Boss prefers Farmville over creativity/productivity

So I work in customer service, and we sit in an office on a computer for about 8 hours every day. Sometimes there are chats, calls, and emails, and sometimes there aren't. On slow days, it's totally acceptable for a manager to walk in and see everyone doing something else--Facebook, etc. No problem.

Well, my boss just came in and saw me bead embroidering on just such an occasion--and tells me to put it away because my manager will get upset if he sees me doing something besides work.

But.... there IS no work. I told her this, and that I brought it for when there's nothing going on and I'm bored out of my mind. She said to put it away anyway.

SO WT*?!?!?! Apparently we are allowed to vegetate on Farmville, but aren't allowed to do anything creative or WORTH doing. Nice to know....

Anyway, I've brought my bead embroidery several times before, and this is the FIRST time she's said anything about it. This isn't the only thing she's randomly gotten weird about, though--for example, I'm the only non-religious (of her religion, that is) in this office, and she was cool with me dressing normally.... until one day when she tried to tell me that, in over 92* celcius every day, I had to wear long sleeves.... which didn't end up happening, needless to say.

I digress. I'm just appalled that something as innocent as bead embroidery could suddenly be forbidden in an office where NOTHING is going on.

?!?!?!!!?

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16 replies since 13th September 2010 • Last reply 13th September 2010

Reply #1:

That makes no sense. I'm sorry. Maybe she is older, possibly Menopausal? Just a thought...

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Reply #2:

XD!!!!!!!

omg, you totally made my day. xD anyway, im planning on leaving soon, as long as the good job fairy allows me to find something better. ;)

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Reply #3:

Maybe...(sad as it sounds) Farmville is on the computer, so if you're clicking away you kind of "look" like you "might" be working? I don't know.

Maybe she's just mad that you're not her neighbor and don't fertilize her crops?

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Reply #4:

Lol Dessah! Wouldn't that be something? I couldn't imagine. " I lost my job bec I didn't help my boss out on Farmville"... haha

and Rachie _ I'm glad Happy and I'm sure the good job fairy likes bead embroidering lots and doesn't like farmville at all, because fairies are too cool for facebook apps. FACT! so you'll do good. Happy But I wish you the best of luck until then.

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Reply #5:

Thanks, ladies. Happy

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Reply #6:

OMG Rachie that sucks. It can't be that people on Farmville LOOK busy if the manager KNOWS they are doing something else on the computer.

The only thing that makes me think about her behaviour is that maybe she's picking on you because you are different. She moaned at you about dress seeing as you are the only one of a different faith and again she's moaning at you for having a past-time that is not on the internet/FB etc...

Just a thought, but either way it's kind of discrimination really. I really really hope you find something a lot better soon Happy

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Reply #7:

I used to work as a supervisor in customer service so on the one hand I totally understand where your boss is coming from. We didn't allow our agents to have books/knitting or anything else that would distract them from their work on the floor. Of course when I answered phones I agreed with you because it got boring after a while just sitting there and I liked to keep busy. However if your boss is allowing people to play on facebook then she clearly has a set of double standards. You need to go and speak with your manager (i.e. your boss' boss) about what is and isn't acceptable to do at work and address any concerns you have about this. Facebook and all other websites but the client's website was blocked from the computers we worked on as it was a distraction and it could cause client information to be leaked outside of the work place.

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Reply #8:

What religion is she? If I were you Rachie I'd find a top with the longest sleeves and the lowest cut possible then put on your push up bra and see what she thinks of that one.

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Reply #9:

Well, I work in a segregated work environment (men in another room from the women), and one of the men told me today that facebook and youtube had been blocked on all the computers in their room--not so for us in the womens' cubicles!! It could be that they are cracking down on non-work-related things, but really, it's unjustified. We do the work, and we do it quickly... and there are sometimes hours of absolutely NOTHING. The way they are going, we figure they expect us to sit and stare blankly at the work screen when there is nothing going on, for however long it lasts.

The thing is, there are reasons other than desperation that have kept us at this job for so long.... reasons like: they have good cookies, WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO WHATEVER WHEN THERE IS NO WORK, etc. Trust me, the pay is not what's keeping me here at this point, and I'm actually interviewing at other places for my REAL job.

I just think it's ridiculous..... and I am actually in a bit of a management position at the moment.

BTW--she said at our initial interview that a deep-cut shirt is not appropriate for her office, so the long-sleeved-low-neck thing is out of the question, unfortunately. Happy

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Reply #10:

By God she sounds a bit nutty! Not ace...

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Reply #11:

You know, I think you might have a valid case for sexual harassment on this. I'm not sure where you live, doesn't sound like you live in the states. But HERE if someone in the work place made a comment like that about the way another employee was dressed that would be a matter to take up with HR. Dress codes in the work place should be stated as something like "buisness casual" or "casual work place" or "buisness dress". Although I found it very strange when my last job made the demand that no "bra straps" or "open backs" or "mini skirts" were allowed during the summer months, but that was in line as a reminder that our work place was "buisness casual" and not to dress like you would at home at work. Regardless, if you aren't willing to stand up for yourself and take it to your HR department or higher than I guess you'll just have to deal with her harassment at work.

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Reply #12:

It doesn't qualify as harassment over here. Anyway, the religious side of the country runs everything around here, so even if I did go up, it would only reflect poorly on me.

Anyway, I got the next holiday off, thank goodness, though it took a little bit of conniving on my end. I'll be out of this mess soon enough, God-willing. Happy

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Reply #13:

I had something similar happen. I work in a call center and at times (especially in the summer) it can get deadly boring.

And while people can surf, read books, and such... I can't do *any* of my crafts. No knitting, no crochet, no embroidery, no sewing... Unless I am on a 15 minute break or on my lunch break.

I've taken to writing or cleaning up images of drawings from Victorian fashion magazines and ladies' jounrals (of items I'm planning on re-creating/modifying into steampunk outfits).

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Reply #14:

EXACT SAME SITUATION HERE!!! I seriously think it's discrimination against crafty people... I don't get it, for real.

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