Whats Made your day or not.....

Just came home from work.
I have single-handedly re-instated the "Pizza and Lecture" at work.
Before COVID, this was a regular feature, we had in-house people talk and we invited people, and the Big Boss paid for the pizza.
A few months back, I was asked if I wanted to present my ant talk (with which I am going to UK and German conferences) also for the people at work.
I asked the Big Boss if she would pay the pizza.
I booked the cafeteria, ordered pizza and gave my 45 min lecture.
Well, kind of 45 mins. I had so many questions, it took 90 minutes.
20 people had signed up by last week. Tonight, the room was packed, I actually had an audience of 30. Luckily I ordered tons of pizza and it was enough for everyone.
That had been my biggest fear, not enough pizza.
Went very well, we had a great time, and I had a room packed full of victims (ahm... audience I mean) who listened to me talk about one of my favorite topics (ants) for 90 minutes.
I am still totally hyper.
I needed this- since I had not been feeling so well lately. All that positive energy was great.

Hahaha, thanks for making me laugh.

Buckle Up..

So a couple weeks ago I get called into a quick 1 minute meeting with my Manager.. The HR/P&C (Human Resources/People & Culture) team sent all the Executive Managers an email with the days/weeks/months of annual leave that everyone has accrued and not taken ( I HAVE 12 WEEKS ANNUAL LEAVE ACCRUED !!) .. Typical work place, they want us to take our 26 Days per year , and not bank 1-2 weeks for a "rainy day".. I naturally arked up- my Manager knows what my situation has been the last 3-3 1/2 years. My ex team mate left us with literally nil warning (he had lunch then came back in and told our then Manager he was leaving NOW).. So basically right at the meat-and-potatoes of COVID where I was needed, I was by myself and couldn't take any of my Annual Leave- this went on for 11-12 months...

They finally found someone with 24 years experience.. she didn't last 1 month, she came in on a Friday morning "Shane I am going to resign now." ... So again I was on my own for 4-6 more months and couldnt take any Annual Leave. So that was 2 Christmas/New Years (2 week usual break) I couldn't take... My new team mate literally got pregnant the 1st month she started... She then went on 6 months maternity leave.. I couldn't take Annual Leave... She comes back.. she is about 4-5 months pregnant again (having a girl this time).. So she finishes up last day of April for 6 months...

I pretty much said "Firetruck This" and booked 2 weeks in April as it's school holidays and I will have junior instead of having him at After-School Care all day ($aves us $$).. CEO still wasn’t happy... 12 weeks Annual Leave down to 10 weeks Annual Leave.. Round 2 of “Firetruck this”.. Booked 2 weeks between Xmas/New Years which is traditionally the quiet time..

I then sent an email to my Manager, our Executive Manager and the Head of HR/PC asking for an urgent meeting. Happened today. 30 minute meeting turned into 70.. I came prepared with 1 type page of notes/facts/figures/Legal laws etc.. Long story short I recounted the above... My 2 Managers knew this but the Head of HR/P&C didn’t.. Guilty look on my Executive Managers face when he copped a look from the Head of HR/P&C who fully understood what had been going on.. “Don’t just look at raw facts & figures without understanding the human element of WHY this is happening”..

I had recommended someone from another Department who is Full Time, I said I can train her up in about 1 weeks time, she trust me we are mates.. Just waiting on her acceptance if she chooses to.. We have 7 weeks before I go ..I told them how my Mental Health has both hit rock bottom and gone through the roof I am not feeling supported, I feel used because I am so good at my job that on the surface no one looking casually “in” can see any issues.

My team mate when she came back to work around April last year, came back Part Time 3 days a week.. The 1st thing out my mouth was “we are running 2 days a week less than The Norm, which is 8 days per month”... Then “My basic expectation, never asking for special treatment just fairness, is that I can go on Annual Leave without stressing that nothing will be done, because if I come back and there has been Zilch done in 2 weeks, leaving me to both catchup on 2 weeks and keep up to date with the daily.. I will simply get my work bag, tell my Manager I am going to my Doctors and just walk out.. I have months of Sick Leave accrued too.. There are Legal Actions that have to be done Every Day no if's ands or buts. South Australian Parliament voted them in about 20 years ago.

I got a promise from all 3 that they will get a 2nd physical person and Soon.. I interrupted “a 2nd physical person with bum on seat in my Department, not being interrupted by other Departments asking for help. Purely in my role”.. I said that was my absolute Non Negotiable Make or Break.

They all then said I am a valued member, I exceed all targets and goals and that is reflective of the Department running well under budget and way over profit plus my 19 awards from Citizens & Residents of Oz (there is 3 more I accrued 2 weeks ago so that makes it 22 LOL)

So that was my day from 11 am to 12:10PM LOLZ.

I just as a General life rule don't drink alcohol.. There is a can of alcohol in the fridge.. I will drink a can of alcohol tonight.

How's it going on the Caller Front?

Regards

mark687

Wow, that's a lot. Hope they do finally get another person in to do the work so you can catch a break.

We have new pix of Tom Baker out and about on his morning walk in the village he lives in. Wearing a long scarf too OMG!.

The people have an unspoken code- they do not advertise where exactly they live, all to protect Tom.

I'm still really pissed at my job right now for jerking me around and refusing to hire more people.

Lean staffing and mandatory overtime should be made illegal.