I had jury duty last week. Or, to put it more accurately, last week I answered a summons to serve on a jury and thus reported to the 19th Judicial District Court to fulfill my civic duty.
There were maybe 150 of us in total. Folks in business attire (suits, heels, LSU sweatshirts) and others who looked like they barely passed through a shower. Facial expressions and body language ranged from grim determination to exasperation. A fair number of people seemed eager and excited. And, naturally, this being Baton Rouge, quite a few seemed to be acquainted and/or related to each other based upon their delighted interactions.
The jury room was sparsely decorated; industrial carpet, uncomfortable chairs, and pictures of current and long-since deceased members of the judiciary adorning the walls. There was water (no coffee). We had been fore warned that bringing in food or coffee was prohibited – although a lady next to me had a bag of peanut M&Ms in her purse from which she surreptitiously grazed throughout our captivity.
We were given a packet of papers (with the rules for the day!) and treated to an intermittently long video (hosted by a local news anchor!) about the court processes. Then we sat. And sat some more. And waited. (Until – hurray – they ultimately released ALL of us!).
As I sat through this every-several years exercise (‘Merica!), it struck me that jury duty and new employee orientation (at many companies) are both unavoidable, often tedious, and yet somehow necessary evils in the adult world.
The Summoning
When it’s time for jury duty, you receive a notification you’ve been commanded to report on a specific date and time with no regard for other plans or obligations you may have. The offer letter for a new job, with lots of CYA legalese, also portends the start of a journey filled with policies and paperwork.
The Weird Social Dynamics
Jury duty is a social experiment where you’re stuck with strangers trying to either remain invisible (“please please please don’t pick me”) or demonstrate your leadership capabilities (“I not only want to BE on a jury but also serve as foreperson!”). Those first few hours can make or break your reputation for the rest of the week! The same goes for joining a new organization and spending the first day or two with co-workers; you’ve got to navigate a mix of personalities and indulge in awkward small talk, all while trying to figure out who’s the office gossiper.
The Aftermath
Surviving jury duty leaves you with a bizarre sense of achievement – you’ve done your civic duty, and now you need a nap. Surviving orientation means you’re now officially on payroll and equipped, apparently, to traverse your new corporate jungle. Chances are you also need a nap.
In a life filled with monotonous events, these two sit at the top of the ”All Time Tedious List.” But, if you’re starting a new job, (and no matter HOW the HR team tries to sexy-it-up) you will be forced to endure painfully dull training and the filling-out of numerous forms (paper or digital – doesn’t matter).
May I suggest you bring some snacks?
************
