I like my job. It’s a good job, it pays well, and I generally enjoy the company of my co-workers. And I’m talking about a little fruit stand that which I work at most of the time. There are people at that little fruit stand that are good at passing the buck.

Even though all signs point to this job being their responsibility they try to fob it off to somebody else and I sit there paying attention to their explanations and excuses. Now I’m generally at the front of the fruit stand so I deal with people that arrive.

And most people have an appointment just easily researched but not all the time and I have to scramble at the last minute to figure out who this person is going to see a lot of the time all they have is the first name. Today’s first name is Brandon. And unfortunately there are dozens of Brandon’s in the directory.

I have to be nice when talking to these coworkers and I can’t say “what the fuck is wrong with you?” so it is at the tip of my tongue and at the back of my throat and I remain silent. I am the low man on the totem pole and I have little or no support to back me up.

I came back from lunch early after going to lunch later. And when I came back I had a message from Yancy about the Brandon encounter. Brandon contacted Yancy with his side of events which are as follows:

Brandon: Candidate arrived at 14th floor at approx ~9:55am for a 10am interview
Me: She was there at 9:45. He did not show up until 10:05

Brandon: Receptionist asked who she was seeing, she said “Brandon” with no last name as Recruiting Team does not give out interviewer Last Names to Candidates for Privacy
Me: This is bullshit. Every other company gives the first and last names of whomever is interviewing.

Brandon: I was already on my way, arrived to 14th fl at ~9:57am to pick her up for the 10am interview
Me: He got there at 10:05

Brandon: Receptionist made a big deal out of Candidate not knowing the Last Name of the Interviewer (Me) (even though AFAIK this is standard fruit stand policy and will not be changed)
Me: Once again, bullshit

Brandon: Receptionist rudely criticized me in front of the candidate, and said I should’ve called to let reception know about this. As just an Interviewer, I don’t schedule these / not responsible for this, and the feedback should be routed to the Recruiting Team, but instead was directed to my individually and rudely.
Me: I suggested that he let me know who was coming so we (the fruit stand) would not have egg on our face. Nothing rude, just an adult chat which Brandon seems to be unaccustomed to.

Receptionist emphasized that I needed to add the candidate as a guest to some system, (VisitAdmin) which again as just an Interviewer this is the first I’ve ever heard of, and I don’t think is my responsibility – should be taken care of by Recruiting
Me: Brandon is basically saying ‘I didn’t do anything wrong’ but then again he didn’t do anything right.

Brandon:All in all it felt uncomfortable:
1) made the candidate feel awkward that she was not prepared for not knowing her interviewer last name.
Me: I reassured her it was not her fault.

Brandon: 2) left a poor impression of fruit stand that we were not prepared (even though IMO we did everything correctly)
Me: The fruit stand is still prestigious. No fruits were bruised though Brandon’s 20 something ego did take a hit

Brandon: and 3) I personally did not feel like i was treated with adequate respect given the situation; and I believe the candidate observed this as well
Me: Classic deflection. I was not treated with respect! I want my Mom! I’m gonna tell!

If people did their jobs properly and informed the fruit stand front desk this could have all been avoided. But they didn’t.