Was It Something I Said? (Buddy's Lament)

Perhaps it was.  Or maybe I just walked into the wrong room.  I don’t think so.  It looks like the same room I was just in a mere four weeks ago.

In fact, four weeks ago, I was here and everyone I met was so nice.  I met this person and that person.  They were all congenial, handshakes and laughter.   There were conversations about teamwork and benefits.  By the time I left, my head was spinning so much I felt intoxicated.   I couldn’t wait to return.  When I got the call that I was being asked to return for a permanent stay, I was beside myself.  I called everyone I knew because I just landed a job.

That was when I was a "person".

Now it’s two weeks since my first day.  I am now an "employee".  My noun is different.  So is this place. My name is Buddy and this is my story.

On the morning of my first day, I walked into the office.  I told the receptionist I was here to meet with the HR representative in charge of orientation.  When the HR rep greeted me in the lobby, he indicated he had no idea who I was or why I was there.  I thought this was weird.  But I chalked it up to a small mis-communication. 

Because the HR rep couldn’t adjust his schedule for me, I sat alone in a small office with just a table and chairs. After sitting there for over an hour, I overheard my new boss outside the office speaking to the HR rep. I overheard my new boss say, “What’s he doing here?”  The HR rep replied, “It’s his first day. Didn’t you know?”  I remember convincing myself I must be mis-hearing this.

My new boss came in. He was polite but noticeably bothered.  His mood was quite different from the times we met during the interviews. All he said was, “Well let’s get you started.”  No “hi.”  No “how are you?” No “glad to see you.”

As we walked down the hall, my new boss mentions that there is no new workstation for me as of today.  For the time being, he said I can sit in one of the project rooms.  I asked when I will have my own space.  The response was, “Soon.”

On my second day, I walked in feeling a little down.  The day before was weird.  But it did not prepare me for what was going to happen next.  My boss walks into the project room and asks me if I have the memo ready for our meeting.  I replied, “I didn’t know we had a meeting.”  My boss looks at me with disgust and says, “You gotta be more prepared than this,” and walks out.  I stood there in shock with my jaw on the ground.  I had no idea what he was talking about.  It's my second day and I'm already being scolded.

By the end of my first week, I still did not have an official workstation.  I never met with the HR rep to discuss benefits or payroll schedule.  Only a few co-workers introduced themselves.  But worst of all, my boss had already expressed disappointment in my work.  I didn’t know what was expected of me initially and so I was unsure of how to make sure it didn't occur again.

I’m at the end of my second week.  I have a workstation now.  But very little else has changed.  My boss and the other co-workers barely speak to me. I’m not sure when I’m getting my first paycheck. I’m not really sure when my health insurance goes into effect.

Actually though there is something that’s changed.  When I arrived here two weeks ago, I was so happy.  Today, I feel like a fool that made the biggest mistake of his life. 
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Note: I am not Buddy.  But I know Buddies.  Perhaps you know buddies as well.  Maybe you were once a buddy yourself.  The point is, when a “person” walks into your organization, they should walk out everyday as a “person”.  If they walk out as an “employee” they may not come back. 
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This tale was inspired by my friend Fran Melmed’s article over at Free Range Communications