what. a. twat.

I'm not really pissed off, just kind of annoyed. Parents of students are bothering me (it's not J for once. Yet.)

This woman is insisting her daughter have an extra violin lesson before the youth orchestra auditions. She won't accept a half hour time slot (which is all that is available.)
The thing is, one of the people auditioning her daughter is her daughter's teacher!! What good is an extra lesson going to do?? Her teacher already knows what she is capable of!

Geez people!

I am so furious I had to leave the office today without talking to my flatmate (who also works there) about things because I thought I would start crying out of sheer anger.

My bosses had this wonderful idea my colleague & I should do a presentation at the office so they see what we work like (but offically it's not a presentation, it's just a meeting - never mind I'm the only one who's doing any work for it). We were never at the office at the same time, though, so my bosses said I'd have to do it on my own. I said I wouldn't do it on my own. One hour later I was told my colleague had handed in her notice (& her new job, I found out, is with quite an unpleasant guy, which should give you an idea of how desperate she is). So we had a meeting. ^

I kept telling them I was busy & didn't have time to do a presentation - oh, that's just because I don't know how to set priorities (true - silly me actually still wants to sleep, & have weekends off). I told them it's easier if people tell me what they want in there instead of me doing a presentation & THEN everyone adding what should have been in there - no, it isn't. I said if they wanted to see me present the stuff outside, they should come along & see me do it - no, they won't (no reason given). I said I would refer centres to sb else about payment stuff because it's complicated - no, I should be able to answer such stuff myself (probably because unbeknownst to myself, I've got an accounting degree). Besides, I should get centres to include lots of people; when I said I didn't have much influence on that, it's because I have a negative attitude. Apparently, I should show people how there are NO problems, because centres always see too many problems (which of course my bosses can judge so much better, seeing as none of them has ever worked in a hospital).

And the fun thing about this is that during 2 weeks, none of our bosses was around & people who asked questions had to be told "no one is around at the moment so we don't know". When we pointed out that this leaves a bad impression, we were told that our bosses are not going to talk about who takes holidays when because they are not interested in resolving their communication problems. Oh, so they can be 3 years old & I have to do a presentation?!

By the end of the day I was ready to just hand in my notice because I'm beginning to think unemployment is prefereable to this place.

*hugs Cassi*

You're looking for a new job, right? Would you be able to live for a while on unemployment? Because it just might be better.

*hugs*

*hugs*

Good Lord Cassi. I agree with Gina, it might be better to quit.

ok ok that's baaaad.

As Henry David Thoreau said, paraphrased, every machine has friction but when friction starts having its own machine you run into problems.

You're having to cover for other people's incompetence and you're supposed to make things look good (not be good, look good) in a presentation. They're not interested in that it won't work that way. No matter how well you explain, they don't want to hear it.

Hon, I'd look for another job, too, just in case. Doesn't sound like the department/organisation is going to go anywhere good.

Sounds very much like Fopp before it went bust in terns of communication.
Best of luck whatever you decide, Cassi..

Thanks, everyone.

I know that I need to find another job. I've been looking for quite a while, but there isn't exactly a shortage of literature graduates on the market. I usually apply for 2-3 jobs per month but most of the time I get my stuff back immediately. The two interviews I had were the first ones in a long time, & I don't know when something else might come up. So if I hand in my notice now without any other prospects, I might be unemployed for a very long time, plus I would get penalised for being the one to leave a job where I could have stayed. So for the time being I guess I'll try to hang in there as long as I can take it, & keep looking.

I don't believe in God, but yesterday was a little too wierd for me.

If this pans out, I'll have to thank someone.

*crosses fingers and vibes for Matt Cable*

*squinches up eyes and vibes harder*

I am getting too old for this shit.

I believe I was never young enough for this to begin with.

I'm beginning to be extremely proud of myself for every day in which none of my bosses ended up with a knife down their backs, or with a piranha in their socks, or with arsenic in their coffee.

Let's say that you purchased a product from a company. A product, that as a business owner, has a big impact on how customers can get in touch with your business.

The product involves a 12 month contract, and your contract is up for renewal.

Let's say that an account rep from the company called to introduce herself and set up a a time to either renew or cancel your contract.

Let's say that this friendly rep has been trying to reach you since June, and it is now almost October, and you haven't returned her calls.

Wouldn't you have a bit of respect for that account rep and RETURN her FUCKING PHONE CALL? Even if it's to say that you won't be renewing? Wouldn't that be, oh, what's the word, common courtesy???

*sigh*

Why do people say "I know you're just the person at the desk and have no control over this, but .." and then procede to bitch at me about things I have no control over??

Oh! And don't complain to me about not knowing that a class was cancelled when you don't listen to your messages. When you're not home, our only option is to leave a message. That's why they invented voice mail! It's not our fault if you don't listen and then drag your kids here when their lessons are cancelled.

ok. so, if you have two people who are doing the exact same job, it's totally illegal to have one of them being paid more than the other, PARTICULARLY if the one being paid more is a GUY, right? specially when they are employed by the same agency. right?

cos that's what i discovered is happening in my workplace, with MY JOB today. pissed off does not even *begin* to describe how angry i am.

Hmm, I don't think it's necessarily illegal, Limer. It also depends on your level of education & on your qualifications etc. how much you're paid. A friend of mine used to work with a worker's union & she said it was almost impossible to go to court & prove salary discrimination on the basis of gender because two people will hardly ever have exactly the same kind of background & so the people in charge will always be able to find a reason why the guy is better paid.

sure, but in this case, the council say that they have a policy that everyone employed through the agency to do that kind of job is on the same wage. whatever their experience and age and background and blah blah.

also, i bet a million squijillion pounds that i have a higher level of completed education than he does.

That is annoying, you're right.

*sends over thugs to set things straight*

I think over here they try to make sure people don't even find out that others are paid more while having the same or worse qualifications, so at times employers put it into your contract that you're not allowed to tell other people how much you earn.

If they say people are paid the same regardless, you should be getting paid the same as him.
This is an hourly rate or salary? Does he work more hours than you?

I agree that, all being equal, it is wrong!

it's an hourly rate. we're both temps. and the thing is, it doesn't matter what post he was in before, if he's getting paid a certain rate, then so should every other temp in the department who is carrying out the same role.

the worst bit is that *i'm* having to teach *him* how to do that job.