Tag: work life

Posted on in Historical, relationships, work

If walls could talk

Empire Life Head Office complex in Kingston Ontario

Last week, Empire Life invited its retirees to pay our respects and say farewell to our former Head Office complex on King Street in downtown Kingston. Later this year, the company will begin a new chapter in its 100+ year history when it moves to new office space on Hyperion Court.

For almost three decades, I called these buildings home. By my count, I spent more than 50,000 hours there. I wasn’t going to miss my chance to say goodbye.

As we went on a guided tour of the buildings, memories flooded back of potlucks and bake sales, Christmas parties and team celebrations, friendships forged and the work that was our daily grind.

I looked around the room at the faces of the people who had been so much a part of my life during that time. You develop a closeness, a banter when you work with people you see and like every day.

There was John, the manager of our mailroom who whenever you asked him how he was doing would give you the same answer, “Great” with a look that resembled something between a grin, a groan and a grimace on his face.

There was Ann, our one and only web administrator for many years (now an entire department), who always had a fix for whatever mistake you made.

There was my friend Randy, who started out on our IT Help Desk and was the first person I met at Empire. He became a programmer thanks to the company’s commitment to helping people develop and grow. He’s now taken on a brand new role as Grandpa.

There were Mark and Tim, the cool musicians in the Empire House Band who played rockin’ tunes at our annual summer celebration party in the back parking lot (you can still find them playing in local bands Three’s Company and The Retro Kings).

There was Carol and Roxann, two of the hardest workers you would ever meet, the backbone of the company who always flew under the radar but who were dedicated beyond belief.

As we toured the deserted executive area, we saw our President Mark Sylvia quietly working away at his desk. My friend Sylvia and I popped our heads in his office and teased him, saying he should sell the building since it was so empty and asked if he had been playing any euchre lately (Mark always played in our employee euchre tournaments).

After the formal remarks, we looked at pictures of the buildings over the years, past celebrations and events. My favourite events were the senior management challenges where we made our senior leaders do crazy things for charity like ride tricycles, get soaked in dunk tanks, and even dress in drag.

I moved desks at least thirteen times within those walls as my job changed and as the company grew. My last two years I worked from home.

If those walls could talk, I know what they would say. “It’s been a slice. Thanks for the memories.”

Girls dressed up as cowgirls

One of my favourite memories was our summer celebrations, an annual barbecue with live music and games in the back parking lot. Here, Caroline Keyes, Trish MacInnis, me and Heather Priestley, dress up as cowgirls for the western-themed celebration.

Posted on in Hobbies, humour, lifestyle, work

Make a to do list and not to do list

Funny to do list

Who doesn’t love a to do list?

The chance to madly scribble every pernickety thought and reminder crowding your addled mind onto a postcard-sized slip of paper or sticky note, freeing you from the cursed feeling you’ve forgotten something or need to write something down before you forget it.

Here are some of the reasons why the modest to do list may just be your best friend.

They’re portable. You can put them on the fridge, tuck them into your pocket or purse, post them in your daytimer or on your desk.

They work for everything. Work tasks. Groceries. Chores. Gifts. Series you want to watch. You can create a list for just about anything. I know someone who has created a list of every book they have ever read so they know not to buy a book from their same favourite author twice.

They give you a sense of purpose. Those black and white scribbles aren’t just a list. They’re a purpose, a guide, a beacon and a goal.

You get an immediate and immense sense of satisfaction when you cross an item off the list.

They help keep you sane. A list helps you remember the small stuff, which are often the most important things in life.

To do lists are for everyone. I’ve known co-workers whose entire cubicles were filled with sticky notes. My Dad used to keep track of all his bill payments with lists and notes pasted onto his bedroom mirror. Even my kids who are now in their 20s are diehard to do listers, making lists each day of what they want or need to accomplish that day.

I’m particularly fond of the proverbial honey do list. My honey is so sweet he doesn’t need a list, but if I do leave a list of things for him to do when I’m away, he always gets them done.

Sure, you can use your phone or some fancy work program to create your to do list. But you don’t get the same feeling of sweet satisfaction when you cross items off your list.

This week’s #HappyAct is to make a to do list. When you’re done, do one better and make a “not to do” list. Things you promise yourself you won’t do this week. Here’s a few on mine: waste time on my phone, spend time indoors when the weather is beautiful, procrastinate on my writing tasks. Signing off now, the morning fog is burning off and the sun is starting to shine. One item crossed off my not to do list at least.

Posted on in ageing, family, mental health, retirement, work

Retirement: a man’s perspective

Man with a big fish

Special guest blog by Dave Swinton

Retirement has been a difficult transition for me. I’m coming up on two years now and I still haven’t adjusted as well as some people do. I was sitting this afternoon, watching the rain pelt against the window obscuring a grey fall transition to winter, when it hit me.

Nobody needs me anymore.

I was always in middle management in my career. Always giving vague direction and punishing people for not reading my mind as the old Dilbert cartoon used to read. My specialty was putting out fires. People came to me looking for answers and I tried my best to write a plan on a cocktail napkin and hope it worked well enough to fool my superiors. 

My days were an endless mix of planning, timesheets, scheduling, maintenance and finding the best ways to get the most out of each and every person who worked for me. I loved being needed at work even if I didn’t always love the work itself. Fast forward two years later and the only decisions I have to make are which trail to walk the dog on and what we are having for supper. Work doesn’t need me anymore.

My kids certainly don’t need me either. Both are out living their lives, one almost finished university (so proud) and looking at where she will end up next, the other knee-deep studying whatever biochemistry is. Except for rare conversations about new musical groups (Red Clay Strays and Tyler Childers) and the odd supper, they are completely and utterly embracing their own lives. No more rides to a remote hockey rink on a snowy winter road, no more conversations asking for advice on relationships. They don’t need me anymore.

Honestly the only person who even tolerates me is my life partner. Truthfully, I think if she had to pick between me and the dog, we all know who would win. Bookending Monday badminton and Tuesday line dancing is Friday writing groups and Saturday stock sport tournaments. She has embraced retirement with gusto and I am glad for this. She doesn’t need me anymore.

All the influencers talking about retirement being the golden age should have their heads examined. For some, retirement is a time to worry, to wander aimlessly trying to find direction and meaning in their lives, all the while wondering if their investments will support them until they leave this earthly abode. 

I know that some of you are saying to yourself, what does he have to whine about? Lives on a lake, semi-good looking, gorgeous wife, yada, yada, yada but for some, myself included, the emptiness from not being needed outweighs all aspects in life.

Tread well into retirement my friends, sometimes it’s not all as advertised.

And if you see a white Dodge Cummins diesel with a 30-foot trailer rolling down the 401 at a buck twenty, festooned with Kingston BMW logos on it, know that someone is still depending on me to deliver a car that is worth more than my last annual salary. I guess someone still needs me……….

More on retirement

Posted on in work

Office etiquette 101: dishing the dirt on topics that no one talks about at work

Half-eaten muffin

I could have never written this blog post when I was working, but now that I’m retired and office etiquette is a distant memory, I can finally dish the dirt on some behaviours at work that definitely don’t make your co-workers happy.

These aren’t your typical “don’t be late for a meeting”, “answer chats in a timely fashion”, or “stay home when you’re sick” etiquette tips. These are the dastardly things people do at work that everyone is afraid to talk about.

Start the new year off fresh by avoiding these office faux pas:

  • Eating the top of a muffin and leaving the bottom half in the box (yes, this actually happened to me during my last few weeks of work)
  • Leaving a jam in the photocopier
  • Listening to music or podcasts without earphones on
  • Being a chatty Cathy so much that people can’t get their work done
  • Eating loudly at your desk: I’ve had office mates who’ve crunched potato chips at 10 in the morning
  • Eating foods with strong odours like fish
  • Taking somebody else’s food or drinks (newsflash, it’s stealing)
  • Placing dirty dishes in the sink for someone else to clean up
  • Listening to people’s private phone conversations. Sometimes this is impossible to avoid, but always pretend like you didn’t hear anything unless your co-worker comments on the conversation. NEVER ask questions or insert yourself into the conversation.
  • Quick poll: Walking around the office without your shoes on. This never bothered me, but I know it’s taboo in some offices. How do others feel about this one?
  • And the ultimate, most disgusting habit that no one ever talks about but needs to be called out: leaving streaks in the toilet. I mean, c’mon. Who does that? Have you never heard of a courtesy flush?

Remember, as Michael Scott from The Office, said “If you don’t know who the annoying person in the office is… you’re it”. 

Of course, if you are one of the lucky few still working remotely, the only co-worker you probably have to worry about offending is of the four-legged variety. Yet another case for remote work.

Have a happy work week everyone!