On the Work Front

My department recently hired a new part-time employee. Luckily, the guy is not afraid of the dark, therefore his "big" isn't wasted- and he is BIG, six foot two and 280 lbs soaking wet. He reminds me a lot of Ned- the guy looks like he could be his cousin.

One of the guys in my department joked that the department head was looking for another "me" when he hired the new guy. Our work experience is pretty damn similar, scarily so- the "new guy" has a second job for an organization close to the one I used to work for, and he does double duties in two areas, just like I did. Needless to say, we hit it off well from the start.

The problem with work situation is that the new guy stated that, as a prerequisite, he absolutely cannot work weekends. He's strictly a Monday to Friday guy. Of course, the two other part-timers (I'm the only full timer in the department at this time) have seniority over him, and they are scheduled to work every weekend. I tried to mollify them by pointing out that the "no weekends" policy was a prerequisite for this eminently qualified candidate to come aboard, but they aren't having any of it. Of course, I didn't hire the new guy, and had no say in his terms of employment- I'm just trying to ensure that the two old-timers don't blame him for something that's not his fault.

To compound matters, the department is cutting corners, and the two old-time part-time guys have had their hours cut pretty severely. I've made my misgivings about the cutbacks known, but I don't think anybody in the main office gives a good goddamn about what goes on on the ground.

A while ago, during a staff meeting, I noticed that there are two broad categories of employee in the organization- the folks who wear boots to work, and the folks who wear shoes (I am firmly in the boot category). The "boot people" are busting their humps and jumping through hoops of fire to handle things, but the "shoe people" just don't seem to care, or even notice, what's going on throughout the peripheral sites.

Needless to say, morale is pretty bad. One of my minions asked me why the organization has taken the steps it has, and I had to respond that I gave up trying to put myself in other people's heads a long time ago. Basically, I have no answer beyond the organization being penny-wise and pound foolish.

I almost typed "looking for a reason" there... one of my all time favorite Go-Go's songs is playing on the radi-adi-o:





It's really hard to maintain one's righteous indignation when the Go-Go's are playing. I should be madder, but I'm bopping in my office chair here.