“What The F***?” Is Right!
COWORKERS, HEALTH & BODY, IGNORING & INATTENTIVE, LAZY/UNHELPFUL, OFFICE, USA | HEALTHY | MARCH 17, 2021
I work for the billing department of a medical supply company. One day, my coworker and I return from lunch to find a voicemail on the answering service. [Coworker] has been with us just a few weeks at this time.
Message: “Hello, this is [Woman].”
She coughs a few times. My coworker rolls her eyes.
Coworker: “This lady.”
Message: “I’m calling because, um, my oxygen concentrator seems to be malfunctioning.” *More coughing* “There’s a red light on and I don’t know what it means. My number is [phone number]. Please call me back as soon as possible. Thank you.”
Coworker: “Jesus.”
She deletes the message.
Me: “What are you doing? She needs help.”
Coworker: “It’s not our job to get that s*** worked out. She called yesterday, too, but I told her she has to call the supplies department, not billing.”
I stare at her, dumbfounded and angry.
Me: “Are you seriously telling me that a woman has called twice to say she needs help and you ignored her?”
Coworker: “She needs the supply department, not us.”
Me: “You— I— I— What the f***, [Coworker]? That’s not okay.”
Coworker: “Whatever.”
I immediately called the supply department and told them the woman’s name, though I couldn’t remember her number. Then, I called human resources — with [Coworker] right beside me — and told them what she had done. As soon as I hung up, she received a phone call, got up, and left the room. She did not come back.
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