Overheard at Work

[paddedhat]

I am quite blunt. But (assuming you are in the States, just because of sheer numbers), we Brits are normally quite reserved about commenting on other people. Yet in the States recently on 10 day holiday TWO different strangers told me I was walking too slow*.

People there seemed (in my brief interactions) happy to tell off perfect strangers, which, in all my life, I've never come across here. Sure, I've rolled my eyes at people walking slowly, and I'm sure people have done it about me. But no-one has tapped me on the shoulder and actually *told* me I'm doing something wrong on the street.

Yet, with people I know, doing crazy things, I would definitely say something.

I don't know if this is an interesting social observation, or anecdata gone wrong. So strange to me that you don't all say "WTF?" to their face. Or do you?

*I'm pregnant with twins. I'm going as fast as I can! And I'm sticking to the very edge of buildings, so please, just go around me. I'm not waddling down the middle taking up the whole sidewalk, I'm deliberately trying to stay out of people's way. I know I'm slow, I'm in pain and it's annoying me too! /rant

Being a self absorbed asshole is a regional thing here in the states. For example, my wife barely walks successfully, using a cane. She is totally paralysed on one side due to a stroke. In the two decades following the stroke, while living in an exurb of NYC.On at least four or five occasions, she was rammed with shopping carts while grocery shopping. One hit was even violent enough that she lost her balance and caught herself as she was falling.  OTOH, while grocery shopping in Asheville NC,  in one trip she had four different people offer to assist her with everything from pushing her cart to reaching items.

 We left the NYC area a few years back. As you can imagine I miss it like  somebody would miss a raging Herpes infection.

[theadvicist]

Confirmation bias being strong, paddedhat, your story has stoked my fire - I was in Philadelphia and NYC. I've spent a lot of time in the States, but never walking this slowly, so I can't really compare to other regions! Although (more confirmation bias) I did once lie down on a bench in an exhibit in Nashville TN (you can guess why... I was hungover) and within seconds about 4 people were asking if I was ok and needed assistance. I actually sat up because I was so embarrassed people were making a fuss of me. My husband had just wandered off to look at something else and was happy to leave me be!

I'm still intrigued as to whether people say anything to the people doing crazy things money-wise. I wonder if people are more restrained because it's 'overheard at WORK'? I guess I would be politer (but only marginally) with a co-worker than a friend or family member.

[Vindicated]

I read these stories and I honestly don't know how you people don't say something. Is it a cultural thing?

On several occasions, when a coworker told me about their extravagant night out at bars and casinos, I've responded, "Oh, do you want me to do the math to see how much that delayed your retirement?"

But this is a coworker that knows I'm frugal, and we give each other a hard time about each other's lifestyles in a friendly manner.

So, I think it really depends on the relationship you have with the person, and if you know they won't be insulted.  I wouldn't say the same thing to 95% of the other coworkers here.

[ingrownstudentloans]

CAlthough (more confirmation bias) I did once lie down on a bench in an exhibit in Nashville TN (you can guess why... I was hungover) and within seconds about 4 people were asking if I was ok and needed assistance.

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself in my (adopted) town.  As a recovering Yankee who spent some time in South Florida, I can say, they people in Nashville are great  Y'all come back now!

[MinnieAG]

My coworker recently launched a "Go Fund Me" page -- she claims that she and her family will lose their house without help from fundraising.

This is the same lady who walks into the office a few times per week with Starbucks and eats fast food almost every day for lunch. She has her hair colored and cut at a premiere salon nearby... running at least $150 each visit. Worst of all?? They recently decided to have another child and are due this fall.

What????????

I read these stories and I honestly don't know how you people don't say something. Is it a cultural thing? If someone asked me for money to 'save their house' whilst drinking a takeaway coffee I would literally look them in the eye, blink, and say, "are you kidding me? You think you might lose your house, you have a kid on the way, and you can afford coffee?".

I am quite blunt. But (assuming you are in the States, just because of sheer numbers), we Brits are normally quite reserved about commenting on other people. Yet in the States recently on 10 day holiday TWO different strangers told me I was walking too slow*.

People there seemed (in my brief interactions) happy to tell off perfect strangers, which, in all my life, I've never come across here. Sure, I've rolled my eyes at people walking slowly, and I'm sure people have done it about me. But no-one has tapped me on the shoulder and actually *told* me I'm doing something wrong on the street.

Yet, with people I know, doing crazy things, I would definitely say something.

I don't know if this is an interesting social observation, or anecdata gone wrong. So strange to me that you don't all say "WTF?" to their face. Or do you?

*I'm pregnant with twins. I'm going as fast as I can! And I'm sticking to the very edge of buildings, so please, just go around me. I'm not waddling down the middle taking up the whole sidewalk, I'm deliberately trying to stay out of people's way. I know I'm slow, I'm in pain and it's annoying me too! /rant

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

[theadvicist]

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

Ha ha, obviously I'm very glad you share them here! And I am in awe of your restraint (and lolling at Minnesota Nice).

[merula]

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

Ha ha, obviously I'm very glad you share them here! And I am in awe of your restraint (and lolling at Minnesota Nice).

To clarify, from another Minnesotan, "Minnesota Nice" is NOT NICE. Sure, it means that you won't say mean things directly to people's faces, but it always includes the talking about the thing behind someone's back. (In MinneAG's example, that's the MMM/husband part.)

Also note, if someone from Minnesota tells you "Oh, that's...interesting", the thing is not interesting, it's stupid. This is often misunderstood, like when people from outside the South think "Bless his heart" is a nice thing to say.

[MgoSam]

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

Ha ha, obviously I'm very glad you share them here! And I am in awe of your restraint (and lolling at Minnesota Nice).

To clarify, from another Minnesotan, "Minnesota Nice" is NOT NICE. Sure, it means that you won't say mean things directly to people's faces, but it always includes the talking about the thing behind someone's back. (In MinneAG's example, that's the MMM/husband part.)

Also note, if someone from Minnesota tells you "Oh, that's...interesting", the thing is not interesting, it's stupid. This is often misunderstood, like when people from outside the South think "Bless his heart" is a nice thing to say.

Another Minnesotan chiming in, another phrase I'll hear from time to time is, "Well that's different," which translates to meaning, "It SUCKS!" I personally don't like the MN Nice as it is way too passive aggressive for my taste.

[cheapass]

My 27yo co-worker, who I consider a good friend, called me over to help him with his 401k - yay. He's on pace to make $65k+ in a LCOL area - double yay.

Well so far, due to his payment system (salary plus commission) and the fact he's only contributing the minimum, he has put $1400 into his plan for the whole year. Even sadder was that he thought he was doing great.  He has about $7k in it and has been making over $45k a year for the past 5-6yrs with only a 6.6% return in one of the predetermined options.

He has no idea how 401k's work. How the stock market works (I'm not an expert but I try to learn) nor how much it will help him in the long run to put in as much as possible. I tried to get him to go from the 4% he's at, to at least a 7% and then continue to up it in 2-3% increments. He laughed his ass off and said that wasn't going to happen since he was thinking of buying a motorcycle since he just sold his old one.

I smiled and punched him on the arm and told him not to bother me with financial shit until he was ready and went back to work.

If you really want to help him, help him understand the concept of opportunity cost. i.e. if I invest an extra $X/month that's Y years I don't have to work on the back-end of my career when I'm old and tired... or, maybe it's better to think about it in terms of "if I spend $X/month on stupid shit that's an extra Y years I'll have to work to pay for it..."

[Vindicated]

I use the Pretirement App posted about in another thread.  It shows how any spending decision will affect your retirement date.

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/'pretirement'-app-instantly-converts-spending-to-fi-date-delta/

[cheapass]

I use the Pretirement App posted about in another thread.  It shows how any spending decision will affect your retirement date.

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/'pretirement'-app-instantly-converts-spending-to-fi-date-delta/

I love that app! I use it all the time on my wife - "THAT'S ANOTHER WEEK IN THE CUBICLE!!"

[mm1970]

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

Ha ha, obviously I'm very glad you share them here! And I am in awe of your restraint (and lolling at Minnesota Nice).

To clarify, from another Minnesotan, "Minnesota Nice" is NOT NICE. Sure, it means that you won't say mean things directly to people's faces, but it always includes the talking about the thing behind someone's back. (In MinneAG's example, that's the MMM/husband part.)

Also note, if someone from Minnesota tells you "Oh, that's...interesting", the thing is not interesting, it's stupid. This is often misunderstood, like when people from outside the South think "Bless his heart" is a nice thing to say.

Another Minnesotan chiming in, another phrase I'll hear from time to time is, "Well that's different," which translates to meaning, "It SUCKS!" I personally don't like the MN Nice as it is way too passive aggressive for my taste.

Bless your heart.

[MinnieAG]

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

Ha ha, obviously I'm very glad you share them here! And I am in awe of your restraint (and lolling at Minnesota Nice).

To clarify, from another Minnesotan, "Minnesota Nice" is NOT NICE. Sure, it means that you won't say mean things directly to people's faces, but it always includes the talking about the thing behind someone's back. (In MinneAG's example, that's the MMM/husband part.)

Also note, if someone from Minnesota tells you "Oh, that's...interesting", the thing is not interesting, it's stupid. This is often misunderstood, like when people from outside the South think "Bless his heart" is a nice thing to say.

Another Minnesotan chiming in, another phrase I'll hear from time to time is, "Well that's different," which translates to meaning, "It SUCKS!" I personally don't like the MN Nice as it is way too passive aggressive for my taste.

Bless your heart.

Ha!! Loving all my fellow Minnesotans chiming in!! Cheers, friends!

[Vindicated]

I'm from Minnesota, and generally I would say that most people here fit the "Minnesota Nice" stereotype. I would NEVER say something to her face, even if she was a close friend. However, I'll complain about in on MMM and laugh about it with my husband! :)

Ha ha, obviously I'm very glad you share them here! And I am in awe of your restraint (and lolling at Minnesota Nice).

To clarify, from another Minnesotan, "Minnesota Nice" is NOT NICE. Sure, it means that you won't say mean things directly to people's faces, but it always includes the talking about the thing behind someone's back. (In MinneAG's example, that's the MMM/husband part.)

Also note, if someone from Minnesota tells you "Oh, that's...interesting", the thing is not interesting, it's stupid. This is often misunderstood, like when people from outside the South think "Bless his heart" is a nice thing to say.

Another Minnesotan chiming in, another phrase I'll hear from time to time is, "Well that's different," which translates to meaning, "It SUCKS!" I personally don't like the MN Nice as it is way too passive aggressive for my taste.

Bless your heart.

Ha!! Loving all my fellow Minnesotans chiming in!! Cheers, friends!

This is all very interesting... ;)

[RidetheRain]

I love my coworkers and they are generally very nice, balanced, non-crazy people. But one just broadcast the most alarming series of decisions to the office:

Week 1: I want a big dog to go hiking with.
-Awesome, if you can afford it then you should!

Week 2: Look here's the dog I want. He's free from the local shelter.
-Great, save a life.

Week 3: Turns out I only want a dog because I want to break up with my live-in boyfriend.
-Not good. Do not buy a dog

Week 4: I have broken up with the boyfriend over the fact that I want a dog, but he's not moving out yet because I can't afford the apartment alone
-That's nice of him

Week 5 (now): I have purchased a tiny purse dog for $1100. Also, I'm quitting.
-!!!!!!

[BuffaloStache]

...
Week 5 (now): I have purchased a tiny purse dog for $1100. Also, I'm quitting.
-!!!!!!

To that coworker I would say, "bless your heart". :-P

[Tigerpine]

I love my coworkers and they are generally very nice, balanced, non-crazy people. But one just broadcast the most alarming series of decisions to the office:

Week 1: I want a big dog to go hiking with.
-Awesome, if you can afford it then you should!

Week 2: Look here's the dog I want. He's free from the local shelter.
-Great, save a life.

Week 3: Turns out I only want a dog because I want to break up with my live-in boyfriend.
-Not good. Do not buy a dog

Week 4: I have broken up with the boyfriend over the fact that I want a dog, but he's not moving out yet because I can't afford the apartment alone
-That's nice of him

Week 5 (now): I have purchased a tiny purse dog for $1100. Also, I'm quitting.
-!!!!!!

Well, that's different.

(I lived in Minnesota during the mid to late 90's.)

[HairyUpperLip]

Not overheard but more of an observation: Our parking lot has a half dozen or so leased BMW 3-series.  All of them bought leased soley for impressing co-workers.  No *ucks given by me as I rolled in past them on my bike.

At my work there are a LOT of Tesla's in the parking lot most of these are owned by people with a pretty high income.

Even one of the guys who cycles almost every day owns a Tesla.

I would give a Tesla driver more credit than these people.  They bought these cars for one thing: the BMW badge.  Yes, I get that there are some BMW drivers who actually appreciate the car for what it is but these people are not them.  A 3-series with low end engine and auto tranny is strictly for posers trying to impress others.

I agree. It is probably a lot full of 328s. lol - what a piece of garbage car.

[marielle]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but the coworker said he doesn't... I haven't mentioned anything other than a quick joke, "What are you still doing here?" when I leave. I think it'd be rude to ask at this point...

I just hope it doesn't make me look bad because I'm also salary but stay the exact time I'm supposed to. I haven't had enough work to justify staying late yet. Almost been working here a year (a bit less than this guy), but now I'm doubting even asking for a raise at the one year mark. It'll just perpetuate the lazy entitled millennial stereotype right? We have completely different jobs (I have an engineering degree and the salary to go with it), but still. FWIW, there are very few office staff so it's not like any of this would be unnoticed with management.

Same guy still has a daughter that lives with him who is 27. I know he's also paying back a good bit of student loans for one of his daughters, over 20k. Maybe this is part of why he works so "hard"?

[mtn]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but the coworker said he doesn't... I haven't mentioned anything other than a quick joke, "What are you still doing here?" when I leave. I think it'd be rude to ask at this point...

I just hope it doesn't make me look bad because I'm also salary but stay the exact time I'm supposed to. I haven't had enough work to justify staying late yet. Almost been working here a year (a bit less than this guy), but now I'm doubting even asking for a raise at the one year mark. It'll just perpetuate the lazy entitled millennial stereotype right? We have completely different jobs (I have an engineering degree and the salary to go with it), but still. FWIW, there are very few office staff so it's not like any of this would be unnoticed with management.

Same guy still has a daughter that lives with him who is 27. I know he's also paying back a good bit of student loans for one of his daughters, over 20k. Maybe this is part of why he works so "hard"?

The student loans are probably a big part of it--its job security. Sounds like he's a nice guy and people like him; if it comes down to two people to lay off, it probably wouldn't be him.

[o2bfree]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but the coworker said he doesn't... I haven't mentioned anything other than a quick joke, "What are you still doing here?" when I leave. I think it'd be rude to ask at this point...

I just hope it doesn't make me look bad because I'm also salary but stay the exact time I'm supposed to. I haven't had enough work to justify staying late yet. Almost been working here a year (a bit less than this guy), but now I'm doubting even asking for a raise at the one year mark. It'll just perpetuate the lazy entitled millennial stereotype right? We have completely different jobs (I have an engineering degree and the salary to go with it), but still. FWIW, there are very few office staff so it's not like any of this would be unnoticed with management.

Same guy still has a daughter that lives with him who is 27. I know he's also paying back a good bit of student loans for one of his daughters, over 20k. Maybe this is part of why he works so "hard"?

The student loans are probably a big part of it--its job security. Sounds like he's a nice guy and people like him; if it comes down to two people to lay off, it probably wouldn't be him.

Maybe he just doesn't have anything else he'd rather do. Or maybe he's passive-aggressive and is playing the part of the martyr for his wife and daughters.

We had a guy like that here. He worked for the company for 41 years and the only vacations he ever took was one or two days each year to go to the state fair. He'd joke that if he took time off his wife would just find things for him to do around the house. Don't know why he never took her on a nice vacation, he was in management and could certainly afford it. The company more or less forced him to retire at 70. Shortly after that, his wife divorced him, so it seems that even though he didn't really complain about her, things must not have been right between them. Heck of a nice guy though, at least at work.

[cheapass]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I'll never understand this mindset. Like, there's nothing else you'd rather be doing besides sitting at work? Your life is seriously that boring?

[firelight]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but the coworker said he doesn't... I haven't mentioned anything other than a quick joke, "What are you still doing here?" when I leave. I think it'd be rude to ask at this point...

I just hope it doesn't make me look bad because I'm also salary but stay the exact time I'm supposed to. I haven't had enough work to justify staying late yet. Almost been working here a year (a bit less than this guy), but now I'm doubting even asking for a raise at the one year mark. It'll just perpetuate the lazy entitled millennial stereotype right? We have completely different jobs (I have an engineering degree and the salary to go with it), but still. FWIW, there are very few office staff so it's not like any of this would be unnoticed with management.

Same guy still has a daughter that lives with him who is 27. I know he's also paying back a good bit of student loans for one of his daughters, over 20k. Maybe this is part of why he works so "hard"?

The student loans are probably a big part of it--its job security. Sounds like he's a nice guy and people like him; if it comes down to two people to lay off, it probably wouldn't be him.

This! I have a few co-workers that work more time and help with random projects just for job security. Me, I'd rather have more time than such job security. FU money FTW!!

[Alim Nassor]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I'll never understand this mindset. Like, there's nothing else you'd rather be doing besides sitting at work? Your life is seriously that boring?

My boss hates his home life so much he's always looking for an excuse to be at work.   He has a new grandbaby at home, but hates being there.  WTF is wrong with someone like that?

[marielle]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but the coworker said he doesn't... I haven't mentioned anything other than a quick joke, "What are you still doing here?" when I leave. I think it'd be rude to ask at this point...

I just hope it doesn't make me look bad because I'm also salary but stay the exact time I'm supposed to. I haven't had enough work to justify staying late yet. Almost been working here a year (a bit less than this guy), but now I'm doubting even asking for a raise at the one year mark. It'll just perpetuate the lazy entitled millennial stereotype right? We have completely different jobs (I have an engineering degree and the salary to go with it), but still. FWIW, there are very few office staff so it's not like any of this would be unnoticed with management.

Same guy still has a daughter that lives with him who is 27. I know he's also paying back a good bit of student loans for one of his daughters, over 20k. Maybe this is part of why he works so "hard"?

The student loans are probably a big part of it--its job security. Sounds like he's a nice guy and people like him; if it comes down to two people to lay off, it probably wouldn't be him.

This! I have a few co-workers that work more time and help with random projects just for job security. Me, I'd rather have more time than such job security. FU money FTW!!

I'm sure this is part of it. The other problem is that only four of us get paid salaried, and there are already so few office staff. Two salaried employees are the plant manager/VP who both work crazy hours and weekends. I feel like he's working these hours to fit in better with them. Except he doesn't directly benefit from the company doing well like they do. So I'm the only salaried employee that doesn't bust my butt. I wouldn't mind too working extra if occasionally something important was going on, but I usually have to kill time as it is.

[Debts_of_Despair]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I'll never understand this mindset. Like, there's nothing else you'd rather be doing besides sitting at work? Your life is seriously that boring?

We have loads of people that are eligible for a full pension retirement but are choosing to stay at work.  There are only two reasons I can come up with for this: a) they have no life outside of work or b) they can't​ afford to give up their full salary.  I think it's a pretty even mix of both type of people.

[MgoSam]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but

People like this exist. My company's sales manager retired a few years ago, when he was working here he was known for being at work 30 minutes earlier and staying late even if he didn't have any assignments. He would come in on the weekends 'just cause,' and would never take vacations or sick days. This was just his personality. He was salary so he wasn't paid any more for it.

[Sibley]

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

[JordanOfGilead]

Not overheard but more of an observation: Our parking lot has a half dozen or so leased BMW 3-series.  All of them bought leased soley for impressing co-workers.  No *ucks given by me as I rolled in past them on my bike.

At my work there are a LOT of Tesla's in the parking lot most of these are owned by people with a pretty high income.

Even one of the guys who cycles almost every day owns a Tesla.

I would give a Tesla driver more credit than these people.  They bought these cars for one thing: the BMW badge.  Yes, I get that there are some BMW drivers who actually appreciate the car for what it is but these people are not them.  A 3-series with low end engine and auto tranny is strictly for posers trying to impress others.

I agree. It is probably a lot full of 328s. lol - what a piece of garbage car.

Better than the 318 ... or even the 325 for that matter.

[JordanOfGilead]

There is an older gentleman that works in my office, well beyond traditional retirement age (maybe mid-late 70s?). Several of us younger folk joke that he must either love it here or hate it at home because he comes in at 6 (there is no strict start time to our day, but the general rule is "before 9") and stays until 4 or 5 every day, with a ONE HOUR COMMUTE each way.

I was chatting with somebody about retirement the other day with him in the room and he volunteered some information about himself. Apparently he was involved in a small business startup when he was young that flopped about fifteen years in, less ten before he planned on cashing in and retiring, and took his entire life savings with it. Then he hired on at one of the big 3 auto makers and worked for them up until the year before he was set to begin receiving a (relatively hefty) pension when the recession hit, the company got bailed out by the government, and all pensions disappeared. With that company having a traditionally comfortable pension plan, he hadn't planned any retirement savings on his own. 35 years into his career he was left with almost zero savings (and if I had to guess, probably a mortgage and a car payment). He then joined our company where he has worked for 20-odd years, throwing everything he can into his 401k and index funds.

Kind of a sad story that he had such bad luck, but he had a lot of really good advice for us younger employees and served as a good example of what happens when you don't plan properly for retirement.

[mtn]

Not overheard but more of an observation: Our parking lot has a half dozen or so leased BMW 3-series.  All of them bought leased soley for impressing co-workers.  No *ucks given by me as I rolled in past them on my bike.

At my work there are a LOT of Tesla's in the parking lot most of these are owned by people with a pretty high income.

Even one of the guys who cycles almost every day owns a Tesla.

I would give a Tesla driver more credit than these people.  They bought these cars for one thing: the BMW badge.  Yes, I get that there are some BMW drivers who actually appreciate the car for what it is but these people are not them.  A 3-series with low end engine and auto tranny is strictly for posers trying to impress others.

I agree. It is probably a lot full of 328s. lol - what a piece of garbage car.

Better than the 318 ... or even the 325 for that matter.

How old are we talking here? And I can't say I agree with any of you; in fact the only 3 series for which I have any... not disdain, maybe indifference... for is the 323. The 318 was a pretty stout engine--but the newest of them [in the US] are pretty old at this point.

Now, I'd take the 1 series above almost all of them, but the fact is it really has proven time and time again to be the best RWD compact car out there. Throwing out 2 seaters, the only things that give it a run for the money are the Camaro and Mustang, which are also awesome, but in a completely different way.

[mtn]

There is an older gentleman that works in my office, well beyond traditional retirement age (maybe mid-late 70s?). Several of us younger folk joke that he must either love it here or hate it at home because he comes in at 6 (there is no strict start time to our day, but the general rule is "before 9") and stays until 4 or 5 every day, with a ONE HOUR COMMUTE each way.

I was chatting with somebody about retirement the other day with him in the room and he volunteered some information about himself. Apparently he was involved in a small business startup when he was young that flopped about fifteen years in, less ten before he planned on cashing in and retiring, and took his entire life savings with it. Then he hired on at one of the big 3 auto makers and worked for them up until the year before he was set to begin receiving a (relatively hefty) pension when the recession hit, the company got bailed out by the government, and all pensions disappeared. With that company having a traditionally comfortable pension plan, he hadn't planned any retirement savings on his own. 35 years into his career he was left with almost zero savings (and if I had to guess, probably a mortgage and a car payment). He then joined our company where he has worked for 20-odd years, throwing everything he can into his 401k and index funds.

Kind of a sad story that he had such bad luck, but he had a lot of really good advice for us younger employees and served as a good example of what happens when you don't plan properly for retirement.

The worst part about this is that the first one, he took a risk, and it didn't pay off. I think we can all understand that, even if its not what we would have done. The second, people thought those pensions were the bees knees--they were commonly looked at as gravitational levels of reliability. He really didn't mis-manage it, he just got fucked.

[JordanOfGilead]

There is an older gentleman that works in my office, well beyond traditional retirement age (maybe mid-late 70s?). Several of us younger folk joke that he must either love it here or hate it at home because he comes in at 6 (there is no strict start time to our day, but the general rule is "before 9") and stays until 4 or 5 every day, with a ONE HOUR COMMUTE each way.

I was chatting with somebody about retirement the other day with him in the room and he volunteered some information about himself. Apparently he was involved in a small business startup when he was young that flopped about fifteen years in, less ten before he planned on cashing in and retiring, and took his entire life savings with it. Then he hired on at one of the big 3 auto makers and worked for them up until the year before he was set to begin receiving a (relatively hefty) pension when the recession hit, the company got bailed out by the government, and all pensions disappeared. With that company having a traditionally comfortable pension plan, he hadn't planned any retirement savings on his own. 35 years into his career he was left with almost zero savings (and if I had to guess, probably a mortgage and a car payment). He then joined our company where he has worked for 20-odd years, throwing everything he can into his 401k and index funds.

Kind of a sad story that he had such bad luck, but he had a lot of really good advice for us younger employees and served as a good example of what happens when you don't plan properly for retirement.

The worst part about this is that the first one, he took a risk, and it didn't pay off. I think we can all understand that, even if its not what we would have done. The second, people thought those pensions were the bees knees--they were commonly looked at as gravitational levels of reliability. He really didn't mis-manage it, he just got fucked.

Yeah, that's why I said his bad luck was sort of sad. It was still valuable for a younger generation to learn that you can't necessarily rely on things like a start-up or a company funded pension to support you.

[Vindicated]

Damn.  My heart breaks for this guy.  That's a rough set of circumstances.  I hope he's had an enjoyable life, and hasn't dreaded every moment of his work.

[TartanTallulah]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I joked to a coworker that maybe he hates his wife, but the coworker said he doesn't... I haven't mentioned anything other than a quick joke, "What are you still doing here?" when I leave. I think it'd be rude to ask at this point...

I just hope it doesn't make me look bad because I'm also salary but stay the exact time I'm supposed to. I haven't had enough work to justify staying late yet. Almost been working here a year (a bit less than this guy), but now I'm doubting even asking for a raise at the one year mark. It'll just perpetuate the lazy entitled millennial stereotype right? We have completely different jobs (I have an engineering degree and the salary to go with it), but still. FWIW, there are very few office staff so it's not like any of this would be unnoticed with management.

Same guy still has a daughter that lives with him who is 27. I know he's also paying back a good bit of student loans for one of his daughters, over 20k. Maybe this is part of why he works so "hard"?

It's possibly that he's just not very efficient, or else he's able to work best outside of his official work hours. I've been there with that one; when I was cracking with occupational burnout a few years ago, I struggled during the working day when new tasks seemed to be firing at me non-stop, ping ping pinging from all directions, but when 6.30pm came round and we locked the doors and put the 'phone on divert I relaxed and was very productive until I had to leave the building at 8pm. Even now that I've recovered I still work well in that 90-minute period, and sometimes find it better to snatch a short break away from my desk in the middle of the day and work late to catch up.

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

Or, of course, this.

[zolotiyeruki]

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

I'm having trouble understanding this one.  Fraud against the employer?  What would that have to do with mandatory vacation?

[dandarc]

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

I'm having trouble understanding this one.  Fraud against the employer?  What would that have to do with mandatory vacation?

So, if you're running any kind of scam, you want to answer all of your phone calls.

Example where someone else answering the phone = exposed.  My dad ran the business office for a car dealership - not a used car lot, but a new car dealership.  One day, he gets a call from a supplier of after-market radios, thanking the dealership for all of the business over the last few months.  This is a strange call - as a factory dealer, they usually don't do much fancy-radio business, certainly not enough that the salesman would be grateful enough to call just to say "thanks".  So they look into it.  Turns out, a technician was ordering radios on the company account, and stealing them.  This is also a good example of why when your head accountant (dad) says "we need to implement this control", the business should listen, but that's not really relevant to the discussion.

So, mandatory vacation and how it helps detect fraud.  If you are required to be out of the office for a week or two, one of your customers might call and talk with someone else - not a sure thing, but another person might think - "who is this John Smith, and why does he think he's bought $100,000 worth of stuff from us in the last few years?  No records . . ." can be what gets you caught.  Also gives a window where the company could audit your records without you running interference, but I imagine that would typically only happen if you're already under suspicion.

[BlueHouse]

An older guy at work seems to come in extra hours for no reason. He comes really early (I think at least an hour early) and stays at least half an hour late. Plus a 30 minute commute each way. He also has been coming in on Saturdays (to "stay on top of things" as he said once). He doesn't get paid overtime because he's salary. I honestly haven't been able to figure out what he's been doing, because some days there will be something random unrelated to his job come up, and he's out there helping. He's the Quality Manager but I see him just helping out in random things for no reason.

I'll never understand this mindset. Like, there's nothing else you'd rather be doing besides sitting at work? Your life is seriously that boring?

ummm....This was me for the first 25 years of my working life.  It is still the case with all of my siblings.  For me, it really was just a combination of a very strong work ethic and a lot of loyalty to the companies I worked for.  I wanted the company to be successful and I truly believed that everyone owed it to the employer to do the best job and to go "the extra mile".  I was also super-competitive and I wanted to be the first person in and the last person out the door each night.  It provided a huge sense of accomplishment and superiority. 
I was raised that way and never really considered that there could be a better way.  I thought everyone who didn't give 100% was a slacker.  I used to tell people that as a salaried worker, even your dreams should be focused on finding ways to make the company more profitable.
I was just misdirected.  I can't even convince my siblings to stop thinking like this.  It's so deeply ingrained in each of us, it was really hard to knock it out.  One sibling just "retired", took a year off to travel, and took a meeting for consulting 2 days after return home.  Laundry wasn't even done yet.  That sibling has over $5M in bank and doesn't know another way to be relevant or productive, or whatever it is.  So glad I found the mustache!

[Jim Fiction]

A co-worker recently moved into an apartment on his own. Previously he had been living with his sister and her boyfriend in a house that the three rented together. His sister and boyfriend bought a house together and invited him to rent a room from them, but he declined because he "didn't like the idea of paying for someone else's mortgage". I was rather dumbstruck especially because he is a bright guy, and I couldn't fathom having that mentality. I attempted to reason with him a bit, but he wasn't having any of it so I backed off.

[Cowardly Toaster]

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

I don't understand this comment at all. What do you mean?

[RWD]

A co-worker recently moved into an apartment on his own. Previously he had been living with his sister and her boyfriend in a house that the three rented together. His sister and boyfriend bought a house together and invited him to rent a room from them, but he declined because he "didn't like the idea of paying for someone else's mortgage". I was rather dumbstruck especially because he is a bright guy, and I couldn't fathom having that mentality. I attempted to reason with him a bit, but he wasn't having any of it so I backed off.

Don't tell him that there could be a mortgage on his apartment complex!

[dragoncar]

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

I don't understand this comment at all. What do you mean?

For embezzlement actions of any substantial size to succeed, an employee would need to be constantly present in order to manipulate records and respond to different inquiries. On the other hand, if an employee is forced to be absent for at least five consecutive workdays, the likelihood of any illegal actions succeeding is reduced, since someone else would be required to answer the queries during the employee’s absence.

http://blogs.getcertifiedgetahead.com/mandatory-vacations/

[Paul der Krake]

Yeah, MTA (Mandatory Time Away) in regulated industries is no joke. At a previous company, the people it applied to couldn't do anything. Computers and phones locked up, all accounts disabled, building and VPN access revoked. For 2 weeks it's like they never existed.

In fact, the security training every employee had to take specifically outlined behaviors to watch for in colleagues that could suggest fraud. Working long hours was one of them or volunteering to do other people's work were some of the signs.

[TartanTallulah]

I don't know if this belongs here or in the anti-antimustachian thread.

I have a younger colleague who is rather high maintenance, particularly regarding cosmetic and non-essential health interventions, and is always grumbling about not earning enough despite her income being the same as mine. We were discussing a swap of responsibilities.

"I can work that afternoon provided I can get away at 4.15pm because I have an appointment with my chiropodist," said my high maintenance colleague.

"You're able-bodied and you're not diabetic. Can't you do your own feet like normal people do?" said my senior colleague.

I almost spluttered my coffee. I have wanted to say that for SO long and haven't quite dared.

[MgoSam]

Well, as an auditor, there's another potential side to that. If someone's running a fraud scheme, not being at work makes it much more likely that it'll be discovered by someone else. Which is why certain industries may have mandatory vacation requirements.

I don't understand this comment at all. What do you mean?

For embezzlement actions of any substantial size to succeed, an employee would need to be constantly present in order to manipulate records and respond to different inquiries. On the other hand, if an employee is forced to be absent for at least five consecutive workdays, the likelihood of any illegal actions succeeding is reduced, since someone else would be required to answer the queries during the employee’s absence.

http://blogs.getcertifiedgetahead.com/mandatory-vacations/

Yeah, a competitor of my company back in the 90s found out their warehouse manager was shipping out pallets of stuff and then deleting the invoice and adjusting inventory. He apparently had been doing it for a decade and it was only when he was hospitalized that it came out. When I heard about it, it made me sick for multiple reasons.

a. The value of the products he stole
b. The amount he took for stealing them (like 10 cents on the dollar)
c. Guy's a gambler and pissed it all away, so essentially had nothing to show for his decade of theft.

[RyanAtTanagra]

A co-worker recently moved into an apartment on his own. Previously he had been living with his sister and her boyfriend in a house that the three rented together. His sister and boyfriend bought a house together and invited him to rent a room from them, but he declined because he "didn't like the idea of paying for someone else's mortgage". I was rather dumbstruck especially because he is a bright guy, and I couldn't fathom having that mentality. I attempted to reason with him a bit, but he wasn't having any of it so I backed off.

I had a roommate say the same thing.  We had been roommates for a long time and I was thinking of just buying a house and renting a room to him.  "Why would I want to pay your mortgage?"  I was so dumbfounded by that lack of logic I didn't even know how to respond.  Ended up not doing it just based on how annoyed his tone was at the idea.

[Debts_of_Despair]

Yeah, MTA (Mandatory Time Away) in regulated industries is no joke. At a previous company, the people it applied to couldn't do anything. Computers and phones locked up, all accounts disabled, building and VPN access revoked. For 2 weeks it's like they never existed.

That is actually pretty cool.  There is pressure at my work to check your phone, etc during time off.  I used to play along but I don't really GAF anymore.

[mtn]

A co-worker recently moved into an apartment on his own. Previously he had been living with his sister and her boyfriend in a house that the three rented together. His sister and boyfriend bought a house together and invited him to rent a room from them, but he declined because he "didn't like the idea of paying for someone else's mortgage". I was rather dumbstruck especially because he is a bright guy, and I couldn't fathom having that mentality. I attempted to reason with him a bit, but he wasn't having any of it so I backed off.

I had a roommate say the same thing.  We had been roommates for a long time and I was thinking of just buying a house and renting a room to him.  "Why would I want to pay your mortgage?"  I was so dumbfounded by that lack of logic I didn't even know how to respond.  Ended up not doing it just based on how annoyed his tone was at the idea.

"So you don't have to assume any of the risk"

[pink_shears]

My husband has a coworker in his mid-twenties who gives us lots of interesting conversations. He recently mentioned buying new furniture for the new house he & his wife bought. He spent $5,000+ and was so excited telling everyone at work that it's only $60 a month...because they put it on a payment plan.

They also had a baby (about a year old), just upgraded to a bigger house and have two new cars. My husband talked him into signing up for the company's 401K plan. He had been with company for at least 3 years and still hadn't signed up, he was sputtering about saving 3%...the minimum to get the match!

At my work I recently had a coworker mention they need to train me on some things for when they retire. I asked when would that be and they said "Oh well I'll be 65 in 6 years, so 6 years. Unless I work until I'm 70."

I'm working hard to convince my husband that we need to do whatever we can to not be like this!!

[AnswerIs42]

At my work I recently had a coworker mention they need to train me on some things for when they retire. I asked when would that be and they said "Oh well I'll be 65 in 6 years, so 6 years. Unless I work until I'm 70."

What did they say when you said that you'd probably be retiring before they did? ;)