the foyer and she just keeps talking. Yeah, I’m not very intimidating. 

 

Read this article, then do the opposite of everything they recommend.

 

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SETTING UP A WAITING ROOM

 

 

On 2/18/2020 at 12:04 AM, Augie said:

Where did all this ADHD and autism stuff come from? I don’t remember this as a kid. Did I not notice, or is it exploding? Way back when, we just all grew up at different rates.

...

Are things really that different, or do we just label it more? 

 

We adapted our behavior to how people were expected to act, instead of just being ourselves.