If you have not knelt at the Obama altar that is my last few posts, please go do so now.
And, sigh, on to the news...
As most/some/none of you may be aware, I am a project employee (basically a temp) that gets assigned on a project-by-project basis to the publishing company I've been working for. I had a contract from April through December of last year, and due to a massive merger (we were bought by Houghton-Mifflin), they have not been renewing contracts, so I, along with many other people, have been working on a day-to-day basis since January 2, 2008.
Me? Stressed? P'shaw!
I was told not to worry, because if my current assignment was terminated, the staffing agency would just find me another placement, and I wouldn't be long without a paycheck.
Additionally, my executive editor has reassured me that my contract renewal paperwork has been on our new director's desk, just waitin' to get signed.
This past Friday, the manager of the staffing agency called to tell me that I had two weeks to provide my completed and approved renewal paperwork, or I would not be allowed back in the building as of that point. I found out later that EVERY project employee (I'm guessing at least 50 or so people) whose contract ended between December and today has been told roughly this same thing, so I am by no means alone in this.
According to the higher-ups, this is all a misunderstanding on the staffing agency's part. The renewals are going through, and there's no need to panic.
Okayyy...
Today, my cubicle-mate (Mike) and another wonderful woman, Jacque (who just joined us about five months ago), received phone calls informing them that their contracts are not going to be renewed - both had assignments lasting roughly through May - and that they will be ending effective two weeks from today, not on the original end date.
They will ALSO be losing their jobs with the staffing agency - they will not be placed in new assignments and will subsequently be dropped from the payroll (without paying out their contracts - they're exploiting a loophole that enables them to dodge that bullet entirely, somehow because of the merger).
I don't know what the heck's going on, but I don't like it.
If I'm a bit grouchy over the next couple of weeks, I apologize. This is why.
Yayyyy...Obama...give me a job...
WOW! Just like retail minus the shitty customers. I'm sorry buddy. I got barnacles that need scraping. Low pay but great benefits. You get sick, we shoot you. Wife gets sick, we shoot her. Same with kids and pets. The co-pay is $5, but that primarily for the bullet and minor paperwork.
ReplyDeleteNo, seriously....It'll work out. You always land on your feet and them some mighty big feets...
johnf
What if I bring my own bullet?
ReplyDeleteJohnf is right - you are smart, resourceful and scrappy and you do always land on your feet! If you do end up with some free time, you can spend it convincing Ryan and I to vote for Obama. Or you can volunteer at a library in Cedar Park. I hear there is a sexy librarian up there ...
ReplyDeleteI'm not really worried about the family Mitschke and our general well-being, but I am quite sick of this Russian-roulette-ish waiting game.
ReplyDeleteWe shall see.
And yes, there IS a sexy librarian at the Cedar Park Public Library, but she won't talk to me.
She thinks I'm weird.
Oh, and thanks, you guys.
ReplyDeleteWell, really, thanks to you, Hilary.
John...your shoes could ALSO be used as flotation devices in the event of a water landing, so I don't wanna hear it.
thanks for the love! Things will work out for the best.
ReplyDeleteYour chican(ery) cubemate.
Mike
Maybe you could say you have PTSD because the dog farts and apply for disability?
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, I think you'll be fine. Heck, you're waaaaay smarter than me and I have TWO jobs!