Adventures in Our Workdays!

[Plenipotent]

Hello, new friends!

I hope you're all having a wonderful day in the Lord's grace. I'm eager to hear how you spend your time at work when there's a lull, or even what you dream of doing when there's a pause in the action. Let's chat about our work, the things we enjoy, and maybe even the challenges that test our patience there.

As for me, I often find myself flipping through my phone and enjoying a good read during those quieter moments. But my true passion? I've dubbed myself The Questgiver of "Company Name" at every job I've worked at. I refuse to respond to work related texts like a normal functioning human being and I've bestowed my coworkers with unique adventurer titles and speak to them as if I'm trapped at a renaissance faire. I purchase little wooden chests and treats from a local candy shop and hide them around. I create crudely drawn maps from garbage, and if there's a particularly tough task I need done, I try to find something special for them to find.

This causes my coworkers to smile and groan which fills me with glee. Especially the groans.

I also hold random customer surveys that have absolutely no point. For instance, "Pumpkin Spice or Apple Cinnamon". The vast majority chose apple cinnamon! I work on a ship, and I wanted to share this picture with you all as we are heading off and it's very nice out today.

May your days be filled with God's peace and joy!

 

[peaceful-forest]

I work in reverse logistics.

We are currently in our slow period. They have us working in multiple departments to prevent sending anyone home.

One of the things I enjoy about my job is that it's the best place I've ever worked. One of the things I like is that it's a laid back environment; you don't have to worry about some psycho boss monitoring your every move (that actually happened to me at a previous job). But the place has some issues. The company operated much better before the vax mandate.

I would say one of my work challenges is some of my co-workers. There have been a couple of times when the temps made false accusations against me. In one department I worked in, there were two co-workers that were difficult to work with. For example, the one missed work a lot due to home issues, so I had to cover for her job in addition to mine.

 

[LoveDivine]

Hello, new friends!

I hope you're all having a wonderful day in the Lord's grace. I'm eager to hear how you spend your time at work when there's a lull, or even what you dream of doing when there's a pause in the action. Let's chat about our work, the things we enjoy, and maybe even the challenges that test our patience there.

As for me, I often find myself flipping through my phone and enjoying a good read during those quieter moments. But my true passion? I've dubbed myself The Questgiver of "Company Name" at every job I've worked at. I refuse to respond to work related texts like a normal functioning human being and I've bestowed my coworkers with unique adventurer titles and speak to them as if I'm trapped at a renaissance faire. I purchase little wooden chests and treats from a local candy shop and hide them around. I create crudely drawn maps from garbage, and if there's a particularly tough task I need done, I try to find something special for them to find.

This causes my coworkers to smile and groan which fills me with glee. Especially the groans.

I also hold random customer surveys that have absolutely no point. For instance, "Pumpkin Spice or Apple Cinnamon". The vast majority chose apple cinnamon! I work on a ship, and I wanted to share this picture with you all as we are heading off and it's very nice out today.

May your days be filled with God's peace and joy!

Very cool. You sound like a very fun coworker to be around Working on a ship must be interesting too.

I work in a dental office. It's far less exciting haha. Usually we work in a very fast paced environment and I rarely have any downtime unless a patient cancels. Typically, I don't keep my phone near me during the shift except for breaks. Then, I'll catch up on texts or scrolling through stuff online. Humorously enough, the actual way we all cope is by enjoying the ridiculous amounts of snacks in the staff break room. You have no idea how much candy and junk food is stashed away there, haha. It's ironic, because this seems to be common in most of the dental offices I've worked in. We like our sweets I'm a hygienist btw.

 

[Plenipotent]

I work in reverse logistics.

We are currently in our slow period. They have us working in multiple departments to prevent sending anyone home.

One of the things I enjoy about my job is that it's the best place I've ever worked. One of the things I like is that it's a laid back environment; you don't have to worry about some psycho boss monitoring your every move (that actually happened to me at a previous job). But the place has some issues. The company operated much better before the vax mandate.

I would say one of my work challenges is some of my co-workers. There have been a couple of times when the temps made false accusations against me. In one department I worked in, there were two co-workers that were difficult to work with. For example, the one missed work a lot due to home issues, so I had to cover for her job in addition to mine.

May I inquire a little more about what Reverse Logistics is, and perhaps what you do day to day?

 

[Plenipotent]

Very cool. You sound like a very fun coworker to be around Working on a ship must be interesting too.

I work in a dental office. It's far less exciting haha. Usually we work in a very fast paced environment and I rarely have any downtime unless a patient cancels. Typically, I don't keep my phone near me during the shift except for breaks. Then, I'll catch up on texts or scrolling through stuff online. Humorously enough, the actual way we all cope is by enjoying the ridiculous amounts of snacks in the staff break room. You have no idea how much candy and junk food is stashed away there, haha. It's ironic, because this seems to be common in most of the dental offices I've worked in. We like our sweets I'm a hygienist btw.

That's super unexpected! I wouldn't be surprised if my dentist is indulging in snacks right after advising me to steer clear of juices and sodas now!

Do you have any maybe odd little advices you can share about better dental practices?

For instance, I recently just learned we're not supposed to be rinsing our mouths out after we brush our teeth!

 

[peaceful-forest]

May I inquire a little more about what Reverse Logistics is, and perhaps what you do day to day?

With what I do, it involves re-manufacturing of goods. We have a client that sends us certain used products that they want us to fix so they can resell it.

We can private message each other about my job if you want. I would like to be careful about what details I give away publically because I don't want my co-workers potentially identifying me on the Internet.

 

[High Fidelity]

Very cool. You sound like a very fun coworker to be around Working on a ship must be interesting too.

I work in a dental office. It's far less exciting haha. Usually we work in a very fast paced environment and I rarely have any downtime unless a patient cancels. Typically, I don't keep my phone near me during the shift except for breaks. Then, I'll catch up on texts or scrolling through stuff online. Humorously enough, the actual way we all cope is by enjoying the ridiculous amounts of snacks in the staff break room. You have no idea how much candy and junk food is stashed away there, haha. It's ironic, because this seems to be common in most of the dental offices I've worked in. We like our sweets I'm a hygienist btw.

Haha yes this is so true! If our patients saw how much sugar we eat they’d be amazed.

I always try and sheepishly hide fizzy drink when I walk back from the break room after lunch

 

[LoveDivine]

That's super unexpected! I wouldn't be surprised if my dentist is indulging in snacks right after advising me to steer clear of juices and sodas now!

Do you have any maybe odd little advices you can share about better dental practices?

For instance, I recently just learned we're not supposed to be rinsing our mouths out after we brush our teeth!

Probably most info I could share is fairly common dental advice, but one small tip is to avoid brushing your teeth for 30 mins after eating an acidic or sugary snack. Your saliva becomes temporarily more acidic after consumption of these types of foods, and the mechanical force of a toothbrush while the saliva is acidic can create enamel erosion. You may already have been told that

 

[Plenipotent]

With what I do, it involves re-manufacturing of goods. We have a client that sends us certain used products that they want us to fix so they can resell it.

We can private message each other about my job if you want. I would like to be careful about what details I give away publically because I don't want my co-workers potentially identifying me on the Internet.

Sure, not a problem! I'm very interested to learn more!

 

[Plenipotent]

Haha yes this is so true! If our patients saw how much sugar we eat they’d be amazed.

I always try and sheepishly hide fizzy drink when I walk back from the break room after lunch

Well now we need a helpful tip from you as well, fellow dental worker! Or perhaps a tale of something awesome that happened during your time working?

Probably most info I could share is fairly common dental advice, but one small tip is to avoid brushing your teeth for 30 mins after eating an acidic or sugary snack. Your saliva becomes temporarily more acidic after consumption of these types of foods, and the mechanical force of a toothbrush while the saliva is acidic can create enamel erosion. You may already have been told that

You know, it's funny... I sort of had a sense of that, but it wasn't really solid in my mind. I vaguely recall hearing about waiting 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth, but I couldn't quite put my finger on the reason behind it. The acidity of your mouth changing feels like new knowledge to me.

But I've come to realize that many things I assumed were common knowledge are actually not that common after all. I'm definitely guilty of feeling like I'm an expert on something, only to discover that I know nothing ( ... John Snow ).

Take, for instance, the lid on a toilet. For most of my life, I never really gave it much thought. It was just there, you know? I never questioned it. Then, one day while watching Bones, they mentioned closing the lid and replacing toothbrushes. That got me so curious that I practically slammed the search button on Google. Found out that the toilet lid is actually functional. After that revelation, I went on a cleaning spree, scrubbing every inch of the bathroom walls.

 

[DragonFox91]

Listen to videos on YouTube.
Review sermon notes
Organize emails

 

[Plenipotent]

Listen to videos on YouTube.
Review sermon notes
Organize emails

Sounds solid!

Do you find joy in your job? What aspects do you find particularly pleasing? Is there anything you might consider altering about it?

 

[Plenipotent]

I submitted an e-mail request to my boss for a permanent fixed schedule change to allocate more time for my devotion to God. I heavily contemplated requesting a raise, and as I reflected on the true challenges at work that prompted this desire, I recognized that seeking 'more money' wouldn't actually rectify the issues. I don't need more money. Rather, it's my perspective and approach towards these challenges that need adjustment. I realized that I need to embody more patience, kindness, and understanding.

Since embracing my faith, I've noticed an increase in these virtues within me. I approach situations with greater patience and kindness, guided by the desire to please God in all interactions. This shift has brought about enhanced happiness for myself and others. So, I asked my boss, explaining my viewpoint and situation, and requested a fixed schedule change instead of a raise. I didn't request this as a religious exemption of any kind. I just expressed how I was feeling disheartened at work, and how I felt that doing this would be a benefit to myself and others both in and out of work. It's important to note that I'm an incredibly hard worker and my bosses are well aware of that. My request was approved within an hour, despite fixed schedules not being allowed. I knew it was a long shot, especially because of the exact schedule I was asking for, but it seemed to be no issue at all! There wasn't even a further discussion. The answer was 'Absolutely. We'll adjust the schedule for you starting next week.' The new schedule, starting next week, allows me to attend church every Sunday, join various church groups, and observe the Sabbath (though I've heard that observing the Sabbath isn't necessary, I would still like to).

Now, I work intensively for 3 consecutive days and have 4 days off consecutively. Within the 3 workdays, I still fulfill my 40-hour commitment, and the days I have off I can work hard to help others. This newfound schedule allows me to engage more fully in church activities, extend assistance to my family and friends, engage in volunteer work, and dedicate an entire day to rest and reflection with God.

I wanted to share this because much of my past centered on financial pursuits. My friends often joke that I'm the 'Hey Mon' Jamaican from the In Living Color sketches, asking 'How are your 50 jobs going?'. However, having grown up in extreme poverty and then witnessed the negative impact of excessive wealth on my family, I now understand the value of simplicity. After the money turned my relatives lives sour, everyone often says, "When we had less, we had more." And it's so unbelievably true. I realize that accumulating wealth won't mend my work-related concerns. Instead, I trust that God will guide me to manage these challenges effectively as I focus upon Him and His word. His grace and wisdom are transformative, and He offers solace and strength on difficult days through the Holy Spirit.

My focus has shifted away from money and towards making choices aligned with God's teachings. By making Him the cornerstone of my life, I hope to embody His grace, wisdom, love, and kindness. I am confident that by demonstrating His principles through my actions, I can contribute to the healing and well-being of those I love and care for, and help mend what has become broken within them. That is worth more to me than all the money in the world.

 

[SarahsKnight]

Since embracing my faith, I've noticed an increase in these virtues within me. I approach situations with greater patience and kindness, guided by the desire to please God in all interactions. This shift has brought about enhanced happiness for myself and others.

Then you do well, Miss Pleni.

 

[SarahsKnight]

This was my most recent adventure at work, copied from another thread :

The power went out at the lab tonight, and so I found myself condemned to just continuing on my way through Pride and Prejudice via flashlight throughout the twelve hours, tasked with little more than doing a perimeter check every hour or so to make sure nothing caught on fire.

To TheLastGeek ,

As you may have guessed, in the twenty more pages I spent well over an hour getting through tonight (I get that this was written in a waaaaay different time, but nevertheless it makes the way of wording difficult for me to understand, and I often find myself going back over paragraphs one or even two more times slowly to try to grasp what these characters meant in the overly-flowery things they just said .... yeah, flowery even for me, can you believe that?), naturally I was provided with at least three more opportunities to be able to fawn over Jane Bennet.



So yeah, a twelve-hour night spent mostly in the dark at my desk near an emergency flashlight as my only light source, next to an outside door where the tubing from a portable air conditioner stationed just beyond was feeding through to keep me from burning up in the 85 degree night, alternating between reading further through Pride and Prejudice and curating my many music playlists that I use at work on my phone. I really don't know why anyone was needed there at all last night (I was volunteered as the one of two people on our normal crew of five to come to work for this instead of getting a free day at home), even for the purpose of just checking the entire lab out every now and again to make sure nothing caught on fire. I mean, the company I work at in the first place makes product specifically for ensuring that the objects they are applied to do not catch on fire.

 

[Plenipotent]

This was my most recent adventure at work, copied from another thread :

The power went out at the lab tonight, and so I found myself condemned to just continuing on my way through Pride and Prejudice via flashlight throughout the twelve hours, tasked with little more than doing a perimeter check every hour or so to make sure nothing caught on fire.

To TheLastGeek ,

As you may have guessed, in the twenty more pages I spent well over an hour getting through tonight (I get that this was written in a waaaaay different time, but nevertheless it makes the way of wording difficult for me to understand, and I often find myself going back over paragraphs one or even two more times slowly to try to grasp what these characters meant in the overly-flowery things they just said .... yeah, flowery even for me, can you believe that?), naturally I was provided with at least three more opportunities to be able to fawn over Jane Bennet.



So yeah, a twelve-hour night spent mostly in the dark at my desk near an emergency flashlight as my only light source, next to an outside door where the tubing from a portable air conditioner stationed just beyond was feeding through to keep me from burning up in the 85 degree night, alternating between reading further through Pride and Prejudice and curating my many music playlists that I use at work on my phone. I really don't know why anyone was needed there at all last night (I was volunteered as the one of two people on our normal crew of five to come to work for this instead of getting a free day at home), even for the purpose of just checking the entire lab out every now and again to make sure nothing caught on fire. I mean, the company I work at in the first place makes product specifically for ensuring that the objects they are applied to do not catch on fire.

That's what I'd call some extreme quality control, haha! Are you enjoying your job?

 

[SarahsKnight]

That's what I'd call some extreme quality control, haha! Are you enjoying your job?

Not really. But then, how many of us do?


And it could be worse, I always say: I could still be stuck at my last job, in the lab at Dr. Pepper, and in a town like Houston, which did not suit me at all. At least here I am back in my college's town, much smaller and more comfortable, with a job that pays me 60% more and for about 20% less stress.

 

[Plenipotent]

Not really. But then, how many of us do?


And it could be worse, I always say: I could still be stuck at my last job, in the lab at Dr. Pepper, and in a town like Houston, which did not suit me at all. At least here I am back in my college's town, much smaller and more comfortable, with a job that pays me 60% more and for about 20% less stress.

That's definitely an upgrade! And it sounds like you have some decent downtime every once in a while, which is good!

I can totally relate to that. I've had my fair share of various jobs, but I dedicated a solid 10 years exclusively to the medical field. It was 10 years filled with nothing but stress. The whole Covid situation is what finally broke me. I don't think I'll ever go back. I transitioned from dealing with constant stress every single day of the year to a job that pays significantly better and has a much lighter workload. Especially during winter, there's so little to keep us occupied that our supervisor even suggests downloading movies and books to our devices just to stave off the mind-numbing boredom. Can you believe that?

 

[Sif]

I work in transaction analysis to find potential crimes being funded across financial systems. My focus is on an Anti-Human Trafficking program. One of the potential crimes I focus on are crimes against children. It can be tedious, it can be disgusting, it can be exhilarating (especially when a bad guy gets caught because of something you did), it can be depressing.

When there's slow time at work, I like to send coworkers funny (and work appropriate) videos and/or news stories. Sometimes for lunch some of use go outside and share lunch and not talk about work.

I make sure I separate my home and work life as best I can. For physical things I like to do I hike in the wilderness, hunt, practice self-defense, traditional European martial arts. For more cerebral things I like, I enjoy reading Norse mythology, history, Christian theology, philosophy, listen to all sorts of music, and do a little amateur astronomy.

 

[Plenipotent]

I work in transaction analysis to find potential crimes being funded across financial systems. My focus is on an Anti-Human Trafficking program. One of the potential crimes I focus on are crimes against children. It can be tedious, it can be disgusting, it can be exhilarating (especially when a bad guy gets caught because of something you did), it can be depressing.

When there's slow time at work, I like to send coworkers funny (and work appropriate) videos and/or news stories. Sometimes for lunch some of use go outside and share lunch and not talk about work.

I make sure I separate my home and work life as best I can. For physical things I like to do I hike in the wilderness, hunt, practice self-defense, traditional European martial arts. For more cerebral things I like, I enjoy reading Norse mythology, history, Christian theology, philosophy, listen to all sorts of music, and do a little amateur astronomy.

I just wanted to say that I'm truly grateful for all the hard work you put in. I recently went on a trip and had a layover at an airport in Las Vegas. My sister had mentioned that human trafficking was a serious issue there, but I didn't know the extent until I went to use the restroom. In the airport bathrooms, there are notices on the back of all stall doors, urging victims of human trafficking to call a helpline in multiple languages. There was also constant announcements about safety and if we notice any suspicious activity to report it immediately. My sister explained how shockingly widespread this problem is, and honestly, it left me feeling both appalled and taken aback.

The part that hits me the hardest is that even children aren't spared from this horrendous ordeal. It genuinely makes me feel physically sick to think about. I know it's a tough topic to discuss, but I can't help but commend you for your efforts in tackling it.

It seems like you have a great mix of interests and supportive colleagues to help you cope with the challenges of your job. Is there a specific hobby that you find yourself enjoying more than the others?