All Hands on Deck

Just about two years ago, the organization for which I worked hired a new employee for my department (a prior hire didn't work out, hilarity ensued). The new hire is a guy whose resume was eerily like mine. He's a big fellow (bigger than I am), he has a similar work ethic, similar values, and is a voracious reader. When he was hired, one of my subordinates joked, "When the boss hired him, he was hiring you again."

Last week, one of my subordinates fell and broke his arm- in the best-case scenario, he'll be out for six weeks. The "new guy" was on vacation last week, enjoying some time off from both of his jobs. He returned yesterday, and the department head called him to inform him of our co-worker being on the injured reserve list. The boss danced around the subject of covering additional shifts, but he needn't have worried- the guy is willing to work seven days a week to ensure coverage. The guy is a solid citizen. When I called him yesterday, I couched the question with a qualifier:"I hate to even bring up the subject but could you?" He's such a good sport, he joked, "It'll help me pay off the vacation bills."

I've always maintained that you are only as good as the people that have your back. It's going to be a rough couple of months, but everybody is pulling together. Did I ever mention how much I value my co-workers? And not just the furry ones!