Is it my fault if people want to do something for me or give me something when all i do is my job?

For example, a couple weeks ago i get a phone call from somebody saying they need help syncing their Palm Pilot with their computer. I go to their office and try to solve the problem, but i told them i would have to research and get back to them. They said ok. The next day the person stops me in the hallway, and says i have something for you, so stop by when you get the chance. So, when i had a free moment i stopped by this person’s office and they had a couple of brownies for me. I asked, “what’s this for?”, and the reply was, “a pre-thank you for working on my computer”. I then say that i’m just doing my job, and you didn’t have to go to all this work. So, after going back and forth about the brownies and how it really wasn’t necessary, i thank them for the brownies and once again say you didn’t have to do this and left

Now, when i arrive back at my office, one of my co-workers notice i have something and ask me what it is. I tell them, and they think that the person bribed me with food so i would work on their computer, etc. I told it was no bribe, it was a pre-thank you for going to work on their computer. So, this co-worker goes and tells another co-worker, and i get the same response. I told both of them again, it was no bribe, i just did my job. They said sure, Seth whatever, we know you better than that…..I said fine, whatever.

Now last week, i went back to this person’s office, and connected the Palm Pilot to the computer, so appoinmtents would sync up, etc. Apparently the person said it worked for the first month, which was three years ago. i get done and the person says thanks for working on my PDA. I said you’re welcome. Then the person says i will make you some cookies or something. I said that’s not necessary. We go back and forth, and another person joins in, and i tell both of them i’m just doin my job, and bribing won’t work.

So, today, i found out this person made me a plate of cookies for working on her computer. At first i told the person thanks, but it really wasn’t necessary becuase all i did was my job by helping you get your PDA connected to the computer.

I’m glad my co-workers in my office didn’t see me with the plate of cookies, becuase then they would go off and tell me that they bribed me by baking cookies for me in return of working on her computer. I would have said no, it was no bribe. I was just doing my job by helping people with their computer problems.

I don’t expect anything in return when i assist people with their computer problems, and if i do get something, i get harassed becuase people think that i got bribed when working on their computer.

What’s a guy to do?

MISSOURI CITY, Texas —
(This is a transcript of an FOX 26 News video report.)A Missouri City man is suing an online florist because they sent his wife a receipt for flowers he ordered – the problem is the flowers weren’t for her. Red roses are supposed to symbolize love, passion, happiness and romance – but all that changes when your wife finds a receipt for flowers you sent to your girlfriend.Leroy Greer told FOX 26 News that when he sent the flowers, he was not together with his wife.Greer has filed a federal lawsuit against 1-800-FLOWERS, INC.In April 2007, Greer, who was in the middle of a divorce, used the company website, 1800flowers.com, to order a dozen red roses and teddy bear for a woman who was not his wife.According to Kennitra Foote, the attorney for Greer, “a couple months later 1800flowers sent a thank you card to his home and his wife who he was reconciling with saw the card and said who ordered flowers and why?”

After Mrs. Greer called the company, she was sent a copy of the receipt by fax along with the note he sent with the flowers and what he purchased.

The copy of the note included with the purchased items read “Just wanted to say I love you,” which was sent to the girlfriend.

After reading it, Mrs. Greer wrote her husband Leroy a note of her own before refiling her divorce papers.

According to Leroy Greer, she decided to ask for more money. He told FOX 26 News that he “was gonna give her $150,000 and $4,000 a month in child support. She was satisfied with that.”

Mr. Greer said finding out about those $100 roses caused his wife to demand a $400,000 lump sum plus $6,000 a month in child and spousal support.”

Mrs. Greer declined the request to interview with FOX 26 News, but 1-800-FLOWERS sent a statement to FOX 26 that said:

“We take pride in creating relationships with our customers by recognizing and thanking them for their business. We take all matters relating to our customers seriously; however, we are not responsible for an individual’s personal conduct. Beyond this, it is the company’s policy not to comment on pending litigation and legal matters.”

Foote said “People are going to swing one way or another they’re gonna think he doesn’t deserve anything he just got busted he should just take it, but its more than just his reputation or him being an adulterer.”

According to Leroy Greer, it’s about his soured marriage. Greer is seeking more than one million dollars in damages.

After hearing this on the Today Show and reading several articles, then i would have to answer: YES, SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY STUPID IN TODAY’S SOCIETY…..

SIGH…..

A couple of weeks ago, i was re-arranging the schedule due to somebody being let go. I had a meeting with my student workers to work out the schedule. Afterwards i get a phone call from a student worker who worked for me last year who wants to work for a month until he goes back to SIU-C. So, i had to move some people around, and at first they didn’t want to give up hours, but didn’t realize they were getting a 80 cent raise. I explained to them you will still coming out ahead in money and by working less hours.

These made me started thinking. Every year we get a percentage raise, and this year we got a 2% raise and will get another % rasie when faculty neogiations are finished. So, i figured the amount that the student workers were getting to the amount it got raised to, and it is a 12% raise. By 2010, minimum wage will be $8.25\hr here in IL. So, in three years minimum wage workers will receive a 27% increase.

So, people who are working minimum wage jobs, it is a good thing; however people like myself will be getting screwed over. When you get your pay increase, I’m taking a pay cut, because I have to pay more for everything becuase everytime minimum wage goes up, everything else goes up as well. One co-woker said it best: “i’m one dollar closer to being at the poverty level now than i was a few weeks ago. ”

On one hand, I don’t have a problem with minimum wage increase as long as they increase the wages of other people that are close to that. But on the other hand, most of the people working minimum wage jobs are High School or college students working their way through school, and i don’t think they deserve to be making that kind of money. Plus increasing minimum wage will also hurt small businesses. So, pretty much it’s like this: minimum wage people like the increase; people who are wealthy don’t see a difference, but the middle class is the ones getting the raw end of the deal.

We have several positions at the college where the people are making $8\hr. Now when minimum wage went up from $6.50 -> $7.50, you would think people would realize that the minimum wage people are getting very close to the same amount that they are receiving. Plus that full time staff position might require either an Associates degree, a bachelor’s degree or x number of years experience. Oh not to mention, that new hires are getting paid more some people who have been there for several years. What’s up with that?

It’s going to be very interesting for the next few years to see what takes place regarding this issue. Several of us had a discussion one day, and all of us are on the same page about this.

So, let me hear your thoughts, comments on this. Tell others about this, and have them comment as well.