u/Majestic_Yak6994

So, I’m feeling a little uncomfortable and I don’t know if it’s warranted or if I’m overreacting or what.

I work in an office with about 20 other people, mostly women. I enjoy work and my job overall, per our ADP we are allowed 2 weeks (80 hours) of “call out” time, you’re not being paid for these days as to my understanding you’re allowed to call out for whatever reason and simply not come into work.

I’ve worked here for 9 months and used 4 of these days for very personal reasons pertaining to myself, my kids and even my ex husband. When I first called out my boss pestered me as to why, and since I’m not in the business of lying I gave him a brief explanation, then he seemed to press on for more information. At first I thought he was being caring but I’m a private person and I just want to go into work, do the job and go home.

Over the next 3 call out days I used it was the same thing, very much so pressing me for details, reasons etc.

At the beginning of this week he went to each of our cubicles asking how our weekend was, he came to mine and said something like “what story is it today?” And I was really taken aback.

A few things 1) I felt like I needed to explain myself to keep my job, but why am I even explaining my call outs at all if I’m allowed up to 80 hours? Secondly I’m now uncomfortable about how much he knows about my life, and that comment. My question is, is this normal in an office? How much do you tell your boss when you use your time off? And how would you proceed now? Or am I just overreacting?

Anyone else enjoy working? I see a lot of posts on social media, and just in general about hating their job, or just hating work.

I’ve had my fair share of terrible jobs but I actively enjoy going to work and getting a paycheck at the end of the week. For a time I was a stay at home mom when I was married and couldn’t work, while that’s a lot of work in and of itself it’s repetitive, thankless and isolating.

I like adult conversations, I like feeling needed, I really like getting out of the house. There’s only so much you can cook, clean and work out. Plus there’s no better feeling than generating your own income and feeling accomplished at the end of the day. Sure I wish I made more, or had more paid time off but overall I enjoy work.

I work a 8-4 job, with about 19 other women it’s basically data entry. All in all I like it, but I spend my days counting down the minutes or day dreaming really. Does everyone else feel this way?

I mean I obviously need to work, I just want to enjoy it a bit more? but it seems like when I look around at my co workers I’m not sure if they feel like how I do, they all seem more “present” (?) if that makes sense?

I’m not rushing out of there to do anything because I live alone (kids half the time)

My constant looking at the clock is making the days seem longer. Usually when I start a task I rush thru it to get it done and then I’m usually left with a lot of downtime.

My (35F) parents are both 65, both have been terrible for my entire life.

Dad’s a morbidly obese alcoholic, inherited a construction company from his dad…drove it into the ground with poor financial decisions and sold everything about 6 years ago. Moms never worked, been on benzodiazepines 3x daily since the birth of my older brother, drinks her wine daily, I was mostly raised by a nanny. Mom called me fat constantly growing up, she has an eating disorder, OCD and a boat load of other shit my absent father didn’t feel like dealing with. They blew money, fought constantly, drank, drove, physically and mentally abused me, they don’t respect boundaries…never have.

One specific story that sticks out is I started my period when I was 9, I tried to show my mother my underwear (it was brownish red because I had just started and I had no idea what was happening) she told me to stop shitting my pants and go to school. I went to school for 4 days straight, bleed thru my pants and the school nurse had to call her and have her pick me up telling her I started my period.

Fast forward to now, I’m 35. I own my own condo, I’m divorced and a mom of 2 amazing kids. I live an hour away from them. I’ve been in therapy and worked thru all my issues, I don’t drink alcohol, well for obvious reasons. I’m financially independent and I’m happy with my life. When my mom calls me I feel like I’m talking to a toddler, I only see them on holidays and a few times in between. My kids love them because they give them food, and toys and they only see them a few times a year for a few hours. I look at my parents with disgust now, especially after having kids. There’s no reasoning or talking to them about the past, does anyone have a similar story? Like how do you just accept people for who they are and move on?