R2I - First day at work

menon · Post by **menon** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:14 pm

A bit of background about myself. I am a finance professional moved to India a couple of weeks back. Hired by the US company to head finance of their joint venture. Moved to a tier 2 (Or 3) city for the small town life and savings potential (will be paid in US$ at the parent company rates).

Now, the real story..I enter the office with my lunch bag and lapbag, one guy jumped from nowhere decided that I need some support in carrying the bags, insisted that he carry my bag and almost grabbed my bags and I had no choice

In US, I used to enjoy my coffee breaks, time to take a walk and think through issues. I have someone following me wherever I go.

A tea is being served whenever I look out of my door. I have atleast five cups of cold tea on my desk, even after telling the "tea uncle" not to give me tea and I prefer coffee.

I am not allowed to carry anything. Someone else will have to do it.

I cannot even take a walk in the office, someone is always around to take care of my needs.

I am not even allowed to plugg in my laptop to the wall socket and network cable, someone else will have to do it.

Others decides how the a/c in my office should run. I was freezing in one of the meetings,but, there was one guy who is handling the temperature in the room and I dont have any say in the temperature settings.

I hate it when people call me sir, but, being called my first name is a sin over here.

well..I can go on and on.

what do I do?

Menon

JustAnotherGuy · Post by **JustAnotherGuy** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:37 pm

well that is something straight out of movies when the boss from US visits the company ...

anwesha · Post by **anwesha** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:13 pm

menon;378392

A tea is being served whenever I look out of my door. I have atleast five cups of cold tea on my desk, even after telling the "tea uncle" not to give me tea and I prefer coffee.

Tea uncle! :)

Serving tea, handling thermostat, plugging a cord ? all this might be list of job responsibilities for someone else, perhaps means of earning for his/her family.

What can be done? Don't know..... maybe redefine those roles & responsibilities?

oasis138 · Post by **oasis138** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:44 pm

menon;378392A bit of background about myself. I am a finance professional moved to India a couple of weeks back. Hired by the US company to head finance of their joint venture. Moved to a tier 2 (Or 3) city for the small town life and savings potential (will be paid in US$ at the parent company rates).

Now, the real story..I enter the office with my lunch bag and lapbag, one guy jumped from nowhere decided that I need some support in carrying the bags, insisted that he carry my bag and almost grabbed my bags and I had no choice

In US, I used to enjoy my coffee breaks, time to take a walk and think through issues. I have someone following me wherever I go.

A tea is being served whenever I look out of my door. I have atleast five cups of cold tea on my desk, even after telling the "tea uncle" not to give me tea and I prefer coffee.

I am not allowed to carry anything. Someone else will have to do it.

I cannot even take a walk in the office, someone is always around to take care of my needs.

I am not even allowed to plugg in my laptop to the wall socket and network cable, someone else will have to do it.

Others decides how the a/c in my office should run. I was freezing in one of the meetings,but, there was one guy who is handling the temperature in the room and I dont have any say in the temperature settings.

I hate it when people call me sir, but, being called my first name is a sin over here.

well..I can go on and on.

what do I do?

Menon

Sit back relax and enjoy the pampering :)

PeterGriffin · Post by **PeterGriffin** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:53 pm

oasis138;378434Sit back relax and enjoy the pampering :)

What about potty breaks? Do they help you with the process of....Now that would be true pampering! :)

mn_op · Post by **mn_op** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:20 pm

menon sir, This is something no amount of money can buy in the US.

Don't worry, it will grow on you. Very soon you will find yourself screaming your 'assistants' names when you need to photocopy. Do you have that bell that most officers 'ring' when they need to call the 'boy'? Get one. It doesn't look befitting that the officer is actually using 'names' to call the 'boys'. The ring is better. Need tea? Ring twice. Ready to leave the office? ring thrice and so on.

Enjoy!!!

Note: And PG is not your average guy with normal dreams.

arnold · Post by **arnold** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:46 pm

That's india for you. Country with 1.2 billion people and labor is cheap. Enjoy the pampering if you can :-)

hope4best · Post by **hope4best** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:51 pm

OP,

You head the team. So, I'm sure you should be able to run things the way you like as that's something your employer would've expected from you when they decided to hire you. Change whatever you think needs to be changed at your Office - it's that simple.

theMan · Post by **theMan** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:14 pm

OP, a basic question for you. I suspect being aware of Indian culture was one factor that went in your favor in securing this job. Was that the case?

okemos · Post by **okemos** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:48 pm

menon;378392A bit of background about myself. I am a finance professional moved to India a couple of weeks back. Hired by the US company to head finance of their joint venture. Moved to a tier 2 (Or 3) city for the small town life and savings potential (will be paid in US$ at the parent company rates).

I hate it when people call me sir, but, being called my first name is a sin over here.

well..I can go on and on.

what do I do?

Menon

Sir,
If these things bother you, then i guess you must be really missing the following things what most of us do here in the US during weekends.

1. Cleaning the bathrooms during weekends. Sitting and facing the toilet bowl and cleaning it as if we are cleaning our own baby. I've done this many times especially when friends and family are invited.

2. Throwing the smelly trash during weekdays/weekends, during cold/hot weather.

3. Vaccuming the carpet, removing the stains.

4. Helping our spouse with cleaning the kitchen, arranging the pantry, doing laundary.

5. Cleaning windows, dusting electronic appliances and all the furnitures.

6. Mowing lawns, cleaning/vaccuming our own cars.

and the list can go on and on.

Unfortunately no one is here to help us and call us 'Sir'. But these things can be done by spending few extra $$$$, that would help poor legal/illegal immigrants here. Unfortunately most of us would think hundred times before spending money on these things.

So instead of complaining just relax and enjoy your new life style.