So you didn’t lose your job? 🙏 Mistakes are a tool to grow and learn. Bob sounds like an angel with a favorite tie. Your description of him was wonderful. Did he have a comb over too?
LOL, Carissa - no, he didn’t quite have a combover, but to be honest it was only a matter of time!
I didn’t lose my job, thank goodness. They’d’ve had nobody to change the lightbulbs, empty the shredder or make lunch reservations. And who’d’ve picked up the CEO’s regular order from the cigar shop, or sent his shirts to the laundry? Seriously, though, I learned sooooo much at that place, and had some fun, too. Travelled a bit across to mainland Europe for work stuff now and again, so that was nice.
I had a boss shout at me in front of everyone and I said "If you want to shout at me, do it in your office, not in public." He was dead friendly after that. It sounds like an interesting though at times nerve-wracking job. Does Jim know about Bob? 😡
You're so right - BUT with him it was just a flash in the pan. We took a while to get used to each other, but he'd literally just move on after stuff like that, which is something I learned to really appreciate about him. We muddled along okay together in the end.
Could NOT love this more! You've had quite the adventurous corporate life and you describe it so well. Crazy to think what was considered acceptable back in those quasi-Carry-On-UK days! I like the sound of Bob very much and thank goodness for the Bobs of this world.
So much to relate to here, Rebecca. I remember being admonished (by another woman!) for not making excuses for an office creep's behaviour who was "just a bit of fun, really" and who later ended up being done for sexual assault! This post is solid gold. Reminds me a bit of the 'IT Crowd' culture somehow, lol.
Thanks, Sue! And gosh, I’m horrified by the creep in your office - but even more so by the woman who’d obviously considered his behaviour acceptable.
Bob was great! He worked very hard and took his job really seriously, but that was balanced with a fantastic sense of humour in the office and really caring about his colleagues. Well, not all of his colleagues, actually! But that’s another story! x
I loved this Rebecca. You are such a fine writer. Your experience working in that office could easily be made into a movie. This personal history is so very funny - in hind sight, of course. Imagine having to go out and buy your bosses lunch during your own lunch hour! Outrageous. More, please.
Thank you, Sue! And I shared the candy - and tried not to let it show that I was quietly removing out the bits of liquorice (yuck!) from the pieces I chose and only eating the much nicer pink and white and blue parts! 🤫😉
Oh, Rebecca! So many of the things you mentioned about your jobs are parallel to my past jobs. As I was reading this post, I thought. "Oh, poor Rebecca! I hated doing that TOO!" Travel arrangements can be a nightmare - my heart was with you on that retelling! This post would make the best pilot for a new BBC Masterpiece series, "The Life of. Rebecca".
LOL - I’m not sure the BBC would find very many of my stories appropriate, Mary! 🤣 And thank you so much - it seems we have plenty in common!
I remember booking flights for a couple of my London colleagues to have a meeting with someone at one of our other offices. The meeting had to happen AT the airport, in the end, because a certain person hadn’t allowed enough time between the outbound flight and the return one to actually even make it to the office and back….. 🙄
Oh, those last minute, or unexpected changes for flights and meetings and all that goes with it, for the attendees and the one who did their best to plan accordingly with the limited information and time allowances . . . 🙄
The joys of early employment. It’s so easy to forget that we’re born knowing nothing and that we have to learn everything. You did your best. (And I hate people who steal from the company. Not sure how he kept his job.) Life was very different back then. Hugs my dear.
Oh Rebecca, this is definitely my all time favorite story of yours. Despite the "failures" and "bloopers," you managed to stay at this firm for over two years (if not many more). Most of my jobs lasted at most 1 1/2 years and ended under tenuous circumstances. Only the newspaper jobs lasted longer and I could've (should've) stayed (perhaps). And Bob. What an absolutely dear man. The Allsorts were awesome! Thank you for this bright and cheery post.
Thank heavens for Bob! I don't know many people who've avoided encountering a boss like that one. Maybe we need to have them to better appreciate the good ones? I bet you could offer some...uh...new perspectives were you to work for him now. Grrr. As I type, 'm cataloguing in my head the many inappropriate and offensive behaviors of former bosses.
Applause for coming away with such a good story intact!
So you didn’t lose your job? 🙏 Mistakes are a tool to grow and learn. Bob sounds like an angel with a favorite tie. Your description of him was wonderful. Did he have a comb over too?
LOL, Carissa - no, he didn’t quite have a combover, but to be honest it was only a matter of time!
I didn’t lose my job, thank goodness. They’d’ve had nobody to change the lightbulbs, empty the shredder or make lunch reservations. And who’d’ve picked up the CEO’s regular order from the cigar shop, or sent his shirts to the laundry? Seriously, though, I learned sooooo much at that place, and had some fun, too. Travelled a bit across to mainland Europe for work stuff now and again, so that was nice.
I had a boss shout at me in front of everyone and I said "If you want to shout at me, do it in your office, not in public." He was dead friendly after that. It sounds like an interesting though at times nerve-wracking job. Does Jim know about Bob? 😡
That’s a very good line to have used, Terry!
And yes, Jim and Bob have even met! 😁
The verbally abusive bosses are the worst ones.
THE worst!!!
You're so right - BUT with him it was just a flash in the pan. We took a while to get used to each other, but he'd literally just move on after stuff like that, which is something I learned to really appreciate about him. We muddled along okay together in the end.
I love the sound of Bob the ideal colleague 😘😘
He was a sweetie. Mind you, he played far too many practical jokes on people. Might have to write about those sometime! 🤣
Please do 😁😁😁
Could NOT love this more! You've had quite the adventurous corporate life and you describe it so well. Crazy to think what was considered acceptable back in those quasi-Carry-On-UK days! I like the sound of Bob very much and thank goodness for the Bobs of this world.
So much to relate to here, Rebecca. I remember being admonished (by another woman!) for not making excuses for an office creep's behaviour who was "just a bit of fun, really" and who later ended up being done for sexual assault! This post is solid gold. Reminds me a bit of the 'IT Crowd' culture somehow, lol.
Thanks, Sue! And gosh, I’m horrified by the creep in your office - but even more so by the woman who’d obviously considered his behaviour acceptable.
Bob was great! He worked very hard and took his job really seriously, but that was balanced with a fantastic sense of humour in the office and really caring about his colleagues. Well, not all of his colleagues, actually! But that’s another story! x
I loved this Rebecca. You are such a fine writer. Your experience working in that office could easily be made into a movie. This personal history is so very funny - in hind sight, of course. Imagine having to go out and buy your bosses lunch during your own lunch hour! Outrageous. More, please.
Oh Sharron, these are such kind words - thank you! And yes I’ll be having a go at more stories like these! x
Oh my goodness, Rebecca! What an experience. Entitlement at its finest… 🥴 (Thankful for Bob, though—what a creative idea with those sweets! 🍬)
Entitlement is right! My CEO was certainly a character. And Bob was a sweetheart! x
Oh, this is just lovely. Isn’t it amazing we survive those early jobs? We’re so naive about the ways of the world.
Tom, thank you so much! And gosh, yes - and in those early days it really IS a fight for survival, isn’t it?! Such a massive learning curve!
Delightful post!!! Thank you for sharing it! And I hope you ate all the candy...
Thank you, Sue! And I shared the candy - and tried not to let it show that I was quietly removing out the bits of liquorice (yuck!) from the pieces I chose and only eating the much nicer pink and white and blue parts! 🤫😉
How wonderful!!! (Both the sharing and the removal of licorice) 😘😘
We all need a Bob at work 😊xx
We DO!!!!! Elly, YOU’RE a Bob, definitely. Love you! 😘
Love it!
You’re so kind - many thanks, Diane!
Thanks, Rebecca. Right is right!
Oh, Rebecca! So many of the things you mentioned about your jobs are parallel to my past jobs. As I was reading this post, I thought. "Oh, poor Rebecca! I hated doing that TOO!" Travel arrangements can be a nightmare - my heart was with you on that retelling! This post would make the best pilot for a new BBC Masterpiece series, "The Life of. Rebecca".
LOL - I’m not sure the BBC would find very many of my stories appropriate, Mary! 🤣 And thank you so much - it seems we have plenty in common!
I remember booking flights for a couple of my London colleagues to have a meeting with someone at one of our other offices. The meeting had to happen AT the airport, in the end, because a certain person hadn’t allowed enough time between the outbound flight and the return one to actually even make it to the office and back….. 🙄
Oh, those last minute, or unexpected changes for flights and meetings and all that goes with it, for the attendees and the one who did their best to plan accordingly with the limited information and time allowances . . . 🙄
The joys of early employment. It’s so easy to forget that we’re born knowing nothing and that we have to learn everything. You did your best. (And I hate people who steal from the company. Not sure how he kept his job.) Life was very different back then. Hugs my dear.
Oh Rebecca, this is definitely my all time favorite story of yours. Despite the "failures" and "bloopers," you managed to stay at this firm for over two years (if not many more). Most of my jobs lasted at most 1 1/2 years and ended under tenuous circumstances. Only the newspaper jobs lasted longer and I could've (should've) stayed (perhaps). And Bob. What an absolutely dear man. The Allsorts were awesome! Thank you for this bright and cheery post.
Thank heavens for Bob! I don't know many people who've avoided encountering a boss like that one. Maybe we need to have them to better appreciate the good ones? I bet you could offer some...uh...new perspectives were you to work for him now. Grrr. As I type, 'm cataloguing in my head the many inappropriate and offensive behaviors of former bosses.
Applause for coming away with such a good story intact!
Isn't it wonderful to have someone like Bob to work with? What a sweetie.
And I think he stands head and shoulders above the tossers.
Lovely post!