When I first started to work for this place, I was in HR. I had passed my interviews and was doing paperwork as part of the on-boarding process. The HR secretary and I had the following conversation:

Her: can I have the phone number of the consulting company where you worked for the past 6 years
Me: I was self employed, I am the owner and sole employee of the consulting company and I would be happy to answer any questions you have
Her: no, I need to call to verify
Me: but you'll just be calling ME
Her: I have to call - what's the number
Me: the number of the office is [my cell number]
note: I'm standing 2 feet directly in front of her
Her: dial dial dial - ring ring - Hello - this is xxx from yyy Inc, calling in reference to Snoofle's employment
Me: both into the cell phone and at her: I know, I'm standing right in front of you
Her: into phone: can you please verify the dates of Snoofle's employment at x, y and z?
Me: reading from my resume that is laying on her desk in front of her: x: a to b, y: a' to b', z: a" to b"
Her: ok, thank you *click*
Me: directly to her: did you not notice that you were talking to ME right here in front of you?
Her: I know, but I have to call to check these things
Me: Walks away, wondering if the rest of the company might be just as wtf (as you might suspect from some of my recent posts, I should have just jumped out the window)

How it should have gone:

Her: can I have the phone number of the consulting company where you worked for the past 6 years
Me: I was self employed, I am the owner and sole employee of the consulting company and I would be happy to answer any questions you have
Her: no, I need to call to verify
Me: but you'll just be calling ME
Her: I have to call - what's the number
Me: the number of the office is [my cell number]
note: I'm standing 2 feet directly in front of her
Her: dial dial dial - ring ring - Hello - this is xxx from yyy Inc, calling in reference to Snoofle's employment
Me: both into the cell phone and at her: I know, I'm standing right in front of you
Her: into phone: can you please verify the dates of Snoofle's employment at x, y and z?
Me: I'm sorry, but company policy states that we cannot give out employee information.  Have a nice day. *CLICK*

Was the secretary's attitude closer to

a) "There's a sensible reason for me to do this"

b) "I understand that company policy should have an exception for periods of self-employment, but it doesn't, and I'll get in trouble with my PHB if I don't follow the stupid thing to the letter"

emurphy:

Was the secretary's attitude closer to

a) "There's a sensible reason for me to do this"

b) "I understand that company policy should have an exception for periods of self-employment, but it doesn't, and I'll get in trouble with my PHB if I don't follow the stupid thing to the letter"

Neither! I don't mind verifying the info - that's fine. But when someone tells you it's a sole proprietorship, and the sole proprietor is standing right in front of you, you can just ask the person to verify (and perhaps sign something attesting to it's validity). She was just a drone going through the motions without really understanding *anything*.  It was the calling-me-while-I-was-right-in-front-of-her that I just don't get.

bstorer:

How it should have gone:

...

Me: I'm sorry, but company policy states that we cannot give out employee information.  Have a nice day. *CLICK*

Niiiiice!!!!!

snoofle:

Neither! I don't mind verifying the info - that's fine. But when someone tells you it's a sole proprietorship, and the sole proprietor is standing right in front of you, you can just ask the person to verify (and perhaps sign something attesting to it's validity). She was just a drone going through the motions without really understanding *anything*.  It was the calling-me-while-I-was-right-in-front-of-her that I just don't get.

 

Is it possible that she had to have it on record (i.e. record the call)? That would be the only reason that this would make sense.

Even if she just needed the phone record would be good enough reason I suppose.

Still a WTF but then it is a WTF with reason. 

She was just following orders no doubt. Before your conversation with her I'm sure she had another conversation that went like this:

Secretary: You wanted to see me?
S Boss: Yes  it seems there have been some gaps in following up on references for new hires
Secretary: Well I always call to verify
S Boss: Well we need to make doubly sure of it
Secretary: The only time I don't check is if the hire is self empl...
S Boss: There are to be no exceptions!
Secretary: But if the person was working for thems...
S Boss: No exceptions! Is that clear?
Secretary: Yes ma'am.

As far as people going through processes with no clue as to what the process is for... I tried to pay for something with a newly issued credit card which I had forgot to sign. The clerk noticed this (good on her), and asked me to sign it (bad on her). I suppose she figured I might sign differently on the back of the card, and then immediately on the receipt?

Utter cluelessness.

snoofle:

Neither! I don't mind verifying the info - that's fine. But when someone tells you it's a sole proprietorship, and the sole proprietor is standing right in front of you, you can just ask the person to verify (and perhaps sign something attesting to it's validity). She was just a drone going through the motions without really understanding *anything*.  It was the calling-me-while-I-was-right-in-front-of-her that I just don't get.

People like this should not be surprised when they are simply replace by a machine.  Machines follow instructions without thinking, people think about the instructions and can see when an instruction can be modified.  i.e. A machine has to ask what your gender is, a person can look at you and tell without having to ask the question in most cases.

smxlong:

As far as people going through processes with no clue as to what the process is for... I tried to pay for something with a newly issued credit card which I had forgot to sign. The clerk noticed this (good on her), and asked me to sign it (bad on her). I suppose she figured I might sign differently on the back of the card, and then immediately on the receipt?

Utter cluelessness.

 

I usually have "Please see ID" written on the backs of my cards.  Regretfully very few people even check it.  I personally won't sign a card that doesn't also have my photo on it.

I did have one place look and say it wasn't good enough and I had to sign the card.  I produced my ID with both my Photo and signature together and it still wasn't good enough.  I left without buying what I wanted and did my shopping a mile done the road instead.  I was sadistically amused knowing he had to put all that stuff to the side himself in order to handle the next customer.

KattMan:

snoofle:

Neither! I don't mind verifying the info - that's fine. But when someone tells you it's a sole proprietorship, and the sole proprietor is standing right in front of you, you can just ask the person to verify (and perhaps sign something attesting to it's validity). She was just a drone going through the motions without really understanding *anything*.  It was the calling-me-while-I-was-right-in-front-of-her that I just don't get.

People like this should not be surprised when they are simply replace by a machine.  Machines follow instructions without thinking, people think about the instructions and can see when an instruction can be modified.  i.e. A machine has to ask what your gender is, a person can look at you and tell without having to ask the question in most cases.

DeLos:

Is it possible that she had to have it on record (i.e. record the call)? That would be the only reason that this would make sense.

medialint:

She was just following orders no doubt. Before your conversation with her I'm sure she had another conversation that went like this:

Secretary: You wanted to see me?
S Boss: Yes  it seems there have been some gaps in following up on references for new hires...

After starting, I was discussing what happened with a few new coworkers, and found out that the reference checks are not recorded. They're only required to check what you put on the resume. There's no procedure requiring an actual phone call (e-mail is sufficient).

 Sorry guys, I've tried to rationalize it for 6 years and it still makes blood ooze out my ears...

smxlong:

As far as people going through processes with no clue as to what the process is for... I tried to pay for something with a newly issued credit card which I had forgot to sign. The clerk noticed this (good on her), and asked me to sign it (bad on her). I suppose she figured I might sign differently on the back of the card, and then immediately on the receipt?

Utter cluelessness.

 

Card-signing isn't primarily an ID check. The card company tells vendors to insist on the signature because signing the card indicates acceptance of the cardholder contract. Without a signature attesting to the contract, you could theoretically make a legal claim that you never agreed to the interest rate/penalty structure/etc. of the card.

lolwtf:

Great way to cause trouble when you mis-guess their gender though.

I would have been tempted to say this:

Her:  Hello - this is xxx from yyy Inc, calling in reference to Spacecadet's employment

Me: Who? I think you have the wrong number. 

smxlong:

As far as people going through processes with no clue as to what the process is for... I tried to pay for something with a newly issued credit card which I had forgot to sign. The clerk noticed this (good on her), and asked me to sign it (bad on her).

Someone I knew worked in a ticket office in a UK tourist attraction. They once refused a credit card because it wasn't signed. The US tourist said it belonged to their uncle who was waiting nearby and they knew it wasn't signed, so that they were able to use it - and thought not signing was normal.

Noser:

Card-signing isn't primarily an ID check. The card company tells vendors to insist on the signature because signing the card indicates acceptance of the cardholder contract. Without a signature attesting to the contract, you could theoretically make a legal claim that you never agreed to the interest rate/penalty structure/etc. of the card.

If you are in the U.S., you are wrong wrong wrong.  Card-signing is an ID check.  In fact, the signature on the back is the only ID check required by law.  They can't even require you to produce a driver's license if you don't want to, so long as the card is signed.  Signing up for the card in the first place is acceptance of the card-holder contract and signing the receipt is acceptance of the charges.  The only reason the signature is required on the card is because it is the only form of ID required to use a credit card.  And, no, you cannot make a legal claim that you didn't "accept the contract" if you signed up for the card in the first fucking place.  That is just idiotic.

morbiuswilters:

If you are in the U.S., you are wrong wrong wrong.

 How is this for 'stupid secretary WTF':

 Our secretary let a client in who was coming for a meeting with one of the senior partners at our firm yesterday ... and she forgot to mention to the senior partner his clients had arrived.

 WHY? you may ask.

Well, she thought he would have heard the doorbell ring and would know that his clients had arrived.  She just let them in because she was told to do so.  Apparently we hadn't been clear enough in also telling her that she should than tell the person the client has a meeting with, that the client had arrived. 

The clients waited for an hour and then left.  And the senior partner was left wondering where his clients were and why they hadn't called to say they would be late.  The mystery was solved this morning. 

And she's just the temp.  Hopefully the new secretary will be a bit smarter...

Oh yes, I forgot to mention this.  We fired the previous secretary because she was an inefficient, hoarding,  slightly stupid woman.  We've apparently downgraded with the temp.

My poor nerves.  They've suffered so much the previous five years... 

 Damn, where do you work, in a Monty Python sketch?

Motherduck99:

My poor nerves.

The secretary is stupid, but they shouldn't have lost the sale.

morbiuswilters:

Noser:

Card-signing isn't primarily an ID check. The card company tells vendors to insist on the signature because signing the card indicates acceptance of the cardholder contract. Without a signature attesting to the contract, you could theoretically make a legal claim that you never agreed to the interest rate/penalty structure/etc. of the card.

If you are in the U.S., you are wrong wrong wrong.  Card-signing is an ID check.  In fact, the signature on the back is the only ID check required by law.  They can't even require you to produce a driver's license if you don't want to, so long as the card is signed.  Signing up for the card in the first place is acceptance of the card-holder contract and signing the receipt is acceptance of the charges.  The only reason the signature is required on the card is because it is the only form of ID required to use a credit card.  And, no, you cannot make a legal claim that you didn't "accept the contract" if you signed up for the card in the first fucking place.  That is just idiotic.

 I don't k