Workplace Frustration: Am I an insane employee?

I am a 18 year old university student, I work in a corporate retail environment to tie up loose ends.
(I am a part-time employee. I hardly work any hours apart from during the summer because of my academic workload…)

A few days ago, I was confronted by my manager with a flyer, owned by the corporation, that I had absent-mindedly doodled inappropriate things on while at work, which had gotten into a customer’s hands. The customer was not impressed, as she filed complaint(s).

Aside: The things written could only be seen as vulgar in the eyes of a person with a very limited imagination, restrained and puckered from living their entire life within a rigid, creativity suppressing environment, without ever attempting to open up to other types of thought processing possibilities. (eg. The word ‘virgin,’ The denotative meaning of the word ‘chastity’)

I apologized, and asked for the flyer back, taking the entire incident in stride. When she refused to give me the flyer back, as she said she “wanted to take it home to remember this event, because it really hurt her” I flipped out and told her to destroy it, still angered at the fact that it should have been given to me.

(Was the flyer mine, as I did deface it/slide it under the counter before it ever got into a customer’s hands, or no?)

Anyway…

I was then prompted to apologize to my manager (for defacing the flyer), but I refused, finding it ridiculous to apologize to my manager, who claimed to be hurt by the incident personally and simply wanted my remorse. I didn’t think my apologizing to her was the point - other than on a personal level which I found completely unprofessional. I was then prompted to apologize for indecent conduct on company time. I refused, not wanting to apologize to a corporation that wouldn’t be able to forgive me/internalize my apology in any substantial sense. (It would be like apologizing to the flyer itself.) Secondly, I didn’t find my conduct indecent, but done at an inopportune time. I apologized for that - but it wasn’t enough.

My manager, out of anger, (because I didn’t say sorry, which she pointedly told me out of idiocy) took the entire situation into more authoritative hands, (I’m now watched 24/7 while at work, can only work with two managers on duty) and generally treats me like a scumbag at work.

I’m in the process of deciding whether I should quit. I’m not a wage slave or anything, but it wouldn’t be in by best interests to quit right now.

So I ask - am I making a huge deal out of absolutely nothing?

Welcome to ‘the work force’. Remember, after you leave university, where you think half the people are idiots anyways, you get to a place where nearly everyone is an idiot.

You have to try and see the creativity that they do have and work with it. I am a firm believer you can learn from anyone. Even a man sitting in a coma – it’s about your perspective. Being smart isn’t an excuse to just tard off all the time.

Still, despite the above… I often quit jobs because I simply cannot handle some of the people. I have worked tons of jobs…

You’ve gotta tell us what was on that flyer!!

Steal shit and quit.

I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that you work for a cell phone company. Am I close?

Just grin and bear it. If you need this job, deal with it, who knows you may be their boss someday.

You can manipulate the situation rather than just grumble or quit. Take the reigns in your hands, Be happy excited,overly helpful and very polite at work. This generally screws with their heads. And after a bit they will believe they helped you. Because you can explain that thanks to your boss you have seen the error of your ways and you are so very grateful. Trust me this line of shit works. Pure politics, works darn near everytime. :laughing:

Can you hear me now?

[www.joe.ca] You might have heard of it. Pretty decent clothing apparel, very well received by the public, probably due to its physical surroundings; the department is located in the middle of a highly trafficked, conservative grocery store.

Smears: Cell phone company is sort of a close guess, but not quite. I’m curious, what made you think of that?

Kriswest: I like the idea of spiting management with a profound work ethic, but I doubt I’ll be able to subject myself to such a … relatively degrading environment for long. I think I’ll just steal shit and quit. (ha!)

Thanks everyone

I’m psychic. But I forgot my friend works at a cell phone store and she was in the next room. Just crossed the signals man. I was wondering what all those weird visions of clothes on racks were all about.

This advise is silly. How and why can you fake a smile? ‘Taking the reigns in your hands’ should = QUIT.

Quit that shit and have fun doing it. Life is too short to let anger build inside you for long periods of time. Stress kills people.

Years ago a coworker of mine noted that everything that I said to people is mildly tongue in cheek. One can be apologetic or whatever and feel great because you approach life as a big joke.

To do so is art.

Brilliant.

yes! - I wish I could actually act on such enlightened mentality, but I couldn’t overcome being so undeniably walked on; my emotions spewed out all over the page.

But yes, I wished I could have just swallowed my pride and took comfort in the fact that I was very aware of the injustice of the situation - the flesh is weak, or something to that effect.

Brilliant indeed.