Today I'm happy about......

[KeyserSoze]

Booking my flight home. Returning to god's country early June.

Is that you and NYC done then, Chief? It's possibly the only city that I've ever visited (and I suppose I'm more traveled than most) that's dropped my jaw and made me think - 4uck - one day I NEED to live here. I'm really interested to learn your thoughts after, what is it, 12, 18 months after you went out there?

Definitely for at least the rest of the year. I would have been here for about 18 months when I leave.

There's no question it's a spectacular city and I've had some wonderful times here, but I don't think I've ever felt as stressed in my life working in it. Maybe it's 'the American way', a natural competitiveness or just a knock-on effect of America's extremely liberal firing policies, but seeing people at work actively and openly trying to be the loudest voice in the room and disregarding actually working together has just baffled me.

I wouldn't mind so much if it worked, but the reason I was brought over here is because the US office was producing absolute turd. This, it turns out, is not only because of the above, but because for some reason they agree to ridiculous deadlines for reports. A typical 5-000 word report back in the UK would mean getting a freelancer and giving them ten days to write, edit and add the necessary research before giving it to us to edit and proof. Over here? Five days to do all of that, and edit it yourself (which is an absolute no-no in any form of writing). Any freelancer I'd ask to help did what they should do when given that timeframe if they had any self-respect, and asked if I was joking. So I took them all on.

There followed this conversation ad infinatum with our production manager, who is possibly the most conniving, self-aggrandizing and damaging individual I've encountered in her role:

"mrkint, this is full of mistakes, you've got to pay more attention"
"I'm writing 5000 words in about two days and editing my own copy, what did you expect?"
"This has to be better, we look like idiots!"
"Extend the deadlines then"
"We can't"

And thus continued the head-bashing with people who for some reason, couldn't see that the reason they were producing shit was not because they had the extreme misfortune of hiring a string of bad editorial staffers, but because they squeezed them until the fecking pips squeaked. And of course, the blame fell on my lap. I've basically come so far out of my comfort zone to accommodate their way of working and they weren't willing to come any way in my direction.

Last moan: the most absurd thing about this though is the attitude people have shown. Now I'm not the most smiley, happy person in the world but, you know, I like saying hello to colleagues, being collegial and sometimes even having a pint after work. That doesn't happen here. It's silent. I came in my first day, said good morning, and no one even looked up. No one speaks to each other - instead they just skype, slack and email people sat next to them in such a passive-aggressive manner. It drives me insane. And then when I do show some resistance to the workload I'm given, I'm told I'm being workshy and aggressive (I was ready to smack the MD in the chops after he used the phrase "he needs to think about his emotional IQ" in my annual review. Proper one flew over the cuckoo's nest stuff).

Being told I was covered by the company health insurance, then finding out that I wasn't in December after nearly a year of playing football ticked me off a slight bit as well.

I'll stop talking about work now, though that is the reason I am leaving. The rest of the city has been mainly great. Weird roommate situation notwithstanding outside it's been good - I've made some really great friends who i'll stay in touch with, joined a football team who made it so much better (pretty sure without that I would've come home much earlier) and seen and been places I couldn't have imagined before. And there are times even still now if I'm on some balcony, having a beer and looking at the most impressive skyline in the world that I think "Where else would I be?" But there are equally times when I can't enjoy it because I know I'll have to go back to that awful office on in the morning.

I'm happy to be returning home and recharging my batteries for a few months - I don't know what I'll do after that. I'm not averse to going back to NY (or other cities - Philadelphia in particular I could see myself living in). Just not that workplace. In fact, even after all I've said I'd still probably recommend it.

[Harry Genshaw]

^ I read a book a few years ago called, I think, Going Postal. It was an exploration of why so many stressed out and overworked employees in the US just turn up at work one day with a semi automatic and let rip. I think you've summed it up pretty well there Kinty

[KeyserSoze]

I've googled that and it seems to be a terry pratchett novel

Yeah it's just ridiculous. Went for a haircut the other week and I was quite alarmed and how many grey hairs were falling on the floor

[bobo the clown]

"A typical 5,000 word report back in the UK would mean getting a freelancer and giving them ten days to write, edit and add the necessary research before giving it to us to edit and proof".

That's 50 words a day. ffs man, get a move on !!


More seriously, I've worked for US companies for 25 years and whilst of course broad, sweeping statements are dangerous & simplistic, there are some great oddities to US workers, ethics and attitudes.

I have made many lasting friends out there. Proper friends. Supportive & caring, funny and generous. But they aren't easy to find in the midst of poseurs, self centred, overly competitive, self agrandising near-sociopaths. Too many are shallow b'stards who'd stab you in the front for a better desk or an invite to the right room.

Their education system breeds a type who are outwardly tremendously confident. Presentation skills are a given and ... until you dig a little ... they seem soooo bloody competent. Then you begin to realise how little substance is behind much of it.

Plus, it takes a long time to accurately separate friendliness from easy words which mean nothing or politeness from alarming sicophancy. The ease with with they praise and extol you can be off putting ... mainly because you can't be certain what's genuine & what isn't.

Incredibly insular, unWordly-wise and utterly incapable of seeing anyone else's view. Also their ability to be out-debated, agree an alternative course of action .... & a while later return to plan A as if the previous discussion had never happens.

Anyway. Welcome back. I'm sure you've had great experiences as well and it will be a time you treasure when you can separate the nonsense from the fantastic.

Out in the sticks things are a bit different but your line of work is unlikely to take you there.

Remember ; It didn't kill you .... so it must have made you stronger.

[Prufrock]

Top maths there Bobes!

[TANGODANCER]

Read that with interest Keyser, and, unless things have changed in the last six years, a lot of that goes on in U.K. All of it is caused by management seeking to impress and spewing out nonesense to cause unnecessary pressure on those under them in a bid to impress customers. Post room, printing, stationery, courier needs were all part of my environ and and time after time I had riduculous deadlines to meet because one of our crackpot amount of "managers" sat on jobs, couldn't be bothered to write and forward a letter needing twenty thousand or so members to be notified, until the last minute,(including printing) then promised the customer miracles (which many times the customer didn't actually need, a fact found out by having to ring them and apologise for delays that were nothing to do with me). It all ended when I finally lost my rag with the main offender and told (her) a few home truths by e-mail to " all staff" , fully expecting to be sacked for doing it. To my unmitigated joy I actually got plaudits all round. It drew forth a copy of that well know stanza " A screw-up on your part is not going to become a crisis on mine" pinned on my office door, and a much improved existence for me.

[thebish]

"A typical 5,000 word report back in the UK would mean getting a freelancer and giving them ten days to write, edit and add the necessary research before giving it to us to edit and proof".

That's 50 words a day. ffs man, get a move on !!

top mathing!

[Worthy4England]

My sorta HR person though...

[Beefheart]

I'm happy to be returning home and recharging my batteries for a few months - I don't know what I'll do after that. I'm not averse to going back to NY (or other cities - Philadelphia in particular I could see myself living in). Just not that workplace. In fact, even after all I've said I'd still probably recommend it.

I had a similar feeling after only spending a couple of days there. Might not have been representative, but the neighbo(u)rhood the airbnb was in seemed really nice, and as it was about 35 degrees so the kids had done that thing where they make the fire hydrant spray water everywhere - so it felt like I was in a nostalgic film. Plus, the beers were cheap. Boston would be a possibility as where I'm working has another Internal Audit department there but I didn't like that as much as Philly.

[Burnden Paddock]

Top maths there Bobes!

[bobo the clown]

0

There. Satisfied.

The missing 0

[Worthy4England]

So in reality you were missing nothing?

[Bijou Bob]

Fair play to you Keyser, you've had the courage and tenacity to do something (And stick at it) that many dream of but few have the balls to actually do. Onwards and upwards with memories and experience.

[bobo the clown]

So in reality you were missing nothing?

My point exactly.

[Enoch]

So in reality you were missing nothing?

My point exactly.

Your point was exactly one place too far to the left.

[Prufrock]

My sorta HR person though...

I think there's a few of them miss a zero of the end when it comes to my payslip.

[Worthy4England]

My sorta HR person though...

I think there's a few of them miss a zero of the end when it comes to my payslip.

I was thinking more of 'em missing them the other way...

[Hoboh]

"A typical 5,000 word report back in the UK would mean getting a freelancer and giving them ten days to write, edit and add the necessary research before giving it to us to edit and proof".

That's 50 words a day. ffs man, get a move on !!


More seriously, I've worked for US companies for 25 years and whilst of course broad, sweeping statements are dangerous & simplistic, there are some great oddities to US workers, ethics and attitudes.

I have made many lasting friends out there. Proper friends. Supportive & caring, funny and generous. But they aren't easy to find in the midst of poseurs, self centred, overly competitive, self agrandising near-sociopaths. Too many are shallow b'stards who'd stab you in the front for a better desk or an invite to the right room.

Their education system breeds a type who are outwardly tremendously confident. Presentation skills are a given and ... until you dig a little ... they seem soooo bloody competent. Then you begin to realise how little substance is behind much of it.

Plus, it takes a long time to accurately separate friendliness from easy words which mean nothing or politeness from alarming sicophancy. The ease with with they praise and extol you can be off putting ... mainly because you can't be certain what's genuine & what isn't.

Incredibly insular, unWordly-wise and utterly incapable of seeing anyone else's view. Also their ability to be out-debated, agree an alternative course of action .... & a while later return to plan A as if the previous discussion had never happens.

Anyway. Welcome back. I'm sure you've had great experiences as well and it will be a time you treasure when you can separate the nonsense from the fantastic.

Out in the sticks things are a bit different but your line of work is unlikely to take you there.

Remember ; It didn't kill you .... so it must have made you stronger.

No bobo, wiser.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Definitely for at least the rest of the year. I would have been here for about 18 months when I leave.

There's no question it's a spectacular city and I've had some wonderful times here, but I don't think I've ever felt as stressed in my life working in it. Maybe it's 'the American way', a natural competitiveness or just a knock-on effect of America's extremely liberal firing policies, but seeing people at work actively and openly trying to be the loudest voice in the room and disregarding actually working together has just baffled me.

I wouldn't mind so much if it worked, but the reason I was brought over here is because the US office was producing absolute turd. This, it turns out, is not only because of the above, but because for some reason they agree to ridiculous deadlines for reports. A typical 5-000 word report back in the UK would mean getting a freelancer and giving them ten days to write, edit and add the necessary research before giving it to us to edit and proof. Over here? Five days to do all of that, and edit it yourself (which is an absolute no-no in any form of writing). Any freelancer I'd ask to help did what they should do when given that timeframe if they had any self-respect, and asked if I was joking. So I took them all on.

There followed this conversation ad infinatum with our production manager, who is possibly the most conniving, self-aggrandizing and damaging individual I've encountered in her role:

"mrkint, this is full of mistakes, you've got to pay more attention"
"I'm writing 5000 words in about two days and editing my own copy, what did you expect?"
"This has to be better, we look like idiots!"
"Extend the deadlines then"
"We can't"

And thus continued the head-bashing with people who for some reason, couldn't see that the reason they were producing shit was not because they had the extreme misfortune of hiring a string of bad editorial staffers, but because they squeezed them until the fecking pips squeaked. And of course, the blame fell on my lap. I've basically come so far out of my comfort zone to accommodate their way of working and they weren't willing to come any way in my direction.

Last moan: the most absurd thing about this though is the attitude people have shown. Now I'm not the most smiley, happy person in the world but, you know, I like saying hello to colleagues, being collegial and sometimes even having a pint after work. That doesn't happen here. It's silent. I came in my first day, said good morning, and no one even looked up. No one speaks to each other - instead they just skype, slack and email people sat next to them in such a passive-aggressive manner. It drives me insane. And then when I do show some resistance to the workload I'm given, I'm told I'm being workshy and aggressive (I was ready to smack the MD in the chops after he used the phrase "he needs to think about his emotional IQ" in my annual review. Proper one flew over the cuckoo's nest stuff).

Being told I was covered by the company health insurance, then finding out that I wasn't in December after nearly a year of playing football ticked me off a slight bit as well.

I'll stop talking about work now, though that is the reason I am leaving. The rest of the city has been mainly great. Weird roommate situation notwithstanding outside it's been good - I've made some really great friends who i'll stay in touch with, joined a football team who made it so much better (pretty sure without that I would've come home much earlier) and seen and been places I couldn't have imagined before. And there are times even still now if I'm on some balcony, having a beer and looking at the most impressive skyline in the world that I think "Where else would I be?" But there are equally times when I can't enjoy it because I know I'll have to go back to that awful office on in the morning.

I'm happy to be returning home and recharging my batteries for a few months - I don't know what I'll do after that. I'm not averse to going back to NY (or other cities - Philadelphia in particular I could see myself living in). Just not that workplace. In fact, even after all I've said I'd still probably recommend it.

I can empathise Kinty, though I was largely lucky in that I worked with mostly decent sorts over there. I even felt sorry for one of the ones that weren't when her boss decided the best way to fire someone was to just advertise their job openly and not say anything! He later tried to get me fired for bailing his company out of the shit

Philly is one of the few places I think I could handle living over there, but it would take far more money than I'm worth to get me to even consider it. We've managed to wriggle out of Hong Kong (don't fancy living in a shoe box) and turned down London, so staying in the sand pit for a bit longer

[thebish]

Fair play to you Keyser, you've had the courage and tenacity to do something (And stick at it) that many dream of but few have the balls to actually do. Onwards and upwards with memories and experience.

^ wise words.