working in an office

crazygeryy

What's it like? I've never worked in one. I've always worked outdoors.
Is it fun ,boring ,awful?
Are days long ,short.
Just curious.

MadsL

The days pass in a blur of boards, facebook, reddit and staring out the window.

You'll love it.

To Elland Back

Aircon wars

Alf Veedersane

To Elland Back wrote: »

Aircon wars

There's a new film coming out soon, with Nicholas Cage, based on this very premise.

Air-Con.

Dog of Tears

It's exactly like Wolf of Wall Street but without the coke and hookers.

MadsL

There's a documentary you could watch to prepare yourself.

What's it called...?? The Office!! That's it.

Zombienosh

Watch Office Space

Alf Veedersane

MadsL wrote: »

There's a documentary you could watch to prepare yourself.

What's it called...?? The Office!! That's it.

I wish my boss wasl ike David Brent.

Gongoozler

For me it's a battle against your weight, as everybodies birthday, leaving, engagement, pregnancy, returning from holiday etc are celebrated with cake, biscuits, sweets, popcorn and chocolate. And then there's the random "we haven't had a birthday to celebrate in a week" sustenance boxes of roses.

jimgoose

Remember Dilbert? Well I'm him. Actually, I'm more like Wally at this stage, the jaded old mainframe jock who tends to get assigned projects that won't work because he won't either. Get out, save yourself while you still can. It is too late for me, Luke!

The Gibzilla

jimgoose wrote: »

Remember Dilbert? Well I'm him. Actually, I'm more like Wally at this stage, the jaded old mainframe jock who tends to get assigned projects that won't work because he won't either. Get out, save yourself while you still can. It is too late for me, Luke!

Ahh, sounds like someone's got a case of the Thursdays.

slinky2000

Free coffee and internet access, what more could you want

jimgoose

The Gibzilla wrote: »

Ahh, sounds like someone's got a case of the Thursdays.

I like Thursdays. And also, the pellets are excellent. :cool:

Gone Drinking

I'm on the first floor, so it has it ups and its downs

anncoates

It can be tricky sometimes deciding the type of coffee with which to kick off the day.

jimgoose

anncoates wrote: »

It can be tricky sometimes deciding the type of coffee with which to kick off the day.

Creature of habit that I am, my morning heart-starter is a double shot of espresso topped up with a little boiled water and a splash of milk.

CarrickMcJoe

Huh, welcome to the HSE...

MugMugs

My office neighbour person farts a lot.

And he turns a fan on to blow it in my direction.

force eleven

Conversing with people 6 feet away via e-mail is fun. My vocal cords have forgotten speech.

And MugMugs, I'll turn the fan off now.

jester77

It's super, warm environment in winter, aircon in summer, comfy seats, big screens for surfing, unlimited free coffee, free beer, free pizza, nerf gun fights. I would highly recommend.

shrewd

jester77 wrote: »

It's super, warm environment in winter, aircon in summer, comfy seats, big screens for surfing, unlimited free coffee, free beer, free pizza, nerf gun fights. I would highly recommend.

:pac:, joking right?

jimgoose

shrewd wrote: »

:pac:, joking right?

Nope. We wear propeller beanies and perambulate around the building in Segways pulled by pairs of interns. I am Judah Ben-Nerd. :cool:

jester77

shrewd wrote: »

:pac:, joking right?

Not at all, the free pizza is not every day, once or twice a week, not good for the health though.

ZiabR

MadsL wrote: »

The days pass in a blur of boards, facebook, reddit and staring out the window.

You'll love it.

That sums it up really, horrible existence.

whiskeyman

It's a cesspit of sexual tension, with a multitude of various personality types, from psychotic to zombie-like.

Badly Drunk Boy

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I wish my boss was like David Brent.

I wish I worked with Creed Bratton.

_Kaiser_

Days can drag sometimes, having to do everything via email/IM can be annoying when a phone call could sort it in a fraction of the time, aircon sucks - especially if you have a cold!

On the plus side, nice view out my window, free coffee, subsidised canteen and it's a good bunch in the office for the most part.

Akrasia

Meetings, pre-meetings, meetings about meetings, follow up meetings, all employee meetings, goal setting meetings, surveys, meetings to discuss the results of the survey, employee engagement meetings, meetings to discuss why employees don't like all the meetings....

MugMugs

Akrasia wrote: »

Meetings, pre-meetings, meetings about meetings, follow up meetings, all employee meetings, goal setting meetings, surveys, meetings to discuss the results of the survey, employee engagement meetings, meetings to discuss why employees don't like all the meetings....

........ HR meetings to discuss why you haven't got the job done in the first place.

ongarboy

Yesterday morning, on my way to work I walked past builders on a roof trying to lay slates in a new housing estate being built while there was a gale force wind and horizontal lashing rain and miserable cold. I thanked God, I work in a warm, temperature controlled office with comfortable chairs, high speed broadband and free tea and coffee. It has it's perks!

Akrasia

I worked on building sites when I was younger, and now I work in an office, there are definitely pros and cons to both types of work. You finish the day tired after a day on the sites, but it's a healthy kind of tired. After a day in the office you're often just drained. It's cold on a roof on a winters morning, but it's a real kind of cold and you can warm up by working, not like the cold of an air conditioning unit constantly bathing chilly air onto you while you have to listen to everyone around you moan about the temperature

The Gibzilla

To deter colleagues from stealing their milk, people write their name across their cartons in the fridge as if it's some form of sorcery!

In all seriousness though, there's nothing lower than a lunch-thief in the office. Scum, sub-human scum.

A lot of this depends on the office and where its located there is a big difference in working for a cranky solicitor or accountant in some office in a converted Victorian house in a dreary part of Dublin, working with the same 5 or 6 people in an office that is either too hot or too cold verses a large modern office in the city centre or the IFC.

A lot of its down to personality as well I would hate it but lots of people love it. The lack of privacy, the constant noise and so on would drive me mad.

Caliden

I get to listen to music while I work so there's that.

whiskeyman

The Gibzilla wrote: »

In all seriousness though, there's nothing lower than a lunch-thief in the office. Scum, sub-human scum.

Decoy faeces sandwiches or white paint filled cartons will soon teach 'em

I bet working in an office particularly an open play office makes people super conscious of themselves as you are on public display all the time so if you are the type to chew pens or have an ear pulling habit it will be noticed immediately, people in offices must be constantly policing themselves to make sure their behaviour fits social norms.

Aglomerado

mariaalice wrote: »

I bet working in an office particularly an open play office makes people super conscious of themselves as you are on public display all the time so if you are the type to chew pens or have an ear pulling habit it will be noticed immediately, people in offices must be constantly policing themselves to make sure their behaviour fits social norms.

Not particularly.
You'd be surprised the number of people I see scratching their brain through their nostrils. And some people seem to think that norms of personal hygiene does not apply to them.

K4t

It's a hell which you can leave at any time. But you never leave because you convince yourself the alternative is worse.

slinky2000

Aglomerado wrote: »

Not particularly.
You'd be surprised the number of people I see scratching their brain through their nostrils. And some people seem to think that norms of personal hygiene does not apply to them.

I agree, the amount of people with BO and smoke breath in an open plan office is quite something else. Never mind the people who take off their shoes when they get to their desk!

5starpool

Not all office jobs are the same, even within offices there can be vastly different experiences depending on your workload and colleagues.

My main criteria is not hating my job. I'm never going to love it so as long as the people I work with are grand and the workload expectations aren't ridiculous it's fine by me. A (reasonably) modern spacious office is a given as a requirement really.

Jawgap

It's great......

......I'm shagging the bird in the next office - she's a real goer.......


......I work from a home office






......so does my wife.

eviltimeban

mariaalice wrote: »

A lot of this depends on the office and where its located there is a big difference in working for a cranky solicitor or accountant in some office in a converted Victorian house in a dreary part of Dublin, working with the same 5 or 6 people in an office that is either too hot or too cold verses a large modern office in the city centre or the IFC.

This is exactly it. There's various levels of "office" that you have to take into consideration:

1. The out-of-town business park
So we're talking Citywest, Parkwest, anything with "west" in the name basically. This is a souless existence. While you might work in a modern office with a nice desk and computer, you are stuck with the same food choices every day and virtually nothing to do on your lunch break. You have to drive to work so you start stressing about the evening commute about an hour before you leave. You see one part of the world and that's it. A barren landscape surrounds you, with empty office buildings a reminder that nothing is permanent.

2. The D4 / D2 old townhouse
This is slightly better; there's a lot of these around Rathmines, Leeson Street, and around the Baggot Street area where the Georgian houses are all offices. This is slightly better than option 1, but depends on how close to town you are. The disadvantage is that the office will be old, damp, creaky, windy, and probably has one toilet for 30 people.

3. The IFSC Zone
You're getting there. Anything from IFSC - Pearse Street - quays area is getting a bit better. You are most likely going to be in a modern, big office with lots of people and potential eye candy to notice when you are walking from door to floor. Facilities will be good, and as you are in a more central area you have more lunch options. You can even walk to town and do a bit of shopping - if you can make Grafton Street in 10 minutes you are onto a winner.

4. The Facebook / Google / tree house office
This isn't really an office at all, more like a fun club that requires you to do a bit of "work" every now and again. However, be warned. For all the free coffee / whiskey tasting / beanbags / "breakout areas" / chalk boards / massage chair incentives on offer, you are slowly being brainwashed into thinking that a) you would NEVER work anywhere else again, and b) you NEVER want to leave this office. So the free food in the restaurant means you eat there every day and probably only take about 15 - 20 minutes for your lunch, as what else are you gonna do?

Now, I realise I've posted mostly about the office space rather than what its like working with people, office politics, etc. That's really a tougher one as it can vary from company to company. All of the above is what makes all the other stuff bearable / unbearable - if you have a nice environment around you it helps you get through all the other stuff.

smeal

Having worked in the hospitality industry during college and after college full time (only 4 months full time but I swear it felt like 4 years) personally I love the Monday-Friday routine and having a routine in general so I tend not to complain about the early mornings and coming home in the dark because I remember the 10/12 hour shifts sometimes up to 10 days at a time and lack of social life I had before..


I work in an office on the doorstep of Grafton Street- hour break is great for a snoop around the shops but not so great for the old bank account!!Endless coffee and biccies is a plus too! But the people who whinge about the heat wreck my days! "Ohhh it's freezin in here".. 10 minutes later "Jaysus the heat in here is mad".. Every single day without fail!

Relationships wise, offices are great if you get on with your colleagues but I could imagine it could be a misery veerrryy easily if you didn't! Couldn't imagine working in a small, quiet office though. You need to be kept on your toes all day for the working day to go fast Facebook breaks are key though

jimgoose

eviltimeban wrote: »

This is exactly it. There's various levels of "office" that you have to take into consideration:

1. The out-of-town business park
So we're talking Citywest, Parkwest, anything with "west" in the name basically. This is a souless existence. While you might work in a modern office with a nice desk and computer, you are stuck with the same food choices every day and virtually nothing to do on your lunch break. You have to drive to work so you start stressing about the evening commute about an hour before you leave. You see one part of the world and that's it. A barren landscape surrounds you, with empty office buildings a reminder that nothing is permanent...

Umm, our out-of-town business park is nicely located, with top-floor views of the surrounding countryside, is impeccably landscaped, nicely finished and generally quite pleasant. I go home for lunch every day - takes about twelve minutes each way - and I have zero traffic problems. It is quiet, comfortable and productive in an odd sort of way. We are Borg. :cool:

The idea of working in the very centre of Dublin, or in some crumbling old former house with no proper facilities and a weird smell, or being stuck with a bunch of wannabe Segway-riding Californian twits in some Googley place, gives me quite a migraine.

Daith

eviltimeban wrote: »

1. The out-of-town business park
So we're talking Citywest, Parkwest, anything with "west" in the name basically. This is a souless existence. While you might work in a modern office with a nice desk and computer, you are stuck with the same food choices every day and virtually nothing to do on your lunch break. You have to drive to work so you start stressing about the evening commute about an hour before you leave. You see one part of the world and that's it. A barren landscape surrounds you, with empty office buildings a reminder that nothing is permanent.

Sums up when I worked in Cherrywood to a T.

Aglomerado

Daith wrote: »

Sums up when I worked in Cherrywood to a T.

Business park here as well along with a large retail park. Before Christmas, the first half mile of the commute home takes about half an hour. No pubs nearby for a sneaky pint at lunchtime either - nearest one is 20 minutes' walk away and has piebalds outside.

slinky2000

jimgoose wrote: »

Umm, our out-of-town business park is nicely located, with top-floor views of the surrounding countryside, is impeccably landscaped, nicely finished and generally quite pleasant. I go home for lunch every day - takes about twelve minutes each way - and I have zero traffic problems. It is quiet, comfortable and productive in an odd sort of way. We are Borg. :cool:

The idea of working in the very centre of Dublin, or in some crumbling old former house with no proper facilities and a weird smell, or being stuck with a bunch of wannabe Segway-riding Californian twits in some Googley place, gives me quite a migraine.

I'm the opposite, I love working in town. Nice office block here on the Quays, walking around town at lunch, going for a stroll around St Stephens Green or the docklands, doing some shopping, getting some bits, doing some post in the GPO, loads of lunch places and coffee shops and great for a pint on a Friday. The transport options are almost endless too. It's great for meeting people and friends too that are visiting Dublin, you're always close by!

for me working out in somewhere like citywest would be sole destroying and not to mention the hours of commuting I would be doing on the m50. No thanks.

jimgoose

Aglomerado wrote: »

Business park here as well along with a large retail park. Before Christmas, the first half mile of the commute home takes about half an hour. No pubs nearby for a sneaky pint at lunchtime either - nearest one is 20 minutes' walk away and has piebalds outside.

Mmm. No retail Park-o-Rama Bonanzapalooza crap here, just an airport. Plenty nice pubs with decent carvery a ten- or fifteen-minute gallop away as well.

Alf Veedersane

K4t wrote: »

It's a hell which you can leave at any time. But you never leave because you convince yourself the alternative is worse.

Wel-come to the Office California...

eviltimeban

jimgoose wrote: »

Umm, our out-of-town business park is nicely located, with top-floor views of the surrounding countryside, is impeccably landscaped, nicely finished and generally quite pleasant. I go home for lunch every day - takes about twelve minutes each way - and I have zero traffic problems. It is quiet, comfortable and productive in an odd sort of way. We are Borg. :cool:

The idea of working in the very centre of Dublin, or in some crumbling old former house with no proper facilities and a weird smell, or being stuck with a bunch of wannabe Segway-riding Californian twits in some Googley place, gives me quite a migraine.

You're lucky alright, and I agree with the second paragraph. I wasn't rating them in order of preference, just listing them.

The best in fairness, is probably the IFSC / Quays option.

jimgoose

slinky2000 wrote: »

I'm the opposite, I love working in town. Niec office here on the Quays, walking around town at lunch, going for a stroll around St Stephens Green or the docklands, doing some shopping, getting some bits, doing some post int he GPO, loads of lunch places and coffee shops and great for a pint on a Friday. The transport options are almost endless too. It's great for meeting people and friends too that are visiting Dublin, you're always close by!

I working out in somewhere like citywest sole destroying and not to mention the hours of commuting I would be doing on the m50. No thanks.

Shtop willoo, you have me breaking into song... "Grafton Street's a Wonderland, there's magic in the air..."

I agree that most of CityWest is like Mad Max with office workers instead of crazy bikers! :pac: