Talk About Milking A Job!

[M.D. Holloway]

Across from my office is a conference room. It was decided that the existing table was in poor shape so a newer table was to be moved in. Pieces of the newer table have been in that room for 3 weeks. Today, one of the maintenance guys decided to finish the job. From where I sit I have a perfect line of sight to watch him work. I was able to do a lot of writing as well as answer about 20 calls during this whole ordeal.

Here is the sequence of events:

9:00AM to 10:10AM - Move Old Table Out - this includes asking two of the painters that are doing another job to help - I swear I was getting anxious just watching them maneuver and argue the best position to fit the table through the door way.

10:11AM to 11:35AM - Position and Measure New Table - not sure what he is measuring. The base and top have pre-drilled holes but he keeps measuring and drawing lines on all the pieces. I am still unclear as to WTF he is doing and why (no, scratch that, I know why he is doing what he is doing...)

11:35AM to 1:30PM - Lunch Break

1:31PM to 2:43PM - Table Assembly - not the whole table mind you but only half. He is screwing the base to half of the table.

2:44PM to 2:56PM - Struggle to Right the Half Table

2:57PM to 2:58 - I come to his rescue (I would have earlier but I was really wondering how he thought he would manage to lift that 250lb half! - ya, I'm a dick, I know...)

2:59PM to 3:00PM - I help him position the other half.

3:01PM to 3:36PM - Final Assembly - not sure why it would take 35 minutes to screw in 6 screws but he did have to lie on his back and change the bit 3 times.
By the sound of it he also stripped the screw at least twice.

3:37PM to 4:22PM - Table Cleaning and Polishing - looks great, must by 175mils of wax on this table - slick as hell. Maybe we could rent it out to the Ice Capades.

Nice to see money is being well spent on him and me!

[Oh Haha]

Mike, you have a way with words, my friend. I needed a laugh today. Thanks.

[gtc]

Is your company is hiring? I think I might be qualified for that kind of "work."

[tabs]

Was the guy trying out for Secratary of Labour in the Obama admin? .

[Gogar]

You should relax and be happy he's assembling your table, and not your Porsche engine.

[RWebb]

get him to fix your car for you...

[dentist90]

... and you spent your day watching him and documenting it all?

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by dentist90

... and you spent your day watching him and documenting it all?

Well, somebody had to supervise!

[livi]

I expect this was his only assignment for the day and that he was on an hourly rate. He will live healthy long after the rest of us have perished from stress related disease.

[David]

Don't feel bad, a couple of our guys spent 201 man-hours building and finishing a 10' long wall with a door across from my office a couple weeks ago.

[DavidB911]

how long until someones butt cheeks contact the top of the table??

[Tidybuoy]

I had a similar experience a few years ago. Here's how I dealt with it:

I had just purchased a remote control fart machine for the Christmas Potluck.

I had put it in the garbage can in a girls office and I was waiting for her to come back from lunch.

Meanwhile, two maintenance guys came it to replace lightbulbs around the office.

My friend and I sat and watched one guy climb the ladder while the other guy held it steady.

I pushed the button and the guy at the top of the ladder told the other guy to knock it off.

A few minutes later, I pushed the button again (different sound). This time the guy at the bottom of the ladder accused the guy at the top - he even said that the room stunk.

Anyway, you should get one of these. It will make you appreciate the little guys around the office more.

[LakeCleElum]

So there I am today; working my butt off, struggling to move and assemble this big ole table into a company conference room.

You wouldn't believe this lazy guy across the hall. He spent the whole day, just watching me;never offering to lend a hand. I was so mad. I hardly got time for a sandwich at lunch as I had to run out and buy some tools and swing by to check on 2 other jobs my boss was on me about.

All this guy did all day was watch me, talk on the phone and play on his computer.....When he took a long break, I went in his office and saw he was posting some non-work related stuff on some Porsche forum......Wait till I get on my handyman forum tonight!!!!!!!

[strupgolf]

Glad it wasn't a union job; then there would have been 4 guys, and a supervisor taking 4 days to do the same thing.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by livi

I expect this was his only assignment for the day and that he was on an hourly rate. He will live healthy long after the rest of us have perished from stress related disease.

If stress makes you die early, I will live to be 178!

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Glad it wasn't a union job; then there would have been 4 guys, and a supervisor taking 4 days to do the same thing.

+1

I *gasp* MOVED a computer at Harley Davidson in Milwaukee one day while working as a consultant. Thats right, I picked up a computer, and walked it 50 feet to another cubicle. Next thing I know, I'm getting admonished, because thats 'union work'. 3 fecking guys show up to move the rest....with a cart. So I sit there charging the company $150 an hour in consulting fees and watch them move computers. YEAH UNIONS!!!!!!

[billyboy]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

+1

I *gasp* MOVED a computer at Harley Davidson in Milwaukee one day while working as a consultant. Thats right, I picked up a computer, and walked it 50 feet to another cubicle. Next thing I know, I'm getting admonished, because thats 'union work'. 3 fecking guys show up to move the rest....with a cart. So I sit there charging the company $150 an hour in consulting fees and watch them move computers. YEAH UNIONS!!!!!!

I thought you guys (libs) loved unions. ? Is it just the votes they provide in exchange for promises of more benefits?

[Wickd89]

Sounds like he use to be an IT guy!

And you IT guys know what I am talking about. How long does it really take to reset a password...;-)