Bartleby and Orientation

A point by point compare and contrast between Herman Melville's "Bartleby" and Daniel Orozco's "Orientation" and the underlying theme of work.When comparing Bartleby and Orientation they are very different in the way that the boss interacts with his employees that sets up the mood, or a sneak peak into the roles of the different character in relation to their employer. In Bartleby the boss has a certain relationship with his employers, he in a way, cares about their well-being and has empathy for them. "One winters day I presented Turkey with a highly respectable-looking coat of my own---a padded grey coat, of a most comfortable warmth, and which buttoned straight up from the knee to the neck. I thought Turkey would appreciate the favor" (409). In Orientation the relationship between boss and co-worker is vastly different, you are there to work by the book. " Be polite and civil to the temps. Learn their names, and invite them to lunch occasionally. But don't get close to them, as it only makes it more difficult when they leave. And they always leave" (46). No personal empathy for a fellow co-worker here. It makes the boos seem less likable, i would rather work for a boss that shows he cares about me and my well-being and values my efforts as an employee.
Next I will compare and contrast the interactions that the co-workers have with each other and accomplishing their work in the two storey's. "I would prefer not to," in Bartleby makes a rift between the co-workers, not obeying the commands of your employer is unheard of, insolence of an unprecedented measure. If one refuses to do work, he is usually gets fired, this is not the case in this story. Bartleby infuriates his co-workers for passively not doing his work, as Nipper's says, "I think you should kick him out of the office" (413). In Orientation the relationship between co-workers and the reason for possibly getting let go is much different. The employees are not focused on doing the work but the unconventionality of what you are and aren't suppose to know about your co-workers lives. It may cost you your job, "But we aren't supposed to know any of this. Do not let on. If you let on you may be let go" (47). No rift, even though you know way too much personal information, its not working that could get you fired, its knowledge.
Lastly I will contrast the effects of the way the boss treats the information given to them about their employees in relation to how it makes you feel about them. In Bartleby you feel a sense of compassion for the employer. The way he passively just lets Bartleby refuse to do his work and get away with it. Instead of tackling the problem head on and firing him, confronting him, throwing him out onto the streets to fend for himself, he cannot do it, so he just up and moves his business to another location to avoid any such conflict, his regret and empathy for Bartleby is a burden on his conscience. "What ought I do? what does conscience say I should do with this man, or, rather, ghost. Rid myself of him, I must; go, he shall. [...] I will move elsewhere, and give him fair notice" (426). In Orientation you really have no feelings towards the orientator, you just do you r work, you find out all these things about fellow employees but never see the insight of how they are feeling. Weird and supernatural, even grave tales of the coworkers lives, you must overlook to work their, some to me cant be that easily overlooked, like being a creial killer, "Kevin Howard sits in that cubicle over there. He is a serial killer, the one they call the carpet cutter, responsible for the mutilations across town" (49). Which work place would you rather work in, or work for, a place where one employee gets to refuse to do his work, thus making you resent them, or work in an office where you may be sitting next to a serial killer? I don't think I would like to work for either employer.