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I would have laughed uproariously. I can fix plumbing issues, do all sorts of handyman stuff but put me in front of a box of bits and pieces which have to be put together while following a bunch of indecipherable instructions about sliding doohickey A into doofangle B using nerdflange C and screws An16Q and An16R and I might possibly manage that over several hours before dissolving into a puddle of utter frustration and calling a friend.
As has been said - heck, you got new furniture and not somebody's hand-me-downs. If you're good at that sort of thing then put it together and, if you're not, just say so and let them have someone else do the job. This is not a crisis - and why on earth are you piddling around on a forum on your first day at work? Not aiming to get through your probationary period?
its really not a big deal, be glad you got furniture instead of hand me down, but if you nose is so high in the hair to do any manual labor, you not going make it in life. You could of always ask somebody to help you
it's no big deal. whenever we have to get new office chairs or shelves or something, we have to assemble them ourselves. it's better than getting broken down, used stuff that was left over from another office.
Yeah, if it's a small company/start up, I don't have any problems with putting furniture together. I've assembled everything Sauder or O'Sullivan has made at one time or another, countless office chairs, and I understand about keeping the costs low and that employees sometimes have to pitch in. I've also cleaned restrooms, swept floors, and done time at the front reception desk at start-ups.
However, if it's a larger corp and they aren't springing for furniture assembly, I'd be worried about the finances and workflow of a company that is having employees do that instead of the work they were hired to do that makes the company money. Such a company is probably not a long-term bet and I'd be keeping my eyes open for other opportunities.
Also, agree with not doing the assembly too quickly. I did and ended up assembling five desks one time, although the owner did make it worth my while when we started making some decent money.
During my career and even now I've done just about everything in an office setting. Unpacked copy paper, changed light bulbs, unclog toilets, remove bugs/animals, fix plumbing issues, clean up vomit, assemble furniture and on and on. I supervise hundreds of people and I still knock out these things today when they come up, why? Because it needs to be done. Am I expected to do it? Not at all. Am I a greater benefit to those around me? Most certainly. My first manager did the same and when I asked why he did it given how much the company paid him he said "I do what needs to be done and the one time I can't unload copy paper or coffee etc, I want to be able to asked the most tenured, highest paid person I manage to do it for me and have them do it knowing that what I ask is not beneath me but rather at that given time I really need their help" I've held true to that and it has served me well
To all the folks talking about it being okay for a start up but not others you are missing it. Do you think it's cheaper for a larger company to pay for assembly? Maybe you haven't been responsible for profit margins or keeping people employed but it's possibly wasting needless dollars either way
Well, a quick update--I just finished assembling all my own furniture lol. Put together the 2 chairs in front of my desk--- assembled my own swivelchair and desk! looks great but I was also wearing slacks, a shirt and tie and living in Miami--- it's hot, despite the air being on (tho admittedly not all that comfortably)
My shirt is a mess, took my tie off, rolled up my sleeves lol. should have just work shorts and a tee, but anyway I ended up putting it all together, phew! whatta frustrating mess.
This is a relatively small outfit, but not that small.....like 60 employees total, so idk, I was just a bit surprised is all. . . never had to assemble my own office furniture. all shiney and new tho!
So now you've done that you're presumably going to get off the forum and do some work? Have to get back into good habits now ...
it's my lunch break.....
and when i initially made the thread I had showed up early before hours to get a head start on my day so not to worry, STT Resident, im not foruming on commpany time
Do you think it's cheaper for a larger company to pay for assembly?
I want my $100/hour computer engineers to be coding and debugging projects, not assembling furniture. They are making me more money staying on task. It's cheaper for me to pay a minimum wage worker to assemble several pieces.
In general, there are more min. wage workers in larger companies.
Last edited by Meemur; 07-02-2014 at 12:27 PM..
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