Work pet peeves

I work at Goodwill so I get to see some of the items donated. My usual task is to pick the "good" items out of the piles and hope that it can make a sale on eBay or similar sites. That may be jewelry or any number of donated goods.

Sometimes we get lucky and what looks like junk will actually hit a big sale.  We sold a broach recently over $270. The person who bid on it was willing to pay over 300 for it if the bid went high enough. Who knew such a broach would sell so high, even if it did look kind of ugly and missed a few rhinestones.

But other stuff...  Okay this last week I was sorting through shoes and boots and this is where I have to get on my soap box.

If it's warn out to the point it's almost falling apart, looks and smells like it was fished out of a swamp/lake/river, stepped in s*** or anything that looks like s***, or been in a flood then it is probably a better idea to skip the donation stage and just throw it in the trash (because that is probably where it will end up anyway. You can bet customers at the store won't dare put their feet in those kinds of shoes.)

Now that I shared my work pet peeve of the week, what are yours?

[TrudieC]

Bosses who are threatened by your extensive experience.  As a result they refuse to use your skills or treat you with respect.  You can make them a lot of money and they let their inflated ego get in the way of their own wealth.

[babyprayers]

nurses who do not take good care of their patients,and are more intent on going for smoke breaks then tending to the need of their patients.

[mommy52]

babyprayers-I knew I was sent to MH for a reason. I was terminated from my job: Poor job performance.They told me previously told me I did not manage my time wisely-I was spending too much time with my patients. Therefore unable to see as many patients as they required us to. Not as many as the patients required. More concerned with the almighty dollar than the care of a pt dying and their family ( Hospice nurse in the field) Said we were to see each pt. 2x week whether con. warranted or not. By doing this we may be able to bill Medicare more. This boils my blood. I spoke up and told them how I felt. A no-no. Maybe were afraid I speak up elsewhere. Bottom line---Too much time with pt/family led to poor time management which led to poor job performance. Lawyers feel was R/T  Work. Comp case to a degree. I just hate bosses that will say "Pt car is #1" then put pt care at the bottom of list and$$$$ at the top. Ssorry for length. Triggered nerve and  hard to up on soap box and then back down. Bless You. There ARE some nurses that care about pt. I'm no saint, but I would stay with pt/families in home until need met or others on way out to be with them. My conscious wouldn't allow me to do otherwise and if would, I wouldn't. Would go against creed I took as nurse. Gonna stop blood pressure going up. Thanks. I know you have got to be a wonderful and caring nurse and your pt are blessed to have you. Cut it now before I get kicked off. Love ya all.

[Janet535]

My biggest "pet peeve" at work is the staff that think just because they are entitled to 10 paid sick days a year, actually take them when not ill at all.

I worked with a girl that took her annual leave of 4 weeks, in 2 sessions. 2 weeks in Febuary and 2 weeks in October. Every month for the remaining 10 months she took a "sick day" and it was always on a friday so she could have a long weekend.

[Mjthewritermom]

It is heartbreaking to find the reality of the difference between what is said and what is done in a facility.  I found out quickly that many look the other way.  Right now we are short on staff as 3 ppl have left in the last week.  Friday I took home a sheet filled with open shifts for next two weeks.  I start helping a cp young man today for a couple days a week in addition to the full time job I have as a cna in a facility.  
Although I am having second thoughts as my back is killing me from transferring ppl on Friday.  Try as I might, somehow I end up using my upper back sometimes and "...ouch".  I take aspirin and use china gel and go on with the pain.

In home care, there isn't any health insurance, etc.  Generally they fight you on receiving unemployment.  Other places get around that by the part time hours so you don't make enough.  There is a lot wrong with the system in the work place.  I suppose there always was.  I never wanted to just see ppl as $.  I also didn't want to be a fake and pretend to care when I could care less.  

Facilities have a hard time keeping the cna's because of the stress and low wages.  The one I work at is a bit fairer in that department.  We have PPL time and after a year employer matched contributions up to 3 percent for retirement, and life insurance, paid vacation...you get double time if you work a holiday.  However, they give you an option to opt out of the benefits for $1.50 more a hr. and accruing ppl time at 1/2 the rate.

I would prefer in home care if they paid benefits.

[1nana]

Being a former nurse, I totally agree with you.

Janet535-- When I was entitled to so many sick days a year, you bet I took advantage of it, sick or not!

[Cherie762]

I can tell you I worked as a nurses aid for a major hospital in MI and they do care more about the almighty buck than the care of the patients and my pet peeve would be thepatien t to staff ratio how can we take good care of 15 yes thats right 15 very sick people in post accute trauma, its impossible !!!! I would have atleast 4 people needing me all at the same time and have to priorities ok, one is having resitory difficulty, ones on the toilet and too fradgile to be left alone, one just wants help getting dressed one cant feed self and is hungry, imagine balancing that...most nurses and aids I know try very hard, the proper ratio to give ultimate good care would be 8 pts for every one aide.

[PrettyKitty1]

I guess mine is not just one detail but it's more general. There are many things I disagree with or dislike at my work place. I work for the wind energy industry here in America. I guess one of my major pet peeves is having to write about who called and what they said/needed just to cover our a s s e s. I think it's silly. We get a zibillion calls every day.

[paranoidpatty]

People who talk over the cubicle walls!!  I hate that!  If they're not trying to start a conversation with me over the walls I'm constantly distracted by being forced to listen to their phone conversations about family problems and what they did this weekend and what they plan to do next weekend.  The girl next to me constantly talks to me over the walls even when she knows I don't want to talk and I'd rather do my work.  I wear earphones to tune her out and I try to ignore her but she doesn't get the hint and just talks louder till I answer.  AAAAARGH!!

[lilypad300]

people were talking about sick days. . .

my pet peeve is people who come to work SICK when they have sick days they can use.
People who come in sick. . .you are not marytrs, aren't better workers than anyone else, & you run the risk of getting everyone else sick.

If you are sick. . .stay home!

[MJIthewriter]

That one cut to me...  I guess that's the workaholic tendencies I have when I get involved in whatever.  *knock on wood* I haven't gotten sick yet, but when I was in high school and college I'd push it for the best attendance I could get...

One time I got the flu the day I had to take an exam.  There was no way I could miss that day no matter what.

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Back on topic: Pet peeve 2:  When people donate china/porcelain/ ceramic sculptures, those tend to be carefully wrapped until...

We have to open everything and then put it in bins.  If there is anything heavy, that will go in the bin too...  I have seen perfectly good things get broken that way.

Also who the heck puts glass ornaments with books in a "Gaylord"? (huge box with a wooden palate under it)  That would seem a no-brainer....but nevertheless I got my hand cut that way even though I tried to avoid the shards. Goota love the carelessness of people...

[mommy52]

Wanted to tell you this other night when I read you worked at Goodwill. Love ya. Goodwill=what can I say. Right now I have the tunk of my Toyota ,back seats and front passenger seat piled. I am recycling for Christmas. As you know, many items still have price tags. Family members gave few dollars, that all it usually takes. Just put me out in Goodwill and I think it helps just as well as meds, sometimes better.Whew....Now I've gotten maybe on another subject. How do you feel about re-gifting or recycling gifts. I am enclosing a small personal note (handwritten) with each person's gift.I explained our family's situation in regards to economy. Also wanted to let them know the extra time I spent as I earch for just the right gift.**** All items are clean. Clocks in excellent condition-just needed bateries-for <$2.00. I get excited . Am I wrong to do this, I mean recycling. I hope I do not offend those that receive. Note says if not an approprite gift, feel free to return.  There's always my collections of Angels galore. My husband says him or the Angels has to go. I know he's just kidding. He loves finding neat stuff also. I'll sush for now.

[lonewolf07]

Bosses who take their dentures out and forget where they put them.  I found them in the "IN" try.  No, I'm not kidding  = (

[MJIthewriter]

That's really nice, but that leaves me to pet peeve 3:  At least in our department we we have to remove any personal tags or notes people leave on the gifts. :(  At least we do with jewelry.  We take it out of the boxes and sort them together in shoeboxes....

Okay that leads to another pet peeve: detangling necklaces once: I can do. Twice: hmmm. Three times and any time after, why don't they get a darn rack to hang necklaces on rather than let them get all tangled?

But then again maybe in other departments they don't cut off notes that people leave for someone who buys the items.  I don't know. There are a lot of things I can complain about.  I just wish they took better care of the donated goods rather than take things apart, pile them in bins, and risk getting things crushed or broken at times.  We also get items from other Goodwill stores.  They seem to think if it didn't sell in one store then it may in another.  I also don't like having to price broken items or things I don't know where they belong to.  A few weeks ago I priced a set of plates and a few were chipped.  I wanted the chipped ones removed, but I had to price them anyway.  I gave them the cheapest price possible.

I do hope to see a lot of new Jewelry to sort now that it is near Christmas. We had a train set with Santa and elves.  That was fun. It lit up in many areas and parts moved about.  Someone will have fun getting that set.

[Agiesmom]

lonewolf, that is just WRONG!  (Isn't there some sort of law against that???  ;))

[MJIthewriter]

I found out at a meeting what happens to those loner shoes and broken items after sitting through a meeting.  They take those shoes and belts and sell them to recycling companies that break them down and make potting soil or oil absorbing rags or they will send stuff to Africa.