So I'm sitting here doing the job of about three people (accounting) because we've laid folks off and there's fewer of us left.

I was just reflecting back to a meeting I had in the year 2000.  I had someone in our field office ask me to pay an invoice.  To do this, I would have to look through an 18 inch high pile, find it and pay it.  I asked them if they could just send me a copy.  (I was lazy.)

Anyways, we have a meeting about this with my supervisor in his office along with teleconference of two clerical level folks and their supervisor  in Phoenix.  After being on the phone for 20 mintues it was determined that I should not do that and I should dig through the pile instead of requesting copies.

It just dawned on me that companies have gotten away from these meetings.  There's just not enought people around to make a big deal out of TPS related issues.  I actually kind of enjoy this mess I'm in because I'm being productive and we don't have to have non-productive TPS meetings.  Anyone else notice this?

(The company I worked for was a construction company that built Target's headquarter building in Minneapolis.  The campus has two buildings, one called Target Plaza South.  So yes we actually did have TPS reports.  )

I have found that with the last few years of business being in the shitter, people have lots of times to come up with "problems" for me to solve.

Yeah, but did you get the memo?  We're putting covers on all the TPS reports now...



 

Sounds like my wife's job, she is also in accounting.  There used to be at least 10 people in accounting now they are down to 4 and the new owners still expect them to get the work done.

If you don't come in on Saturday, don't bother coming in on Sunday.

someonestolemyredswinglinestaplerandtheykeepputtingmeinadifferentcubicle

If they feel the most efficient use of your time is to have you be paid to sift through a pile of paperwork in search of a specific document, I say go with it.

Its easy, mindless work...nothing to get stressed out over...just take your time and find that invoice.
Of course, dont forget to mention to the boss that there are time / productivity constraints associated with the choice....if you are spending an hour going through the pile, that hour wont be spent doing anything else....certainly not spent generating actual profit for the company.

Cant really say what is normal in the corporate setting any longer....havent been in cube world in many years. I dont miss the pointlessness of it all. Lots of process to govern little if any actual, tangible progress.