On The "Loathing Of The New Boss" End Again

moval submitted 606 days ago

Another time, (late eighties, early nineties) another job (Admin. Secretary/Receptionist)and I find myself on the "loathing my boss" (the office manager) end again. New boss to be exact. The other one left for a higher position in another bank. Where they got this one from I'll never know. She wanted to be known by her first two initials D and J. One of the biggest banks in the country this time, Orange County, Southern California.

Me, I am my banks key person at the front desk. Real Estate Dept. targeting O.C. Land Developers for new loans. It's another "boss from hell" story. Yes, you know what/who I mean. Do you recognize her? Each morning she stands at the entrance to the bank wrist flexed reading the time on her watch waving her other hand and calling to you across the banks parking lot to hurry (in your high heels, mind you) so your not late for work. Ironically, I never was late for the bank in five years. Each day she stands at your desk in her dark, pinstrip, perfectly ironed suit trying to look all "important and authorative". Very plain and unimpressive.

Anyway, you think she likes you but you are not sure. You think you like her but your not sure. You hope for the best because, guess what, one day, your job might be at stake. Wow! she is inviting you to lunch, just you and her (what she really wanted was the lowdown/gossip on other office employees). Her invitation to lunch stated "assistant office manager wanted" and I would like to train you for that position. Yes, the boss really likes me after all. I hope you read this someday.. boss..you know who you are, really you do. Next day she has you on 6 hour shifts, three days a week pulling the staples out of thousands of sheets of paper previously boxed-up headed for the companys recycling department. Turns out, our recycling department told me personally that there was no reason to pull the staples out first. My fingers became raw my mood sank as I stood in the copy room hour after hour performing an unnecessary job like this. No problem.

If that's not enough, she tells you that you cannot and will not leave your chair ever without leaving a note of where you will be at any given time. The office that housed about a dozen VP loan officers and a handful of other employees. Close quarters, really. Not hard to find me, I only leave my desk when I am told or if I have to use the ladies room. "You will be subject to her wrath". Gee, sounds like what went on previous to WWII. Never mind the embarrassment, never mind the humiliation.

By the way, I never did become her assistant. Why, because I stood up to her. In a private cubicle, I announced to her in no uncertain terms that I would not take her humiliation and embarrassment now or in the future. She firmly denied any humiliation or embarrassment I was feeling and shunned it off.

She was clever in watching the departments spending if it meant her life or someone elses. One day one of the junior loan officers (S.A.) (enjoyed knowing and working with her) needed a parking sticker issued her because her eye was injured and she was only going to park infront of the building on Park Center Dr. for a moment to pick up her briefcase before heading to the doctors for her eye injury. I complied since I kept the parking stickers and alloted them from time to time. I considered it an emergency. Well, all hell broke loose. My boss, the one with the two initial name, was once more working from her "cruel mode" and I was called on the carpet for letting the injured gal park in front of the bank.

Once I said some unkind words about her character and it got back to her. Soon she had me cornered in the banks elevator and held the doors so I couldn't exit and demanded to know if I said those things. Yes, I most certainly did! I told her. She was not pleased. Did she fire me eventually, no, why, I was good at my job. Or, was it that she liked me? I was sure I didn't like her! She eventually left the bank when the two larger banks merged in the middle nineties. Another female boss from "hell" took her place. And then another...and another and so the story goes....

Did I eventually leave my job, yes. Five years and much unhappiness later, I was gone. Did they fire me officially, no, but they knew what they were doing when they made it totally unbearable/difficult for me to stay at my job after returning from a temporary workmans comp injury . So, as a result, a re-injury. Both sustained at the bank. I sued. The banks stance was that "they" would win. WRONG!

I took a personal vow to never work for anyone but myself and I held true to that vow for the last 10 years or so. Funny this is, I've had my checking account with them since the 90's so at $10.00 per monthly service charge, I estimate that they received their monies back in the long run.