pigs to slaughter
hmm.. . where shall I start..? Good things or bad things?
Well, last Friday, my boss actually had lunch catered for us by the Italian restaurant Bucca de Beppo. For the past years, we usually have a Christmas party at a hotel. This year's economy really took a hit on the company because the state doesn't have money to renew the contract. I was surprised yet suspicious about the boss actually paying for our lunch.
This Monday, my boss called all of us to go to the front for cake since it is one of the supervisor's birthday. He seemed so enthusiastic about it.. Soon after, he called everyone to come to his office for a meeting. Apparently, he has to have close down the last collection site, lay off the two people working there, lay off one of the couriers, one front desk personnel, and two lab workers. The rest of the people are going to get paycuts. Great. Another round of musical chairs. Now how many did we have already this year?! We are already understaffed in the lab department, but we are cutting more people. The boss said that the work would be "distributed" among people. That just means that we get paid less and do more work! Yup, what a great christmas present! It will take effect on January 1st. What a way to start the new year!
I got a memo that day saying that I got another 20% cut. so:
($11->$14->) $15 -> ..(forgot the exact cuts x2).. -> $9.60 (-36%)
+2 furlough days (= -10%)
Well.. so one of my good friends got laid off. She is one of the top supervisor people too! Another co-worker who has been working there for 14 years basically QUIT. He couldn't take it anymore with his roughly 60% cut in wages. He was the person in charge of keeping all the machines working properly! Last month, two more older employees quit. I know a few co-workers wanting to quit too. Apparently, if your pay cut is large enough, then you could apply for unemployment.
Its so stressful because the Boss keeps on saying we are behind in casework.. yet we are so understaffed! I just found out from another co-worker that I was on the danger list of being laid off because I wasn't fast enough. I am very thorough with my work, but some of my co-workers are so sloppy and uncaring whether they have good results or not. Anyways, the Boss was having a tough decision on deciding who to lay off that he asked that co-worker who should he layoff: Him or me? Crazy, isn't it? What a dumb question! I wasn't happy hearing that because I have been so working hard.. not even writing in my overtime, losing vacation hours because I am maxed out and can't cash out, don't use the computer for facebook/games.. and he was basically choosing on keeping co-worker N (who rather hate my guts for correcting her mistake some months ago) who is fast but very sloppy/un-attentive although she is constantly wasting her time on facebook.
I have worked for nearly 5 years here, and N for 1 year. N is the sort of "kiss ass" type of person. Everyday, she would so *kindly* greet the boss good morning and ask how he is doing.. and when she leaves, she would say good bye and wish him a good evening in the most irritating sickening high pitched sweet voice. When she is hanging out with her friends in the front, she would complain how this place is a hellhole, how he wasn't paying enough money for her to care about her work, etc. I feel sorry for the Boss in a way since he fell into her siren-like trap! Almost every time I teach her something, I know that she doesn't really listen to me. She would pout and say, "No one told me that." or "I didn't know that." So irritating!
(sigh) I usually don't want to rant about certain people.. but its funny. I don't know if it is a good thing that I just got that 20% pay cut and not laid off. A lot of good co-workers/friends are leaving or have left. What position they left behind would be re-distributed among those who remain. (as if we don't have enough work!) The boss again promised that there wouldn't be anymore pay cuts, but we already heard that several times this year. He also brought up how some of the people who quit are "not loyal". Well, Boss, what do you expect after bringing up cuts after cuts?! How can I be "loyal" when I know that I am being considered to be laid off? Of course, there is no way I will stoop that low to goof around and use the internet whenever the boss isn't around like what N does. Seems like that this place will probably go under soon.
Meanwhile, I still got a rather crappy job to do.. . ... I should probably start seriously look for a new job too.
Well, last Friday, my boss actually had lunch catered for us by the Italian restaurant Bucca de Beppo. For the past years, we usually have a Christmas party at a hotel. This year's economy really took a hit on the company because the state doesn't have money to renew the contract. I was surprised yet suspicious about the boss actually paying for our lunch.
This Monday, my boss called all of us to go to the front for cake since it is one of the supervisor's birthday. He seemed so enthusiastic about it.. Soon after, he called everyone to come to his office for a meeting. Apparently, he has to have close down the last collection site, lay off the two people working there, lay off one of the couriers, one front desk personnel, and two lab workers. The rest of the people are going to get paycuts. Great. Another round of musical chairs. Now how many did we have already this year?! We are already understaffed in the lab department, but we are cutting more people. The boss said that the work would be "distributed" among people. That just means that we get paid less and do more work! Yup, what a great christmas present! It will take effect on January 1st. What a way to start the new year!
I got a memo that day saying that I got another 20% cut. so:
($11->$14->) $15 -> ..(forgot the exact cuts x2).. -> $9.60 (-36%)
+2 furlough days (= -10%)
Well.. so one of my good friends got laid off. She is one of the top supervisor people too! Another co-worker who has been working there for 14 years basically QUIT. He couldn't take it anymore with his roughly 60% cut in wages. He was the person in charge of keeping all the machines working properly! Last month, two more older employees quit. I know a few co-workers wanting to quit too. Apparently, if your pay cut is large enough, then you could apply for unemployment.
Its so stressful because the Boss keeps on saying we are behind in casework.. yet we are so understaffed! I just found out from another co-worker that I was on the danger list of being laid off because I wasn't fast enough. I am very thorough with my work, but some of my co-workers are so sloppy and uncaring whether they have good results or not. Anyways, the Boss was having a tough decision on deciding who to lay off that he asked that co-worker who should he layoff: Him or me? Crazy, isn't it? What a dumb question! I wasn't happy hearing that because I have been so working hard.. not even writing in my overtime, losing vacation hours because I am maxed out and can't cash out, don't use the computer for facebook/games.. and he was basically choosing on keeping co-worker N (who rather hate my guts for correcting her mistake some months ago) who is fast but very sloppy/un-attentive although she is constantly wasting her time on facebook.
I have worked for nearly 5 years here, and N for 1 year. N is the sort of "kiss ass" type of person. Everyday, she would so *kindly* greet the boss good morning and ask how he is doing.. and when she leaves, she would say good bye and wish him a good evening in the most irritating sickening high pitched sweet voice. When she is hanging out with her friends in the front, she would complain how this place is a hellhole, how he wasn't paying enough money for her to care about her work, etc. I feel sorry for the Boss in a way since he fell into her siren-like trap! Almost every time I teach her something, I know that she doesn't really listen to me. She would pout and say, "No one told me that." or "I didn't know that." So irritating!
(sigh) I usually don't want to rant about certain people.. but its funny. I don't know if it is a good thing that I just got that 20% pay cut and not laid off. A lot of good co-workers/friends are leaving or have left. What position they left behind would be re-distributed among those who remain. (as if we don't have enough work!) The boss again promised that there wouldn't be anymore pay cuts, but we already heard that several times this year. He also brought up how some of the people who quit are "not loyal". Well, Boss, what do you expect after bringing up cuts after cuts?! How can I be "loyal" when I know that I am being considered to be laid off? Of course, there is no way I will stoop that low to goof around and use the internet whenever the boss isn't around like what N does. Seems like that this place will probably go under soon.
Meanwhile, I still got a rather crappy job to do.. . ... I should probably start seriously look for a new job too.