Comment On Classic WTF: Laboring Holiday

Company holiday = code monkeys stay indoors while the rest of us get drunk and have sex.

All your holidays are belong to us....

Don't get it.

What is a Holiday?

code monkey:

Don't get it.

What is a Holiday?

It's what you have when you die.

Please check in with your manager if you wish to die while employed by this company. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

Me:

Company holiday = code monkeys stay indoors while the rest of us get drunk and have sex.

Code monkeys don't have to get outdoors or drunk to have sex.

..oh, you meant with another person? (docks)

A bit harsh, but what kind of company are we talking about here? I can think of plenty of companies, with a hospital being the most obvious example, that have to remain functioning and open to customers during labor day. Of course, if you worked in a hospital, you'd know this, but the company in question may be an edge case, hence the e-mail. It could've been worded friendlier, though.

But if this is not a WTF, does Alex give himself a mug?

The WTF is not that the company remains open on Labor Day. The WTF is that the email explicitly states that it is an official company holiday, and then goes on to say that you cannot assume that you have the day off EVEN THOUGH it's a company holiday which, semantically, generally means you should assume that you have the day off.

SQB:

A bit harsh, but what kind of company are we talking about here? I can think of plenty of companies, with a hospital being the most obvious example, that have to remain functioning and open to customers during labor day. Of course, if you worked in a hospital, you'd know this, but the company in question may be an edge case, hence the e-mail. It could've been worded friendlier, though.

But if this is not a WTF, does Alex give himself a mug?

I would have assumed places like hospitals would have had people notified of their shift long before an email like this was required, but (a) I have never worked in a hospital and (b) there is no accounting for stupidity.

Anyway, if you think HR are sending out inappropriate emails, who do you complain to?

Channel6:

I would have assumed places like hospitals would have had people notified of their shift long before an email like this was required, but (a) I have never worked in a hospital and (b) there is no accounting for stupidity.

Anyway, if you think HR are sending out inappropriate emails, who do you complain to?

$deity, of course

Channel6:

Anyway, if you think HR are sending out inappropriate emails, who do you complain to?

<b>The Committee on Promoting Corporate Cooperation through Proactive Synergy-Driven Directives for Utilizing Human Approaches to Achieve Cross-Departmental Collaberation</b>, of course.

Sam B:

Channel6:

Anyway, if you think HR are sending out inappropriate emails, who do you complain to?

<b>The Committee on Promoting Corporate Cooperation through Proactive Synergy-Driven Directives for Utilizing Human Approaches to Achieve Cross-Departmental Collaberation</b>, of course.

Sorry, BBCode fail on my part.

I know of a number of companies which have official company holidays, but not all workers* get them in all circumstances. Hospitals we've already addressed, news organizations, public safety, etc. The holiday could only go to administrative personnel, but not to the normal 24x7 people, and so on. In the cases I'm personally familiar with, if you don't get holidays, you get some number of extra days (10 or 11 in one case) of vacation instead.

*Note, I didn't say employees. Sometimes employees get holidays and contractors can come in if they want to get paid for the day but don't get paid for it otherwise.

The email is from The Daily WTF itself. They didn't take the day off. We have new things to read even on a holiday.

Thanks, Alex. :)

At least it is from an HR Generalist. I hate those HR Specialists.

Heh, HR generalist? I wonder what kinds of specialists there are to HR. HR hiring specialist, HR firing specialist, etc?

WTF? This was normal practice where I used to work, for one simple reason: we did multi-national support, so we could not take the holidays of any particular country as given. Labor Day is a specifically American holiday, not applicable to any other countries.

Does that mean it is okay to assume to have the day off on an unofficial company holiday?

SQB:

A bit harsh, but what kind of company are we talking about here? I can think of plenty of companies, with a hospital being the most obvious example, that have to remain functioning and open to customers during labor day. Of course, if you worked in a hospital, you'd know this, but the company in question may be an edge case, hence the e-mail. It could've been worded friendlier, though.

But if this is not a WTF, does Alex give himself a mug?

Hospitals don't have "official company holidays", because on "official company holidays" everyone goes home, gets drunk and has sex. But then there's nobody in the hospital to treat the people who got too drunk or had too much sex, and then it all gets recursive.

Too much sex? You, sir, are in need of a psychiatrist.

CAPTCHA: Commoveo. That would be the first person singular present tense of "commotion". Fitting for this article, yes?

"Labor Day is a specifically American holiday, not applicable to any other countries"

OMFG, you mean that up here in Canada, I should be at work right now? I am SO fired!

bnt:

Labor Day is a specifically American holiday, not applicable to any other countries.

You could argue that spelling it Labor instead of Labour made it specifically American, but most other countries have a similar holiday (where it's usually celebrated on the 1st May).

Sam B:

Sam B:

Channel6:

Anyway, if you think HR are sending out inappropriate emails, who do you complain to?

<b>The Committee on Promoting Corporate Cooperation through Proactive Synergy-Driven Directives for Utilizing Human Approaches to Achieve Cross-Departmental Collaberation</b>, of course.

Sorry, BBCode fail on my part.

Nah, 'twas a click-preview-fail on your part. ;)

/Nitpicker

Gramie:

"Labor Day is a specifically American holiday, not applicable to any other countries"

OMFG, you mean that up here in Canada, I should be at work right now? I am SO fired!

Funny, last time I checked - Canada was a part of the Americas.

Dug a canal along the border, did you?

/Nitpicker extreme

Ibn al-Hazardous:

Gramie:

"Labor Day is a specifically American holiday, not applicable to any other countries"

OMFG, you mean that up here in Canada, I should be at work right now? I am SO fired!

Funny, last time I checked - Canada was a part of the Americas.

Dug a canal along the border, did you?

/Nitpicker extreme

Ummmmm.... Ummmmmm.... I dont think that I should need to point this out but... Canada is not part of America... in the same way that Portugal is not part of Spain, which is not part of France which is not part of Germany...

Same continent != same country

So why would American holidays apply in Canada?

Canada and the United States of America are both on the Continent of North America.

Me:

Company holiday = code monkeys stay indoors while the rest of us get drunk and have sex.

I went up on top of the grain elevator in town.

With everything shut down, it was very nice and peaceful up there.

(I needed to replace a cable and decided to do it when the dust levels were down from a normal day.)

Peter:

Canada and the United States of America are both on the Continent of North America.

So if he'd said a "North American holiday", he'd have been fine... but "American" means "of the USA".

bnt:

WTF? This was normal practice where I used to work, for one simple reason: we did multi-national support, so we could not take the holidays of any particular country as given. Labor Day is a specifically American holiday, not applicable to any other countries.

But the point is that the email doesn't say it's a national holiday - it says it's an official company holiday.

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

Since no one else in their right mind wants to be mistakenly identified as or associated with being American.

They can keep the label. We'll just be Canada for now - thanks. (You can also call this part of the continent Canuckland)

In fact, just to further reduce the possible confusion, from this day hence, Sept 1 in Canada will now be known as the Jerry Lewis Telethone Memorial - a day where no one in canada works or watches tv but rather wonders why people suddenly get so obsessed about white clothes.

We can review all this after the next election - when we can reevaluate the craziness ratio between our administration and yours.

Sam B:

Channel6:

Anyway, if you think HR are sending out inappropriate emails, who do you complain to?

<b>The Committee on Promoting Corporate Cooperation through Proactive Synergy-Driven Directives for Utilizing Human Approaches to Achieve Cross-Departmental Collaberation</b>, of course.

TCPCCPSDDUHAACDC? I can't even pronounce it.

From: Melinda Blevins
Subject: Out of Office auto reply - Friday and Monday
-------------------------------------

I will be out of the office for an extended Labor Day holiday.

I will contact you about your request with the subject line:

=====================================
Subject: MY MANAGER IS NOT AVAILABLE - DO I HAVE MONDAY OFF?
=====================================

when I return on Tuesday, September 2.

Thanks, and have a great Labor Day!

Melinda Blevins
Human Resources Generalist

Xepol:

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

Since no one else in their right mind wants to be mistakenly identified as or associated with being American.

They can keep the label. We'll just be Canada for now - thanks. (You can also call this part of the continent Canuckland)

In fact, just to further reduce the possible confusion, from this day hence, Sept 1 in Canada will now be known as the Jerry Lewis Telethone Memorial - a day where no one in canada works or watches tv but rather wonders why people suddenly get so obsessed about white clothes.

We can review all this after the next election - when we can reevaluate the craziness ratio between our administration and yours.

OMG, ever since i've watched Serial Mom(Obscure movie about a mother by day & serial Killer by night) I've been wondering what was the thing about white clothes and Labor day or something like that.(She killed someone wearing white after Labor day...Like WTF!)

So, yay what is the big deal?

oh, and I agree, keep the label America, Hey!

One thing I have learned from my many years of employment is the more you work, especially on weekends and holidays, the more your company will appreciate you and treat you well, so it only makes sense that developers should jump at the chance to prove their loyalty and value and this is a great opportunity that doesn't come often.

Personally, I think it is a badge of honor to work overtime on holidays and I make it a point to do it whenever possible, at least for the major holidays. Then when I tell everyone in the office that I worked over the weekend, they have nothing to say and just stare at me with a blank look, because they are embarrassed for themselves, and rightfully so.

Also, I try to avoid using vacation days, because at the end of the year, I can tell everyone that I saved the company the most amount of money by not taking my vacation days, and don't think that goes unnoticed when review time comes around.

BTW, I am working today as I post this. Probably going to put in about 10 hours today.

"American" only means "USA" because of the need that people from the US seem to have to claim ownership of things and make themselves sound more important. It'd be like the french suddenly saying european = french, and then trying to argue that this is the case.

PS: Depending on which part of the world you are in, America is either 2 continents, or 1 continent, with 2 sub-continents.

So technicaly people from Chile are "American" too. :-P

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

Since 1776, beotch!

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

agreed.

Ville:

Heh, HR generalist? I wonder what kinds of specialists there are to HR. HR hiring specialist, HR firing specialist, etc?

HR Giger.

np: Amon Tobin - The Clean Up (Chaos Theory)

TopCod3r:

One thing I have learned from my many years of employment is the more you work, especially on weekends and holidays, the more your company will appreciate you and treat you well, so it only makes sense that developers should jump at the chance to prove their loyalty and value and this is a great opportunity that doesn't come often.

Personally, I think it is a badge of honor to work overtime on holidays and I make it a point to do it whenever possible, at least for the major holidays. Then when I tell everyone in the office that I worked over the weekend, they have nothing to say and just stare at me with a blank look, because they are embarrassed for themselves, and rightfully so.

Also, I try to avoid using vacation days, because at the end of the year, I can tell everyone that I saved the company the most amount of money by not taking my vacation days, and don't think that goes unnoticed when review time comes around.

BTW, I am working today as I post this. Probably going to put in about 10 hours today.

Hehe.

TopCod3r, that almost got me. I got half way through before I thought to check the writer.

And regarding Labour Day - at least the North Americans seem to have them on the same day. In Australia the two most populous states have them months apart. Just to make sure, I take both off; its a badge of honour for me.

I don't know if I should throw this into the argument, but I will. Is it a difference between America and Americas? When I have seen it with the s, it usually refers to the continents. Without has usually refered to the USA. Then again, I haven't seen an official statement saying this. Since such a statement would most likely have to be approved by multiple countries, I think we can safely say that it would probably be held up in committees for a very long time.

Some people have obviously not worked for the Civil Service.

TopCod3r:

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

Since 1776, beotch!

See, it's this kind of thing that makes me very NOT proud to be a United Statesian.

my favorite is the sender's title... HR Generalist. sounds like she has a very important job with very specific job functions.

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

The Arrogant Worms:

How did two whole continents lose there name to one constituent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29g57XTYgLE

Heh. An email like that is more likely to make me go out of my way NOT to inform my manager that, yes, I will be taking the day off, thanksverymuch.

It's amazing that the HR department can treat people so impersonably and badly.

seditious:

TopCod3r:

Jimmy Savile:

Since when did the USA corner the whole name America? Canada and the USA are in North America, but both are in the America's.

God damn takes a European to teach these yanks Geography.

Since 1776, beotch!

See, it's this kind of thing that makes me very NOT proud to be a United Statesian.

And your lack of a sense of humor makes ME NOT proud to have you as a United Statesian. ;)

HAI GUYS, DID U SEE THEY ADDED DAILYWTF TO THE ORANGE WEB DESIGN PAGE?

Idget:

HAI GUYS, DID U SEE THEY ADDED DAILYWTF TO THE ORANGE WEB DESIGN PAGE?

KTHXBAI