the new guy

We've been hiring a number of new people to replace the ones who either left on their own accord because they were sick of working in a cut-throat environment or were let go because they couldn't handle a cut-throat environment.

Another new guy started yesterday. He's already made such a wonderful impression on me that I can certainly see how happy everyone else is in his department who think he's shaping up to be their savior.

When most people start a job on their very first day, usually politeness and a touch of easy going manners are in order. One doesn't want to push the wrong buttons with coworkers too soon. So, the new guy arrives, has his boss meeting, hr meeting, accounting meeting, and department introduction meeting. The IT department, (me) is at the bottom of the heap. No one wants to meet the IT department yet we're the ones that receive the most demanding calls in the day. So, shouldn't people be generally polite and easy going with the IT department? IT controls the servers, your link to the outside world, your mail, your printers, and your work system. Yet we receive the least amount of respect.

The new guy calls, wants a better keyboard; something not previously used. Fine, I say. I'll deliver another one. Nope, not good enough. He wants me to bring several different kinds so he can choose the one he likes best. Since we have a huge supply of every type of computer equipment in our larger than Costco warehouse, I bring up three keyboards to him. He fake types on each of them before choosing the best one that "feels good" on his fingers.

This morning, he calls to say the keyboard I delivered doesn't work. It's defective. He needs another keyboard that works. Well, the keyboard did work but the prima donna is not happy.

Honestly, people should know not to upset IT. You want something, you better be nice. You want your system to work, you better be pleasant. Our job is to make sure that your system is working smoothly so you can work efficiently. It's not our job to find you the most comfortable keyboard on the planet.