The buzz at the place that pays the bills is the results of a survey on disgruntlement. ‘Course, they don’t call it that.

All in all, though, I’ve been through desert and pestilence and political wars and reorganizations. Petit and petty bureaucrats. Thefts, lies, adultery and a vague sense of malfeasance. By now a bad job that I would report on a survey as a bad job might involve demons and regular hot pokers in places I don’t want poked.

But, not so for some of my co-workers, it would seem.

Reminded me of a kind of classic compare and contrast of the current job and the one before that. In seven years at the old digs, I got three gifts from my boss. The first was a McDonald’s promo digital clock that tied in with some cartoon, maybe “Ants” or “A Bug’s Life.”

The second was after becoming the bosslady — She called me into the office and asked my advice on the protocol for her needing to get something for the admin staff that now reported to her. A chore. She sent me down the street to buy small, gift boxes of Godiva chocolates for one tier of support and gift cards at the bookstore for the next level. She told me to keep one of each for myself.

The third was what the kids might call a “Benjamin.” Crisp, green and foldable inside a card thanking me for keeping shit together that was clearly falling apart. I believe it to have been sincerely given that bit of currency. It felt a bit like a payoff.

In less than two years, I’ve been fortunate and my expectations from that past wildly exceeded. Cool stuff from world travels, and thoughtful gifts that truly seemed to have been considered with care and attention to the recipient. I have to put up some pics of the kickass Timbuk2 messenger bag I decided to customize myself.

Not to mention the annual bonus for all employees, unlike the competitive and politically charged bonuses I had been given a couple times in the past gig.

It is work. But for the survey, my answer would have to be that the suckitude is manageable.