Professionalism in the workplace

Mr.Panda

Mr.Panda

Active member
So, to preface I work in my county's courthouse in the Clerk's office for Superior Court. I handle adult felonies which means I see, hear, and meet some of the worst of the worst on a daily basis. I am expected to appear to work in a suit every day for work.

So, keeping all that in mind you'd imagine we have to conduct ourselves in this office in a professional manner. I ROUTINELY hear one of the two ladies working at our front counter ask a member of the public who is looking for information on a loved one that was arrested for a felony "are they still locked up" instead of like "are they in custody at the jail", chewing gum... and the annoying farm animal mouth open type of chewing gum. One person in my department will routinely call out sick on Monday's with a "102 degree fever" and then show up on Tuesday seemingly just fine and answers the phone when the public calls like she's annoyed that she has to be bothered with it.

Am I asking for too much here? You know, cut the gum chewing, don't ask if someone is "locked up" and treat members of the public with the respect we would want them to treat us with?

tl;dr... I am 29 and working at the courthouse and people far older than me that should know better act like unprofessional twats on a routine basis.

And just so people have something fun to watch if they don't want to respond:

 
Personally I don't give a shit if my co-workers call in sick. It's just cover for when I do it.

If you really have a problem with professionalism you should do the professional thing and talk to the person 1 on 1 about your issues. If you don't feel comfortable with that, you should go to your supervisor and say I've noticed Sally is at times uncomfortably blunt with our customers, she may not be aware of it and I think she could benefit from further training.

It sounds like you just don't like them, so every thing they do bothers you. But what do I know.
 
13866686:Casey said:
Personally I don't give a shit if my co-workers call in sick. It's just cover for when I do it.

If you really have a problem with professionalism you should do the professional thing and talk to the person 1 on 1 about your issues. If you don't feel comfortable with that, you should go to your supervisor and say I've noticed Sally is at times uncomfortably blunt with our customers, she may not be aware of it and I think she could benefit from further training.

It sounds like you just don't like them, so every thing they do bothers you. But what do I know.
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I get that but I feel like where I work I shouldn't NEED to bring it up, it should be that way automatically. I've brought up the gum thing to the office boss and the person individually once already and it didn't stop.
 
13866688:Mr.Panda said:
I get that but I feel like where I work I shouldn't NEED to bring it up, it should be that way automatically. I've brought up the gum thing to the office boss and the person individually once already and it didn't stop.
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Yeah I completely get the idea of having certain expectations that should go unsaid. But I actually took a workshop on this very thing at work and what they would say is to remain calm, go back to them again and say: The last time we spoke about this issue I thought every one was clear of the expectation that XY and Z was going to change. Since it hasn't I am wondering if those expectations were not clear to you, or if there is some other reason why xyz is still happening.

I mean yeah, in order to win you have to quell all emotion, be crystal clear about what you want, and follow up relentlessly when your expectations are not met. It's fucking annoying as shit and at times uncomfortable to pursue stuff like this, but that's how it's done.
 
13866694:Casey said:
Yeah I completely get the idea of having certain expectations that should go unsaid. But I actually took a workshop on this very thing at work and what they would say is to remain calm, go back to them again and say: The last time we spoke about this issue I thought every one was clear of the expectation that XY and Z was going to change. Since it hasn't I am wondering if those expectations were not clear to you, or if there is some other reason why xyz is still happening.

I mean yeah, in order to win you have to quell all emotion, be crystal clear about what you want, and follow up relentlessly when your expectations are not met. It's fucking annoying as shit and at times uncomfortable to pursue stuff like this, but that's how it's done.
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Part of me admittedly wonders if it doesn't stop because I work in the public sector. We basically can't get fired.
 
13866701:Mr.Panda said:
Part of me admittedly wonders if it doesn't stop because I work in the public sector. We basically can't get fired.
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Ding Ding we got a winner!

This is why everything ran by the government sucks
 
Sounds like you have more of an excuse to be unprofessional at work.

My work is very sharp and professional, only on the sales floor though, the shop is full of women being stared at, swearing and burnouts. Fucking love it.
 
13866711:Titus69 said:
Sounds like you have more of an excuse to be unprofessional at work.

My work is very sharp and professional, only on the sales floor though, the shop is full of women being stared at, swearing and burnouts. Fucking love it.
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I've honestly missed aspects of being a bouncer. At least then the ridiculousness of people made sense.
 
professionalism and work ethic is fucking dead and long gone in the US. everyone just wants to show up, collect a paycheck, and go home everyday.
 
It seems like the people you work with are jaded, they have spent to long at their job and just don’t fucking care. The best way to deal with those people is to have a constant upbeat attitude that shows them although you may not like the work, you are going to do it and with some actual professionalism instead of being the wastes of space that they are. Also you could remind them that people are still in need of work and they are more than welcome to leave if their jobs don’t satisfy them
 
i used to work at a Meijer and you have no idea how much shit i stole from that place, I probably stole around 2k worth of shit. i probably stole shit every day it worked there tbh
 
Feel for you dude. Can't relate much to a full time job and profession, but when i started part time as a lifeguard, I was shocked and disappointed in the lack of professionalism. I get goofing around, but these people were smoking weed and banging in the backroom with unsupervised people on deck. Good luck, maybe chew gum louder than her when no one is around lol
 
13866803:broccoliraabe said:
i used to work at a Meijer and you have no idea how much shit i stole from that place, I probably stole around 2k worth of shit. i probably stole shit every day it worked there tbh
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/claim

/stupid
 
13866818:iced said:
Feel for you dude. Can't relate much to a full time job and profession, but when i started part time as a lifeguard, I was shocked and disappointed in the lack of professionalism. I get goofing around, but these people were smoking weed and banging in the backroom with unsupervised people on deck. Good luck, maybe chew gum louder than her when no one is around lol
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See, I was a bouncer for a year and a half and we fucked around ALL the time... literally and figuratively while on shift but we were goddamn bouncers. Everyone thinks we're douchebags as soon as they see the black shirt with white letters (#blackshirtsmatter damnit) but at my current job it drives me nuts.
 
Are you asking too much? No. Are you expecting too much, Yes. Obviously management doesn't see a problem with it or is not handling the issues to your standards so there is little you can do. Government work tends to be little training and low oversight. Should we expect more out of them, of course. Yet it rarely does. Don't lower your game, hope they raise theirs.
 
13867065:snowpocalypse said:
Government work tends to be little training and low oversight. Should we expect more out of them, of course. Yet it rarely does.
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There's a reason most of my applications that I have sent out recently are to private companies or big private firms. At least we can be held accountable there.
 
13867067:Mr.Panda said:
There's a reason most of my applications that I have sent out recently are to private companies or big private firms. At least we can be held accountable there.
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Looks like your headed down the right track. As you are applying check our Glassdoor.com They have lost of useful info from current and former employees. It gives you a great inside look into the companies work life. Good luck.
 
13866694:Casey said:
go back to them again and say: The last time we spoke about this issue I thought every one was clear of the expectation that XY and Z was going to change. Since it hasn't I am wondering if those expectations were not clear to you, or if there is some other reason why xyz is still happening.
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So this is really good and something that you could do... and now I remember a quote for you, "being angry is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die" You can either deal with the situation or let it slide till you move on.

I can't really say more without getting deeply philosophical or saying something sexist so... /threads for later
 
13866803:broccoliraabe said:
i used to work at a Meijer and you have no idea how much shit i stole from that place, I probably stole around 2k worth of shit. i probably stole shit every day it worked there tbh
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Well you sound like a real stand up guy. Cream of the crop.
 
topic:Mr.Panda said:
I ROUTINELY hear one of the two ladies working at our front counter ask a member of the public who is looking for information on a loved one that was arrested for a felony "are they still locked up" instead of like "are they in custody at the jail", chewing gum... and the annoying farm animal mouth open type of chewing gum.
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On the contrary, you have a tv show stereotype secretary type worker. You just have to be entertained by it instead.
 
13868427:a_pla5tic_bag said:
On the contrary, you have a tv show stereotype secretary type worker. You just have to be entertained by it instead.
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I'm with this. You can't change other people's attitudes, so you might as well find humor in them.
 
13868421:ChangeCashMoney said:
Well you sound like a real stand up guy. Cream of the crop.
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Its doublecup

he is no "guy". he is more or less a thin mist of sexual desire and frustration with no physical body
 
Im no where near an actual career in my life right now as I’m only 18 but with my retail job, one of my coworkers was SUPER rude with customers and didnt even know it, I was just straight up with her and told her politely that she could be a little less blunt and insisted on answering phone calls when I could because that would limit the amount of chances she could piss someone off by saying something she shouldn’t have, and she was thankful for the advice and changed her approach. Maybe just talk to her OP, she might be really appreciative that you would notice that as that kinda thing sounds important for customer feedback.
 
I also work in county government and couldn't agree more. They're all too comfortable and act untouchable to the public, and are bored so they just gossip all day.. Not to mention local government is just a big rat race / adult version of a popularity contest. My county administrators and a select few of staff who are their dick riders are some of the most two-faced, ignorant, and immature people you'd ever meet. My advice with you is to either keep your head low and just do your job, or find something else to do. Unfortunately, people will be like that most anywhere you work.
 
I'm having fun with somebody who "doesn't have a problem with anyone" and has epic people skills and a solid taste in music. Just playing the game right now but it's fucking tough when people are full of shit and being petty about stupid shit.

There will always be times where you don't like the people you work with. Sometimes you might even end up in a stressed out, too many hours screaming match. That said if shit's getting done and the people involved don't suck, it goes back to normal. Unfortunately there are people that get in weird drama, start weird bullshit, hold weird grudges, and are just fucking weird. Hopefully I'm not in for fucked season. YOLO
 
13869525:theabortionator said:
I'm having fun with somebody who "doesn't have a problem with anyone" and has epic people skills and a solid taste in music. Just playing the game right now but it's fucking tough when people are full of shit and being petty about stupid shit.

There will always be times where you don't like the people you work with. Sometimes you might even end up in a stressed out, too many hours screaming match. That said if shit's getting done and the people involved don't suck, it goes back to normal. Unfortunately there are people that get in weird drama, start weird bullshit, hold weird grudges, and are just fucking weird. Hopefully I'm not in for fucked season. YOLO
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Yeah I have to agree with this. I have plenty of people that I work with who I like a lot, but sometimes they make me wanna pull my hair out and tell them to stfu. In the end it all works out
 
It's the county clerk's, man. They literally do not give any shits. I fucking loathe dealing with any of them.
 
13869721:yelsel said:
It's the county clerk's, man. They literally do not give any shits. I fucking loathe dealing with any of them.
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Well usually you're only dealing with them if you fucked up and owe the court money, I dunno how much red carpet service you can really expect.
 
13870406:Casey said:
Well usually you're only dealing with them if you fucked up and owe the court money, I dunno how much red carpet service you can really expect.
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I have to deal with them on a number of things, mainly filings and obtaining copies of recorded documents. Either way, it's a shit show.
 
I would try and put a bit of a positive/humorous spin on the cow chewing gum lady. kinda jokingly bug her about it. that can take the criticism away

On a similar note, I have taken pictures of equipment in the field and had engineers (usually female) ask to see the photos at a later date, of course when I open my phone to show them the first pic in my photos is the most tasteless meme. This has happened a number of times.
 
why do you give a fuck? are you getting paid to deal with or manage these catty broads? forget about them.

the people there are there to get an easy paycheck, shit on democrats, and ride out their PERS 1 contributions. they don't think about you. at all. let it go or find a new job for YOUR sake.
 
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