Levels

Back in the early 2000s, there were a spate of TV shows and movies about government agents or operatives. One phrase they seemed to say again and again was "That's above your pay grade" to someone asking a provocative question about a classified situation. I remember thinking if I said or suggested something that was a decision that my boss should be making and somebody mentioned my "pay grade" I'd kick 'em in the fucking nuts, assuming only a man would be arrogant enough to say shit like that to me. But don't believe for one second that I don't get it.

Every muthafucka here tries to work above their pay grade EXCEPT me. Probably because I'm trying to duck both work and responsibility. I'm constantly slapping my staff down. "Stop promising anything to anybody without checking with me. I'll set your parameters." But the worst offenders aren't even the professional staff. It's the support staff.

I've had secretaries coming in the office asking me about the projects we're working on and suggesting ways we should approach them. I usually listen and nod, mainly to keep myself from screaming "Bitch, go to your desk and type a memo to somebody!!!" My fuckin' opinions don't matter, why should yours?

Or I got engineers and inspectors going out to sites and wondering if we're giving too many tax breaks to developers and shit. Muthafucka, go engineer and inspect. Who the fuck are you anyway? MIND YOUR PAY GRADE!!!

I'm just saying, this nearly ubiquitous phrase from the early part of the decade has almost completely disappeared. I might have to bring that shit back.

KZ