The title says ‘grievances’ but really these are receipts. My receipts. In other words, it’s my growing list of evidence to support my goal of a shorter work week. I’ve done the mental calculus dozens of times and have determined that if all the interruptions, bottlenecks, nuisances and mismanagement were eliminated, I could get by with three days in the office. Ideally, I’d crank through work Tuesday to Thursday and have Mondays and Fridays to myself. If it were especially busy I would plan to be on site more (because I’m reasonable and a team player), but absent that I’d keep it to three days max. At least, that’s how it all plays out in my head.
Is a 3-day work week ambitious? Maybe. But it’s not impossible. Besides, as the list grows I can’t help but think why I shouldn’t try to make it a reality. So, in no particular order here’s my current tally:
- When I sit in a meeting that rehashes the same points covered in the last two meetings.
- Every time I do an iterative manual process that can be automated, but the powers-that-be refuse to make it so.
- Every time I’m held up in completing my work because I’m waiting on someone else to finish theirs.
- Any time a coworker stops by my office to chat at the most inopportune time.
- Any time a coworker ignores my body language that clearly emotes I’m not interested in chatting and proceeds to chat with me anyway.
- Each time I’m sitting in a pre-meeting before the actual scheduled meeting.
- Every time I’m stuck in rush hour traffic (especially when I leave early to avoid said traffic).
- Whenever I receive an after-hours (or before-hours) text from a boss about a non-pressing issue.
- Each time I’m sitting in a post-meeting after the actual scheduled meeting.
- Each time I bang my knee on my low-a** desk.
- When the self-designated team time-keeper clocks my arrival into the office.
- Whenever I’m forced to manage upwards because I’m dealing with a needy, insecure or incompetent boss.
- When a nosy coworker asks about my love life just as an excuse to talk about the drama in hers.
- When it seems like I’m the only person on the floor replacing the toner cartridge for the department printer.
- When it seems like I’m the only person on the floor replacing the disposable cups in the department break room.
- Any time I have to re-do or re-work someone else’s assignment/report/deliverable because it’s basically garbage.
- When that one coworker insists on using their speaker phone on every.single.call.
- …. (to be continued)