“work” Archive
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If you are waking up to go to work this morning, you have something my husband does not…
A job.
He was laid off on Friday.
I’m struggling with this not only because of the lack of significant income but more because of how it happened. There were two employees laid off on Friday. The other employee was given three days notice, my husband was given no notice. I could understand if my husband had been at all unreliable or perhaps a bad employee, but he was neither. They simply needed some final projects completed and were worried he wouldn’t put in the extra overtime to complete them if he knew he wouldn’t have a job by Friday afternoon.
My husband has worked at this company for SIX years. I expected better from them.
I’m dealing with it the best way I can. I’m working to reduce, reduce, reduce. I’ll go more into that later.
I’m also trying my best to be something I am not – optimistic. Here’s my new list of reasons it’s G-R-E-A-T he’s unemployed:
1 – He can make all those mid-day calls to businesses only open from the annoying Monday through Friday 8-5 window. I’ve been trying to call my bank for YEARS!
2 – My husband, who is far more talented in the kitchen than I am, will cook more. Sure it will be Ramen, but it will somehow taste better since he’s making it.
3 –We won’t be weighed down by worries about job loss.
4 – We will be more creative in our bill pay process. Perhaps San Diego Gas and Electric will accept peanut butter cookies and hugs for payment? How about if the cookies are homemade?
5 – I don’t have to worry about my car getting repossessed because… I OWN IT!! And, we’re ahead in payments on the truck so we have some glide time.
6 – I will be able to empathize, once again, with some of my readers on what it’s like to not have a job and wonder how on earth we are going to pay the bills.
So here’s to my struggling readers – I’ve been there before, I’m there again, and we’ll survive it.
I know you’re tired of hearing about it and I’m tired of living it but…
I’m still sick.
My doctor says she can squeeze me in on Monday.
If I’m still sick by Monday, I’ll shoot myself and save her the trouble of an insurance claim (totally kidding folks, it’s the fever talking).
I was able to drag myself into work today. I completely forgot about the pre-scheduled site visit between me and oh… 25 or so other people.
Hmm. Perhaps showering would have been a good idea.
I scrambled to meet the project manager who took a look at my shoes and said, ‘Thank God! A woman with sense. Thanks for wearing closed toed shoes. Whenever we go on job walks, all the women wear open toed shoes and it’s very dangerous.’
I did not see the necessity in mentioning that my sick nauseated 5 in the morning haze prevented me from finding my cute pink strappy sandals… or even a hair brush for that matter.
Seven hours of 100 degree heat and ‘Yes’, ‘No’, ‘Maybe’, and ‘That’s only legal in Thailand’ later, I was allowed to return home.
Sorry no financial updates. My brain is a blob and I plan on spending the next 48 hours under my big fluffy comforter.
Have a good weekend.
My office is putting my through a 12 week management training course. While I have sincerely enjoyed the teachings about management techniques and understanding people, I have benefited the most from one statement…
Begin with an end in mind.
OK, so here’s the sad part, I don’t remember how exactly they applied that statement to management. BUT, that statement is HUGE for me personally.
Often times, I pick a task with no end. I want to get more fit or I want to eat a healthy diet or I want to live as a penny pincher and on and on and on. Here’s the problem: Unending goals like these will lead to burnout.
Head smackingly obvious right? Then why do I keep making these stupid never-ending goals?
I think that’s what I appreciated about the Dave Ramsey program and why it has worked for me. I was convinced to pay off one debt at a time. It’s a goal with an end followed by another goal with an end. I also think that’s why training for a marathon and a triathlon has kept me more motivated than working out without an end in mind. If I want to quit after I finish I can, but I have a feeling I’ll be signing up for another one as soon as I cross the finish line.
Rather than say, ‘I want to be debt free forever’, say ‘I want to pay off my car by next summer’.
Begin with an end in mind.
What is your end?
My husband works a lot. He works days and nights and I do what odd jobs I can to help pay our bills more quickly.
We don’t see each other often. Perhaps that’s why our marriage is so great. We don’t have time to fight – heck we’re just so darn excited to see one another we don’t really… um… talk much.
He took a rare three nights off last week and we went running and cycling together every day. We made dinner. We walked the dogs. We watched movies. We remembered what it was like to be married.
I couldn’t help but think about how wonderful it was to have him around – to see him relax, even for just a night or two. He must have been thinking the same thing. He said, ‘I want to work less and live my life more.’ He has decided to work 6 days per week and 2 nights per week – and yes, that’s a cut-back (he was working 6 days and 6 nights).
I can’t agree with him more. As he toils to pay our debt, I can’t help but wonder if our self-inflicted punishment of hard labor is worse than the crime of spending. I wonder if one day, we’ll look back and regret the time we missed when our life was just us. We can cover our bills plus some without the extra work so we’ve decided to slow down.
So… we will pay things off more slowly BUT I have my husband back – and I’ve missed him dearly.
My husband received a letter in the mail today.
He did not get the government job.
Short Term Financial Effects:
We will be able to pay our bills at the same pace since he won’t have to take a large salary cut.
Long Term Financial Effects:
Possible unemployment in 6-8 months. No government pension and retirement healthcare.
We’re still positive. He’s working. I’m working. We’re paying our bills. We’re living below our means. The construction market has started to take an upward turn and his job has become a bit more stable. So, we went on a 20 mile bike ride, grilled some chicken, and had a glass of wine on the back patio.
In the big scheme of things… life is still pretty darn good.
I received my probationary review at work today. My boss reviewed the scoring range and talked about what areas employees are graded on. ‘Now, before I talk about your score, I just want to make something clear, your score is not average.’
Great. I’m going to fail this review – I thought
‘When you first interviewed with us, I told the committee that I could see you had a bright future. I put my neck on the line for you…’ he said.
And…
‘And I’m reaping the rewards. Your performance has been unparalleled. Never, have I given a probationary score this high’ he said while smiling.
There are five Rebekah’s in this department. Obviously you’re confused.
‘I have never seen such a high level of organization…’
You call it ‘organization’, my doctor calls it a case study in obsessive compulsive disorder
‘…You are well liked by your peers and HR has only praise for you…’
You’d be amazed at the power of homemade cookies and good old fashioned gratitude to others
‘…and you are always willing to put in extra time to get projects done.’
You fired someone… IN FRONT OF ME… if that doesn’t put a fire under someone’s pants, nothing will
In an environment of so much insecurity, it was nice to get a pat on the back. I didn’t think he had noticed – and was pleasantly surprised to realize he had. This review doesn’t guarantee my job (no one is guaranteed a job) but I’m glad to hear I’m doing something right.
Whew!
Our agency recently employed a professional consultant to review and educate employees on proper posture and stress relief. Used correctly, these classes prevent muscle strain, carpel tunnel, and other common ailments to desk workers. The agency had hoped to save money on the rising workers compensation claims.
Most of us found that simple adjustments to our chairs, sitting habits, and stretching helped reduce muscle tension and strain. I was able to use some of the techniques at home and found myself more aware of my balance and posture.
I started to think this was a great investment in preventative medicine until…
my co-worker was curiously absent this morning.
Only hours after our training class… my co-worker went home, lifted improperly, and caused serious injury to his back.
What do they say about leading a horse to water?
If you want to save some money on doctor’s bills now and in the future – here are some pointers on good posture:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/Back_health/hic_Posture_for_a_Healthy_Back.aspx
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