so my boss walks into my cubicle...

[earendel]

...and asks me for a tape measure, which I happen to have in my desk. I pull it out and hand it to him, whereupon he begins to measure the dimensions of my cubicle - 8' x 7'. I asked him why and he said something about a "corporate image" report he was being asked for. "Uh, oh," I said to myself, and asked him, "Does this mean that my cubicle is going to be shrunk?" It's hardly big enough for me to turn around in now (although it may be 56 square feet, a lot of that is taken up with desk space, overhead compartments and drawers). I know that there is some protocol for how large an office can be based on the grade of the person in it, but surely 56 SF isn't above my pay grade. All the boss would say was, "I'm not going down without a fight," which isn't very reassuring.

[Jeemie]

...and asks me for a tape measure, which I happen to have in my desk. I pull it out and hand it to him, whereupon he begins to measure the dimensions of my cubicle - 8' x 7'. I asked him why and he said something about a "corporate image" report he was being asked for. "Uh, oh," I said to myself, and asked him, "Does this mean that my cubicle is going to be shrunk?" It's hardly big enough for me to turn around in now (although it may be 56 square feet, a lot of that is taken up with desk space, overhead compartments and drawers). I know that there is some protocol for how large an office can be based on the grade of the person in it, but surely 56 SF isn't above my pay grade. All the boss would say was, "I'm not going down without a fight," which isn't very reassuring.

These things are so stupid.

We had similar struggles. I have an office to myself, and so does a co-worker (she moved into one more recently), and in order to get these offices, we had to promise that they were really three-person offices that would be filled eventually (in a downsizing environment, we found that funny- plus, there's barely enough room for one person, let alone three).

It's not our fault our work area was stupidly designed with a mixture of offices and cubicles, but there are those in the company that would rather "follow proper protocol" and jam 7 of us into cubicle space meant for 4 than let us spread out into the offices.

It's an ongoing battle- so far, we, the sensible, are on top.

[BackInTex]

...and asks me for a tape measure, which I happen to have in my desk. I pull it out and hand it to him, whereupon he begins to measure the dimensions of my cubicle - 8' x 7'. I asked him why and he said something about a "corporate image" report he was being asked for. "Uh, oh," I said to myself, and asked him, "Does this mean that my cubicle is going to be shrunk?" It's hardly big enough for me to turn around in now (although it may be 56 square feet, a lot of that is taken up with desk space, overhead compartments and drawers). I know that there is some protocol for how large an office can be based on the grade of the person in it, but surely 56 SF isn't above my pay grade. All the boss would say was, "I'm not going down without a fight," which isn't very reassuring.

Make sure you keep your stapler, too.

[mellytu74]

BEYOND RIDICULOUS!!!

[earendel]

...and asks me for a tape measure, which I happen to have in my desk. I pull it out and hand it to him, whereupon he begins to measure the dimensions of my cubicle - 8' x 7'. I asked him why and he said something about a "corporate image" report he was being asked for. "Uh, oh," I said to myself, and asked him, "Does this mean that my cubicle is going to be shrunk?" It's hardly big enough for me to turn around in now (although it may be 56 square feet, a lot of that is taken up with desk space, overhead compartments and drawers). I know that there is some protocol for how large an office can be based on the grade of the person in it, but surely 56 SF isn't above my pay grade. All the boss would say was, "I'm not going down without a fight," which isn't very reassuring.

Make sure you keep your stapler, too.

You better believe it! I have the good fortune to have "inherited" an old metal Aceliner stapler from an employee who used it before she retired 10 years ago. Unlike the current cheap plastic models that break easily, this one is durable and I'm not letting it go until they pry my cold dead fingers off the swingarm.

[Jeemie]

Make sure you keep your stapler, too.

Ear at work:

If they move my desk one more time...

[earendel]

BEYOND RIDICULOUS!!!

More information on this "corporate image": Evidently the government (or the Corps, I'm not sure who's behind this) has "discovered" the concept of the "open office" that was in vogue 10 years ago or so. Evidently the public is cowed by walking into an office and seeing nothing but a forest of cubicle walls, so management is making an effort to eliminate them. Only employees with a need for privacy (such as managers) would have walls; the rest of us would have either just open work areas or "half-walls". I guess management doesn't understand how disruptive it can be to not have at least a modicum of privacy.

[MarleysGh0st]

You're doomed to a shrinking cubicle, ear.

We're lucky that this building has real offices. The CEO used to make sounds about laying the place out more efficiently, so that there'd be space for a "demo room" when customers came to visit, but then the accounting department got moved to the HQ in Connecticut.

So now, the central cubical farm, which originally was an outdoor atrium before I started work here, is completely empty. They've installed doors to close it off, so it doesn't have to be heated or cooled any more.

Maybe we can make it a atrium again!

Or a greenhouse...

[silvercamaro]

I know that there is some protocol for how large an office can be based on the grade of the person in it, but surely 56 SF isn't above my pay grade. All the boss would say was, "I'm not going down without a fight," which isn't very reassuring.

I don't fully understand how these things work in government, but if 56 square feet is too spacious for your current pay grade, maybe it's time to fight for a better pay grade.

[MarleysGh0st]

Evidently the government (or the Corps, I'm not sure who's behind this) has "discovered" the concept of the "open office" that was in vogue 10 years ago or so.

Ugh! That's worse than a shrinking cubicle!

Evidently the public is cowed by walking into an office and seeing nothing but a forest of cubicle walls, so management is making an effort to eliminate them.

How often does "the public" walk into a COE office?

[BackInTex]

Make sure you keep your stapler, too.

Ear at work:

If they move my desk one more time...

I've met Ear. I think with the right glasses, a little beard/hair dye, he could pull that off.

[BackInTex]

BEYOND RIDICULOUS!!!

More information on this "corporate image": Evidently the government (or the Corps, I'm not sure who's behind this) has "discovered" the concept of the "open office" that was in vogue 10 years ago or so. Evidently the public is cowed by walking into an office and seeing nothing but a forest of cubicle walls, so management is making an effort to eliminate them. Only employees with a need for privacy (such as managers) would have walls; the rest of us would have either just open work areas or "half-walls". I guess management doesn't understand how disruptive it can be to not have at least a modicum of privacy.

Maybe you mis-heard. Maybe your boss said "due to the Corps poor image..."

[earendel]

Evidently the government (or the Corps, I'm not sure who's behind this) has "discovered" the concept of the "open office" that was in vogue 10 years ago or so.

Ugh! That's worse than a shrinking cubicle!

Evidently the public is cowed by walking into an office and seeing nothing but a forest of cubicle walls, so management is making an effort to eliminate them.

How often does "the public" walk into a COE office?

It depends on the office, I suppose. When I started working we had a lot of traffic because contractors actually came into the office to purchase plans and specifications, or to view them. We also had bid openings that attracted 10-20 contractors at a sitting, and toward the end of each fiscal year in September we held five or six of those each day. Nowadays everything is negotiated, so the contractor and government employees meet offsite (usually at the building site), and all the plans and specifications are available online for free, so we don't see very many people in here at all. And we're on the 8th floor, too, so there isn't much public traffic anyway, since all of the security was installed to make it harder to get into the building in the first place.

[earendel]

Make sure you keep your stapler, too.

Ear at work:

If they move my desk one more time...

I've met Ear. I think with the right glasses, a little beard/hair dye, he could pull that off.

You're right - it's not too far off my real appearance.

[slam]

This is a topic near and dear to my heart. My company had an essentially incompetent CEO for about 3 years (finally replaced a few months ago). One of his initiatives was restacking the floors to more efficiently use space. This went into effect last November. Cubicles shrunk by about 30%. Cubicle walls became about a foot or so lower. There had been 2 office sizes and now there's one which is just a smidgen bigger than the old smaller office. The number of offices was reduced significantly. Therefore, everyone at specifically one promotional level was kicked out of an office into a cubicle. You guessed it! I was at that level. After having been in an office, I am now in a cubicle. Admittedly, the cubicle is right next to the window which gives me some privacy, but the openness is rather annoying to me. My next promotion (hopefully next March) would land me back in an office.

Basically everyone agrees that restacking the office this way has reduced efficiency around here. But it's not going to change.

[MarleysGh0st]

How often does "the public" walk into a COE office?

It depends on the office, I suppose. When I started working we had a lot of traffic because contractors actually came into the office to purchase plans and specifications, or to view them. We also had bid openings that attracted 10-20 contractors at a sitting, and toward the end of each fiscal year in September we held five or six of those each day.

1. I presume contractors would not be so easily intimidated by cubicles. Not exactly the same as John Q. Public who needs an open an non-threatening government facility.

2. I presume you had conference rooms for these meeting, instead of cramming those 10-20 people into a cube!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Ear at work:

If they move my desk one more time...

I've met Ear. I think with the right glasses, a little beard/hair dye, he could pull that off.

You're right - it's not too far off my real appearance.

Do you have a pocket protector?

[Spock]

I've met Ear. I think with the right glasses, a little beard/hair dye, he could pull that off.

You're right - it's not too far off my real appearance.

Do you have a pocket protector?

Does he have a pocket protector? Ha-Ha Ha (Derisive laugh)

Does a bear poop in the woods?

Note-if he does not my whole image of him will be shot.

[ulysses5019]

Ear at work:

If they move my desk one more time...

I've met Ear. I think with the right glasses, a little beard/hair dye, he could pull that off.

You're right - it's not too far off my real appearance.

I've met earendel

I've even chauffered earendel.

That sir is not earendel.......I think.....

[earendel]

How often does "the public" walk into a COE office?

It depends on the office, I suppose. When I started working we had a lot of traffic because contractors actually came into the office to purchase plans and specifications, or to view them. We also had bid openings that attracted 10-20 contractors at a sitting, and toward the end of each fiscal year in September we held five or six of those each day.

1. I presume contractors would not be so easily intimidated by cubicles. Not exactly the same as John Q. Public who needs an open an non-threatening government facility.

2. I presume you had conference rooms for these meeting, instead of cramming those 10-20 people into a cube!

Re #2: Yes, we had a conference room/bid opening room. In the two office renovations that we've undergone in the past that room was whittled down to where it barely seats 8 people comfortably. Fortunately we don't do bid openings any more, so it's not that big a deal.

[earendel]

I've met Ear. I think with the right glasses, a little beard/hair dye, he could pull that off.

You're right - it's not too far off my real appearance.

I've met earendel

I've even chauffered earendel.

That sir is not earendel.......I think.....

No, but as BiT said, given a few alterations, it could easily be me.

And for PSM and Spock, I do NOT have a pocket protector
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
any more. I used to carry six pens in different colors but upon elwing's advice (and her getting tired of removing them from my shirt pockets before laundering the shirts) I stopped doing so.

[mellytu74]

You're right - it's not too far off my real appearance.

I've met earendel

I've even chauffered earendel.

That sir is not earendel.......I think.....

No, but as BiT said, given a few alterations, it could easily be me.

And for PSM and Spock, I do NOT have a pocket protector
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
any more. I used to carry six pens in different colors but upon elwing's advice (and her getting tired of removing them from my shirt pockets before laundering the shirts) I stopped doing so.

ear --

On one hand, I am beyond disappointed that it's not you.

On the other hand, good for elwing!!!!

[MarleysGh0st]

And for PSM and Spock, I do NOT have a pocket protector
.
.
.
any more. I used to carry six pens in different colors but upon elwing's advice (and her getting tired of removing them from my shirt pockets before laundering the shirts) I stopped doing so.

That's where the pocket protector is so handy! Just slip that in and out of your current shirt pocket with all the pens together!




But I confess I've also stopped using my pocket protector in recent years. Some of the polo shirts I wear don't even have pockets.

[gotribego26]

Maybe you mis-heard. Maybe your boss said "due to the Corps poor image..."

No - statements about the "Corps Poor Image" are made about the Omaha office, not Lousiville.

[ghostjmf]

Many moons ago, 23 to be exact, a nameless person here at RichU shared a big office with their boss. Their boss, who had inherited this nameless person when said boss transferred back from another job at RichU, was upset to find out not only that their office had been moved, but they they now had to share one, even a big one, with their inherited assistant.

Boss campaigned for many years (3, 5; I forget) to get a wall put up between them & assistant. But they had to leave a door in it, because cutting new door into their new office would have involved going through solid brick (&, as the facilities manager found out one day when they did try to cut a new door into their new office, solid steel support beams too).

Assistant was glum because now they were clearly consigned to the outer darkness of importance, whereas before they had been included in many meetings with vendors, etc. Of course, now they could have been invited in to those. But they weren't. However, boss, who was feeling way more generous back in those days than in these, agreed that there could be a little "ell" cut into the new wall, so that assistant could have all of one of the two windows the larger room had had in their new, small thin office.

This is getting long. It could even get longer!

One day, New Dean decreed that everyone had to have New Furniture. And rugs instead of linoleum. You think this would be cause for rejoicing (except for the staple-collecting rug part, & its indoor-outdoor carpeting anyway, not "real rug") but it meant dealing with furniture company which likes to put everybody in cubicles.

A word aside here: Cubicles were designed, I always thought, to give some privacy component to a large room with many people in it. Apparently not; cubicles were designed to make low-on-the-totem-pole people KNOW THEIR PLACE. As if they didn't already. If this wasn't so, whyever would anyone try to force cubicles into a one-person office? whatever is the point? To hide that one person from, uh, themself?

It was explained that "we could put 3 cubicles in here!", for "just in case we want to put 2 more people in here some day". Fortunately, this was resisted. After way too much bargaining, assistant got a desk about the size of their old desk, & a nice typing table, & a nice typing table also for their occasional assistant, who came mainly to pick up slack in the typing department so main assistant could address other issues.

Fast forward many years: Job hires 2nd employee for boss; this employee is going to retire any year now, & so is boss, which is probably why personnel agreed to hire new employee; boss & new employee will retire about same time, so they won't be looking for new job to give new employee when boss retires. Providing they really do close down the department then as threatened.

New employee, says boss, must have "real desk". This means getting rid of both nice typing tables, wedging some of that awful cubicle furniture in region both tables formerly inhabited. Main assistant was again able to talk the powers that be out of putting up a cubicle wall. And they managed to get a non-adjustable "typing strip" of furniture cut to just their favorite typing height to type on.

Time marches on; 2nd employee is no longer with us (we won't go into that), big changes are happening departmentally, invoked from on high, boss decides its really a good time to really retire, & main assistant gets told they're moving into someone else's office & sharing it with them, as people who do not work for main assistant's boss are inexplicably being moved into main assistant's office next to that boss for boss's last 4 or 5 months of work.

However, the "good" news is that everyone will be getting new furniture. The 2 people moving into main assistant's office are very derisive of its wonderful, hard-won cubicle-less layout, & order cubicles to the max. They are going to rip out very convenient shelving built into that little "ell" built so that each office could own a window, too.

Main assistant bites the bullet & gets furniture ordered for their 3rd of new office. Its a hard battle, getting rectangular desk & typing strip at right heights for each. In the ensuing years, modular office furniture salespeople have wholly gone over to cubicles with overhead shelving; these cubicles are put together so that people have to face a wall, not a window, not any open space. Main assistant will have window access in new office, & will only have to face one cubicle wall in front of their desk, a wall person sharing window insisted on. Sharer is into glass wall, which makes it a little easier to take.

Suddenly, Powers On High rearrange plans again. Main assistant is not moving! Instead, one of the people they were to be sharing the 3-person room with is moving in with them. (The other of the 3 left for far, far better job.) However, all that furniture, 5 setups in all, had already been ordered. Main assistant, who has been working in a purchasing office, after all, for all these years, could have easily cancelled this furniture order. There would have been a restocking fee to pay, but this is never as high as the total full cost. However, furniture is one of the few things main assistant, & their boss, is not allowed to actually order, insofar as means interacting directly with the vendor about the contents of the order. They just expedite furniture orders. The person in charge of ordering furniture claims "it cannot be stopped" & of course vendor agrees with them. It then took about 4 months for "it can't be stopped" order to arrive.

Boss, who has gotten steadily grumpier as they approach their retirement, says main assistant should accept cubicle arrangement previous intended tenants had ordered for their office. Why? "Because its been ordered & somebody has to use at least some of it; it shouldn't go to waste." (It would actually be going into storage for future use. Not waste. This is also the intended fate of perfectly good furniture already in office.)

Main assistant persuades that architect should be consulted; "can we not fit the part of new furniture order originally intended for 3-person office into existing 2-person office"? 2 setups of it, anyway. Main asistant knows that of course it will fit, having the measurements & all. Architect agrees "we can". Its a pretty weird fit, though, leaving very little room to walk around in. And new tenant sharing the office gets space built out to equal the space they'll be leaving, but main assistant actually gets desk space taken away. Which was something they knew they had to live with in previously-planned 3-person office, but why here?

If main assistant could just keep their existing setup, pushed down into the end of room they'll now be inhabiting (the window end, natch, as they didn't want to have to work around cubicle-loving new tenant's partial walls, even if one will be partially glass) they would be about as happy as someone who's boss & job are changing could be, considering those circumstances. Main assistant did put this proposition to new boss, who said "I don't think so; High Up Person is excited that you'll be getting new furniture". Main assistant bit tongue & did not ask why High Up Person should be excited that someone they think of as low-down-person should be getting a new but smaller desk.


Main assistant should just reflect, little birds keep trying to tell them, that they should be glad they are not being forced into actual prison-like cubicle (which are not as bad as MRI machines, not yet, but they are very very small) nor are they, like the people in an office upstairs, forced to work facing a real wall a couple feet only away, as those people have not cubicles but a ledge that runs 3/4 of the way around the room to work on. Leaving the center of the room open. In case anyone wants to put, hey, a couple cubicles in there! I know where they could get some.

There have actually been a few details left out of this story!