It's too early for this

We have discussed previously that it is typically not a good thing if a recruiter recognizes your name or phone number. This point was proven again recently when we terminated a woman for poor attitude and terrible attendance. She did not take it well.

That, mind you, is a euphemism intended to invoke a montage of scenes flickering through your mind’s eye and leading you to an appreciation of how I and my coworkers came to recognize her phone number.

Unfortunately, she came crawling back recently.

I took a call right after sitting down at my desk in the morning, and there was a definite, "UGH, her!" moment before answering.

Me (best imitation of a customer service agent): Good morning. What can I do for you?

Grouchy Girl: Well, I'm trying to tell y'all my problem, but y'all keep hanging up in my f****** face.

Me (picturing her former English professor shaking his head in despair): Please do not curse.

GG: I'm not cursing!

Me: Last time I checked, 'fucking' is a swear word, and since it's only 8:11 in the morning, I'm not interested in hearing what you have to say if you're going to be swearing at me.

GG: It's not my f****** problem y'all won't let me speak!

Me: You just did it again. If you are unable to have a civil conversation this early in the morning, please call back when you've calmed down. We can discuss your issue then.

GG: I'm not fucking--

I hung up. It was too early for that.

There are plenty of times when I will stay on the phone throughout someone's tirade of colorful language so I can either put them in their place when they pause for breath, make sure to have a complete record of the conversation for future reference when they want to try to get a job through us again, or I'm short on blog material.

Other days, I’m not interested.