Overheard at Work

[Seppia]

"AC is sexist" may be the most unintentionally funny thing I've read in a while.

Aside from that, AC should be erring on the warmer side for energy efficiency/saving and environmental reasons.

It's incredible how wasteful is an AC set to "winter has came" temperatures.

[Playing with Fire UK]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

[LennStar]

Biologically, there is a tendency for women to feel colder, and men to feel warmer. There's all sorts of exceptions of course, but there is a biologic difference. There are also cultural expectations for men and women that result in men tending to wear more clothing in the summer than women, and women to wear less clothing in the winter than men.

More than gender I've found that size of the person has more of an effect on how hot/cold someone gets.  Even in myself.  I gained 20 lbs over the past couple years (on purpose) and am cold way less often than I used to be.  My larger family members are perpetually hot, regardless of gender, and the ones that weren't always large also didn't used to run hot.  So I would say if you're cold all the time, gain some weight, and if you're hot, lose some :-)

Yes, that is true. It is the surface/volume relation. The bigger you are, the more volume to produce per surface area you have. That is also the reasons why animals in cold areas tend to be begger then their relatives in the warmer parts of the word. Just look at penguins.

Can't say I agree with that.  I'm in the best shape of my adult life, exercise rigorously 4+ times per week and find that I sweat more easily than I ever have.  On the contrary, I often hear overweight people complain that they are cold, probably due to poor circulation.

On the other hand that is true, too. Because the heat gets produced in your muscles a lot more then anywhere else. If you train so much your body might also have learned to anticipate and gets sweaty before it heats up to feverish temeratures.

They said "yeah, that's normal.  We try to keep it at 62-64 degrees."

17°C? In my socialist Germany that would be illegal except for heavy bodily work. Don't you have worker protection laws?

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

LOL I guess you are an engineer or programmer, not a manager, and never participated in leadership training. Using brains to solve a problem would make all that motivation schemes and example setting totally useless!

[Playing with Fire UK]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

LOL I guess you are an engineer or programmer, not a manager, and never participated in leadership training. Using brains to solve a problem would make all that motivation schemes and example setting totally useless!

Spot on: engineer!

[shelivesthedream]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

Good on you! As someone who runs cold, 18 degrees (65?) would be just about acceptable for me to spend the day sitting down in normal business attire IF I were permitted certain discreet cloning modifications at my desk (leg warmers and long fingerless gloves) and IF it were actually a constant 18 degrees. Any breeze or draught or window is likely to create not only a cold spot but also moving air. In these circumstances aiming for 20 and achieving 18 is a more likely scenario. If I were cold in an office and leg warmers and gloves had not helped, I would have no qualms about bringing in a space heater or electric blanket.

I did once work in an insanely hot office (centrally controlled heating that apparently went on on 1st September and off on 1st May and was always set to max. It was bloody uncomfortable but better than freezing my extremities off. Yes, you can't always take more clothing off, but if half the office is melting their computers with unauthorised heat sources, you have a problem.

[kayvent]

In my home city, about a decade ago, a strange (and unfortunate) stat occurred. We had an incredibly cold winter then a blazing summer. In the summer, we had more people die from hypothermia than heat stroke and in the winter more people expired from heat stroke than hypothermia. It was a sober reminder that sometimes we try to over-compensate.

[MightyAl]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

A good mechanical company could fix that problem in a week.  Over the years things get changed and moved and when minor repairs are made adjustments are made.  The system needs to be rebalanced and not only temp but air flow needs to be measured.  It really isn't a big deal.  I used to have to deal with it all the time when I was in charge of 4 large hospitals.  Of course if the system is more than 30 years old it might need to be torn out and completely replaced.

[Playing with Fire UK]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

A good mechanical company could fix that problem in a week.  Over the years things get changed and moved and when minor repairs are made adjustments are made.  The system needs to be rebalanced and not only temp but air flow needs to be measured.  It really isn't a big deal.  I used to have to deal with it all the time when I was in charge of 4 large hospitals.  Of course if the system is more than 30 years old it might need to be torn out and completely replaced.

The building is only 10 years old. Open plan floors with a central core (kinda like a doughnut), and walls of glass which allow in a lot of heat when it is sunny. The cooling comes from one line of vents, so the closer you are to that, the colder your desk is. Oh, and all the people important enough to decide to invest in staff comfort have their own offices with individual temperature control, so they DGAF.

[cerat0n1a]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

Every single office I have ever worked in (all filled with engineers & programmers) has adopted some variant of this plus various home made baffles made out of paper or cardboard to modify direction of air currents. We have a number of people who come to work in t-shirt & shorts every day of the year, others who will be in coats even at 21C+.

Minimum temperature in a UK workplace is supposed to be 16C, unless it's work outdoors or involving physical activity. There is no legal maximum (as people could be working in a furnace, bakery or similar location.)

Next week, I'll be working in India. Offices there are usually freezing, people often wear sweaters etc. to work and take them off as they leave in the evening. Seems to be a case of "we've got powerful aircon, so we're gonna use it"

[Inaya]

Can't say I agree with that.  I'm in the best shape of my adult life, exercise rigorously 4+ times per week and find that I sweat more easily than I ever have.  On the contrary, I often hear overweight people complain that they are cold, probably due to poor circulation.

On the other hand that is true, too. Because the heat gets produced in your muscles a lot more then anywhere else. If you train so much your body might also have learned to anticipate and gets sweaty before it heats up to feverish temeratures.

I'm not sure sweat is necessarily tied to ambient temperature either. I tend to be cold most of the time, and I am fairly petite. But I will sweat given the slightest exertion, whether it is 90F/32C or 20F/-7C. When I walk to the train in sub-freezing temperatures, I'll sweat--then I'm miserable on the train because the lukewarm breeze from the heating vents feels like a cold breeze. (Won't even discuss the summer when the train AC makes my office look positively toasty.)

[MrMoogle]

Even if that is true, and the setpoint was raised, what are men supposed to do?  Strip down to their underwear?

Learn to deal with heat?  If 75F instead of 72F can even be considered 'heat'.

Not possible to tell your body to shut off its sweat glands.

No but it can toughen up and adapt.  MMM and ERE have posts on this exact subject :-)

I'm not sure this is a good argument, since it could also apply to both women and men complaining.  It is unfortunate, that those who tend to be the warmest tend to have to wear the most and thickest clothes. 

If I didn't work off-site, I'd have to wear long sleeves year round.  Our dress code is very old-school: a lot of people still wear suit and ties daily where at a similar company they'd be in polo shirts, or even t-shirts in some cases. 

[Metta]

Even if that is true, and the setpoint was raised, what are men supposed to do?  Strip down to their underwear?

Learn to deal with heat?  If 75F instead of 72F can even be considered 'heat'.

Not possible to tell your body to shut off its sweat glands.

No but it can toughen up and adapt.  MMM and ERE have posts on this exact subject :-)

I'm not sure this is a good argument, since it could also apply to both women and men complaining.  It is unfortunate, that those who tend to be the warmest tend to have to wear the most and thickest clothes. 

Yes, it applies to complainypants of both genders. My office used to be too cold in the summer and too warm in the winter for me, partially because my house is kept colder in winter and warmer in summer to reduce energy usage. So going back and forth was a bit of a shock for my body each day. Once I realized that this was a matter of the mind as much as the body and decided to simply adjust wherever I was, things got better.

[zolotiyeruki]

Yes, it applies to complainypants of both genders. My office used to be too cold in the summer and too warm in the winter for me, partially because my house is kept colder in winter and warmer in summer to reduce energy usage. So going back and forth was a bit of a shock for my body each day. Once I realized that this was a matter of the mind as much as the body and decided to simply adjust wherever I was, things got better.

This!  At my old job, they kept the thermostat at 62-64 degrees in the summer (while it was 95 outside).  At home, our thermostat was at 75 or 78.  It was tough having to adjust to a 15 degree change twice every day.

[honeybbq]

I have a space heater in my office and no I'm not sharing. I work in a hospital and it's FREEZING. Plus it's a zillion year old building.

[frugalnacho]

Yes, it applies to complainypants of both genders. My office used to be too cold in the summer and too warm in the winter for me, partially because my house is kept colder in winter and warmer in summer to reduce energy usage. So going back and forth was a bit of a shock for my body each day. Once I realized that this was a matter of the mind as much as the body and decided to simply adjust wherever I was, things got better.

This!  At my old job, they kept the thermostat at 62-64 degrees in the summer (while it was 95 outside).  At home, our thermostat was at 75 or 78.  It was tough having to adjust to a 15 degree change twice every day.

Sounds more like a 30 degree change if you bike commute or like to spend time outside in the summer like I do.   

[ixtap]

Yes, it applies to complainypants of both genders. My office used to be too cold in the summer and too warm in the winter for me, partially because my house is kept colder in winter and warmer in summer to reduce energy usage. So going back and forth was a bit of a shock for my body each day. Once I realized that this was a matter of the mind as much as the body and decided to simply adjust wherever I was, things got better.

This!  At my old job, they kept the thermostat at 62-64 degrees in the summer (while it was 95 outside).  At home, our thermostat was at 75 or 78.  It was tough having to adjust to a 15 degree change twice every day.

Sounds more like a 30 degree change if you bike commute or like to spend time outside in the summer like I do.

In South Florida, only inhabited spaces had AC. I had to go through at least a 15 degree + humidity differential change to go to the bathroom, much less walking across campus to teach a class.

[mm1970]

Even if that is true, and the setpoint was raised, what are men supposed to do?  Strip down to their underwear?

Learn to deal with heat?  If 75F instead of 72F can even be considered 'heat'.

Not possible to tell your body to shut off its sweat glands.

No but it can toughen up and adapt.  MMM and ERE have posts on this exact subject :-)

I'm not sure this is a good argument, since it could also apply to both women and men complaining.  It is unfortunate, that those who tend to be the warmest tend to have to wear the most and thickest clothes. 

Yes, it applies to complainypants of both genders. My office used to be too cold in the summer and too warm in the winter for me, partially because my house is kept colder in winter and warmer in summer to reduce energy usage. So going back and forth was a bit of a shock for my body each day. Once I realized that this was a matter of the mind as much as the body and decided to simply adjust wherever I was, things got better.

I'm sure everyone here has an exception to the "suck it up" for hot flashes, right?

[Davnasty]

I'm sure everyone here has an exception to the "suck it up" for hot flashes, right?

Serious question, how much does setting the AC a few degrees cooler help?

If you're talking about at home I guess you can set it to whatever you want though.

[Metta]

Even if that is true, and the setpoint was raised, what are men supposed to do?  Strip down to their underwear?

Learn to deal with heat?  If 75F instead of 72F can even be considered 'heat'.

Not possible to tell your body to shut off its sweat glands.

No but it can toughen up and adapt.  MMM and ERE have posts on this exact subject :-)

I'm not sure this is a good argument, since it could also apply to both women and men complaining.  It is unfortunate, that those who tend to be the warmest tend to have to wear the most and thickest clothes. 

Yes, it applies to complainypants of both genders. My office used to be too cold in the summer and too warm in the winter for me, partially because my house is kept colder in winter and warmer in summer to reduce energy usage. So going back and forth was a bit of a shock for my body each day. Once I realized that this was a matter of the mind as much as the body and decided to simply adjust wherever I was, things got better.

I'm sure everyone here has an exception to the "suck it up" for hot flashes, right?

From what I could tell when I went through them, it really didn't matter what the temperature was set at. Happily I didn't have the sort that invaded sleep, though from what I remember I got almost no sleep anyway at that point of my life. What worked was icy towels and ERT.

[mustachepungoeshere]

I suspect temperature complaints in my office would drastically reduce if we bribed the resident temperature commentator to keep her mouth shut when she notices a change.

Yes, the office gets cooler of an afternoon. We all know this. But it's only when someone (always the same person) points it out that the complaints start. I'm certain some wouldn't notice if left to their own devices.

My solution is to keep a huge wrap in my desk drawer. Instant cardigan, lap rug, whatever I need.

I do feel sorry for the blokes though. As others have said, much easier to warm up than cool down.

[Megma]

In our office, the issue is the uneven distribution of heat or cooling, rather than the inability to heat or cool. I'm baffled why we don't map out areas that are warmer or cooler, and offer people desks based on their temperature preference. I got my team to do that and it stopped the majority of the temperature complaints.

Just gonna chime in on the foam. I made this exact suggestion a few years ago when we totally re-arranged our office space and my coworkers thought it was crazy. I am still convinced it's a great idea, we don't need to sit next to those we work with, we have phones and email.

We have 2-3 people here (of 10-12 total, small office) who like the office really cold year-round (so lots of A/C very little heat) and the office is for various reasons, temped for them. The rest of us are freezing.

Almost 1/2 the staff have space heaters. This started when I came to work here. I worked one day and brought in a blanket because it was freezing. The top boss saw me using my blanket was like "omg are you cold?" and brought me a space heater from the closet. Since then almost every member of staff has had one ordered for them (mine was/is a relic of some previous chilly employee). I have the heater, a work sweater that stays here and a blanket because it's about 67 degrees in here year-round.

I don't think it's unreasonable to say that you shouldn't use so much AC in the summer that I need more than cardigan over my outdoor weather appropriate outfit (I'm not wearing tights in summer bc it would be hot as F when I was outside). It's horrible for the environment and we have a very flexible dress code for men and women. There are no men wearing suits here. I will put on a cardigan that is fine but should I need a blanket in my office? Let alone a space heater to keep my hands warm enough to type?

In the winter you can argue having the heat low and wearing more clothes makes sense and I'm on board with that. That is environmentally prudent. I will wear tights, boots, sweater - it's reasonable, it's cold outside.

But I'm sorry do you really need so much AC that people nearby are using blankets and heaters regularly? 72 degrees is more than a reasonable temp in summer.

[Ders]

Love this thread.

I have a coworker who stayed up to 3 A.M. to pre-order the iPhone X. I believe he's either gotten every generation or every other that comes out. Some people like their tech, but this guy has said he has over $100,000 student from switching majors as well as going back to get his masters in Healthcare Informatics. It helped him get this pretty well paying job for the area.

The thing that drives me NUTS is I'll ask him what his family (wife & daughter) did over the weekend and almost every time they went shopping. Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

[RidetheRain]

Love this thread.

I have a coworker who stayed up to 3 A.M. to pre-order the iPhone X. I believe he's either gotten every generation or every other that comes out. Some people like their tech, but this guy has said he has over $100,000 student from switching majors as well as going back to get his masters in Healthcare Informatics. It helped him get this pretty well paying job for the area.

The thing that drives me NUTS is I'll ask him what his family (wife & daughter) did over the weekend and almost every time they went shopping. Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

Spoiled child! My coworker has one of those. He told me the other day that his wife has bought SIX Halloween costumes for their daughter (3 years old I think?) because the daughter likes to try them on and look in the mirror. I foresee this child becoming terrible as she gets older.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

Yes!

My friends' kids expect something every time they go shopping, even if it's just for groceries.

And the expectation that the kids need to be entertained every day of weekends and school holidays is such that when they didn't leave the house one day and just stayed home, she "had to" make it up to them the next day by buying them a new movie on Bluray. ಠ_ಠ

[kimmarg]

Love this thread.

I have a coworker who stayed up to 3 A.M. to pre-order the iPhone X. I believe he's either gotten every generation or every other that comes out. Some people like their tech, but this guy has said he has over $100,000 student from switching majors as well as going back to get his masters in Healthcare Informatics. It helped him get this pretty well paying job for the area.

The thing that drives me NUTS is I'll ask him what his family (wife & daughter) did over the weekend and almost every time they went shopping. Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

Spoiled child! My coworker has one of those. He told me the other day that his wife has bought SIX Halloween costumes for their daughter (3 years old I think?) because the daughter likes to try them on and look in the mirror. I foresee this child becoming terrible as she gets older.

I just bought 5 halloween costumes... from goodwill.  1 for halloween and 4 to go in a 'dress up' box for Christmas

[infogoon]

I just bought 5 halloween costumes... from goodwill.  1 for halloween and 4 to go in a 'dress up' box for Christmas

Our kids love playing dress-up. The box gets restocked at 90% off the week after Halloween every year.

[former player]

Love this thread.

I have a coworker who stayed up to 3 A.M. to pre-order the iPhone X. I believe he's either gotten every generation or every other that comes out. Some people like their tech, but this guy has said he has over $100,000 student from switching majors as well as going back to get his masters in Healthcare Informatics. It helped him get this pretty well paying job for the area.

The thing that drives me NUTS is I'll ask him what his family (wife & daughter) did over the weekend and almost every time they went shopping. Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

It's shopping as a hobby.  It's not even about owning the thing any more, it's about the process of looking and buying.

[frooglepoodle]

Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

Yes!

My friends' kids expect something every time they go shopping, even if it's just for groceries.

And the expectation that the kids need to be entertained every day of weekends and school holidays is such that when they didn't leave the house one day and just stayed home, she "had to" make it up to them the next day by buying them a new movie on Bluray. ಠ_ಠ

The grocery store we go to most frequently has a basket of free fruit for kids. Which is a nice idea in theory, but my son now expects a piece of fruit every time we grocery shop. Ugh.

[Linea_Norway]

Also he says they HAVE to buy their daughter something small when they do or else!

Yes!

My friends' kids expect something every time they go shopping, even if it's just for groceries.

And the expectation that the kids need to be entertained every day of weekends and school holidays is such that when they didn't leave the house one day and just stayed home, she "had to" make it up to them the next day by buying them a new movie on Bluray. ಠ_ಠ

The grocery store we go to most frequently has a basket of free fruit for kids. Which is a nice idea in theory, but my son now expects a piece of fruit every time we grocery shop. Ugh.

Once during a summer vacation my friend and I went to the local town for shopping. She mentioned there that she had to buy something for her son. I reminded her of the fact that his aunt had just given him a present the day before. But that was obviously not an argument, neither the fact that there was no reason to celibrate anything.

[Just Joe]

My mother's family have been farm owners for the last century and a half. That's how I know how stubborn they are. They do very well financially most years, however they focus mostly on niche markets with a high margin, and they're committed to mixed farming. When something is no longer profitable, they drop it.

The changes in the egg industry actually caused my grandmother to quit the egg business because she couldn't be decent to the birds and also turn a profit. Industry-wise it's been a gigantic race to the bottom.

Sometimes I think our whole friggin' economy is a race to the bottom b/c of our American fascination with the absolutely lowest prices while ignoring all else. Our country is not playing the long game - if it ever was - and we ought to be making choices with the long game in mind.

[shelivesthedream]

My mother's family have been farm owners for the last century and a half. That's how I know how stubborn they are. They do very well financially most years, however they focus mostly on niche markets with a high margin, and they're committed to mixed farming. When something is no longer profitable, they drop it.

The changes in the egg industry actually caused my grandmother to quit the egg business because she couldn't be decent to the birds and also turn a profit. Industry-wise it's been a gigantic race to the bottom.

Sometimes I think our whole friggin' economy is a race to the bottom b/c of our American fascination with the absolutely lowest prices while ignoring all else. Our country is not playing the long game - if it ever was - and we ought to be making choices with the long game in mind.

I wonder if it's to do with the myth of superabundance that the first European settlers had - that the New World was so huge and fertile and full of natural resources that there's no way they could ever use it all up.

[boy_bye]

My mother's family have been farm owners for the last century and a half. That's how I know how stubborn they are. They do very well financially most years, however they focus mostly on niche markets with a high margin, and they're committed to mixed farming. When something is no longer profitable, they drop it.

The changes in the egg industry actually caused my grandmother to quit the egg business because she couldn't be decent to the birds and also turn a profit. Industry-wise it's been a gigantic race to the bottom.

Sometimes I think our whole friggin' economy is a race to the bottom b/c of our American fascination with the absolutely lowest prices while ignoring all else. Our country is not playing the long game - if it ever was - and we ought to be making choices with the long game in mind.

I wonder if it's to do with the myth of superabundance that the first European settlers had - that the New World was so huge and fertile and full of natural resources that there's no way they could ever use it all up.

I think it's largely about the fact that money is the thing we keep score by at this point in history -- not decency, honesty, achievement, innovation, compassion, self-actualization. Nope. All our culture keeps score by is money. Which means that every other value gets thrown under the bus automatically.

[a286]

This is the same guy from a few pages back who won't bother with the effort to save the $500 on his insurance premiums.

Background: At work we get quarterly bonuses. These are based on location performance as a whole on certain goals. We score 0-5 and then you get that percent of your salary for the quarter as your bonus. There's also a flat amount for being safe each quarter. We have two safety focus meetings each month. To be eligible for this bonus, you have to attend two meetings during the quarter and also fill out two safety cards a month, which takes about 60 seconds.

I mentioned that I needed to do my safety cards today, since it's the last day of the first month of the new quarter. Coworker: I haven't done mine. I don't need that money, why should I care about that?

We haven't had a great year so we've only gotten 1% or 2% bonuses, but I'm still going to get $1600 for the year, maybe a couple hundred more once I find out how we scored for the third quarter. I just don't get it. You even get paid an hour of overtime to go to the meetings.

[fruitfly]

a286 you should have said "Great, then can you give me $1600?" since he doesn't need it. :P

[LennStar]

a286 you should have said "Great, then can you give me $1600?" since he doesn't need it. :P

No, he should have asked if he can get the whole pay of that coworker who doesn't need the money.

[a286]

a286 you should have said "Great, then can you give me $1600?" since he doesn't need it. :P

No, he should have asked if he can get the whole pay of that coworker who doesn't need the money.

and have him go ahead and throw  in the $500 for the health insurance premiums too, because why not?

[BuffaloStache]

This is the same guy from a few pages back who won't bother with the effort to save the $500 on his insurance premiums.

Background: At work we get quarterly bonuses. These are based on location performance as a whole on certain goals. We score 0-5 and then you get that percent of your salary for the quarter as your bonus. There's also a flat amount for being safe each quarter. We have two safety focus meetings each month. To be eligible for this bonus, you have to attend two meetings during the quarter and also fill out two safety cards a month, which takes about 60 seconds.

I mentioned that I needed to do my safety cards today, since it's the last day of the first month of the new quarter. Coworker: I haven't done mine. I don't need that money, why should I care about that?

We haven't had a great year so we've only gotten 1% or 2% bonuses, but I'm still going to get $1600 for the year, maybe a couple hundred more once I find out how we scored for the third quarter. I just don't get it. You even get paid an hour of overtime to go to the meetings.

This seems like the type of person that wouldn't take full advantage of company 401k matching, or other completely free money opportunities that sometimes come up in the working world.

[formerlydivorcedmom]

My favorite work story, from a few years ago...

CW bought a new house in the suburbs and commuted via the toll road (most of us did; our employer was located on the toll highway and Houston traffic is evil).

Six months later, she announced she was changing her start time to 30 minutes later, because she refused to take the toll road anymore, and it took 60 minutes to travel the 15 miles on the free roads.

You see, a lawyer had contacted her.  She owed >$10k to the toll authority.

The credit card on file with the toll authority had expired.
.but she didn't see the MULTITUDE of notices they mailed
..because the address on file with the toll authority was her sister's house (where she had stayed temporarily years before)
...And she never picked up her mail from her sister's house (despite her sister's nagging)
....Because if it was really important, someone would call her (so sister threw it all away unopened at the end of the month)
.....AND she never checked her credit card statement, so she didn't notice that she wasn't being charged for tolls every month. 

There was a $25 fine for every time she went through a toll booth without a way to pay for it...and she went through 4 toll booths a day, 4-5 days a week, for months.

I had never seen her that angry.  At the TOLL AUTHORITY.  Because, obviously, they should have tried harder to let her know that her credit card had expired/she was racking up fines. Or, at the very least, they should have waived the fines when she said she was sorry and fixed the problem.

We talked her out of calling one of the local television station.  She thought they've be as outraged as she was and help her get a deal.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

My favorite work story, from a few years ago...

CW bought a new house in the suburbs and commuted via the toll road (most of us did; our employer was located on the toll highway and Houston traffic is evil).

Six months later, she announced she was changing her start time to 30 minutes later, because she refused to take the toll road anymore, and it took 60 minutes to travel the 15 miles on the free roads.

You see, a lawyer had contacted her.  She owed >$10k to the toll authority.

The credit card on file with the toll authority had expired.
.but she didn't see the MULTITUDE of notices they mailed
..because the address on file with the toll authority was her sister's house (where she had stayed temporarily years before)
...And she never picked up her mail from her sister's house (despite her sister's nagging)
....Because if it was really important, someone would call her (so sister threw it all away unopened at the end of the month)
.....AND she never checked her credit card statement, so she didn't notice that she wasn't being charged for tolls every month. 

There was a $25 fine for every time she went through a toll booth without a way to pay for it...and she went through 4 toll booths a day, 4-5 days a week, for months.

I had never seen her that angry.  At the TOLL AUTHORITY. Because, obviously, they should have tried harder to let her know that her credit card had expired/she was racking up fines. Or, at the very least, they should have waived the fines when she said she was sorry and fixed the problem.

We talked her out of calling one of the local television station.  She thought they've be as outraged as she was and help her get a deal.

This is rich. I suppose there's nothing quite like screwing someone else over for months on end, ignoring every possible opportunity to make it right, pooh-poohing everybody who tries to alert you to a problem, and then blaming the person, company, or organization you screwed over for doing what it takes to stop being screwed over. It's like being angry at a bank or credit union because there were consequences to setting up overdraft protection and deliberately taking cash withdrawals from an account you knew to be empty, repeatedly overdrawing it.

[honeybbq]

This is the same guy from a few pages back who won't bother with the effort to save the $500 on his insurance premiums.

Background: At work we get quarterly bonuses. These are based on location performance as a whole on certain goals. We score 0-5 and then you get that percent of your salary for the quarter as your bonus. There's also a flat amount for being safe each quarter. We have two safety focus meetings each month. To be eligible for this bonus, you have to attend two meetings during the quarter and also fill out two safety cards a month, which takes about 60 seconds.

I mentioned that I needed to do my safety cards today, since it's the last day of the first month of the new quarter. Coworker: I haven't done mine. I don't need that money, why should I care about that?

We haven't had a great year so we've only gotten 1% or 2% bonuses, but I'm still going to get $1600 for the year, maybe a couple hundred more once I find out how we scored for the third quarter. I just don't get it. You even get paid an hour of overtime to go to the meetings.

Why are they working if they don't need the money?? *head explodes*

[fuzzy math]

My 60 yr old coworker claims she has to work forever because she "didn't know our job offered a 401k" and couldn't save up money therefore. She says it wasn't available 10+ yrs ago when she started. This is a very large company and I can guarantee there was a plan back then. Its on the website, its in the next years benefits guide that gets distributed all over, and all the retirement seminars center about how to manage your pension and your 401k etc. From the way this claim was made, I am assuming she still wasn't enrolled when she was saying it.

[RidetheRain]

My 60 yr old coworker claims she has to work forever because she "didn't know our job offered a 401k" and couldn't save up money therefore. She says it wasn't available 10+ yrs ago when she started. This is a very large company and I can guarantee there was a plan back then. Its on the website, its in the next years benefits guide that gets distributed all over, and all the retirement seminars center about how to manage your pension and your 401k etc. From the way this claim was made, I am assuming she still wasn't enrolled when she was saying it.

See this drives me nuts for two reasons
1. The intentional ignorance
2. The fact that you are allowed to save money NOT in a 401k. Like in a Roth. Or -gasp- a bank account.

[dandarc]

My 60 yr old coworker claims she has to work forever because she "didn't know our job offered a 401k" and couldn't save up money therefore. She says it wasn't available 10+ yrs ago when she started. This is a very large company and I can guarantee there was a plan back then. Its on the website, its in the next years benefits guide that gets distributed all over, and all the retirement seminars center about how to manage your pension and your 401k etc. From the way this claim was made, I am assuming she still wasn't enrolled when she was saying it.

See this drives me nuts for two reasons
1. The intentional ignorance
2. The fact that you are allowed to save money NOT in a 401k. Like in a Roth. Or -gasp- a bank account.

I'd say those 2 items are really the same thing.

[a286]

This is the same guy from a few pages back who won't bother with the effort to save the $500 on his insurance premiums.

Background: At work we get quarterly bonuses. These are based on location performance as a whole on certain goals. We score 0-5 and then you get that percent of your salary for the quarter as your bonus. There's also a flat amount for being safe each quarter. We have two safety focus meetings each month. To be eligible for this bonus, you have to attend two meetings during the quarter and also fill out two safety cards a month, which takes about 60 seconds.

I mentioned that I needed to do my safety cards today, since it's the last day of the first month of the new quarter. Coworker: I haven't done mine. I don't need that money, why should I care about that?

We haven't had a great year so we've only gotten 1% or 2% bonuses, but I'm still going to get $1600 for the year, maybe a couple hundred more once I find out how we scored for the third quarter. I just don't get it. You even get paid an hour of overtime to go to the meetings.

Why are they working if they don't need the money?? *head explodes*

I think he needs the paycheck, he just can't be bothered to make an extra $2k! He also works more than me and works the night shift, so gets an extra $0.30 an hour for that. So that would makes his over $2k.

Oh, and if you go to at least 14 of the meetings in person, and do a make up sheet for the ones you miss, you get two extra days off. Guess what, he can't be bothered to do that either. I'm already going to at least 8 a year, so you can bet I'm attending a few extra for more time off.

[ketchup]

This is the same guy from a few pages back who won't bother with the effort to save the $500 on his insurance premiums.

Background: At work we get quarterly bonuses. These are based on location performance as a whole on certain goals. We score 0-5 and then you get that percent of your salary for the quarter as your bonus. There's also a flat amount for being safe each quarter. We have two safety focus meetings each month. To be eligible for this bonus, you have to attend two meetings during the quarter and also fill out two safety cards a month, which takes about 60 seconds.

I mentioned that I needed to do my safety cards today, since it's the last day of the first month of the new quarter. Coworker: I haven't done mine. I don't need that money, why should I care about that?

We haven't had a great year so we've only gotten 1% or 2% bonuses, but I'm still going to get $1600 for the year, maybe a couple hundred more once I find out how we scored for the third quarter. I just don't get it. You even get paid an hour of overtime to go to the meetings.

Why are they working if they don't need the money?? *head explodes*

I think he needs the paycheck, he just can't be bothered to make an extra $2k! He also works more than me and works the night shift, so gets an extra $0.30 an hour for that. So that would makes his over $2k.

Oh, and if you go to at least 14 of the meetings in person, and do a make up sheet for the ones you miss, you get two extra days off. Guess what, he can't be bothered to do that either. I'm already going to at least 8 a year, so you can bet I'm attending a few extra for more time off.

Offer to do his cards for him for a 50% cut.

[BuffaloStache]

...

I think he needs the paycheck, he just can't be bothered to make an extra $2k! He also works more than me and works the night shift, so gets an extra $0.30 an hour for that. So that would makes his over $2k.

Oh, and if you go to at least 14 of the meetings in person, and do a make up sheet for the ones you miss, you get two extra days off. Guess what, he can't be bothered to do that either. I'm already going to at least 8 a year, so you can bet I'm attending a few extra for more time off.

Offer to do his cards for him for a 50% cut.

This is genius! Do ittttt. Tell him you'll complete the "make-up sheets" for the meetings he doesn't attend too, that way you can just fill out a couple of forms and earn an extra buck.

[fuzzy math]

I think he needs the paycheck, he just can't be bothered to make an extra $2k! He also works more than me and works the night shift, so gets an extra $0.30 an hour for that. So that would makes his over $2k.

Oh, and if you go to at least 14 of the meetings in person, and do a make up sheet for the ones you miss, you get two extra days off. Guess what, he can't be bothered to do that either. I'm already going to at least 8 a year, so you can bet I'm attending a few extra for more time off.

My job has one of those health incentives where you earn points by doing things like logging your miles / steps / biking (they reimburse for pedometers and fit bits), getting a flu shot, taking online courses in meditation stress management etc. Takes about 2 hours of total work (outside of the walking you'd normally be doing in your day if you're not completely sedentary) and you get $450. Only a small fraction of people do it. I mentioned it to my team and they all seemed unaware, or that it was too hard to complete. DERP

[dragoncar]

My favorite work story, from a few years ago...

CW bought a new house in the suburbs and commuted via the toll road (most of us did; our employer was located on the toll highway and Houston traffic is evil).

Six months later, she announced she was changing her start time to 30 minutes later, because she refused to take the toll road anymore, and it took 60 minutes to travel the 15 miles on the free roads.

You see, a lawyer had contacted her.  She owed >$10k to the toll authority.

The credit card on file with the toll authority had expired.
.but she didn't see the MULTITUDE of notices they mailed
..because the address on file with the toll authority was her sister's house (where she had stayed temporarily years before)
...And she never picked up her mail from her sister's house (despite her sister's nagging)
....Because if it was really important, someone would call her (so sister threw it all away unopened at the end of the month)
.....AND she never checked her credit card statement, so she didn't notice that she wasn't being charged for tolls every month. 

There was a $25 fine for every time she went through a toll booth without a way to pay for it...and she went through 4 toll booths a day, 4-5 days a week, for months.

I had never seen her that angry.  At the TOLL AUTHORITY.  Because, obviously, they should have tried harder to let her know that her credit card had expired/she was racking up fines. Or, at the very least, they should have waived the fines when she said she was sorry and fixed the problem.

We talked her out of calling one of the local television station.  She thought they've be as outraged as she was and help her get a deal.

I have a little sympathy.  If they are fining her for tolls, they should send letters to the address her license plates are registered to, not the address the toll tag is registered to.  If her car was registered to the wrong address, well that’s a much bigger problem, since it’s actually the law to notify dmv but not so much the toll authority.

This is probably colored by my personal experience being that toll authorities have the crappiest service and systems on earth.  I’ve had my tag disabled because my credit card was expired— but I still had plenty of cash value on the tag. 

[JordanOfGilead]

My 60 yr old coworker claims she has to work forever because she "didn't know our job offered a 401k" and couldn't save up money therefore. She says it wasn't available 10+ yrs ago when she started. This is a very large company and I can guarantee there was a plan back then. Its on the website, its in the next years benefits guide that gets distributed all over, and all the retirement seminars center about how to manage your pension and your 401k etc. From the way this claim was made, I am assuming she still wasn't enrolled when she was saying it.

See this drives me nuts for two reasons
1. The intentional ignorance
2. The fact that you are allowed to save money NOT in a 401k. Like in a Roth. Or -gasp- a bank account.

I'd say those 2 items are really the same thing.

A Roth and a bank account? Explain.

[formerlydivorcedmom]

That's a good point about the license plate registration. 

In Texas, we renew our registration once a year, and I don't think I've ever notified the county when I moved; I waited until I got the annual notice forwarded to me.  It always had a section for changing your address.  I did change my driver's license address, but that's not connected to my license plates.

If she was doing the same thing, it's possible her registration wasn't due yet (since she'd only moved 6 months before), and the fine letters were going to her old apartment and being thrown away by the new resident.

If you have a toll tag, it tries to read that first, and the toll tags aren't always paid by the car owner.  I bought my then-fiance a toll tag for Christmas while we were dating and paid all the tolls for him to come visit me before we moved in together.  If there was an issue with the tag, it really should have been my problem, not his.