The Swamp

I drove back from West KY yesterday and didn't get home til almost 9. Since I had been underground in a coal mine for 5 hours I had to take a shower when I got home. AS such, I did not feel like taking another shower this morning. So I am wearing a hat in my office for, and I'm almost 100% positive this is true, the first time ever. 25+ years. It's weird and I kind of hate it.

fedora? strawboater? porkpie?

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:53 am fedora? strawboater? porkpie?

Realtree camo baseball cap with a Friends of Coal logo.

EDIT: Mossy Oak camo, not realtree. I apologize to our camo enthusiasts here.

I was picturing red MAGA, but the Pharrell one is much funnier.

A_B wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:56 am Realtree camo baseball cap with a Friends of Coal logo.

EDIT: Mossy Oak camo, not realtree. I apologize to our camo enthusiasts here.

I'm just surprised that's not standard office attire in Kentucky.

AB got jokes today so he definitely wore his funny hat.

I'm being moved into a new role at work...for the last 8-9 months, I've been split between being a scrum master for 2 separate teams, and then 1/2 time being a software developer. Then, about 4 months ago, one of my scrum teams became part of a whole new project, so I've been working 2 different teams, on 2 different projects, and still doing dev work on the first project.

Adding the second project has made my meeting commitments just explode, so they came to me with a 'either being a project manager or a dev...trying to be both isn't working out'. So I'm moving into a full time project manager role. I'll still have a little bit of dev work (finishing up some stuff, and fixing any bugs from previous work), but now I'm full time doing the other stuff.

And today I'm getting to deal with the first crisis: One of the developers on our new project up and quit...this morning...effective immediately. Which leaves a HUGE gap in work that needs to get done. And we don't have any obvious choices for who to take the stuff over.

If these trends continue we should probably expect a bipartisan "8 Weeks Notice Act of 2022".

A_B wrote: ↑Fri Jan 21, 2022 9:30 am I drove back from West KY yesterday and didn't get home til almost 9. Since I had been underground in a coal mine for 5 hours I

AB's theme song...

My meeting avalanche since I picked up this new product hasn't abated. I had 8 meetings today - not counting two I didn't go to. 10 yesterday and 9 on Monday. At least 11 tomorrow, not including a few I can't go to (double-booked) or will skip. It never ends. Amazingly, I only have 5 scheduled for Friday right now, but I can bet I'll pick up at least 3 more throughout the day tomorrow to fill those gaps.

It's a wonder I ever get anything done.

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 02, 2022 11:38 pm My meeting avalanche since I picked up this new product hasn't abated. I had 8 meetings today - not counting two I didn't go to. 10 yesterday and 9 on Monday. At least 11 tomorrow, not including a few I can't go to (double-booked) or will skip. It never ends. Amazingly, I only have 5 scheduled for Friday right now, but I can bet I'll pick up at least 3 more throughout the day tomorrow to fill those gaps.

It's a wonder I ever get anything done.

That's exactly why I'm moving out of a developer role. Between all the meetings, I would have maybe 30-45 minute gaps to actually write any code.

I wonder if it would be as bad if everyone was back in the office and some of these meetings could be 5-10 minute hallway conversations.

What in the world are you guys meeting about?

We have a shared document for each project that lists all the areas of the project and people fill in their parts. (Timeline, tasks, problems, notes etc...) All correspondence is done through email or Skype. We have a two-hour weekly meeting to discuss the status of all projects and any action items that need to be addressed. And maybe more if a really big issue comes up. In general, the projects are on autopilot, everyone knows what they need to do. How much hand-holding is happening in these meetings?

degenerasian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 11:49 am What in the world are you guys meeting about?

We have a shared document for each project that lists all the areas of the project and people fill in their parts. (Timeline, tasks, problems, notes etc...) All correspondence is done through email or Skype. We have a two-hour weekly meeting to discuss the status of all projects and any action items that need to be addressed. And maybe more if a really big issue comes up.

My department does this. Well, the two-hour meeting weekly. Not all the other stuff about being organized and knowing what others are doing.


(That's not really fair as we do a good job, but most everyone just keeps their own logs/etc. instead of a joint document. We definitely use e-mail as the primary means but our team is spread across four states)

We use Slack (mostly) and email (not that much) as well. And shared docs.

My job just involves a lot of integration between teams - developers, TAMs (these are technical account support folks), SMEs (TAMs specialized for individual products), other PMs, UI design, Marketing, and Sales. I have regular meetings with those groups, plus a handful of regular 1:1 meetings. Then, I have a meetings with customers to give roadmaps, hear complaints, etc. It all adds up.

Shirley wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 3:52 pm We use Slack (mostly) and email (not that much) as well. And shared docs.

My job just involves a lot of integration between teams - developers, TAMs (these are technical account support folks), SMEs (TAMs specialized for individual products), other PMs, UI design, Marketing, and Sales. I have regular meetings with those groups, plus a handful of regular 1:1 meetings. Then, I have a meetings with customers to give roadmaps, hear complaints, etc. It all adds up.

Wow I wish you were my boss. I haven't had a 1:1 meeting with anyone for 3 years.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:00 pm

Shirley wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 3:52 pm We use Slack (mostly) and email (not that much) as well. And shared docs.

My job just involves a lot of integration between teams - developers, TAMs (these are technical account support folks), SMEs (TAMs specialized for individual products), other PMs, UI design, Marketing, and Sales. I have regular meetings with those groups, plus a handful of regular 1:1 meetings. Then, I have a meetings with customers to give roadmaps, hear complaints, etc. It all adds up.

Wow I wish you were my boss. I haven't had a 1:1 meeting with anyone for 3 years.

At my company, we have 1:1's with our bosses once a week (which I think is too much. Every two weeks would be fine, especially since we are having daily standups)

I have a 1:1 with my boss every two weeks... which we tend to blow off if we've already chatted a bunch in the meantime OR if we're both just too buys. But it's good to have on the books.

I don't have that set up with any of my direct reports at this point. I just make sure I'm on top of their shit, and I don't have anyone asking for more meetings so... I think I'm good.

1:1 with my boss every two weeks. 1:1 with my directs every quarter. I'd like to move that to monthly, but that's just unrealistic given our workload/staffing.

I get constant feedback from my boss. I even sleep with her.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 6:53 pm I get constant feedback from my boss. I even sleep with her.

Hey-yo!

I'm really tempted to quit this project I'm on right now because they aren't giving me the tools to succeed. I'm flying out Wednesday for a week, the pay isn't worth it, and the work is devoid of challenge. I'm giving them until 10:30 am to direct me or I'm out.

Shit. They got back to me. I guess I'm not quitting yet.

I'm taking today off. I put a balance on work that the compensation has to at least be worth the aggravation, and today it simply won't be. I got like 320 reading tabs I need to start working through anyway.

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 04, 2022 10:43 am I'm taking today off. I put a balance on work that the compensation has to at least be worth the aggravation, and today it simply won't be. I got like 320 reading tabs I need to start working through anyway.

Priorities are important.

So I log into the system this afternoon. I had a zoom interview, so I was focusing all my attention there. The QC team send me something back and said I missed something in row 45464 (not an exaggeration) and can I go back and mark it. Seriously fuck this place.

So I just get a call from Raleigh, NC. Apparently it's the agency, and this guy is telling me how I had an unauthorized absence. I asked if this was this past Friday. He replied yes. I explained my login issues. He then goes and tells me that it was my second unexcused absence.

"When was the prior one?"

"December 31."

"You mean New Year's Eve?"

"Yeah. And per our policies two unexcused absences means your time is over. We're going to have to, uhm..., let you go."

"You do what you gotta do," to which I clicked off.

If you qualify for unemployment that seems like a best case resolution?

Yeah, I actually have to wait and be off for a full working week. If someone else picks me up when I get back then there won't be a gap.

Sounds like a place you don't want to be, anyway.

Our office has switched to Staples-branded pens.


My kingdom for a uniball!

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Feb 08, 2022 9:14 am Our office has switched to Staples-branded pens.


My kingdom for a uniball!

sancarlos wrote: ↑Mon Feb 07, 2022 3:16 pm Sounds like a place you don't want to be, anyway.

Yeah, sounds like that workplace is insane. People proving their importance by ruining other people.
I mean who gives a shit about row 45464. I'm a quality analyst, I just fix other people's shit. Small errors happen all the time, nobody is 100%.
I will remind people of recurring errors more of an FYI, not to place blame. And so that i don't have to continually fix recurring shit.

I just got an email from someone in marketing asking me if I'd fly out to Seattle in a few weeks to present at a user group meeting for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, that would be a super efficient use of my time!

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:02 am I just got an email from someone in marketing asking me if I'd fly out to Seattle in a few weeks to present at a user group meeting for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, that would be a super efficient use of my time!

There's no other way to present over long distances, really, so, off you go.

tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:13 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:02 am I just got an email from someone in marketing asking me if I'd fly out to Seattle in a few weeks to present at a user group meeting for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, that would be a super efficient use of my time!

There's no other way to present over long distances, really, so, off you go.

Yeah, maybe after my 9 Teams meetings today, I'll have time to think about another way we could possibly do this.

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:02 am I just got an email from someone in marketing asking me if I'd fly out to Seattle in a few weeks to present at a user group meeting for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, that would be a super efficient use of my time!

Would there be any advantages? To sell yourself? Your company? Outside of the 15-20 minutes you'd meet alot people.

And you'd get out of all your meetings. You may be a victim of Zoom hell.

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:16 am

tennbengal wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:13 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:02 am I just got an email from someone in marketing asking me if I'd fly out to Seattle in a few weeks to present at a user group meeting for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, that would be a super efficient use of my time!

There's no other way to present over long distances, really, so, off you go.

Yeah, maybe after my 9 Teams meetings today, I'll have time to think about another way we could possibly do this.

It is a genuine mystery.

Seems like everyone is forgetting the virtual participation option.

Shirley wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:02 am I just got an email from someone in marketing asking me if I'd fly out to Seattle in a few weeks to present at a user group meeting for 15-20 minutes. Yeah, that would be a super efficient use of my time!

Would they be covering expenses? Could you throw in an extra day or two to hit the slopes?