Update: After today I have a new found respect for those who deal full time in HR. UGH…FML.
I had 4 back to back meetings/conference calls this morning and while I was on the phone my assistant kept slipping me notes that the staff was getting unruly with rage for Mrs. Toots! Someone brought in McDonalds sausage biscuits as a Friday treat…which turned out to be not so much a treat an hour later!!! My office is 5 doors down and I could actually smell the odor…not good! When I finally stepped out of my office after 3.5 hours straight in there, I was seriously pounced on by 4 staffs about the “odor situation”! I told them to put down their pitchforks and blow out their torches because I was going to handle it today! 😉
After I wrapped up my last appointment around noon, I summoned all the courage and professionalism that I could muster and knocked on Mrs. Toots’ door. I had originally planned to chat with her in her own space to make her feel more comfortable but I have to be 100% honest that my stomach heaved when I went in!!! I politely asked her to refill her coffee and stop by my office for a moment with the caveat that nothing was wrong so don’t worry, etc.
I sat her down at my roundtable and simply asked her if she was feeling OK lately as I’d noticed that she didn’t seem like herself. I continued that I was very concerned for her general health and well being as we have worked together for several years and I could tell a drastic change in her behavior. She immediately shot back that she was fine and it was none of my business! As politely as I could, I told her that she certainly didn’t have to disclose any medical problems she may be having to me but that it’s very obvious that she is having some stomach “discomfort” for the past few weeks. I explained to Mrs. Toots that her health and well being is important to me and to everyone else on our team and we just want to make sure that she is OK. I encouraged her to make an appointment with a physician and offered to refer her to my physician if she didn’t have one. She was extremely nasty to me but I kept my cool and repeated my concerns for her health and that I could tell she was miserable….I just wanted her to be OK!
She paused…sighed…and then began to tell me about every cramp, pain, discomfort, bowel movement, frequency etc. she’s been having since eating at a seafood buffet over NYE!!! I suggested to Mrs. Toots that she may either have food poisoning or a shellfish allergy but either way she needed to see a doctor ASAP! I asked her why she’s waited for so long to do anything about this problem and she told me that she just hoped it would clear itself up. Then she told me even more additional information about her stomach issues. Barf. I swear that if I didn’t have to drive myself home that I would be chugging red wine out of the bottle at my desk right now…way too much information!!!
I told her to call her doctor immediately for an appointment and to please take the rest of today off to rest and recuperate. Mrs. Toots actually thanked me at the end of our conversation…I was shocked! She was able to get in touch with her doctor’s office and they will fit her in this afternoon. I hope she gets a prescription or something that will help clear up her problem. After she left for the day, I sat down my top 4 gossip whores and explained to them that Mrs. Toots is ill, that she’s going to see her doctor, and to stop making fun of her! I felt like I was having a stern conversation with my nieces and nephews that range in age from 9-12! I ran everything that happened by the owner and they were pleased with how I handled everything…whew!
I’m convinced that she has really bad food poisoning. Either way I hope that she gets better soon and now everyone at my office can stop complaining, breathe easy, and get back to work!!!!! 😉
REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
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-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
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-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK