A broken break.
Posted by Done25v2@reddit | talesfromtechsupport | View on Reddit | 65 comments
I am me, tech support person.
Me on break.
Me on break having just put a big chunk of semi-dry chicken in my mouth.
Me on break having just put a big chunk of semi-dry chicken in me mouth as a user walks up to me desk. (They aren't supposed to do this.)
Me doing my best to quickly chew/swallow while user looks uncomfortable.
Me ask how can help. User was here to give me their password so me could sign into and set up their new work smartphone.
Me get password, and start signing in.
Me sign into user's Teams app to make sure it works.
Me notice user messaging on teams. They messaging about the food incident with a co-worker.
Me, when delivering phone, mention me was able to successfully sign into their Teams account for them.
Me not sure if user was able to connect the dots.
Me would have liked to receive apology for both the bothering while on break and the gossiping, but not worth making a fuss.
That me story. Me hope you enjoyed.
Tattycakes@reddit
You should have sat there chewing as long as you wanted and then told them you’re on a break and they can set up an appointment for later
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Sometimes it's stuff like "I've locked myself out of my computer." or "I'm trying to sign into Webex for a legal hearing, but no one can hear me/I can't hear them." So me always try to give users benefit of the doubt.
alf666@reddit
Ask them why they chose to walk up to the guy with chicken in their mouth instead of literally anyone else in the room.
me_groovy@reddit
If there's business critical activities like legal hearings happening, the IT dept should be staggering their breaks
Miffy92@reddit
Do you seriously think if there's legal hearings happening that the IT boys would be told in advance?
I__Know__Stuff@reddit
Everyone else went out for lunch.
Trinitykill@reddit
A break is a break. The nature of their issue should be irrelevant.
Breaks are a legal right, one that employers would remove if they could. So it's not just your right, but your duty to take breaks and enforce that other people do too.
If there's an IT issue that needs resolving during your break, then they need to contact another member of the IT team. If no one else is available, then that's a failure of management.
If it's an emergency, then you deal with it, but your break is on pause.
derKestrel@reddit
While this is true, the real world tends not to care, and management tends to not be able to supply enough personnel (be it due to lacking permission, budget or due to manager having skill issues).
External stakeholders, like courts especially, will just continue on, possibly making costly legal procedures necessary to reprieve your companies representatives or their clients.
In this case, a certain flexibility is warranted, if management is reasonable about it. I had the agreement with my boss that I would stop my break, help, then take the full break time after helping, not just the leftover time, as an interrupted break is not enough to rest.
steeldraco@reddit
Good. Maybe those external costs will give them a reason to staff better.
Strazdas1@reddit
they will come out of IT budget.
derKestrel@reddit
We both know that ain't gonna happen.
Rathmun@reddit
Shouldn't do that. "No walk in's, go open a ticket."
Strazdas1@reddit
Cant open ticket if magic smoke escape.
Rathmun@reddit
Good point. "Is it on fire? Is it smoking? If not, go open a ticket."
If they say yes, grab your extinguisher in a panic and yell at them to show you "NOW NOW NOW". If you get there and it's just a popup, spray them in the face with the extinguisher.
Strazdas1@reddit
well, i had to do a walk in once after a vacation as the password expired during vacation, i didnt change it in 10 days because i wasnt working and system locked the account. Return from vacation, 8 AM, cannot use the computer. Cannot issue ticket either.
Rathmun@reddit
Was your manager also locked out of their computer?
But yes, in that rare case a walk-in is valid. But any walk-ins where the ticket system was an option deserve some public humiliation.
Strazdas1@reddit
No? Why would i got to my manager if i got locked out due to password expiration?
Rathmun@reddit
In a system that's strict about requiring tickets, one of the roles of a manager is opening tickets on behalf of direct reports who can't for whatever reason.
If the whole system is down, that reduces the number of people walking in and interrupting fix efforts. If there are problematic users who abuse IT resources, it makes sure the manager is aware. And if something weird happens, like in your case, they probably still have access to the system to open a ticket, without a walk-in.
Now, if you're in an environment where people don't have a history of refusing to use the ticket system, an occasional walk-in isn't unreasonable. But most places aren't like that, and IT has to constantly push everyone to avoid backsliding to the "no one opens tickets ever for anything" state that's so often the default.
Strazdas1@reddit
I can see the reasoning behind such requirements. We dont have them here though.
ImT00PhaT@reddit
Isn't there like a break room for you to eat? Because when I eat at my desk, people assume I'm eating while working and not on my lunch break.
Strazdas1@reddit
We have a break room that noone uses and everyone eats at the desk. Lunchtime is respected though, usually.
Warrangota@reddit
Heh, at my place almost nobody has or uses a break room. Most office people either leave the building or eat at their desks. Usually I am not that strict about my break, so if people come in I will happily chat with them and finish my break time later. Cutting it short doesn't happen though.
IuseArchbtw97543@reddit
r/fourthworldproblems
-MazeMaker-@reddit
Also r/talesfromcavesupport
Strazdas1@reddit
49 thousand users?
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Me's peoples! (There really is a reddit for everything...)
Bobd1964@reddit
And this is why I dislike having to deal with a lot of end users who are oblivious to what us IT people have to do and then get snippy when then have to wait. I continuously get "why can't you do that on the weekend?" and when I ask them if they work on the weekend, or take breaks, or go to the washroom, they always say something along the lines of "I never see you working anyway" or "you don't have a personal life", etc. Many users expect to get what they want, regardless of what we are doing, who may have already submitted requests ahead of theirs, projects being worked on, etc.
I regularly give out "ID-TEN-T" awards where the ten is in digits, and very few people think that it is nasty, or I have also told them "DILIGAF", and again, just get blank stares.
Very glad I now work from home 100% and can choose when to interact with some of these people.
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Me contractor. Me no allowed to work from home. Not even during heavy rain/snow days. :<
Strazdas1@reddit
empty office > full office.
Bobd1964@reddit
Sorry, I am a contractor as well. I used to work full-time but now only work part-time as I wind down to retirement.
Equivalent-Salary357@reddit
I thought it was DILLIGAF...
udsd007@reddit
There are two Fs inn__DILLIGAFF__. It ends with “A Flying F…”.
Equivalent-Salary357@reddit
I think that's the 'western US' version. I live east of the Mississippi.
Bobd1964@reddit
It is - sorry for the typo.
Equivalent-Salary357@reddit
LOL, no big deal. You can edit it...
Bobd1964@reddit
Edited as requested.
Dom_Shady@reddit
That's plain rude behavior and should be punished as such.
JeromeBiteman@reddit
Sounds like a manager or executive.
redspike77@reddit
Me enjoyed. And annoyed for you.
Shazam1269@reddit
Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?
Strazdas1@reddit
Me read. Me upvote.
DreamerFi@reddit
Never use a big word when a diminutive one will suffice
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Me am glad you enjoyed. :)
5p4n911@reddit
Inefficient.
More-Tangerine-4536@reddit
Password sharing is a nono
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Me kind of need it, or can't set up the phone. Phone tied to account, so it no authenticate without sign in first.
Need test phone, and make sure it actually work, before shipping out to users.
Zoleish@reddit
This was painful to read.
AutumninMaryland@reddit
Thou shall not interrupt an employee while on lunch break!
iambluehearmeroar@reddit
"I'm sorry, I'm on break right now. We have an appointment system to make sure that you don't waste time trying to find an available technician."
bhambrewer@reddit
When you're on break, you are on break. Take it away from your desk or otherwise clearly indicate you're not available. This incident is 100% on you for not enforcing boundaries.
TheFluffiestRedditor@reddit
You’re on lunch break, point them somewhere else. Or go somewhere else for lunch.
This one’s on you for not having functional boundaries.
NightMgr@reddit
Get mayo or ketchup on your fingers then handle their phone.
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Me am civil caveman.
alf666@reddit
Ghost pepper hot sauce?
Random-Mutant@reddit
I had been posted by my ICT integration company I worked for, to a site to install a new domain controller. There were strict deadlines and I was lousy with a cold, but turned up anyway to bust a gut and get things done. And I had to set stuff up on one of the office workers’ computers where I saw their chat complaining to another office worker about me sneezing.
Couldn’t say anything, had to remain professional, but I nearly walked out and left them to it.
zeus204013@reddit
You can also receive unscheduled users talking and moving like the Tak Tak (ST Voyager). They will believe you're crazy or being delirious. But you can say that you are from Tak Tak religion...
/s
No_Wear295@reddit
Why are you writing like cookie monster talks?
himitsumono@reddit
Because he finish chicken eat cookie now
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Yes. Nom nom nom.
himitsumono@reddit
Moral: life uncertain. eat cookie first.
wubbalab@reddit
You need a sign that says: I am on break, available again at inserttimehere.
And when you are on break, point to the sign and say nothing.
Bonus points if it mentions to make an appointment. No walk-ins.
HerfDog58@reddit
Me (not you) telling coworker that I'll be happy to assist as soon as my federally mandated lunch break is completed, and asking if I should call them at NN:NN or do they want to call me to confirm I'm available.
Me, swallowing chicken, along with a long cool drink of KissMyAssI'mAtLunch.
StuBidasol@reddit
Unless actual emergency me always use tools or at least come back when person not on break. Breaks sacred. No mess with breaks.
psc0425@reddit
Me can't read me
Done25v2@reddit (OP)
Me am sorry to hear that. :<