The weird workplace

Oath, what oath?; No time to wait; Bottoms up; 'Must like crayfish'; Tough love in Texas

Bottoms up
LONDON, U.K. — Ever wondered what the favourite alcoholic drink is at the BBC? Well, now we know. Staff at the British Broadcasting Corporation most prefer beers, ales and cider, followed very closely by white wine, with the spend for each group averaging £15,000 pounds (C$27,453) per year, according to the Mirror. The bill for red wine sits at £10,000 (C$18,300) while sparkling wine £3,000 (C$5,500), rose wine £2,000 (C$3,600) and spirits (also £2,000) are near the bottom. When it comes to beer, Italy’s Peroni is easily the most popular, with the BBC buying more than 5,500 bottles during the year, at a cost of about £12,000 (C$22,000). “The BBC has clear policies to ensure spend on hospitality is proportionate and they have been progressively tightened to ensure value for money,” said a spokesperson. “Drinks may be purchased where there is an appropriate business purpose. For example, production teams may provide hospitality for program guests.”

Oath, what oath?
BRENHAM, TEXAS — A veterinarian found herself the target of considerable venom recently after she apparently killed a “wild” cat using a bow and arrow, according to the CBC. The Benham, Texas-based woman posted a photo of herself on Facebook holding a bow in her hands, with a dead cat hanging off the end of it. “My first bow kill [cat emoji] lol,” said the caption on Kristen Lindsey’s profile. “The only good feral tomcat is one with an arrow through it’s (sic) head! Vet of the year award… gladly accepted.” The post soon circulated on social media and eventually more than 35,000 people signed online petitions seeking to have the vet’s licence removed. Lindsey was eventually fired from the Washington Animal clinic. “You hope it isn’t true and then you find out that it may be,” said Bruce Buenger, co-owner. “So then you just have to do what’s right.” Local police are investigating the incident. 

No time to wait
JAMES CITY COUNT, VA. — Not prepared to wait just a few more hours, a worker has been accused of stealing his own paycheque. Alexander Mortin is said to have broken into Lars Construction in James City Count, Va., where he worked as a labourer, and to have taken his pay just one day before payday, according to WKTR in Norfolk, Va. While the 25-year-old admitted to cashing his cheque, he said an employee gave him the pay one day early — even though his was the only one missing out of a stack of paycheques at the office. “Why would I steal my own cheque? No, that wasn’t me,” said Mortin, from jail. When police arrested the man, they also found counterfeit money and drugs in his car.   

'Must like crayfish'
TRISTAN DA CUNHA, IRELAND — There’s remote and then there’s remote. Tristan da Cunha in Ireland is looking for an alcohol counsellor. The only catch? It’s the world’s most remote inhabited island, according to Belfast Live. Tristan da Cunha is located 16,500 kilometres from Northern Ireland and has just 270 residents. “This job will be challenging and demanding as you will often be working on your own as the sole provider of counselling services on the island. Irregular or longer than usual working hours are to be expected,” said the application form. The job will cover a six-month period and pays $32,000 to $60,000 along with free travel and accommodation. “There are no restaurants.  However, the availability of crayfish and excellent fresh fish make this a first-class posting for those who enjoy cooking!” said the application. “A ‘golf course’, shared with grazing cows, although rarely used, provides some relaxation.”

Tough love in Texas
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — A professor at Texas A&M University   was decidedly unpopular recently when he said he was failing his entire strategic management class, according to Reuters. Irwin Horwitz sent an email to the 30-some students saying he was fed up with online rumours about himself and academic dishonesty: “None of you, in my opinion, given the behaviour in this class, deserve to pass or graduate to become an Aggie, as you do not in any way embody the honour that the university holds graduates should have within their personal character.” But  the university told a local TV station it was investigating and failing grades would not stand unless a student did not academically pass the class. 

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