Sitting at home

Well what can I say.  It's been a while since I've written anything in here.  Just wanted to let people out there in the world know that I was still alive.  Fortune may favor the bold, but misfortune follows the foolish.  Anyway.  Well work was going well.  The only reason I say that is because working for the post office was helping me maintain my weight.  To be accurate, working for the ___________ was helping me lose weight.  By my calculations, I've lost approximately 30 pounds.  That is to say, I had lost 30 pounds up until I was injured and had to stay home for the past two weeks.  Seems that I may have a slipped disc or something to that affect.  No insurance because I'm a relatively new hire, so it's all out-of-pocket, which sucks.  But that's not the problem.

I actually liked working for the ___________.  I was learning new things, you know, moving up the learning ladder.  Now, because the way I was treated...the way all new hires are treated, I just don't feel like being a part of the sham.  Most of the new hires at my plant are working 6 days a week, 10 hours a day.  They are berated if they don't like being mistreated and then they are made fun of if they are trying to better themselves.  Most new hires are in school during the day and work crappy hours at night.  Those that I've seen are usually on autopilot at work.  Through bloodshot eyes, you can see the disillusion they suffer on a daily bases.  Then, while at work, the supervisors stand at whatever operation you're at and watch you like some loss prevention agent waiting for you to steal something.  There's no respect, no professionalism, no positive energy coming from that place whatsoever.  Most of the time, it feels like a prison.  Aside from the 3% that actually understand the crap new hires have to deal with, the other 97% just don't care about you.

For instance, when I was injured, my doctor recommended 5 days off.  On the 6th day I returned to work, my lower back and right leg in pain but controlled with pain medications, and one of the supervisors was compassionate and let me handle light stuff.  Then they called a 12 hour shift.  I spoke with the supervisor and they in turn took me in front of the manager who asked for physical restrictions.  My doctor hadn't given me any.  But by the 6th hour my pain medications were wearing off and I had to take another, which I couldn't because the ___________ doesn't allow medication on the property.  The manager informed me that since I had no restrictions, I HAD to work where they told me to and how they told me to.  I talked to the supervisor and informed her that I would not be able to continue at my post and she grudgingly let me go home.  By the time I got home my right leg felt like it was on fire, my lower back unbearable and I could barely get out of my car.  So, the next morning I went back to the doctor and after several tests, handed me restrictions and said that I had aggravated the  injury.  Point of the story:  That day, I go to work, restrictions in hand and before I could say anything, the supervisor  informed me that the manager and supervisors above him had informed him that they specifically wanted me to work on a machine.  Retaliation for leaving early the night before.  I felt targeted and angry.  I handed the supervisor my restrictions and was sent home for a week according to the restrictions.

So, needless to say, I'm once again looking for a job.  I'm looking for an office position.  Something 9 to 5, Mondays to Fridays.  Not because I can't handle the physical demands because I can.  I actually enjoyed the physical work.  But because of the emotional stress that comes with the job.  You're told that when you show up for work, it's not an 8 hour shift, but however long the supervisor needs you.  Most often, because the regular full time employees are paid too much, we cheaper employees have to finish their work.  You see, full time employees have an 8 hour shift and are not allowed over time unless it passes certain conditions, which most times it doesn't.  New hires have any where between a 10 to 12 hour shift.  Like I said before, most new hires are students.

Then, there's the survivalists like me.  All I need is a pay check to survive.  I'm not in school.  Haven't been in school ever since I finished my Masters.  I remember the demands and the stress itself of deadlines and exams.  Those that should have an 8 hour shift are instead berated for trying to better themselves.  They are forced to do what a Full Time employee is lax in doing because the Union is on THEIR side.  New hires have little to no protection.

Anyway, enough rambling on my part.  The reason I blanked out my job is because I prefer not to get fired before I find a new position.  To be honest, my leg and lower back still feel bad.  But bills are piling up and the good old days of Trading are gone.