When you’re an office-dwelling employee at a big firm, things can get a bit tricky when you want to take a day off and enjoy an extended weekend getaway with your family.  That is what I am trying to do this weekend (i.e., take tomorrow off and head over to the west coast of Florida with my wife and daughter for a three-day mini-vacation).  However, things that seem so easy sometimes become so difficult.

The Beaker Problem

The crux of the problem is Beaker (my boss).  If you read this blog regularly, you might already know that Beaker is, suffice to say, a piece of work.  For example, I was here all day last Sunday because of him.  I have also, in the past, been caught working all weekend due to Beaker’s obscene requests.  He even made me work on Christmas Eve! 

Beaker graphic 1But such extreme scenarios don’t illustrate the heart and soul of Beaker.  He truly is a unique individual, and a short conversation I had with him yesterday will give you a deep insight into what this man is all about. 

The conversation, of course, was about my desire to take off tomorrow and enjoy that much-desired three-day getaway with my family. 

The Conversation

(This took place in a conference room before a meeting.  We were preparing for a mock trial, which is tomorrow and which is a practice run of how we will present our case at the real trial next month.  I had mentioned to Beaker 2 months ago that I would be gone tomorrow, and I had his secretary make a note of it on his calendar.)

Flimjo: “Hey, remember that I can’t be at the mock trial on Friday.  I’m going to be out of town.”

Beaker: “What?  Why?  Where you goin’, bud?”

Flimjo: “We’re going to Marco Island for the weekend.” 

Beaker:  “Oh.  OK.”

Beaker gets up and leaves the room to tend to another matter.  He quickly returns and takes his seat.Vacation

Beaker: “So . . . you really have to go this weekend?”

Flimjo: “Yes, I do.”

Beaker: [pauses]  “You can’t go a day late?”

Flimjo: “No.  It’s already paid for.”

Beaker: “Alright, buddy.  [sarcastic tone]  You go ahead and do that.”

Flimjo’s Analysis

I know Beaker’s comments and questions above don’t appear to be that egregious.  But think for a moment of how any other normal person would respond . . . even a boss in a more traditional 9 to 5 workplace.  You say, “I’m going away this weekend.”  They usually respond with “Oh, nice.  Where you going?”

But not Beaker.  The conversation above is CLASSIC Beaker. 

Beaker graphic 2He felt let down about me leaving.  In fact, he not only felt let down, he was COMPLETELY PERPLEXED about me going on this so-called “mini-vacation.”  He had no capability to understand my answer (i.e., “We’re going to Marco Island for the weekend.”).  It didn’t compute in his head.  I mean, he had NO CLUE what “going away for the weekend” even meant!  To him, I was speaking some sort of ancient dialect. 

Then, when he thought all was lost, he attempted to compromise with me (i.e., “You can’t go a day late?”).  But even that failed!  It truly was a sight to behold.  It’s as if he thought I was of his mold, the workaholic type, slaving away with him . . . and then . . . WHAM! . . . I throw this curve ball at him (i.e., going away for the weekend), and I don’t even meet him halfway (i.e., going a day late).  The whole experience turned his world upside down.

Heh, wait until I tell him I’m taking two weeks off in September to go on a real vacation.  He’ll probably ask me if I can go “a week late.” 

If you like this post, please consider subscribing to my full RSS feed.  You can also subscribe by e-mail and have a copy of each new post automatically delivered to your inbox.

If you like this post, please bookmark it: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Propeller
  • Digg
  • Technorati
  • Reddit