Gaaaawwwdddd, I am SO done with this post-move shit at the office. Yesterday I again spent the bigger part of the day unpacking boxes and getting all our regular procedures and shit up and running again at the new location. And it’s not done by a long shot.

I got the secretariat mostly cleared out and set up and I spent 2 hours yesterday getting all the backlog of work, stacks of filing work, financial work, HR work and stuff sorted. I didn’t get around to doing any of it yet but at least I have an overview of what is on my desk again. I still need to work through over half of the filing cabinets that have been moved to the new location. I had the files unpacked, but they need to be put in different filing folders (the old ones don’t fit in the new cabinets) and in order. I’ll have to get around to that within the next few weeks, I guess, as today I really really really want to get back to normal business again. I need to!

I told all employees that this week is their last chance to have move-related practical stuff arranged, to have move-related stuff ordered. On Wednesday the last of our new furniture is being delivered and after that it’s done. Then I just have to wait for the meeting rooms and their AV’s to be operational (probably Nov 1) and things are “back to normal”…

However, some things just can’t be changed or arranged, and I am having trouble with the amount of people having a hard time accepting that… Like I said before, some people feel that my “NO” is some kind of personal vendetta towards them… Let me just give you some excerpts of the wonderful conversations that are part of my office life these days…

[Employee1 putting drill against one of the office walls]
DB: “Um.. STOP! Didn’t you read the memo about it NOT being allowed to drill holes in the office walls?”
E1: “I did”
DB: “So, enlighten me. Why is your drill placed on your office wall, ready to drill a hole in it”
E1: “I need to hang a framed picture”
DB: “Ehmm… did you read the WHOLE memo? Because in there was also the part about the other system to hang pictures and stuff. See [pointing towards wall].. thát system”
E1: “I did, but I just don’t like that system”
DB: “Well, I am sorry you don’t like it but that still does not allow you to drill a hole in the wall. Get that drill away from the wall right now”
E1: “But nobody has to know”
DB: “I will know and as I am responsible for this whole location, I am telling you you can NOT drill a hole in the wall”
E1: “But…”
DB: “NO!” [sheeeesh!]

Employee2: “DB? I want to have one of these built-in cabinets moved. I want to have it put on the other side of the office”
DB: “I am sorry, that’s just not possible”
E2: “Not possible!? Why not?”
DB: “Well, as you said yourself, they are the built-in kind. They are built into the office. They are not the kind of cabinets that can be moved around”
E2: “But I am sure they can detach it and move it”
DB: “No, they can’t”
E2: “But it’s in the way!”
DB: “Look, I told you about this at the time when we asked everyone to CHECK whether their built-in cabinets were in the right place on the drawings of your office, before they were put in. I told you then to check it thoroughly as after that it could not be changed”
E2: “But are you sure that they can’t move it?”
DB: [in my mind rolling my eyes out of my sockets] “I am sure”

Employee3 (of different department): “Who handles reservations for the meeting rooms?”
DB: “I do, but the meeting rooms are not ready for use yet. Probably not until Nov 1, so I am not taking reservations yet until we are sure”
E2: “OK”
[2 days later]
E3: “I know you said you do not take reservations yet for the meeting rooms, but can I make just 2 reservations for weekly meetings, before anyone else gets in there?”
DB: “No, like I said, I am not taking reservations until we know when the meeting rooms are ready for use. Besides, they are closing down one of the other meeting rooms in the medical center and, order of the Board of Directors, are switching the meetings from there to our meeting rooms. I first need to put those in the schedule and only after that I can take new reservations”
E3: “But… can’t you do it just for me?”
DB: “No”
E3: “So when?”
DB: “As soon as I know when, I will let all of you know by email”
32: “Any idea when that will be?”
DB: “No”
E3: “So I can’t make ány reservations before that?”
DB: “No“

It’s like handling a basketball court full of toddlers who won’t take “NO” for an answer and are stomping their feet because you are “no fun”. I come from a teaching family and sometimes I really have to ask myself what it was that made me decide NOT to go into teaching and get involved in this line of work… Because sometimes… Holy Shit!

I think I’ll have a poster made, have it framed and mount that on the new poster system on our walls:

! NO means NO !

Listen to me, accept what I tell you, I know what I am talking about. And besides: I am ALWAYS right! You can ask The Guy.

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