University Office Staff- what was their problem???

Wicked_witch

Sorry, novel length!

Putting this here because being a student is one of my jobs, but feel free to move!

Today I had to go to the school of health office at my university to hand in some work and ask whether a Reader that I need (with increasing urgency- they keep running out) for one of my courses.

I handed in the work at the hand-in desk- no problem- then went to the 'Other Enquiries' desk a few feet along to ask about the reader. There was one girl in front of me. No-one was 'on' the reception desk (this is usual) but the 8 or so other staff also have desks in the space behind the main counter and a couple take turns to serve.

The woman sitting closest to the counter got up, greeted the girl and chatted to her, phoned a tutor at her request and even went out of the office to see if he was in his room as there was no answer. All polite, friendly service and they obviously knew one another.

The staff member then came back into the office, walked straight past me and sat down at her desk. it wasn't even as if she was ignoring me- more like I actually was invisible, despite my having been in line in front of her not 3 feet away.

At first, I assumed she had to do something to finish up the previous enquiry- I did hear her mention a letter to the other girl- and would then attend to me. She was sitting sideways on to the counter (at her desk- sorry if this is confusing!) and had to turn to face me whenever she used her phone.

So I waited. She typed briefly. Someone called to tell her about traffic problems. She chatted to them. She got up to walk round the room and tell the other staff. About 10 minutes has gone by and every single person sitting in that room, no-one more than 20 ft away from me, had utterly ignored my existance. By this time I am so upset, I know that if I call out to ask for assistance it will sound really aggressive (because I'm trying not to cry- unfortunately, that's what happens when i get angry). I wait 5 more minutes, then leave. So almost 15 minutes of standing between 8 and 20 ft from 8 people, in the correct place, in the correct office and being utterly, utterly ignored.

This sounds so silly written down I feel quite embarrassed:( It was so humiliating standing there with a group of people deliberately ignoring me, obviously hoping I would just go away and infuriating too, considering one of the things they are employed to do is help students! I expect most posters will think I should have said something, but I was first waiting politely then realising that yes, this was actually deliberate, then too upset! Pathetic, I know.:o I was just totally stunned that this could actually be happening in a professional university office. It made it even worse somehow because the other student was treated so well!

I should add that I have been to this office exactly twice before (in 4 years) and never been anything but polite and grateful for their help! So they weren't ignoring a problem student or anything

My question, such as it is, is what the heck were they thinking? Who behaves like this, in this situation? And was there any polite way for me to get their attention when what I really wanted to do was shake them???

PasturesNew

I am the same, I'd have been ignored by them too ... and I'd have legged it, unsure if I was doing something wrong.

They're just bl00dy rude it sounds like.

This comes under the heading perhaps of "they thought you were standing/watiing for something/somebody else". Or ...

Whose Job

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everbody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Wicked_witch

Aww, thank you PN, you always make such sensible posts :-)

I think it was a kind of 'reception chicken' myself, with everyone hanging on and hoping someone else would crack and serve me first. Still no flipping excuse, imo, but at least it (presumably) wasn't personal.

If I hadn't already been waiting so long for this blessed Reader (not enough printed and they keep coming in a few at a time) I wouldn't have been so stressed pehaps. Well, since my assignment is due in Friday, I guess there's not point worrying about it and will just have to hope that the large amount of other up-to-date info I have got will give me sufficient marks.

Wicked_witch

Quick update, I wrote to the school about this when I got in and just got this reply

Dear XXXXXXX,
>
> Please accept my sincere apologies for the unprofessional
> behaviour of staff today. I will follow this up immediately as there is
> no excuse for anyone to be ignored however busy the office is.
>
> Can you tell me what time approximately it was when this
> occurred?
>
> If you let me have the details of the reader I can ask that it be put
> aside for you to collect.
>
> Regards XXXXXXX

So it is being dealt with and I feel a bit less worthless.

skysky69

Well at least the response is courteous and agrees that this is a complete inappropriate way for employees to behave! Hopefully they will have a kick up the bum for being so rude!!:j

Wicked_witch

Thanks alx, trouble is I'm 33! I was just brought up to be very polite and can't cope with confrontation at all when I am the one with a problem :-( (I can stand up for other ppl at the drop of a hat...) I think that not knowing who's 'turn' it was to serve also inhibited me from saying something that might be considered rude to someone blameless(ish).

PasturesNew

Wicked_witch wrote: »

I think it was a kind of 'reception chicken' myself, with everyone hanging on and hoping someone else would crack and serve me first.

roflmfao/Reception Chicken

Brilliant

duchy

When I was a mature student I wrote an article for the student magazine in which I commented on the rude and aggressive way certain reception staff treated students in the student office. I got into loads of trouble for it-hauled up in from of the Vice-Dean-who tried to intimidate me into retracting what I said and apologizing. even though she admitted it was true.
I was disgusted and said so-none of the threatened academic sanctions ever happened-and the staff changed attitude.
I can't help but wonder if it's the same uni looking at your location (mine was SW London)

Wicked_witch

Mine begins with a G and ends with a H... It's more SE london tho I think.

duchy

Not the same one-mine began with K and ended with N
Good for you for getting an apology-Hope you get the reader soon !

Wicked_witch

Maybe it's endemic??? <-- excellent uni-type word

Having thought it over and eaten a pot of rice pudding, I reckon it's an office politics thing. Probably a couple of people (quite possibly those in the desks closest to the counter) feel they are doing more than their share of the reception work and are responding in this unfortunately passive-aggressive way to try and make a point. Oh well, hopefully they'll all get shaken up now and find a better way to fix whatever issues they have.