I've just gotta say this.......

[Ballcox]

I am willing to bet your perception of women workers largely rests on the nature of the work that these women are doing.

, I don't care what the nature of the work is. Either you work and put effort into that work, or you don't work, period. If you can't work, then get the out of my way, because I have one purpose when I get to work. Know what it is?

















WORK.

[TDMVPDPOY]

cant wait for ruffs gay comment about this.....he will enlightened you my friend....

[spursfan09]

Ok, I've been holding on to this for too long and I have got get it out or I'm gonna puke all over myself.

First off, this isn't meant to be a sexist thread or a gross generalization of all females in a work environment, BUT..

It's amazing to me how much time the women I work with waste, I just listened to a female co-worker down the hall from my office have at least a 20-30 minute discussion about how she was going to get her hair cut differently next time.

Another female co-worker has 3 HOURS scheduled off tomorrow so that she can go get her hair cut in SA.

And finally there is our office manager, who is going through a divorce. She is constantly emailing friends and going back and forth, talking non stop about every imaginable detail of her divorce. I'll often go up to the front office where she works and sometimes find 2-3 other female co-workers discussing the issue with her.

What am I doing while listening to this non-stop drivel every day? WORKING. I work a 4 day work week and easily put in at least 45-50 hours in those 4 days. It just continually amazes me how much time my female co-workers waste.

BUT, I'm not the department director so I can't call them out on this stuff. And before the females out there get all worked up, I'm not saying the behavior of females where I work is representative of all female workers. I'm also sure there are plenty of male employees who waste time.

It's just that I work with mostly all females. Ok, I'm done with my rant. Comments, similar observations from your workplace?

Why do you have to see it like that? The woman is probably traumatized by her divorce and finds comfort that there are people willing to listen. The workplace has changed. People pay attention to emotional needs of coworkers or subordinates more. Thats great you see yourself as a hardworker! Keep it up, but you can only worry about yourself and your actions; not others.

[ashbeeigh]

I don't deny that women talk a lot at work, and sometimes about things that people just don't need to know.

But, if these women schedule time to get their hair done and its like Paid time off, then that's really their problem. Wait until they get sick and don't have a day to take off.

I remember in high school one of my teachers was straight forward with us about one of his days off, he said "Alright guys, I'm going to Dallas to go to the Cowboys game this weekend and to see some friends...I'll be back...blah blah blah." Now, how is that different then getting your hair done? Seriously.

And who's to say that some of these women haven't finished the work they were assigned or whatnot and now have a bit of free time? I don't know what kind of job you have, but it is feasible. It happens where I work.

And if it bothers you so much, and you aren't a director, why don't you take it to your director and ask them to clear it up for you?

[Ballcox]

^Am I going crazy? To me, the workplace is for one thing and one thing only.........Work.

Now, I'm not saying that I don't engage in side conversations about non-work related topics from time to time, but it's pretty damn minimal. When I get to work, I put on my work face/persona and get focused on what I'm PAID to do.

I'm not paid at work to talk about a divorce, or hair styles or why my significant other doesn't like to cuddle after sex. Nobody is paying me for any of that .

Or it could be that I've just finished reading Atlas Shrugged for about the 5th time....who knows?

[I. Hustle]

Why do you have to see it like that? The woman is probably traumatized by her divorce and finds comfort that there are people willing to listen. The workplace has changed. People pay attention to emotional needs of coworkers or subordinates more. Thats great you see yourself as a hardworker! Keep it up, but you can only worry about yourself and your actions; not others.

I went through a divorce and for the most part nobody there knew about it. And yes it was pretty traumatic for me. So I grabbed some of my paid time off on days when I needed to deal with it.
When I was at work it was to work. Do I goof off? yeah probably more than others, but looking at my numbers I also do more than others.
I also don't agree that you can only worry about yourseld and not others. If the other person/people are pulling their weight then yeah it's fine but if you are getting more work dumped on you because others aren't finishing theirs then it becomes your problem.

[leemajors]

^Am I going crazy? To me, the workplace is for one thing and one thing only.........Work.

Now, I'm not saying that I don't engage in side conversations about non-work related topics from time to time, but it's pretty damn minimal. When I get to work, I put on my work face/persona and get focused on what I'm PAID to do.

I'm not paid at work to talk about a divorce, or hair styles or why my significant other doesn't like to cuddle after sex. Nobody is paying me for any of that .

Or it could be that I've just finished reading Atlas Shrugged for about the 5th time....who knows?

you should be pissed at subjecting yourself to that book 5 times for sure.

[ashbeeigh]

^Am I going crazy? To me, the workplace is for one thing and one thing only.........Work.

Now, I'm not saying that I don't engage in side conversations about non-work related topics from time to time, but it's pretty damn minimal. When I get to work, I put on my work face/persona and get focused on what I'm PAID to do.

I'm not paid at work to talk about a divorce, or hair styles or why my significant other doesn't like to cuddle after sex. Nobody is paying me for any of that .

Or it could be that I've just finished reading Atlas Shrugged for about the 5th time....who knows?

I'm not saying your completely wrong. I agree with the concept that "work is for work," but I could never be happy in a work environment that doesn't have some type of social aspect. Are these girls working while their talking? I mean, I don't see why that isn't allowed.

or is it that guys can't multi-task and work and talk at the same time?

[Ballcox]

^I try to read it at least once every 3-4 years, I love the book and am amazed at how accurate her writing was 50 plus years ago about the current state of the mostly apathetic american work force.

[balli]

If I were ever to invent a time machine one of the first things I'd do is go back and cite sinister quotes seconds before I sliced Ayn Rand's throat with a miniature sword.

Objectivism is one of the more ed up philosophical systems that mankind has ever come up with.

[ploto]

, I don't care what the nature of the work is. Either you work and put effort into that work, or you don't work, period. If you can't work, then get the out of my way, because I have one purpose when I get to work. Know what it is?

Sorry this went over your head while you are still on your supposed lunch-- now 2 hours long-- but my comment refers to the fact that he said that most women who work are simply a second income and they have the luxury of not caring about their jobs. Many, many single, divorced, and widowed women work jobs and are the sole means of support for themselves, and for some their children, as well. Just look on this board.

[Ballcox]

I'm not saying your completely wrong. I agree with the concept that "work is for work," but I could never be happy in a work environment that doesn't have some type of social aspect. Are these girls working while their talking? I mean, I don't see why that isn't allowed.

or is it that guys can't multi-task and work and talk at the same time?

, there are breaks and lunch to talk about non-work related topics, you get them every day, one can use them however they see fit. But once you're behind that desk (or whatever your work environment is), to me it's time get on task and accomplish things...............things like work.

[mexicanjunior]

I know what you mean man...I noticed that at my work as well, women talking alot and walking around socializing when they should have been on the phone taking calls. Since I'm not a manager, I try not to let it bother me but, during my last review, I was docked some points for "not being social enough with my co-workers". This really upset me since I thought coming to work meant "working" and not shooting the bull with my cubicle mates. It seemed almost hyprocritical...

[ashbeeigh]

, there are breaks and lunch to talk about non-work related topics, you get them every day, one can use them however they see fit. But once you're behind that desk (or whatever your work environment is), to me it's time get on task and accomplish things...............things like work.

whatever dude. I just know I would never want to work with you if you can't even consider being somewhat social during your "work" time.

I would have committed suicide at my last job if I couldn't have some side conversations while I was doing my job.

[ashbeeigh]

I know what you mean man...I noticed that at my work as well, women talking alot and walking around socializing when they should have been on the phone taking calls. Since I'm not a manager, I try not to let it bother me but, during my last review, I was docked some points for "not being social enough with my co-workers". This really upset me since I thought coming to work meant "working" and not shooting the bull with my cubicle mates. It seemed almost hyprocritical...

This is what I'm talking about. While I get where you are coming from, most work environments include co-workers and somewhat of a team atmosphere. If you can't, or don't want to, be part of that atmosphere you might as well take a work at home job so you can sit in your pajamas all by yourself with your 500 cats and not talk at all.

People that aren't "social enough with my co-workers" come off stand offish and not particularly friendly. If I needed help from someone on something, or had a pressing issue, I'd be less likely to come to someone who I'm not able to have a side conversation with.

It obviously sounds like ballcox thinks of work as "I go to work to work and nothing more." For me, and probably for a lot of people, a job is part of who you are. I said this in my last job interview, "I don't work as a community organizer, I am a community organizer." And if that includes being social then so be it.

[ploto]

According to a web survey by America Online and Salary.com, the average worker admits to frittering away 2.09 hours per day, not counting lunch.That's far more time than employers expect. Over the course of a year (and even after accounting for time employers expect to be wasted), that adds up to $759 billion on salaries for which companies receive no apparent benefit.

The research, which was conducted through the AOL Find a Job site on AOL.com®, the AOL® service and Salary.com's Salary Wizard, involved more than 10,044 respondents (employees) who indicated that the number one way they fritter away time at work is personal Internet use (e.g., email, IM, online polls, interactive games, message boards, chat rooms, etc.). Personal Internet use was cited by 44.7% of respondents as their primary time-wasting activity at work. Socializing with co-workers was the second most popular form of wasting time at work (23.4% of respondents). Conducting personal business, "spacing out," running errands, and making personal phone calls were other popular time-wasting activities in the workplace...Top Time-Wasting Activities

1. Surfing Internet (personal use) 44.7%

2. Socializing with co-workers 23.4%

3. Conducting personal business 6.8%

4. Spacing out 3.9%

5. Running errands off-premises 3.1%


Top Excuses for Time-Wasting

1. Don't have enough work to do 33.2%

2. Underpaid for amount of work I do 23.4%

3. Co-workers distract me 14.7%

4. Not enough evening or weekend time 12.0%

5. Other 16.7%



Here are some other interesting facts about time-wasted at work:

Men vs. Women: Men and women waste about the same amount of time per day (approximately 2.1 hours). This, despite the fact that most HR managers surveyed suspected that women waste more time at work than men.

Youngsters vs. Seniors: As the following statistics show, the older you are, the less time you waste at work.
Year of Birth

1930-1949 0.50 hrs/day

1950-1959 0.68 hrs/day

1960-1969 1.19 hrs/day

1970-1979 1.61 hrs/day

1980-1985 1.95 hrs/day

http://www.salary.com/aboutus/layout...41&part=Par485

[balli]

whatever dude. I just know I would never want to work with you if you can't even consider being somewhat social during your "work" time.

I would have committed suicide at my last job if I couldn't have some side conversations while I was doing my job.

Define "somewhat social". I've had jobs where all I did was converse with people. I've also had jobs where all I ever did was say o each morning and goodbye each night. Is the latter somewhat social? And I mean no offense, but I don't think I owe people a ing thing other than a o, a goodbye and in general treating them amicably when it comes to professional matters- and I don't think engaging in personal conversation is included in that.

As annoying as it is for people that their co-workers aren't social. Imagine how annoying it is when you just want to be left alone to do your work and a ing co-worker keeps trying to chat you up/be your best friend. It sucks.

[clambake]

you take lunch as your only break.

this thread started over 2 hours ago.

just sayin. don't hate.

[mexicanjunior]

This is what I'm talking about. While I get where you are coming from, most work environments include co-workers and somewhat of a team atmosphere. If you can't, or don't want to, be part of that atmosphere you might as well take a work at home job so you can sit in your pajamas all by yourself with your 500 cats and not talk at all.

People that aren't "social enough with my co-workers" come off stand offish and not particularly friendly. If I needed help from someone on something, or had a pressing issue, I'd be less likely to come to someone who I'm not able to have a side conversation with.

It obviously sounds like ballcox thinks of work as "I go to work to work and nothing more." For me, and probably for a lot of people, a job is part of who you are. I said this in my last job interview, "I don't work as a community organizer, I am a community organizer." And if that includes being social then so be it.

I think my situation is a little different. I work in a callcenter doing product support, along with my co-workers, so we are all supposed to be on our phones waiting for calls to come in. If I am on my phone available to take a call (or on a call), I feel like I am doing my job. Now, if one of my co-workers (man or woman) is standing away from their cubicle socializing and not ready to take a call, myself (or someone in the call que) is taking their calls because they felt the need to get up and gossip about whatever. This really irritates me and I don't feel is behavior that should be rewarded for being "social" with your co-workers. If that is the case, maybe the company should schedule "social" time to build team atmosphere but that is NOT the case, we are graded on how many calls we take and how many issues we resolve...

[ashbeeigh]

Define "somewhat social". I've had jobs where all I did was converse with people. I've also had jobs where all I ever did was say o each morning and goodbye each night. Is the latter somewhat social? And I mean no offense, but I don't think I owe people a ing thing other than a o, a goodbye and in general treating them amicably when it comes to professional matters- and I don't think engaging in personal conversation is included in that.

I think it just contributes to the work environment to be able to be social. And of course there are some jobs where it is more tolerated then others. There is always a time and a place to tell someone to " off I need to finish my work" too.

[mexicanjunior]

Define "somewhat social". I've had jobs where all I did was converse with people. I've also had jobs where all I ever did was say o each morning and goodbye each night. Is the latter somewhat social? And I mean no offense, but I don't think I owe people a ing thing other than a o, a goodbye and in general treating them amicably when it comes to professional matters- and I don't think engaging in personal conversation is included in that.

As annoying as it is for people that their co-workers aren't social. Imagine how annoying it is when you just want to be left alone to do your work and a ing co-worker keeps trying to chat you up/be your best friend. It sucks.

This is EXACTLY how I feel, thanks for explaining it better than I could...I come into work to work, not to make best friends and discuss what everyone did the night before or over the weekend. I know not everyone has that point of view but work (not including lunches and breaks) should not be a social club...

[ashbeeigh]

I think my situation is a little different. I work in a callcenter doing product support, along with my co-workers, so we are all supposed to be on our phones waiting for calls to come in.

I've got you. I was speaking from my experience at West, but we were doing outbound calls without an autodialer. There was always time, even if it was thirty seconds while reviewing accounts, to talk about previous calls, or just laugh about something. And I'll admit that I was sometimes that girl that would wander around, or take a "walk around" as we called it. it wasn't quite a break, but you weren't working. Generally being a pain in the ass.

it may be different for you since it is inbound, but still, being able to relate to the people you work with, especially in a call center environment, only makes the day go by faster. Talk about the stupid people you just talked to for a few seconds, laugh about the accents, about the questions they asked. Ask how someone handled a specific call. It's not too hard.

[balli]

My thing is that building a "team-atmosphere" SHOULD BE entirely independent of socialization. Peoples' professionalism should be enough to ensure that there is good office co-operation. Quite frankly I don't need to know about my co-worker Becky's sister's kid's case of walking pneumonia in order to do a good job. I just need to know that Becky won't eat unless I do my job and hopefully Becky would understand that I won't eat unless she does hers. Professionalism and shared responsibility should drive office co-operation, not personal relationships.

Although ashbeeigh, I do get what your saying about social interaction not really hurting and even fostering the process. And I guess that's true until an asshole like me comes along and isn't served by it. And sadly, there are assholes everywhere.

[SpursWoman]

All the boys from sales & CS are over here trying to chat up us girls in admin all damn day long. I wish they would GTFO of here and let us surf the internet in peace.

[ATRAIN]

My female coworker is a hard worker so I cant complain. Its a male fat ass that is the lazy around here. The only problem I have with the female is that she chews ice and gos to a company weight watchers meetings on wed for an hour even though the stupid ass eats horrible every day. Oh yeah and she is stupid so she is constantly asking for help on her work. Im not the team lead (which I applied for but office politics ruined that) around here but everyone looks to me for help. Oh yeah and I post while at work but im not wasting time, I mul ask and get all my projects done ahead of time.