An email came in today from the president of the university – looks like we’re getting a one time bonus of 2% of our base pay. Which is pretty cool – especially since we haven’t had raises in a while. I was pretty excited about that and sent an instant message to one of my co-workers in my group. Here is the transcript of that conversation:
————————
anthony serpette says (1:58 PM):
did you see the email from Dr. P?
it ended up in my junk folder – but it was not junk
c says (1:59 PM):
yea, 3% isn’t bad
I’ll take it
anthony serpette says (2:03 PM):
3%?
mine said 2%
c says (2:03 PM):
I’ve had better, but that’s not bad
what?
earlier today the University’s Board of Trustees endorsed my recommendation to grant all employees a one-time payment amounting to 3 percent of their current base salary that I sincerely hope will make the Holidays a bit brighter for everyone.
anthony serpette says (2:04 PM):
you’re screwing with me, aren’t you?
c says (2:04 PM):
what do you mean/
?
Yours said 2?
re-read it
anthony serpette says (2:04 PM):
mine says 2 percent
c says (2:04 PM):
r u sure?
————————–
At this point, I was now talking over the cubicle walls to another co-worker, who confirmed that his email said 3%. I told “C” to stop over to read the message and I highlighted the text on my email. He was surprised and as puzzled as I was about it and I starting thinking about seniority, base pay calculations, etc – then I asked if I could see his email. Thinking – perhaps – this was a different email list with some programming to do a calculation that failed.
It was then that he broke down and told me that he was messing with me. And he got my other co-worker to go along with it.
The conversation via IM starts up again:
————————
anthony serpette says (2:07 PM):
you, sir, are a bitch
c says (2:23 PM):
you should’ve seen your face
that was fucking hilarious
anthony serpette says (2:24 PM):
I went from “excited about the bonus” to “ummm… I thought I was doing a good job here?” to ” you guys suck”
c says (2:24 PM):
I’m gonna save this IM thread and frame it.
anthony serpette says (2:25 PM):
I’m putting it in my blog
c says (2:25 PM):
lol
Your face was red
you were pissed
c says (2:26 PM):
lol
————————
My other co-worker sent me a note as well:
—————
b says (2:24 PM):
just so you know, it was all C’s idea
anthony serpette says (2:25 PM):
yeah, I figured. 🙂 It was very well executed – and it wouldn’t have worked so well if you hadn’t been in on it. Nicely done.
—————
So, I got punked. But it was pretty funny when it was all done. Hats off to my clever co-workers. 🙂
