All Hands But No Heads
I’m working from home over the holidays. I wake up for the monthly all-hands meeting, which is scheduled for the 26th every month (or the immediate Monday that follows it if it falls on a weekend).
I’m logged into the online meeting at 8:30 am sharp to see some of my other coworkers sitting there ready to go. We chat a little and make small talk, and discuss what we all did on Christmas Day.
Me: “Hmm, it’s 8:45. Why have none of the senior partners logged in yet?”
Coworker: “Yeah, it’s not like them.”
Me: “Can you ping one of them?”
Coworker: “They’re like five levels above me in the hierarchy. [Office Manager] should do it.”
Office Manager: *Sighs.* “Fine, I’ll do it.”
We chat a little more about work things. There are about twenty of us on the call now.
Office Manager: “Okay, so one of the senior partners replied.”
Me: “What did they say?”
Office Manager: “They’re surprised we’re all meeting up the day after Christmas Day, and that we should all be enjoying time off with our families.”
Coworker: “Wait, so the meeting was cancelled?”
Office Manager: “Apparently. They all agreed on it among themselves last month, but didn’t actually tell anyone outside of their senior circle.”
Coworker: “Wow. I skipped breakfast with my family for this.”
Project Manager: “I’m on vacation in The Bahamas. I had to skip a day with my family to find a remote working office to be at this meeting because the wifi at the hotel wouldn’t have supported this meeting. I am seriously p***ed off.”
Office Manager: “Well, everyone. Feel free to log off and enjoy your day. I’ll be taking all your comments up to the senior partners.”
Jan 26th rolled around for the next monthly all-hands, and the senior partners were all in attendance, and all very sheepish.
