I am not a sheep!

Boys and girls, I don't even know where to begin this one--maybe by saying that you might find out the name of the Evil Empire before you know it.

Now, I'm a pretty easy going person...I've lived at being invisible for most of my life and really dread being in the spotlight. I don't like to be pointed out for either good or bad reasons but that may have to end soon.

I've tried to do what's been asked of me at this job that pays me...oh wait! We aren't allowed to talk about how much we make...not to anyone else in the Evil Empire. Anyway, I don't go on the internet at work, I don't sit and play with my phone or Nintendo DS, I don't give out wrong information just to get a sale...and I try to be as polite as possible (I was raised on "Please" and "Thank you" and it's one of my pet peeves not to hear it as much as it should be heard)--I'm trying my hardest at selling because that's what they told me to do. I'm being *even more* polite so that our customers will be happy with me when they get off the phone. But I can't ask them to rate me before they do. A customer will think what they want to think and depending on the person, may just push any button to finish off the survey. They don't care because it doesn't affect them. You can tell if a customer is happy with you..the only thing you can do is to make the experience as good for them as possible. Make them laugh...you can turn almost any situation around by making someone laugh. Apologize and empathize...man, how many times have I heard that in my 22 years of customer service? I just can't do it, boys and girls.

I heard that there was a meeting with the Evil Bloodsucker where he basically carved out a new asshole for everyone. I wasn't in those meetings because he tends to give them on my day off. Saturday, a male supervisor and the one sup that scares the shit outta me tried to drill it into my head. The male sup...I wish I could explain to him that to keep bringing something up over and over again throughout the day doesn't make it easier and the more he pushed, the more I stood by ground. Do I respect him? Ruel tried to tell me that I was showing disrepect by not doing what he told me to do. I do respect him...up to a point...but he's a "buddy" first and then a sup and it should be the other way around. Yes, you should be able to laugh and joke, but if you've never (in the year and a half that I've been there) acted like a sup, it's kind of hard to undo that in one day. If he would have just dropped it....

Anyway, I know my sup tried to drill it into my head how important it is...but AT&T tried to do it 10 years ago and it didn't work. Show me the research that says that it does...give me another way to get the point across because it just isn't going to flow out of my mouth...and the first time it doesn't and they are listening, it's going to be a verbal talking to...and there are about 4 steps that they can take. I say "can" because they don't have to. They can fire your ass whenever they want to. Where is there a customer service union that will prevent that from happening? A union that will make them stop changing our commission structure whenever they find that too many reps are getting more money that the Evil Empire wants to give? A union that will prevent them from using your vacation days when you run out of "sick" time-which you are still dinged for, even if you have it...explain that one to me?

I haven't even told you about their little "Rah Rah-We are the Best" breakfast that was "mandatory". Boys and girls, one brilliant leader there actually called our competition a disease that we must innoculate the public against. "Innoculate" was the actual word used. WTF? Oh...and get this...when you first got there, they gave you these packets (with work guidelines and stuff) and told you to just sign it now and rip the top page off so you can get a raffle ticket! Oh wow...so you want me to just sign something without reading it...just so that I can get a raffle ticket where I might win...oh joy of joys...a $25 Target gift card? OMG! Really? C'mon...

I don't really like to rock the boat...and the Evil Bloodsucker really intimidates me...he's got that smooth Latin thing going on..although the more I listen to him, the more I think he sounds like our mayor, Villarigosa...or whatever the hell the little man's name is. I'm not telling anyone else not to do it. I'm not encouraging anyone else in any way, shape or form to follow my lead. This is my stand and my stand alone. So, if there are going to be tears and you know me, I cry at just about everything...a very wise woman told me, they will be tears of frustration. And there are those that are going to say, "It's just one little question. You would throw it all away for one little question?" It isn't the question, boys and girls...it's what it represents. The Evil Bloodsucker has said he wants to get rid of about 60% of our crew...I'm just one little person. One person with 22 years of customer service under my belt...I don't work for the money...I didn't pick this Evil Empire because it was the highest paying job...I picked it because it's close to where I live...there are tons of places close to where I live...One little question indeed.

I'm not a sheep...I am not a sheep...I am not a sheep