The Mailbox Email…

I have given up on protesting or pointing out the obvious regarding anything with the mail box.

 There is a post office right by my house that is open an hour later then the one by the office building. Rather then leave and come back I stay the extra ten minutes at work and dropped it off on the way home.

Then there was an email that followed along these lines:

“Subject: Secure Outgoing Mail

There is an outgoing secured mail box here in this building by the elevator. All outgoing mail can be left there. Outgoing mail is picked up daily by the postal carrier at 5:30pm.

If your mail is too large to fit in the slot, It will need to be taken directly to the Post office or other mailbox. If the box should get too full, there is another mail slot available in Building II. Let me know if this happens and we can evaluate the need for a larger box. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns,

Sincerely, ETC.”

Reader… the outburst that follows is amazing.

The Mail box downstairs...

Every office building I have ever worked in has an outgoing mail box. For that matter, every business, home, etc. has one too. This usually means a person employed by the local post office will be by on some sort of schedule to pick said outgoing mail.

Everyone with me on this one? Just checking. Apparently not everyone is.

Two weeks into working at this new job, I again suggested perhaps our building’s existing outgoing mailbox could be used for outgoing mail including items such as personal electric bills, personal letters and perhaps also Lia Sophia jewelry returns from employees.

“There isn't an outgoing mail box here.” I was told sternly.

I hesitated, not liking to argue but unable to duct tape my mouth shut at the moment, “But… there is…”

Heavy sigh, head shake, and my manager joins the audience of people at my cubes sliding doors (my manager is the one person I do really like) and he cheerfully suggests a field trip.

“A what?” I repeat stupidly.

He grins happily, “You and Employee B should go on a field trip to the post office.”

“But I know where it is.” I say slowly.

His smile becomes bigger as he ignores that and Employee B agrees to take me on a field trip tomorrow afternoon.

The Mailbox...

I am re-entering 'The Office' having accepted a full time position with a good company. I am replacing the position of someone who has been promoted. Co-worker A. Co-worker B is also on hand to train me regarding the importance of the mail as she is the ‘back up’ person I were to be sick or out of the office.

I sit in my chair in my gigantic cubical as they hover at the doors watching me, (yes my cube has doors).

Co-worker B begins, "The mail must be hand delivered at the end of each day at the post office down the street before they close at 5pm"

Co-worker A nods, adding seriously, "Even if we are slammed and you are stuck here, you have leave and make sure you deliver it and then come back to catch up"

I gently suggest, "But as the mail is posted here and the date is stamped on that postage, we could just drop it downstairs in this building's mailbox. It is securely locked and it says there is a pick up at 5:30 pm by the post office."

There is the silence and an exchanged look of horror between the two,

"No, it will not be delivered!" Co-worker B exclaims horrified.

Puzzled I ask, "Why? Have is not been picked up before?"

"We don't have a building mail box!" They say in time, exchanging another look, this one hints of 'maybe the new girl is an idiot.'

I smile politely and wonder when twilight zone music would kick on.