[Penny]

I don't know how I do this but I always seem to be right in the middle of all the goings on, is it that I am destined for this always?

The situation:

Lineman has worked for company for 45 years, decides to retire, company buy him a Lazy Boy as present.

I get asked if I would go around the office staff to make a collection & get a card signed, thinking what a nice thing that would be to do for this guy, I have a bit of a soft spot for him anyway, I agree. Biggest mistake of the month so far!

It turns out the collection is going to go towards to cost of the lazy boy and the company will pay the rest, AND the company asked the retiring lineman to put some money on the bar for the final night.

Well all other field workers and office staff donot think this is suitable, and are telling me so. That is fine. I also donot think it is sensible, but respect the companyies decision about it. I told someone who can do something about it what they feel. I haven't heard back.

In the mean time I am hearing rumours of them organising their own farewell dinner etc, for the same time as the comapnies planned BBQ and drinks, and they are doing their own collection.

I am annoyed cos I am in the middle of it, and noone from either side is telling me what is going on.

I think that organising their own is immature as not one of them has been to the CEO (who is really aproachable in this company its only smallish) and talked to him about it. I also don't think it is fair on the retiring lineman, who by them organising this secretley might miss out on the appreciation from the company he deserves.

I get the feeling I should jump in and do something about it, becuase I really think it stinks, the whole thing. But then again I am tempted to give the manager who asked me to do this the card back and he can sort it out.

I can't even be at the farewell as I have something else to go to!

grrrrr MEN!

that was way longer than I intended it to be... opps

[Sparklechick]

What's wrong with the collection going toward the cost of the lazy boy? I can't quite understand why everyone is upset by this. Did they want to buy him something different?

Most of the time when we do a collection at work it goes toward the cost of the company gift, more money collected, the better the gift. If the person has been with the company for a while we don't ask people to give any money, we just buy it with company money, if they've been here a year or less, whatever money we have collected from staff we put the same in from the company.

[Penny]

I don't get it either, I just had a long conversation with the guy here doing it all and he said the company will be in total spending about $2000 on his retirement pressie and money on the bar, BBQ etc. And I thought that sounded quite resonable and stuff. AND I went and asked someone about the BBQ and checking that there wasn't something else being organised and he told me that everyone was going to be there and it is to go ahead as planned. The stupid thing is I just overhead people organising something else! I'd better not do a whole lot of organising for this damn BBQ and have noone turn up. They will ALL hear about it.

grrr!!!!! stupid stupid over sensitive men. All they have done is forced the company to rethink what they will do in future too!

[Sparklechick]

I suggest you get your big stick out and beat them all with it.

When my guys start misbehaving I threaten them with my big stick and they pretty much get back in line after that.

[Penny]

What a grand idea!

I'll bring my hockey stick down tomorrow!

Actaully I sorted them all out. I gave the card to the one of the construction guys to get the signitures the collection back to the HR manager, and told him to do it, and what was happening. and spoke to one of the "ring leaders" about organising their own party and told them it was immature.

Now I feel less in the middle and more someone who knows lots about whats happening I am happy now. Not my problem at all.

I feel so good!