Monday, October 7, 2013

Total Irony

I was out of the job field for 14 years before going back part time at the assisted living facility.
And while I always had bosses that treated me fairly and that I got along with , I am not totally naive in my thinking that sometimes, it's all about the money. Money the boss receives in a bonus for being under budget,  under hours or full filling some quota or another.

But I was still shocked at the happenings this past week.

My shift is 3pm-9pm, and it's called the "half-shift" although it's more of a three-fourths shift.  The "full-shift" is 2pm-10pm, with each caregiver assigned a certain section of the facility and me floating around, helping every where. 

Tues, I got to work on time and was greeted with "Makayla called in sick, we are short a girl." 
So, we all ran our butts off and constantly asked management if they were calling anyone in to help us out. "We are working on it." we were told.
Then, it was 4:59 pm 

Do you think management stuck around to make sure we had the help we needed? 
Do you think they kindly asked if I would consider staying until 10, to make sure our residents were well taken care of?

Nope 

I kindly stayed an hour past my shift, took no lunch break and gave a 100%, like I do every time  I work. 

The following day, I went into my boss' office and had to report why I stayed late and did not take a lunch. When I stated that there was not enough coverage at 9 for me to go home, and I took no lunch because again, it would have left not enough aides on the floors, I was lectured about budget hours and labor laws. 
Not a "thank you" for staying to take care of our residents.  Nothing.

Except a reminder that scheduling rules were changing.
Now, instead of people having certain days, and times, off, the schedule would rotate to 4 days on, 2 days off.
When I asked, "Even the part timers?" I was told "Yup."
When I asked, "No matter what agreement was reached when I was hired? With my availability accepted then?" . I was told, "This new schedule will void out all that." 
"Hmmmm...that doesn't work for me. I chose this job, and you chose me for this job, with the understanding that I could not work certain days and I only wanted certain hours. We both agreed on this certain schedule."
"Doesn't matter."
"Well, I don't think I will be able to work here then."
"We are hiring more staff in the anticipation that we will lose some current staff."

I have worked there a year!! I have called in sick two times.  I have come in on my days off numerous times. I have stayed past my scheduled shift numerous times. Residents request me, by name, to help them. Co-workers request me on their shift.  I am not a slacker employee. I have won prizes from the same management team.

I thought I was a valued employee. 

I guess I was wrong. 

The irony? 



It was staff appreciation week. 

3 comments:

  1. Well that's just sucktastic isn't it?

    Sometimes I'm jealous that Jeff works a "real job" and gets pats on the back for his effort that one just don't often get as a stay at home Mom, but you're situation is proof that even when you're working a "real job" sometimes the pat on the back for a job well done turns into a slap in the face. That just sucks. I'm sorry, friend.

    I'm glad you could leave there with your head held high and your dignity in tact knowing that you did an amazing job while you were there and that the people that you worked with and took care of loved you and appreciated you.

    HUGS!

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  2. Ouch.

    Kind of sounds like when the post office lectures us about making it back for the truck at night, but makes no effort to get us out on time or back on time when the truck is 2 hours late.

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  3. Grr. Can you email me their corporate phone numbers and other pertinent information? I want to call them and, hmm.. oh, I know! Ask for their dip recipes! Yeah, that's it. I don't want to call and say mean things to them or tell them they're stupid ***holes.

    ReplyDelete

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