Change Preferences | Sign Out
SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives
Amy Joyce

A Comedy of Terrors

'The Office' May Be A Farce, but Fans Relate to Its Workplace Horrors

From left, B.J. Novak plays Ryan Howard in NBC's comedy
From left, B.J. Novak plays Ryan Howard in NBC's comedy "The Office," along with Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, John Krasinski as Jim Halpert, and Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly. (Paul Drinkwater -- Nbc)
TOOLBOX
Resize
COMMENT
0 Comments 
Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging
» Links to this article
By Amy Joyce
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 19, 2006

Boss enters room: "Hey, everybody! I think we need a morale boost around here. Don't you? Come on! Come on over. Pull up a chair!"

[Office workers look at one another. Eyes roll. They awkwardly slide into place around a conference table.]

Boss to group: "I know I'm the boss, but that's not saying the rest of you don't bring something to the table, don't have some skills. Today I will tell you what you mean to this office."

[Uncomfortable glances between co-workers.]

Boss starts pointing at people, stopping at one fellow: "You've got a legal background. And you are our IT go-to guy."

Boss turns to Heather Boyce, an employee in human resources: "You bring nothing. . . . " Boss prepares to move on to next person.

Workers gasp. Some interject: "Wait just a minute. . . . " Boyce jumps in: "What are you talking about?!"

Boss stumbles. "Uh, well, I just mean you came straight here from college."

[ Silence. Boyce came to the office two years ago. ]

Boss: "But you've got enthusiasm! Yes, you bring enthusiasm."

After the impromptu anti-morale booster, Boyce retreats to desk to add scenario to the list of bad-boss tactics she and co-workers secretly keep.

* * *


CONTINUED     1                 >


© 2006 The Washington Post Company