Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The Office - Episode #2: Cup Debate

So while I'm on the subject of offices I feel I must relate a scene that proves my life is essentially a deleted scene from either the movie Office Space or the show The Office - both of which I love and have always loved, though never fully appreciated until I worked in such an environment.
Case in point -
The other day the "management team" (I don't get paid anywhere near enough to be considered a manager, simply, part of the team) sat down in the conference room for our weekly meeting, meant to be used as a time to catch up about what's going on, make sure everyone is on the same page, voice any concerns etc. One brave soul brought up the never ending discussion/subject of CUPS. So, being the democratically (HA!) run office that we are a discussion ensued as to the use of the cups, why we keep running out so quickly and what can be done about it. See the cups get delivered by our partner company and they are supposed to bring it over to us when they get deliveries, but the problem is we are apparently the red-headed step child and the cups don't get brought over unless someone from our office calls over to get them. Then they disappear like no one has ever seen a cup before. Someone will literally go in, get a drink and then throw their cup away instead of keeping it for the day.
Not wanting this to be a major discussion I raised a point that I thought could be implemented and then we could move on. I said, "I have an idea. How about we buy some plastic cups, some sponges and some dishsoap. That way everyone can have their own cup and be responsible for washing it at the end of the day etc. We have lots of cabinet space, We'll cut costs by not buying paper cups, cut down on our waste, and all around be a more "green" office!" This was met with a good response and I thought the 5 min. problem/suggestion was over. OH NO, IT WASN'T! The conversation on the validity of using plastic cups/forcing people to bring in their own mugs/cups etc VS. the continuation of the paper cups and how to get them over here as we needed them by encouraging people to use only one cup per day. The conversation continued for 20 mins!!!!! I was astounded. I said nothing else. I stared at the blank used-to-be-white walls and silently prayed the fire alarm would go off (for real, not in the fake way it does periodically throughout the day) and we'd all be forced down to the street while our building burnt to the ground. I managed to catch the eye of our box office manager and he had the same expression I had and we both burst into laughter. Not appreciated by the others who were still in the heart of the manner in an earnest discussion. We quieted down trying to stifle giggles and eye rolls, much like I was back in middle school and the meeting continued.
But seriously, doesn't this sound like a lost scene from The Office?!?!

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