November 7, 2012

• PTL

  I try to keep this to myself and a couple close friends but in the past couple months, I've been feeling incredibly disheartened at my job. Incredibly. 

  I have zero benefits. No paid sick days. No paid vacation time. No paid holidays. The only way to earn it is working 38 hours a week for 6 months - that gets you 2 days paid vacation but if you take the days, it's like you had never worked there before and your time starts over again. If you go a year without missing a day, you get 5 days, I think. Ridiculous, right? 

  I work a ridiculous amount of hours training others, opening and closing the office, fixing computers and misc issues. I am their most valued employee, hands down. I know this. They know this and the other employees know this. Not because I'm arrogant but because I'm a hard, consistent and honest worker. 

  All that aside, I was supposed to have a review the beginning of October which kept getting pushed back. A day, then a week, then a couple more weeks. End of October, my boss finally said it was going to be that day...then he said the next morning. It finally happened. 

  I had talked to a couple people about what I wanted to say and what the appropriate approach would be. It sounded all good while talking to others but I knew approaching my boss about it would be a different story. I lack what most people call a backbone. I quiver and run, get beat up and just get up again saying nothing. I don't stand up for myself. I'll stand up for someone else in a heartbeat. 

  I had a couple people specifically praying that I'd be bold enough to bring up vacation time. I know that sounds stupid but I needed it. I knew what I wanted but I also know myself and when and if the situation arose, I'd chicken out. 

  My boss sent me an email asking for any input on how to make my position better. I decided it would be better not to put it in writing, so I suggested some other things. Then the review came along. An hour and fifteen minutes later, I found myself exiting his office. Crazy, right? I did, in fact mention that I wanted 2 weeks paid vacation and paid holidays. I said something about the company having high turn around, which he agreed. I mentioned that I'm a hard, consistent and honest worker. He kind of wiped over it saying, he'd see what he can do. I left disheartened. As I thought that was how the conversation would go and had pre-decided if he didn't value me enough to give me at least that, after basketball season, I'd be on the job hunt...again. Something I didn't want to do. It has been a couple weeks and I figured I wasn't clear enough or he was just ignoring me. Either way, I wasn't thrilled but still went to work and continued to be the worker I am. 

  And today at the end of the day, out of the blue, I got this email. 

  "I was hoping you could share the language on your vacation policy at your former company.

  I would like to review and see how I might change ours."

  I was relieved at that moment and all I could (and can) think is, praise the Lord. Progress. I think my boss is beginning to get it. I knew, out of anyone in the office, I could be the one to say something and if I didn't things would continue on. I honestly think this is the first time anyone has ever mentioned it to him (in a nice way) how horrible his benefits are and his email showed that he does respect me, more than I may even know. Baby steps and I will take it. I printed the email and went to show/discuss with the other believer in the office, as we have discussed the difficulties of working there. I know it sounds dumb but we both couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces (not that we wanted to) but that email couldn't have come at a more opportune time. 

  All in His timing. Praise the Lord, I mean that with every fiber of my being.  

  • 9:55 pm
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