The longest vacation of them all

I’ve never been one of those women who thinks that all men are idiots or that men have it easier in the workplace or anything like that.  Until I started working for my current employer.  Women and men are treated SO, SO differently here.  And there are no women in charge.  No female managers or anything like that.

Anyway, this is more of a “funny story” than a rant on men.  And when I say “funny”, I mean that in more of a “I-want-to-punch-you-in-the-face” haha, as opposed to a funny haha.

A little background: we are in the middle of our “busy time” at work.  We are fast approaching a May 28 deadline in which we must have LOTSA stuff completed.  For simplicity’s sake, in my job, there are 3 levels.  We’ll refer to them as levels A, B, and C.  I am level A, I complete something, level B reviews, I correct, and then it goes to level C and I never see it again.  (I also never get a “good job” or “nice work”, or even a “you royally effed this up”.  No no, there is no encouragement here, nor is there any constructive criticism.  But I digress)

A few months ago, I gave something to B.  He took FOR.EV.ER to get it back to me.  Like I’m talking 6-8 weeks, when it should be less than 1.  So by the time I get it back, I’m swamped with new deadlines.  B comes over and says “oh, so I gave you such-and-such, do you think you could have it finished in 2 days?”  I am annoyed and tell B that I am extremely busy with several other projects due that same day, so I’m not sure if I can get to it in 2 days.  B tells me that he will be out of town the following week and that is why he asked me to have it finished in this ridiculous amount of time.  This co-worker in particular occasionally has to take off work to care for a family member, so I assume that this is why he is taking off an entire week during our busy time, so I say that I can work late to get it finished if it’s that important.  In the same breath, I ask if this time off is business or pleasure.  “I’m going to Florida for vacation” B tells me.  WTF.  During our busy time where “technically” no one is supposed to take off work?  No way am I busting my butt to get something done so this person can enjoy their vacay.

A few days later, I am in C’s office, where we are feverishly trying to complete something that none of us can figure out.  B comes over and is heading out for the aforementioned Florida vacay.  C is telling him to have a good time laying on the beach with a Corona, or something like that.  Corona was specifically mentioned.  They are laughing and joking around.  I’m annoyed because 1) we are trying to figure this shit out man!, and 2) this guy is going on vacation at the most inopportune time while all of his co-workers are here slaving away.  I casually, in a joking manner, of course say “I wish I was going on vacation!”  C looks at me and says, no.freaking,joke, “You’re getting ready to go on the longest vacation of us all!”  And they start laughing.  In case you were confused, as I was, yes, he was referring to my maternity leave as a vacation to Florida.  I reply to him that I would hardly call caring for a newborn and recovering from childbirth a vacation.  To which he simply asks me where I’d rather be, “here or there?”  Um, did that just happen?  Yes, yes it did.  I was SO offended!!  I had to excuse myself to the restroom because I thought steam was going to start shooting out of my ears!  Here they were talking about laying on the beach drinking beer and comparing that to taking maternity leave!  This is not the first time something like this has been said to me.  Not specifically referring to maternity leave, but in the general scheme of things, I get some not-so-appropriate comments from C fairly often.  C also feels comfortable enough to discuss circumcision with me and the difference between how to clean boys vs. girls during a diaper change.  Some people just should NOT be allowed to speak to others, let alone be in charge of a group of people.  Sheesh.  Call it maternity leave, call it vacation, I don’t care, I’m so ready to have a break from the office!