Dundie Decals
Posted by WallsNeedLove on 9/11/2011
Our company has adopted its own version of the Dundies. Instead of taking place at Chili's, our remake
of this tradition started on The Office takes place at our company Christmas party. In lieu of a Dundie
trophy presented to each Office employee by Michael Scott, our boss gives each of us a wall decal based
on our personality and performance over the past year. I popped open the poster tube holding my
Dundie decals and pulled out several tree wall decals. I unrolled the gift and laughed when I saw the
green leaves and blossoming branches on each tree wall decal. My boss and the entire office joined in
with rounds of laughter. My Dundie tree wall decals were not picked based on my stellar performance,
amazing team morale, or even on the fact that I was in the running for the office's longest engagement,
but instead, because of a small mistake I had made . . .
I knew I had made a fortunate alliance when at company orientation exactly one year ago my boss
described a generous mental health policy. I clearly remember him talking about how each employee
is allowed two weeks per year to take off from work for personal relaxation and mental rejuvenation.
I drifted into R&R mode just thinking about having a solid two weeks off from work in order to care
for my personal well being and ensure that I would not fall victim to the millions who experience work
burnout, depression, and even anxiety due to job-related pressures. I guess I stayed in dream mode just
a minute too long because I missed the part when he described that the two weeks off allotted to each
employee was also known as vacation time and must be pre-arranged with the powers that be.
Fast forward a few months to December. I have never been a winter person. I savor the last few weeks
of warm weather each summer, tolerate the cooler days of fall, and then fall into a state of deep
sadness when frigid winter rolls around. I felt that my mental health was failing as the bleak reality of
winter had fully set in. The trees were bear, the skies grey, and the temperatures frigid. There was even
a prediction of snow flurries. Precious summer was still months away. After getting off from work on
Friday, I had a brilliant idea---book a trip to sunny Cancun. Christmas was just weeks away and visions of
sandy beaches and warm sunshine danced in my head. What better way to clear my winter blues?
I can't remember a better time of respite than those two weeks in Cancun. As I soaked in the sunny rays
of the Rivera Maya, it did my heart good knowing that my boss would be so pleased when I returned to
work with a fresh outlook and drive for excellence. Two solid weeks without checking my phone or e-mail lifted my spirits and renewed my mind. When I walked into the office on Monday , December 20th,
my glowing tan face was greeted with shocked looks from my co-workers. I assumed they thought my
beaded, braided hair was a breach of office dress code, but was quickly brought to reality when my boss
asked me into his office. After some hastily exchanged words of concern for my safety and whereabouts
over the past two weeks, my boss gave me extensive remedial training about the true nature of our
vacation policy and employee duties. I was graciously allowed me to keep my job on a probationary
basis.
Although my Dundie decals were chosen based on my small mishap with the vacation policy, I still am
thankful for this olive branch extended by my boss. With fall just around the corner, I can smile knowing
that as I walk out of the cold and into my warm house each evening, I will be greeted by a spring tree
wall decal. I now go to sleep at night looking at cherry blossom branch tree wall decal. My tree wall
decals gingerly remind me that summer is always present in the comfort of my own home. My Dundie
decals also send a subtle reminder that I need to give advanced notice about next year's Cancun trip.
