Should This Crap Be Allowed in the Workplace?

You could always complain to HR. Then don't wear the shirt. Then 2 weeks later quit and hire a lawyer to sue them claiming that you quit because you were being harassed for complaining.

Sounds like a good day to call in illin'.

One of our IT guys as reported that you are posting on letsrun.com while you are at work. Please come to the HR office immediately.

I say we send an anonymous complaint. I have no interest in celebration this old hags birthday either.

Lets post our manifesto in all the bathroom stalls.

Working a job is all about putting aside your personal opinions and going along to get along. It sucks, but not nearly as much as being unemployed.

It's crap like this that makes me reflect on how fortunate I am to be self-employed.

Make sure you get a properly-sized t-shirt, Grunt.

Personal day?

Man, just do it and hopefully you'll get some cake or something. Look at it as doing something nice for the lady. She is probably not too psyched about turning 50; maybe you'll make her day.

Order up a tee two sizes too small. Wear it nonstop as soon as you get it, sleep, shower, sex, running. Cake it with liquor, food, fecal, and/or seminal stains. Wear it to a cigar bar or smoke nonstop while wearing it. Don't shave. Show up and be uncomfortably overexcited about the party, be smiling and gushing about the whole affair the whole time.

You should refuse to take the t-shirt on the grounds that you may have to pay tax on it. Employer gifts to employees of more than $25 per year are taxable.

Throw her a bone. 50-year old broads love that. Do it right and get a raise or a promotion.

This is the right answer for me. When you work for a company there is a lot of nonsense you either live with or move on.

Office parties are great. Cake, carry out, t shirts, team building, story telling. Step up to the plate and ask how you can help.

don't be so negative - im sorry you work in a cube farm, but your attitude is what got you there.

Welcome to life. Just enjoy it as a break from the daily routine. It's mostly harmless.

mENG wrote:

don't be so negative - im sorry you work in a cube farm, but your attitude is what got you there.

I'll concede that a number of poor educational and professional choices landed me in this "cube farm," but I am not a negative person when it comes to my job. That is the key point; I am here to do a job...I am not here to take part in kindergarten-esque milk and cookie time. Nor am I here to celebrate other non-work-related events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or Cinco de Mayo.

I get along with my co-workers and, contrary to your point, I don't have a bad attitude. But I don't interact with this VP, nor do I think she's a particularly nice person. If her "friends" at work want to throw her a bash, more power to them. I hope they all have a great time. But I just don't think any of us who are not on friendly personal terms with the VP should feel a professional obligation to share her "special day" in such a childish manner.

And for those who have essentially suggested that I go with the flow, I again repeat my statement that I'm here to do a job. Again, I get along with my co-workers, but I'm not here to socialize...I am here to work. (FYI - I am not visiting LR while I'm on the clock, so save the accusations that I'm contradicting myself.)

Far too much angst about all this. Cut the metaphysical contemplation of the meaning of work and solve the problem.

You can enter the spirit of the festivities and send a message at the same time. Get her a sankypanky boy stripper for the event. But ma'am we knew you'd like it, we wanted to enter into the spirit of it! Muahaha! Your bad though if she actually f%%s him later.

Corporate Grunt wrote:

I'll concede that a number of poor educational and professional choices landed me in this "cube farm," but I am not a negative person when it comes to my job. That is the key point; I am here to do a job...I am not here to take part in kindergarten-esque milk and cookie time. Nor am I here to celebrate other non-work-related events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or Cinco de Mayo.

dude, i am so with you on this. it's a job and my social life is outside of the office. i would rather spend my time getting my job done so i can go home than having my work time used to socialize. in this situation, wear the shirt, write on the post it, make a 5 minute appearance,and be done with it.

i guarantee that the people that have *to work 12+hr* days are the same ones who engage in chit chat with everyone all day, volunteer for every fundraiser, and attend every celebration

Grin and bear it, cube boy!