Comments on: On Being The Office Newby

By: XUP

XUP — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:07:32 +0000

Cedar – I assume this comment is meant for the next blog? It’s like you can forsee the future!! Eerie…

Lola – Why you naughty, naughty girl!!

By: LoLa

LoLa — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:43:48 +0000

Well, #5 is hilarious. It wasn’t so hilarious when I did it, but I wasn’t a newbie and it was a long time ago. I can only just now talk about it but only on your blog. Certainly wouldn’t dirty up my own blog with those kinds of stories. Now you know the secret of Terrible Mishap B.

By: Cedarflame

Cedarflame — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:05:25 +0000

Wow, I had breakfast reading this and I think I threw up in my mouth a little. Now I got to go and brush my teet a bunch of times, eat a bunch of parsley and stop for a case of tic-tacs on the way to work.

By: XUP

XUP — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:57:09 +0000

Anon – Oh dear! Did the lion hear you? If not, you’re okay. If so, you can try some powerful sucking up for a while. Or you can just keep your head down and see how the wind blows before deciding. Bon chance!

Nat – You ALL lunch together? That’s cool (ish) How many of you are there? I see lunch time as my little oasis of personal time in the midst of the vast desert of company time. So, I want to spend it only with people I enjoy being with or doing some errands.

Em – Did they give you a tour of the office? That’s always good to have before you start. Or you can come and visit me here, we’ll have lunch and you can get a bit of a sniff of the general environment. Send me an email if you want and we can set it up.

Grouchy – Goes without saying! But you know… you can get away with a lot of stuff when you’ve got seniority.

By: RealGrouchy

RealGrouchy — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:07:21 +0000

Um… some of those things should apply to *anyone,* not just new people!

- RG>

By: Em

Em — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:57:10 +0000

Thanks for this, XUP! As you know, I’ll be facing this newby business quite soon, and it’s been creating a bit of anxiety. It’s been a while since I was in a formal “office” situation too. Ugh.

By: Nat

Nat — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:01:50 +0000

Oddly, in this office, we usually lunch together. I think if folks invite you you should go, otherwise they’ll be tempted to talk about you. (Really, The Man jokes that we joke a lot.)

On dress codes are important, odds are if you would were it to your night job as a stripper, you probably shouldn’t wear it to the office.

By: anon

anon — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:10:23 +0000

So I’m an office newby these days and unfortunately I read this post too late because I loudly and publicly offered to spank the local lion recently… I think that violates at least two of your guidelines. Any advice for those of us who have slipped up? Should I switch jobs now?

By: XUP

XUP — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:33:37 +0000

Jazz – Sorry. Perhaps the list will help you to torment new people that come into your office?

Missy – Thanks! Yes, the first week went okay. Slow, because it’s summer, but I think it will be good.

Linda – Oh ya, I know how one person like that can poison an entire group. But you’re right — it’s also up to everyone else to stop being intimidated by these people. Glad you’ve found a better way to spend your days.

Robin – I’ve worked in a variety of offices over the years, so this was kind of a compilation of all of them mixed with nonsense. I’m a federal public servant and write government stuff.

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:37:38 +0000

Hi XUP – ha ha – I’m wondering about the goings-on that inspired some of these. I’d love to know what writing work you do – are you a journalist?