Weird Attraction
I don't seem to have any luck in hiring staff.I just hired a Clerk-of-Works (I'll address him as Mr. CoW) abt a month ago. I've previously engaged him for a ENV sewer contract. That was 10 years ago. Since completion of that project he has been calling me from time to time to ask if I had any opening for him. Told me he enjoyed working with me cos I was a good boss.
Recently BCA has tightened the site controls. So I had to hire a supervisor to help with my site inspections. It so happened that Mr. CoW called and I thought ok.. I'll try him out. Anyway.. he started work. But recently he's really getting on my nerves.
For one, he's very fawning. Imagine having someone praising you all day long and together with God in the same sentence. He's always complimenting me on my ability to juggle work with family, on my dress sense, on my driving skills and lots of other things. He reminds me so much of Collins in Pride & Prejudice, excessively flattering. Even a simple thank you from me will evoke long strings of you're-so-polite-it's-my-duty-no-need-to-thank-me responses.
I'm usually in the office at 7.30am every morning. Mr. CoW comes around 8am and has been asking me to join him for breakfast. But I'm quite particular about my breakfast personal time cos that's when I'm getting myself mentally ready to face the day. So I rather not spend breakfasts making small talks. And after a few rejections, he offered to buy me breakfasts instead.. and lunches... and afternoon teas, which I politely declined many many times.
When I go to sites, Mr.. CoW is worried that it's too hot for me and he actually opens up his brolly to shelter me. He thinks that a 20 minute walk through the muddy site is too tiring and dirty for me (I wouldn't be a soil engineer if I were afraid of sun & dirt). Apparently he also thinks I'm too weak and frail to carry my own bag or my own file or my own cup of coffee.
It was so *arggh* to the extent that I actually make detours to avoid him when I see him in the distance. I told him off a few times already. His job is to carry out site inspections not to be my man-servant.
Last week again I refused to join him for lunch. I have no intention of forcing myself to chit-chat with him. Mr. CoW said something like.. don't worry he'd buy me lunch. I said no I wanted to rush back to office to prepare for my meeting. And he called me cute & adorable. CUTE & ADORABLE?????!!!! I felt like firing his bladdy ass on the spot and see if he still thinks me cute & adorable. arrrghhhh!
On Monday he told me he dreamt about me. That I was being bullied and he had to fight the bully off. Oh boy.
Today he said he was worried about me cos I didn't come in at my usual time. WTF!
He's quite old, divorced and his only daughter just gotten married & moved out. So my clerk thinks he's either infatuated with me or he's treating me like his daughter. Both thoughts are just as scary. Whatever it is, he's giving me the creeps.
I've decided to terminate him... either when the project is completed or when he pisses me off again, whichever comes first.
Labels: Work
posted at 5/08/2008 02:46:00 PM
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