Thanksgiving at Work
Nov 24th 2005, 1:06 pm
#1
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Thanksgiving at Work
Happy Thanksgiving guys!!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
Nov 24th 2005, 1:11 pm
#2
Pagan Sex God
Joined: May 2002
Location: Living in Oblivion
Posts: 3,668
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CitySimon
Happy Thanksgiving guys!!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
Nov 24th 2005, 1:17 pm
#3
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Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Palmyra, NY
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Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by Patrick
According to the thread Ray started, you should be thankful that you are sat alone at work on thanksgiving because it means you have a job and your boss hates you
The really dumb thing is that I did actually volunteer for both the day and night shifts (I know, no sympathy then).
The boss may well hate me! I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Nov 24th 2005, 1:36 pm
#4
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CitySimon
Really?
The really dumb thing is that I did actually volunteer for both the day and night shifts (I know, no sympathy then).
The boss may well hate me! I'll have to get back to you on that one.
The really dumb thing is that I did actually volunteer for both the day and night shifts (I know, no sympathy then).
The boss may well hate me! I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Nov 24th 2005, 1:43 pm
#5
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,271
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Im working later on.
Nov 24th 2005, 2:57 pm
#6
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Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by Englishmum
I hope they're paying you double time or extra time off in lieu?
Nov 24th 2005, 4:15 pm
#7
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Yes, I'm in the office too. Best time for me to get any research done is when the students aren't around.
Having said that, I just finished a 2-hour meeting with one of the grad students. He left working on a project until too late and asked me earlier in the week if I had any time I could meet with him. So I said "Thursday, first thing in the morning is the only opening I have for the next 10 days". His look of stunned disbelief was priceless. But he came, give him credit.
Having said that, I just finished a 2-hour meeting with one of the grad students. He left working on a project until too late and asked me earlier in the week if I had any time I could meet with him. So I said "Thursday, first thing in the morning is the only opening I have for the next 10 days". His look of stunned disbelief was priceless. But he came, give him credit.
Nov 24th 2005, 4:30 pm
#8
CA to TX to Jamaica
Joined: Jun 2003
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Posts: 4,887
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CitySimon
It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
You can watch that comment fly straight over their head
Nov 24th 2005, 5:13 pm
#9
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,750
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CaliforniaBride
Happens here too. I just tell them that we do but we have it on 4th July.
You can watch that comment fly straight over their head
You can watch that comment fly straight over their head
I might use that next time I get asked
Its a little less caustic than my usual replies.
Nov 24th 2005, 6:09 pm
#10
Just me!
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 752
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CitySimon
Happy Thanksgiving guys!!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
Im not working today luckily, but shall have a beer for you and everyone else who is unfortunate to be working!!
Ant
Nov 24th 2005, 6:31 pm
#11
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CitySimon
Happy Thanksgiving guys!!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
I work in a worldwide support center for a software company in Rochester NY.
At this time (being Thanksgiving) we have a skeleton staff in... Perhaps seven people covering, pretty much, any of our customers who are awake... The tail end of the European day through to the end of the day on the American west coast.
Tonight, being Thanksgiving evening, we also have a skeleton staff in the office, but this time, it's just ME!! Covering the Midnight to 9am stint again supporting any of our customers who are awake... That being the end of the Asia Pacific region and the first half of the European day.
Now... It may just be me, but doesn't that come across as a little weird?!
The shift where we know that we only have to worry about our customers in Canada (we have very few customers in South/Central America), we have seven people covering, but the shift when we know that every customer in the whole of Europe, Africa and Asia will be having a normal day we have one person covering.
Like I said, perhaps it's just me, but that seems a little bit unbalanced!
I think that someone has to remind Americans that Thanksgiving is not a worldwide holiday. It seems that nearly everyone I speak to about it puts on an expression of stunned disbelief when I tell them that we don't celebrate TG in England... Eventually, they come out with something like "Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense really!". Yes, it makes sense, after all, it's an American Holiday!
It's like me being shocked that people over here don't celebrate Bonfire Night, or people in England celebrating the 4th of July (I have been asked several times).
I'd be interested to hear from any of the other guys who are working today. I expect that they are seeing similar skeleton staff situations as myself.
If you are not working today... have a beer for me!
Reg. Frank R.
Nov 25th 2005, 4:13 am
#12
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Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Palmyra, NY
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Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Well guys, I've just kicked off my second shift of Thanksgiving. Midnight to 9am. Woo!!! Hoo!!!
My Thanksgiving turkey dinner was pretty bad really. Got home at 5pm and crammed down left overs from the neighbours.
I really need a beer!!!
Quite honestly, I seriously considered bringing in a four pack of Boddingtons to work. I figured it might be a bad idea to mix the alcohol with the serious amount of coffee I'm going to need to get through the next 9 hours, throw in the fact that I'm expected to be working as well and it's really a bad combination.
Figure that! Not only do they expect me to be here but they are expecting me to work at the same time!!! Some people just ask far too much of there employees!!!
My Thanksgiving turkey dinner was pretty bad really. Got home at 5pm and crammed down left overs from the neighbours.
I really need a beer!!!
Quite honestly, I seriously considered bringing in a four pack of Boddingtons to work. I figured it might be a bad idea to mix the alcohol with the serious amount of coffee I'm going to need to get through the next 9 hours, throw in the fact that I'm expected to be working as well and it's really a bad combination.
Figure that! Not only do they expect me to be here but they are expecting me to work at the same time!!! Some people just ask far too much of there employees!!!
Nov 25th 2005, 6:02 am
#13
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Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Thankfully very little going on so far... I know I'm really tempting fate by saying that... I expect to see a major system down coming in within the next 5 minutes. HURRAY!!!
You know it's bad when you're replying to your own posts.
I think I'll take a nap. Europe can make do without me for a little while...
You know it's bad when you're replying to your own posts.
I think I'll take a nap. Europe can make do without me for a little while...
Nov 25th 2005, 7:03 am
#14
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by CitySimon
Thankfully very little going on so far... I know I'm really tempting fate by saying that... I expect to see a major system down coming in within the next 5 minutes. HURRAY!!!
You know it's bad when you're replying to your own posts.
I think I'll take a nap. Europe can make do without me for a little while...
You know it's bad when you're replying to your own posts.
I think I'll take a nap. Europe can make do without me for a little while...
Nov 25th 2005, 7:17 am
#15
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Re: Thanksgiving at Work
Originally Posted by snowbunny
They're only now waking up.....
