This is a story about a regular government employee (me) and his experience with some random Human Resources department at some random local, state-funded university that we'll call A5U. This story may or may not be fictional.
Yesterday, I had to go to A5U's HR department to hand in a form. When I approached the desk, I noticed that there was no one waiting in line ahead of me. So, I said, "Hi," to the lady behind the counter. The only thing that stood between me and her was a little red ticket dispenser with numbered, perforated pieces of paper. You know, the kind you used to get at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
With a smile, she said, "Hi there. I can help you after you take a number."
Seeing as there was no one else standing at the desk, I thought she might have been joking.
So, we stared at each other.
I raised an eyebrow.
She's still smiling.
I slowly [read: sarcastically] pick a number from the circular, red take-a-number system. She reaches for her little remote control to advance the number on the ticket number display.
"Number 65?"
"Yeah, that's me," as I deposit my special service ticket into the Ticket-Receiving Receptacle [TCR].
"Okay, how may I help you?"
"I'm here to hand in this form."
"Okay, is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Umm... no, thanks."
Immediately, it reminded me of:
Now, I understand it's not this woman's fault that she has to operate under these conditions, but there's a line between being a helpful customer service representative and being a puppet. At the very least, she could have just helped me out, then taken the number out herself, and put it in the number-receiving receptacle (not that I'm SO lazy that I couldn't pick a number myself--it's the principle of the thing!).
So, last night, I discussed this hypothetical story with Adam and we came up with a few ideas.
- Bring my own take-a-number spool and have her take a number so I can respond to her when I call her number.
- Since these tickets are likely used to keep track of how many people are "served" by the HR department, I could take multiple tickets at a time and skew their data.
- Again, take a bunch of tickets and either tear them in half, distributing small pieces into the different TCRs, or go around hiding the tickets around the office and making her go find them.
- Walk in, take a number, walk out, come back a few hours later, and repeat.
Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?
On 2007-04-25 16:52:51, Russell said, "or..."
Robots... or Philippinos workers...
On 2007-05-02 13:32:37, Steven Garone said, "Ah, HR..."
That's the way it works. That's why I always just take a number, no matter how many people are there.
On 2007-06-21 08:13:49, Justin said, "Untitled"
"At the very least, she could have just helped me out, then taken the number out herself, and put it in the number-receiving receptacle"
If i could chose A:) sit in my chari and not move, or B:) get up walk around a counter to put a tiket in a box insted of having someone else do it(who is suppose to) when they are right in front of it, I would chose A^^