We always close for the end of the year and sometimes the amount of the closure is longer than others. Last year we were positively spoiled because we had two weeks off. This year it is only 7 days? 8 days? My last day is on the 15th which means I only have to take 4 days of leave at the end of the year to get a ridiculously long break.
We really need a break as the last week or so has sucked and then there’s been months of contract negotiations that have stalled and floundered. We’re all going a little nuts. Today I answered the phone and the person on the other end started the conversation by singing Kumbaya. I nearly busted a gut laughing at the level of sarcasm.
The icing on the cake was the insensitivity that our fearless leader showed by sending out a one line email about the sudden and terribly sad death of the husband of one of the managers. Then, not more than a few days later, we get a crazy mass email to all the loyal subjects asking us to think up songs, poems or other falderal to share with the fearless leader about the greatness of the fearless leader. We’re supposed to perform these ditties at our holiday lunch next week (which will already be chocked full of hokum). I nearly choked on the bitter taste in my mouth and then I deleted the email. Others have had a similar or more openly hostile attitude. I think most of us are tired of the BS.
Lucky for me, I have to be late to the lunch next week and hope to arrive just in time to go home early. That’s really the best part of the lunch because the logo gift* just doesn’t cut it.
*logo gifts are those gifts with the organization’s imprint on them (clocks, umbrellas, notepads, etc.)–you know, crap.