Cubicle Goldilocks

This morning when I arrived at work, bright eyed and ready to work (ok not true, but I had tea in hand, therefore I was working on it) I noticed that something was wrong with my phone. The screen that is usually showing my extension, the date and time etc was completely blank. So I looked at Maurice's desk (usually we have the same problems, sharing a pod) and his phone still worked. I logged on to my computer...but it didn't have internet access either.

Luckily John was just walking by (luckily in this story) and I flagged him down. I am technologically deficient so I a) had no idea what the problem was and b) if I did, I wouldn't have any thoughts on how to fix it. But John is computer savvy. He got to work, looking to see if all the cables were connected. It appears that they were.

Point is-- it wasn't anything that we could fix, we needed the tech people. Which meant that I was computer-less. And thus began my morning as a computer/cubicle Goldilocks.

John told me that someone in Accounting was not here today and I could take her desk. But I don't really like the people in Accounting, they make my life more difficult. That desk would have been much too annoying. It must have shown on my face because John suggested another empty desk at the back of the office. The solitude of the location appealed to me so I went with that one.

But first John had to set up a computer on that desk. I lugged a box of paper that I needed to work on with me, and waited while John set up the work station. And then I logged on. Which took another 10 minutes. This new desk (not in a cubicle!) was not set up the same way as mine at all and my eyes quickly felt the strain. Plus my printer was now on the other side of the office. And there was too much light. And I was lonely. That desk was much too lonely.

Another girl at work is sick. Her desk is located in a cubicle pod with 3 other people. It is similar to my set up (I did have to adjust the height of the desk and the keyboard). My printer is just around the corner. This cubicle is juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right.

But isn't it strange how working in someone else's desk totally disorients you? Her desk, while similar to mine, is backwards which meant that all morning I have had to adjust the way that I do things. There is no mouse pad so I'm trying to control an unruly mouse. She has an interesting daily calendar though: Forgotten English. Today's expression? Treacle Up. It means to rub or polish. So I'm learning new things.

But I want them to hurry up and fix my computer because I miss my window. And the Cubicle Bears will be back soon, and then what will I do?

Sit Up Straight!

You totally just sat up straighter didn't you? Its instinctual. Your mom has been telling you for years to sit up straight and you have brushed her off just as often. Sitting up straight just didn't seem as important as finishing my dinner quickly so that I could run back outside and play until it got dark.

But now, sitting at this desk day in and day out, I find myself wishing that I had listened. Had I listened, I might have better posture. And better posture might come in handy right about now.

Like millions of people all over the place, I spend my working days chained to a computer. I spend my working life typing and mouse clicking. I think that my daily tasks might make these motions more repetitive than in other jobs, but the essence is the same. Recently, after smashing long held office processing records, I found that I was actually in a fair amount of pain. And I brought this up to my manager who mentioned ergonomics.

Basically (according to wikipedia and what I have pieced together from my manager) ergonomics has to do with improving the way that you work. Well there is a lot more to it than that, but in terms of the workplace, ergonomics is supposed to make your work space more comfortable so that prolonged use of a computer does not lead to long term injury. Like carpal tunnel syndrome (I'm pretty sure that I am in the beginning stages).

After the initial meeting an excited John came up to me (first thing in the morning! Let me have some tea first please) and started discussing the different things I could do-- apparently I needed to ensure that both my elbows were constantly supported. He also cc'd me on an email he had written to HR, I guess as proof that he was taking this seriously.

That was about a month ago. Predictably HR has not responded. I doubt they actually have anything to do about it anyway. I'm sure that they would suggest more frequent breaks, which would of course, go completely against any kind of policy in place. And as excited as John initially was about the opportunity to explore workplace ergonomics, he too has not brought it up again.

So I'm left with what my mama taught me. And isn't that the way that it always goes? Sit up straight. Shoulders back. It helps for the moment (I feel so much taller) but I know that in about 5 more minutes I will be back to being hunched over, staring intently (and closely, maybe poor eyesight is the culprit) at my monitor, praying for the day to end so that I can walk it off.

Being a hunchback won't be that bad will it? I'm sure there is a church bell that needs ringing.