JohnJ80 & Chipcom:

Both of you have good points, let me fill in a little more detail about the kind of people I work with:

The owner is a former union blue-collar worker. When he is dissatisfied with his employees, he resorts to yelling and uses language that would make Al Capone look like a saint. All of the managers were field workers that were promoted for the wrong reasons: Other companies offered them positions, they handed in their resignations, boss needed them, so promoted them to well-paid managers and gave them company vehicles. When painful decisions are made, the owner & his wife disappear and leave the managers to do the firing/layoffs. I've been there for 11 years now, and had maybe 4 or 5 very brief discussions with the owner, even though his office is 50 feet down the hall. My direct supervisor takes personal time off without informing anyone on his team. Bosses sneak out the door two hours before closing time and hope no one notices. I have a disabled kid, and my supervisor openly told a few co-workers that my kid was "all f----d up" while I was standing there. He repeats that often. Things got somewhat better after we hired a CFO that has worked for big companies and gave the owners some tips on how to run a business better.

Not everyone is unprofessional. I would say about 50% are decent, respectful professionals. The 'ribbing' I get is probably 50% funny, and 50% downright insulting.

Unfortunately, some of the immature employees happen to be the managers. Fret not, I have my way of dealing with their behavior, it is just irritating. This week, I will commute on my bike, and will see if anyone has something positive to contribute now that gasoline prices are outrageous, 80% of the office has been told they are at risk for cardiovascular disease & diabetes (we had a fitness strength test a couple months ago), and 40% are chainsmokers. Hopefully they will look at me differently.

I will keep y'all posted on what goes on.

p.s. I asked a few employees if they would be interested in joining me after work for trail riding not too far from the office. Only two showed interest, the rest all had the same excuse..."my butt hurts whenever I sit on those dinky little seats".

p.s.s. I have to agree with JohnJ80: No employee should have to be subjected to ridicule for his/her personal decisions. And no employee should have to resort to revenge-type behavior to make a point.