The blinding fluorescent lights shimmering overhead, the sweat clinging to a polo, the jittering of a foot or biting of a nail. Everyone has been there at some point, nervous, sweaty and awaiting their orientation. Whether it is making awkward eye contact with the other new hireling or excitedly awaiting a new job, entering a new workplace can be a thrilling and daunting experience. Yet is orientation really useful? Not according to Daniel Orozco who criticizes its usefulness by his use of satire throughout “Orientation.” “Orientation” portrays the stereotypical American workplace as a medieval court—full of intrigues, adventures, romances and mysteries. Instead of a stately castle, the setting features cubicles, coffee machines, and the friendly…show more content… “Lovesick Lord Russell” Nash that is, “in love with Amanda Pierce,” (284) whose husband “subjects her to an escalating array of painful and humiliating sex games” (285). A useful orientation should provide pertinent information on who your co-workers are, as aforementioned. There is romance among the court as the narrator gossips, “Amanda Pierce, who tolerates Russell Nash, is in love with Albert Bosch… who only dimly registers Amanda Pierce’s existence, has eyes only for Ellie Tapper… Ellie Tapper, who hates Albert Bosch, would walk through fire for Curtis Lance. But Curtis Lance hates Ellie Tapper” (285). Gossip was a favorite past time in medieval courts, like in modern workplaces. This sort of ignorance on the matter can lead to a hireling’s alienation—meaning they are the subjects of the matter. A real oritentation should warm the worker of the impending drama they may be walking into or the biased gossip they could hear that would taint their opinion of a fellow…show more content… If you can’t find your supervisor, ask Phillip Spiers, who sits over there. He’ll check with Clarissa Nicks, who sits over there. If you make an emergency phone call without asking, you may be let go” (?). Realistically, a new employee would most likely not get fired for such a trivial thing, the possibility of getting fired may not be voiced during orientation. “Feel free to ask questions,” the narrator says, “ask too many questions, however, and you may be let go” (284). This goes in accordance with knowing gossip but not letting on because, “if you let on, you may be let go” (285). Orozco also mocks how little freedom the employee has to make decisions without checking in with a superior beforehand, like a lord or lady begging permission of a king. Examples of this are being unable to touch the coffee machine or cook food in the microwave, not being able to touch the shredder or go into the supplies cabinet without permission. Just like a lowborn noble might try to contact the king but gets shuffled from one constable to a chancellor to a seneschal, the employees report to their supervisors—who they are perpetually unable to contact—then to Phillip Spiers and Clarrisa Nicks. Lastly, Orozco believes orientations to be useless because they fail to outline the fine print of work policies. In “Orientation,” the safety drills seem rigorous