Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: If you ever left work and immediately had to text somebody like, yo, you're not going to believe this. This podcast is for you. Welcome to Work Drama, the podcast where we unpack workplace stories people whisper about trauma, bond over and still think about years later. I'm Lizbeth. I come from the medical world, so I'm here to add context, logic, and the questions that should have been asked before someone hit reply all.
[00:00:22] Speaker B: And I'm Sharon, today's resident instigator, group chat voice and depending on the situation, HR's worst nightmare.
[00:00:31] Speaker A: I left my in person job for remote work and I realized you don't miss the commutes, but you definitely miss the drama. Meanwhile, I'm still in the trenches. Exactly.
[00:00:39] Speaker B: So we fixed that.
[00:00:40] Speaker A: We'll be breaking down anonymized stories from offices, hospitals, and everywhere in between. Reacting in real time, calling out the nonsense, and figuring out if something is actually toxic or just wildly mishandled. You got a story for us?
[00:00:52] Speaker B: Send that shit in.
[00:00:54] Speaker A: Names change, job protected, opinions very much included. And for legality purposes. This is not legal advice, girl.
[00:01:02] Speaker B: Let's get into it.
[00:01:04] Speaker A: Picture this. You hire someone new. Could be any department, could be any role. Doesn't matter. Within the first week, before they've even learned where the bathroom is or even memorized their login, he's already there, smiling, introducing himself, asking them out.
And the wildest part, everyone in the building knows this is going to happen every single time. And nobody has done a thing about it.
Okay, Sharon, you're back.
[00:01:32] Speaker B: I am. Hello.
[00:01:33] Speaker A: Hello, hello.
[00:01:34] Speaker B: Hello.
[00:01:35] Speaker A: How has life been? It's summertime life and life is life in. Hear that, girl? Life has been lifeing for real.
[00:01:43] Speaker B: Yes, it has been.
[00:01:44] Speaker A: Well, fourth of July just happened. What did you do for fourth of July? I know, I didn't go over. Sorry. I know you missed me.
[00:01:49] Speaker B: Oh, you're good.
Just a tad bit.
I had a small little shindig, kind of stressful. Shindig?
[00:01:56] Speaker A: Stressful?
[00:01:58] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. I had a friend that wanted to bring her whole family over to my house.
[00:02:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:06] Speaker B: And I had no idea who they were.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: And I mean, you have a whole pool, nice big house. That doesn't mean bring everybody to my house.
[00:02:15] Speaker B: But it was fine. The only real time that I was kind of annoyed was instead of downpouring. So everybody ran inside my house. And you know how I am. I have no shoes upstairs in my house and everybody ran in there with their wet shoes wetting all my stuff. And all these kids, I swear to God, they've never eaten in their life.
Like they were pouring rice. All. Not pouring, but they were eating and dropping all sorts of rice on my floor.
It was disgusting.
[00:02:46] Speaker A: I would just be like, Zeus, come eat everything.
[00:02:48] Speaker B: No, don't vomit.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: You vomit.
Sharon's dog. FYI. Yes.
[00:02:53] Speaker B: I'm pretty sure the moms there kind of noticed that I was stressed out cuz I was on the floor sweeping.
[00:02:58] Speaker A: Oh my God.
[00:02:59] Speaker B: Kur.
[00:02:59] Speaker A: You're not supposed to sweep when people are at the house.
[00:03:01] Speaker B: Well, I didn't want the rice on
[00:03:02] Speaker A: my floor, but you know, means you're. You're kicking people out of the house.
[00:03:07] Speaker B: Well, they got the hint.
They left 20 minutes later.
I was totally fine with that.
[00:03:12] Speaker A: Such a good sign. Just bring out this and bring out the. The broom.
[00:03:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:18] Speaker A: That's funny. Well, I'm sorry you were stressed. Did you get to see fireworks?
[00:03:22] Speaker B: They threw a few. Yeah.
[00:03:24] Speaker A: At your house?
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: Oh yeah. I wondered, cuz I was telling Alex too, if you guys would. Because the trees and I didn't know. I'm like, how does the trees or I mean.
[00:03:31] Speaker B: Yeah. So we did it a little bit closer towards the. Where the pool was at by the fence. Okay.
[00:03:37] Speaker A: I didn't get to see fireworks at all.
[00:03:39] Speaker B: No.
[00:03:39] Speaker A: And it was a. What? The 250th birthday of America. I don't know, I don't feel like. Feel like we have a ton to celebrate, but. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just. I was going through it last week or the week. When was that?
Whenever it was. I was going through it that week and I just couldn't even like I had to get away. We had a lot going on in my family.
[00:03:58] Speaker B: Yes, you did.
[00:03:59] Speaker A: I've been in this little transition trying to like do what I need to do and continue to make money and start my business. It's just everything's been getting to my head. So like, yeah, I didn't see any fireworks. We went to the beach and then I was gonna go to my family's house after, but I just. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it.
[00:04:19] Speaker B: It was just.
[00:04:19] Speaker A: It's been a lot. So we, we kind of talked about this. We had a loss in the family, so it's just been very heavy for over a week and I just needed some time to just kind of decompress from some of that and some of the stuff I was already feeling.
[00:04:32] Speaker B: So.
[00:04:32] Speaker A: Yeah. And on that note, let me tell you a little bit more about what's going on. That's hearing a lot has happened on my end.
[00:04:38] Speaker B: Yeah. Let's hear it.
[00:04:40] Speaker A: Well, first off, we never caught up on Chicago on the Chicago trip.
So that was fun.
[00:04:47] Speaker B: Good.
[00:04:48] Speaker A: It was. I got to know the remote people that I've worked with for the last eight months, and they were very nice. There was one of them that I really wanted to connect with that I mentioned. That was really fun. So me, the other closer, and that person who's the programs director and then another person. We all ended up going down to, like, downtown Chicago. Where we stayed was actually closer to the airport. So it wasn't even really in Chicago. Chicago. But we went, had fun, like a fun night.
Ate out. We visited the Bean. I guess they're known for the Bean. It's like this big, like, sculpture. Oh, yes, I've seen it. Yeah, it's. It was pretty cool. Like, I was like, oh, that's just kind of huge. It was huge. I didn't expect for it to be as big as it was, I guess. I don't know what I thought. Even though you see it in pictures with like people under. But never really thought about that. But also you can walk under it and it looks kind of cool under, like warped or. You look kind of warped. It's. It's pretty cool. And I think because we saw it at night too. You saw the reflection of the city on it.
[00:05:51] Speaker B: That was pretty cool. So it took a lot of people there.
[00:05:53] Speaker A: There wasn't a ton, but it was kind of like it was a Wednesday night or something like that. It was like a weekday night. So maybe that's why there wasn't a ton of people. But it was quite a bit. Taking pictures and stuff. Touristy looking people.
[00:06:03] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:06:04] Speaker A: Like me. But yeah, it was fun. And then the next day, you know that I took like one day to like kind of explore myself. I went to the Navy pier, went on their little Ferris wheel they had there.
[00:06:16] Speaker B: Nice.
[00:06:17] Speaker A: And I got a couple things. I went to the store. This watch, this Invicta watch I picked up because I was like, I know I'm gonna make some money myself. So I love it because.
And I was worried because I'm like, I'm spending money before I'm making money. I literally got the watch when I first got there.
[00:06:30] Speaker B: That's what it is.
[00:06:31] Speaker A: I was waiting.
[00:06:32] Speaker B: I deserve it also.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: But I also didn't make as much money as I wanted to make. It was a little bit of a hot mess. When it came to, like, the closing aspect of the program.
There wasn't really a set plan, so that sucked. I was stuck with two People that ended up keeping me, like, just chatty and had tech issues. And one of them had no money and kept interrupting me with other people. It was just like, I could have done better, I don't know. But everybody was closing people, so we didn't make as much or as a group, we made good money. But individually, as closers, there should have been only two of us closing and that didn't happen. So that kind of sucked. But still made some good money. Still, the watch was, was okay to buy.
[00:07:12] Speaker B: So that was nice reward.
[00:07:13] Speaker A: Yeah, so that was nice.
Your, your pizza though.
[00:07:18] Speaker B: Yeah, non existent.
[00:07:19] Speaker A: Non existent. You know, I tried putting it between my butt cheeks for you, but it didn't quite work.
But I didn't get to have a deep dish pizza. You did or did it? I didn't.
[00:07:29] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:07:29] Speaker A: I. We went out, we went to this place called Rosati's, I think it was, and they had really good pizza, but it wasn't a deep dish, it was Chicago style. So I always thought Chicago style was deep dish, but apparently maybe that's not the case. Correct me if I'm wrong, group chat, but that's kind of what I was getting from people I was talking to. So we tried whatever this like Chicago style pizza was.
The cheese, like the thick cheese kind of reminded me of Tony's pizza. Like kind of thick, lots of cheese, kind of saucy, not crazy saucy, but like they ended up putting garlic on it. So it was like, it was so good. It was so good. I've never had a garlic delicious. So much so that just the other day, where did I order from? Papageno's. And I ended up getting their garlic parmesan dip because I was like, oh, maybe that will taste like the Chicago pizza. And it kind of did. So now that's going to be another. A new, new dip for me.
[00:08:12] Speaker B: That pizza spot we had gone to a few months ago, I had added garlic pieces into it. Best decision ever.
[00:08:19] Speaker A: God, garlic just makes everything taste good.
[00:08:21] Speaker B: It does.
[00:08:22] Speaker A: But yeah. So, yeah, the trip was good. It was like four days.
Yeah, can't complain about that per se. Although I did wish I made more money. I wish there was a better system. And we're supposed to have a better system on the next one. But guess what? For me, there will not be a next one. Because a week after I got back, they let me go.
Yeah, I was semi expecting because, you know, we've had some conversation where I'm like, something's going on, I don't know what's going on. And that's why I was looking for another offer. But yeah, after all the talk about. And this is why I say, like, we are a family. Although they weren't saying we're a family, but they were definitely were like, oh, this is a great team. We've gotten a great team and got the perfect team now, like, I feel like we've got the best team together now. And low key. I was like, are you sure? But I was trying to give the benefit of that. We had conversations around what my role was going to be now and how it was going to shift a little bit.
But apparently they're shifting completely. They're saying, you know, I wasn't even concerned because my close rate was pretty good. It was a 40 and so I didn't think there was an issue. But apparently they're going to be going from warm leads to cold leads and that changes the dynamic. And apparently the numbers for me for that weren't as strong as, like, the warm leads. So I don't know. All in all, I got let go. I felt horrible about it. I left my job for that position. So that was like, crappy. But I made really good money and I saved. And funny thing was, the next day I was starting a new offer because I was already looking for something else because I had a feeling something was up up and that either I had to jump ship eventually or something was going to happen. So sales, it's crazy. I had to learn that, like, not to take it too personal because in sales, if you just don't meet certain numbers, like one month, you could have done amazing the month before. And if you don't meet the numbers, like the next month, like, they can fire you. Plus, they were measuring numbers that I didn't even know were being measured. They were like, oh, your warm lead closing rate is higher than your cold lead. I'm like, oh, well, you could have told me that. I didn't even realize. I'm just seeing my overall close rate creeping up to 50%. I thought that was great. Could have told me and I could have reworked my strategy, whatever, framework. But no, not a lot of communication. Right. So whatever. I feel like it's all for the best. I had this other offer work on that I have. I'm starting that part time. So now I just get to dive into what I've been wanting to do. My own business. I've kind of put on the back burner. So now I'm just going to be working on that. We'll see. Hopefully I can Just work for myself.
So, yeah, we'll see how that goes. I don't know, girl.
I'm nervous.
[00:10:43] Speaker B: But you're gonna do good. You're gonna do fine.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: We'll see. I hope so. Working on that, I feel like it's meant to be. I learned the skills. These skills that I learned in this job too is. And like in sales I can use for this business because I'll be like, basically coaching business. So that was helpful for that and we'll see where it all takes me. So, girl, that's everything that's been going on with me in the last few weeks.
[00:11:06] Speaker B: Yeah, Pretty busy.
[00:11:08] Speaker A: Pretty busy. Yeah. Trying to put off fires or not let any fires start.
I'm thinking about how kind of this next story comes into play with what I've been going through.
It just started making me think of how I've transitioned right from like the medical field into sales. Today, our work bestie. Her name is Valerie and she's actually a manager at a big box clothing department store. I've actually never worked at a department store.
[00:11:35] Speaker B: Have you homework considered one?
[00:11:38] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, I guess that would be. Yeah. Yeah, it was fun. I used to love walking into Hallmark and seeing you.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: I love that store.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: You always had a smile on your face.
[00:11:47] Speaker B: It was my. One of my favorite stores, honestly, so something like that.
[00:11:51] Speaker A: But this one's a clothing store.
[00:11:52] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:11:53] Speaker A: The person in the story that she talks about kind of is in transition from like one kind of stage of life into another. And it's funny to see how kind of people shift through those moments in their life and just kind of like just go with the flow, I guess of it. It'll make sense in a minute, but there's not fully in line with what happened with me. But it is like a moment of transition in somebody's life. And I just kind of liked how that related. So just kind of had me thinking. But anyway, Val send us this story and it's kind of equal parts frustrating, a little unbelievable, and somehow a little funny or creepy. I don't know if funny or creepy. You let me know at the end.
So, Sharon, are you ready?
[00:12:30] Speaker B: Ready.
[00:12:30] Speaker A: All right, let's get into.
So Val manages a team at this big box department store, blue collar environment, real work, real hours, real people. The kind of place where everybody knows everybody's business by the end of the first week.
Now, in every workplace, and I mean every workplace, there's a person the whole team knows about, not because they're great at their job or they're some kind of Leader. But because they're a problem that everybody has quietly agreed to just work around.
In some circles, this is called the missing stair. Like a staircase where one step is broken, and instead of fixing it, everyone who lives in the house just learns to skip over it. And then they warn every new person who comes over, oh, watch out for that door step. That. That reminds me of your balcony. I mean, your balcony, your. Your deck with a little spot. Don't step in that hole over there. But you at least say you have something over it. Right? You have to over it.
[00:13:24] Speaker B: I have to.
[00:13:24] Speaker A: And you have somebody living under it.
[00:13:28] Speaker B: Multiple creatures.
[00:13:29] Speaker A: Multiple creatures. What would they look like? A little groundhog or something like that?
[00:13:32] Speaker B: It was a groundhog. I went outside the other day, and I saw him. He ran away. I sat on my porch or on my deck, and he poked his little head and then went right away.
[00:13:42] Speaker A: He's like, oh, she's there. I gotta go.
That's so funny. So you have your own type of missing stare. Although in this story, the missing stair is actually a person.
But nobody fixes the stare. This is the whole point of, like, the missing stare. Nobody fixes the stare. They just keep warning people. So at Val's store, Craig is the missing stare. So, Sharon, before I even get into what Craig does, I want to know if you've ever worked somewhere and just had a person like this. And I think you have. I think you've told me about somebody like this. Not just annoying, not just difficult, but someone that the whole team has to silently accept as a known hazard.
[00:14:19] Speaker B: I don't know if I accept him, but, yeah, yeah, he's there.
[00:14:22] Speaker A: Yeah, he's there. Yeah. When I'm trying to think if I've ever had that, I. Actually, there was one. There was one I worked with. And at this point, I don't think this person will hear this, but I worked with a doctor, was like, a really big conspiracy. Conspiracy theorist, and really was under the impression that somebody was always, like, a patient was always coming into, like, spy on him. And it was. It was really weird, like. And I just had to go along with it. I mean, I wouldn't say it's creepy or whatever, but it was a little weird because it's like you want to trust that your doctor isn't crazy, right?
[00:14:55] Speaker B: So.
[00:14:57] Speaker A: So I don't know. Maybe he did have, like, a.
A second life or. What is it when you do the witness protection program? Anyway, sorry I had to go into that. I guess that was my missing stare. We all knew he was like, weird, but we just kind of dealt with it.
But he was nice. Just weird.
[00:15:12] Speaker B: Oh, he was nice.
[00:15:14] Speaker A: I mean, he didn't diagnose anybody improperly from that I know of. Even the people he thought that were spies. He's like. He treated them funny.
Anyway. Okay, let's go back to Craig's. Craig has a very specific hobby at work.
Every single time a new woman is hired, any department, any role, any level, Craig finds out. Val describes it as he can smell it, which is kind of a little gross. Yeah, that's kind of disgusting if you think about it, like, before HR has even finished the paperwork, before the new hire has clocked in for the first time, Craig is already on route, smiling, introducing himself, asking her out. That's just creepy.
Anyway, and so this is not speculation. This is a running joke at the store. A moment. A woman walks in on her first day. Everyone is already waiting to see how fast Craig shows up.
Now, I need to pause here and be transparent, because this is not just a quirky office habit. Val had to formally report Craig for sexual harassment before, which. That's crazy. That takes it to a whole nother level, right?
So she filed a report, she went through the process, and the outcome. As long as he doesn't keep asking someone out after they've said no multiple times, there's apparently no problem.
So not one ask not to ask. Multiple no's before it becomes an issue. Your honest opinion, Sharon, what does that do to the workplace? Like, how it communicates, let's say, at Hallmark. If that was happening at home, right? And they're like, oh, it has to happen more than once. Like, what do you think that would make the people in the office feel like? Or the building or whatever, the department store?
[00:16:48] Speaker B: I mean, I'm not really sure. Maybe, like, hostility or towards management. Not validating, Right?
[00:16:56] Speaker A: Not protecting us. Yeah, because, like, I don't know if she just reported him for sexual harassment because of the asking or if there was any more to it. And for people to think that this is just funny, he's gonna ask out everybody. Like, I mean, could it just be that innocent? It's creepy. I feel like it makes everybody feel uncomfortable.
[00:17:13] Speaker B: There's too many times, Right.
[00:17:15] Speaker A: Like, they just ask everybody.
[00:17:16] Speaker B: Geez. Just be able to smell it.
[00:17:19] Speaker A: Yeah, that's what smells.
[00:17:20] Speaker B: Prey coming in.
[00:17:21] Speaker A: Smell the prey. Here comes the next one. But I mean, if he's only asking once and he just leaves it at that, maybe that's not a huge deal, but it's still weird. And it also still like for me, if he had asked me out and I said no, I'm just gonna be at least for a few weeks until he has somebody else out. Still feel like, is he watching me? Is he kind of like, you know, like I'll feel like a weird vibe. I don't know. Now into this environment, Val hires someone new. Her name is Amy. Amy is 19 years old.
She just moved into town with her boyfriend. Brand new city, brand new job, still learning how everything works.
She has an associate's degree in management. Whip smart, incredibly capable, but this is her first real step into the corporate world.
So she's talented, she's sharp, but she is also brand new to all of this. This is her first time out in the field, transitioning from a high school kind of like college kid into a management role. Val gives her the, the entry level supervisor role.
So this is now kind of like a whole new world for her. Right now she's a full grown adult, managing probably people older than her too.
[00:18:26] Speaker B: Probably.
[00:18:27] Speaker A: Well, now here's what happens. Before Amy even starts her first full week, Val pulls her aside and warns her about Craig.
And Val is not the only one. Other employees warn her too.
The whole team essentially does their version of watch out for that third step. So, Sharon, here's what I want you to think about because I think it's actually a bigger moment than it sounds when an entire team has to warn a brand new 19 year old about a co worker before she's even finished her first week. What does that say about the actual problem? I think it says it's a bigger problem than it, than they're trying to be like, oh, it's just a funny thing.
I mean, I don't know. Kaylee's 19, right? And I just see 19 year olds now too, as just kids, you know what I mean? Like, and for everybody to just be like, oh, he's going to come hit on you. Be careful, that's creepy. That would give me as an employee like a creepy vibe. And I don't even think I would want to work there. But like, do I even want to be here? Is this creepy guy everybody's warning me about? Well, sure enough, week one, Craig appears right on schedule, like clockwork.
He smelled it like the world's most predictable, most unwelcome alarm. He asks Amy out.
Now Val has warned her, the team has warned her. She knows what this is.
Sharon, what do you think? Amy says, I don't know, surprise me to Craig.
Surprise you? She says, sure.
[00:19:48] Speaker B: Stop.
[00:19:49] Speaker A: She says sure to a Date with creepy Craig weirdo who is, oh, twice her age.
Oh, my goodness, technically her subordinate, because now she's supervised. All right, so he's below her, but he's also twice her age. So, yeah, actually, yeah. What do you think was going through her head?
[00:20:11] Speaker B: Beats me.
[00:20:12] Speaker A: Like, you're she.
[00:20:13] Speaker B: I don't know.
[00:20:15] Speaker A: You were just worn by maybe, you know, girl. She also has a boyfriend. She just moves with her boyfriend.
[00:20:23] Speaker B: Sloppy toppy.
[00:20:24] Speaker A: Amy, Amy, Amy.
19 years old. This world is your oyster. Okay, so, yeah, so she said, sure.
So the date happens and then another.
And things with Craig apparently go well enough that less than a month after Amy started, she breaks up with her boyfriend.
Now, here's where the story takes a turn. And I was not expecting this when I first read this, because the boyfriend, he didn't just move here for a job, he moved there for her.
And when he moved, he bought a house.
Not renting it, not subletting. Like, he bought a house in this new city for the two of them to build a life. And now Amy has broken up with him while she's still living in his house.
The boyfriend packs his things, he moves back home to his mom's in another city, leaving Amy in the house that he bought.
I have so many questions. Amy, what are you thinking?
[00:21:24] Speaker B: I don't like Amy.
[00:21:25] Speaker A: You don't like Amy?
Amy? Yeah. Amy's doesn't seem very nice, but what does that say about the boyfriend, too? Like, you just let. I'd be like, girl, bye. This is my house.
[00:21:35] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:36] Speaker A: That's crazy. I wonder what she said. There's a whole nother.
[00:21:39] Speaker B: Maybe he doesn't want to kick her out.
[00:21:41] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, you know, maybe there's more behind it. Maybe she's going to be paying him a rent. Maybe he's going to make this a profitable investment.
Maybe that could be.
That could be it. But that's crazy and disrespectful. Oh, well, now here's where the story really opens up. Because Amy is in this house that her ex boyfriend bought, and she decides she's going to use it.
She starts hosting game nights for the work staff.
And Craig is not just there, he's co hosting.
Craig, who has been reported for harassment, who has been at this job longer than. Well, longer than Amy's been an adult, is co hosting game nights at a house that belongs to a man that was dating his new girlfriend just a month ago. In Val's words, prancing around like a peacock.
[00:22:28] Speaker B: That was funny.
[00:22:29] Speaker A: We describe the face sharing of this Guy who's been rejected by everybody else in the office. Like, what do you think he won in his eyes?
[00:22:36] Speaker B: He probably thinks he did win.
[00:22:38] Speaker A: Probably feels like he has this trophy wife situation and he doesn't care that he's asked everybody in the like, no shame.
All the audacity.
[00:22:48] Speaker B: People don't have it.
[00:22:49] Speaker A: That is creepy.
[00:22:50] Speaker B: That is.
[00:22:52] Speaker A: Well, now our work bestie, Val has been invited to these game nights. And I want to be clear, the whole office has been invited. Val has not gone.
And I think you and I both understand why, right? Without Val having to say it directly. Because Val is still managing these people, still managing Craig and Amy, and you're the only one who's not going to like the game nights. Or is that best? Should managers not be mingling with their like, subordinates?
[00:23:16] Speaker B: Yeah, well, due to my previous engagement with management, I will be steering clear from hanging out.
[00:23:24] Speaker A: Well, I know at my. Well when I was in healthcare, I had a manager, she was actually a higher up. Had told me one time that she cannot be friends with anybody below her. Like they can't hang out outside of work. Like they're not supposed to be like having text messages, like chains outside of whatever. And she took it really serious, but didn't stop it from happening. We did have a few people and I did see how that did become an issue because we had one of the higher ups that replaced this other supervisor. She was horrible at her job, but she also had a lot of friends because she had been with the company for many years. She had worked her way up to that position. So she knew people in different departments and like all the people that she got along with got special privileges. She even created a freaking.
Yeah, she even created this fake, like position in one of the offices that I just felt like was not the person you want to promote. Gave her this weird position that didn't even exist and I'm like, how do you do that? Like, it was like nepotism on a healthcare level.
Speaking of managing, here's Val's actual day to day. Right now. Amy and Craig are both full time employees, which means Val has to keep them on separate shifts because if they're on the same shift, the dynamic is a mess. She's a supervisor, he's pursuing her, the whole store is watching.
And Val is now doing scheduling gymnastics to keep the fallout contained.
Do you think that's her?
I mean, unless they have a rule that you can't date people at work, do you think that's her responsibility to keep them apart?
[00:24:48] Speaker B: Not really.
[00:24:49] Speaker A: Right. Like, I don't know why she's doing scheduling gymnastics. I would probably let them work together and let them get fired. Right.
That's what I would do. So now let's zoom out for a second, because Craig didn't just try with Amy. Val makes it very clear. He tried with everyone. His boss, his boss's boss, employees that were teenagers, which is, I mean, I guess technically Amy's a teenager.
[00:25:11] Speaker B: 19.
[00:25:12] Speaker A: Oh, my God.
[00:25:13] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:13] Speaker A: That sounds so gross.
It didn't matter. Craig had an approach, and Craig had a type. And the type was apparently anyone who walked through the door that was female.
He failed every time. Until Amy. So Val is watching all of this. The store gossip has been running for weeks. The schedule is a puzzle she has to solve every week. And the game nights are happening in a house that doesn't even belong to Amy. And somewhere in another city is a guy who bought a house and is at his mom's wondering how he got there. Poor guy. So, Sharon, what do you say to Val, our work bestie right now? Because she warned Amy. She reported Craig. She did everything right as a supervisor or whatever she is, and she's still out here cleaning up this mess.
Sounds like to this day. What do you say? What do you say to Val?
[00:26:00] Speaker B: Honestly, I really would just want to be like, stay in your lane. Don't worry about other people.
Just focus on what you got to do. If they find a way to get themselves fired, that's on them.
Don't drain your own energy for others. Really.
[00:26:15] Speaker A: That's true. I mean, at her job, if she's hiring, like, she's just gotta keep looking at the pool of hirees because apparently they're gonna. I. I agree. So step away from it. If there's no rule, corporate rule that, like, people can't date.
[00:26:28] Speaker B: Right.
[00:26:28] Speaker A: Because obviously there's no rule. If he's asking everybody out, then why keep them on separate. On separate schedules, Let them up.
[00:26:35] Speaker B: Let.
[00:26:35] Speaker A: Let it happen. If it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. Right.
Don't put all your energy into doing. She said the gymnastics about it. And let fate be fate.
[00:26:45] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:46] Speaker A: And you know, Amy will learn her lesson. She's young. I can imagine. I don't know what Craig looks like. Right. If. If so many people said no to him, I just assume that he's probably not very good looking. He's probably giving creepy vibes.
[00:26:57] Speaker B: Right.
[00:26:57] Speaker A: Because, like, if everybody said no to him, could Amy had just been, like, excited. Oh, older guy.
[00:27:03] Speaker B: Maybe she likes creepy vibes.
[00:27:05] Speaker A: Maybe. Or maybe he's not creepy. Maybe. Maybe he's attractive, but then the pursuing made him creepy. You know how sometimes it could be like somebody couldn't be attractive, but then you find out they're weird and then they're like, oh, could be that kind of situation. Maybe she didn't get to know him enough to really like, get the creepy vibes. But. Or like you said, maybe she has a thing for older men. I mean, how. Wonder how old was her boyfriend if he bought a house too at 19 years old. First I want to touch on, like this whole missing stare thing. Who do you think is responsible for fixing the missing stare at the store? I mean, Val tried, right?
Well, is it hr? Is it management?
Is it people just keep warning. Like, is that the only thing we can do is just let people be creepy at work?
[00:27:51] Speaker B: Not really. But people are going to do whatever they want to do. Yeah.
[00:27:56] Speaker A: I feel like they do wait for, like it to be a worst case scenario. Like Craig is probably gonna have to do something real crazy that might need to get him arrested for anything to happen. It sounds like.
[00:28:06] Speaker B: Because.
[00:28:07] Speaker A: Right. Just women feeling uncomfortable at work apparently isn't enough to make anything happen. Which is just like the story of our freaking lives.
[00:28:14] Speaker B: Sounds like my job right now.
[00:28:16] Speaker A: Scary and creepy. I know you have a couple people you've told me about that. I'm just like, girl, I think his
[00:28:21] Speaker B: last day is on Monday.
[00:28:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Oh, okay. We got something to celebrate.
[00:28:25] Speaker B: Thank God.
[00:28:26] Speaker A: Monday as in tomorrow?
[00:28:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:29] Speaker A: Oh, nice.
[00:28:30] Speaker B: Awesome. And so he's so crazy. So the other day they were singing Happy Birthday for like an individual.
And he had the nerve. I think he was just trying to make conversation with us. But I've learned how to just tone him out. So as soon as he even comes into the room, my ears just block him out. 100.
And he came up to my person and he's like. And this was because the worker told me. I honestly, like, he was standing right next to me. I didn't even hear him.
[00:29:01] Speaker A: And you have good blocking skills.
[00:29:02] Speaker B: Yeah.
He's like, you know, I don't like when people sing Happy Birthday because it sounds like a bunch of demons singing.
And he looks at my individual, he's like, you know, do you know what I'm saying? And she like, shook her head.
[00:29:17] Speaker A: No, Happy birthday. No, I don't know what you demons singing every. Like, no, I have no idea what you're talking about.
[00:29:24] Speaker B: And I got upset at myself because I wish I had said I had heard something because I would have said something. Like, that's not appropriate.
[00:29:31] Speaker A: No. And that almost sounds scary.
Makes. I mean, I don't know too much about mental health disorders, but I feel like schizophrenia is something where you hear voices like that and stuff. Like, could there be something really off with this guy?
[00:29:42] Speaker B: I'm sure there is.
[00:29:43] Speaker A: I mean, you have explained a few things that do seem off, but that's just like, is there something medically like, actually, I mean, I don't know. Oh, this is. That's crazy. Well, I'm glad their last day is tomorrow, and you can have a little bit of relief from that.
[00:29:56] Speaker B: Me, too.
[00:29:58] Speaker A: Well, okay. So, yeah, what I was wondering is, do we think Amy was navigating something in her life maybe before she decided what she was doing? Like, how do you feel as. Like, I'm just trying to put myself, and I guess I can't, right. I can't put myself in the position of a night here at 19 years old. I just had a baby and I was navigating, like, also a transition in a way, but just. Just not. I don't know how. I just wonder what could have been going on in her life that she felt it was appropriate to meet this new guy, go on a date while still dating her boyfriend, somebody that works at your job. I feel like we all kind of, like, know you generally don't date people at your job.
[00:30:41] Speaker B: Right.
[00:30:42] Speaker A: Like, I feel like, if anything, give it some time. You just started the job.
Like, what could have been going on in her life? I don't know. There are so many factors that we just don't know. But I'm just trying to think, like, as a young new person into the world, like, what is Amy thinking?
I don't know. I hope she's safe, though, because it sounds like she's not making a lot of great decisions.
But I don't know, could it have worked out for her?
[00:31:04] Speaker B: We don't know.
[00:31:04] Speaker A: I guess.
[00:31:05] Speaker B: I don't know.
[00:31:06] Speaker A: And then lastly, I want to touch on Craig.
What do we do with a Craig?
Like, I mean, well, you. You're Craig at your job. You've also tried to report, right. You, like, said something and nothing was done. So you kind of dealt with this too. Pretty much something. I mean, not he wasn't doing this, but, like, he was an asshole, but, yeah, he was being creepy.
[00:31:29] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:30] Speaker A: Damn. What are the. The Craigs in this world? They're just getting away with stuff. Like, you know, the real problem is not to get too political, but nobody cares about women.
They don't care about if we feel safe. They don't care about if we freaking
[00:31:43] Speaker B: complain about or it's just the way that they approach people, their charm.
[00:31:48] Speaker A: Like maybe, like you're saying, like maybe Craig is nice to HR and everybody else and he's just a good worker and they don't see him as an issue. I guess that could be it too,
[00:31:56] Speaker B: because in my situation, you know, somebody
[00:31:59] Speaker A: saw him as a good guy. He didn't.
[00:32:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
Yeah.
[00:32:04] Speaker A: Well, I don't know. The Craigs of the world are out here just living their lives, I guess, and so are the Amy's of the world. And we're just here watching and eating our popcorn, I guess, literally.
But somewhere out there, there's a broken stair at a department store that nobody has fixed yet and a ex boyfriend living at his mom's house, hopefully collecting rent.
Anyway, we see both of y'.
[00:32:31] Speaker B: All.
[00:32:31] Speaker A: And Val, we see you too, girl. You've tried.
Take a seat. Stop trying to manage their relationship. Let them implode, hopefully. All right, so if you've got a story, something your group chat already knows about and the rest of the world just deserves to hear, send it in. Names change, jobs protected. Opinions very much included. As always, none of this is legal advice.
That's it for today. Today's episode of Work Drama. Today's Work Drama was read by Lizbeth Marquez with opinions, reactions and group chat energy provided by our resident instigator, Sharon Rodriguez.
Music for the show is by Denzel Zambo. Fairy tales. And a special thank you to Project Emo for letting us record this podcast in their studio idea, Forge Studios.
If you've got your own workplace story you can't believe actually happened, send it our way to workdramapod at gmail Com Linked in the show notes.
Names changed, jobs protected. This has been Work Drama, where the meetings end, but the stories don't.
