Day #129 - Frigging 2020
Jul. 23rd, 2020 06:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatSo...too hot to really walk, too hot to do laundry, and I was in dire need of a rage/panic walk. I walked around the neighborhood, came back took a cold shower (because I could not stop sweating - it was like walking through a steam bath and I was having a rage induced hot flash), then washed a few of my clothes in the sink, which require hang drying anyhow.
Didn't take a longer walk - because I knew it was going to storm at any moment - could see the storm clouds hanging in the sky. Also, I get edgy when it's about to storm.
The workmen were banging about next door again. And they rarely wore masks outside in the hall. When I was leaving my apartment at lunch time to take out the trash and pick up my imperfect foods grocery box, they were out in the hallway, mask hanging about their chins. I turned my back on them to ensure my safety. I'd missed my mother's call - because I'd watched the governor and ran those two errands. So gave her a brief call at 1PM, was off in about two minutes. I thought I had time - I thought that it had been rescheduled for 1:30PM. Turned out I was wrong. Cubicle mate sent me a quick email telling me about the meeting. Thank god. So I jumped into it - five minutes late and missed boss's introductory spiel - which was vital information. I wish he would leave that to the end, I really don't care what my co-workers are working on.
Crazy Workplace vs. Union
The picture above has to do with what happened at the meeting.
Boss: - you will all be returning to the office on August 3. Any questions?
Me: Wait, did I hear that right, we're returning en mass to the office on August 3?
Boss: Yes, I had a lengthy and respectful conversation with your union rep on this score.
Gabe: Are we following the A and B weekly schedule?
Boss: No, that would be discontinued and you'd all return together - we're working on ways to make you safe.
Yeah right. It's impossible to social distance on that floor. And this is a direct violation of the NY Forward Guidelines under Phase II. If they make me go back, I'm taking photos and filing a complaint with the Governor's office.
On top of that? It makes no sense. We're doing fine working from home. I actually work better from home. No, this is due to the MTA hunting ways to reduce it's workforce from both management and union. Apparently they are monitoring computer usage. And were apparently exploring ways to reduce hours or costs via the work from home initiative.
Anyhow, I texted Gabe afterwards, and she's furious too. Her anxiety is through the roof - she talked me into contacting Employee Assistance Personnel - who basically is a bureaucratic social worker, who does little more than send you a form and a list of therapists to talk to. I don't need a fucking therapist. I'm considering contacting my project manager over in occupational safety and telling him - my concerns. It's his job to ensure we have a safe work environment.
But I may wait until next week, maybe they'll provide more information or resolve the issue by then?
Sigh. Every other week, my boss scares the frigging hell out of his entire staff. I'm coming to dread staff meetings.
Also, I remain unconvinced that Crazy Workplace isn't still trying to kill me.
On another note, Lando handed in his "retirement" notice. He's retiring from the Railroad and joining a friend's law firm on August 17. Lando is a former defense attorney. He said, he'd give us legal advice for free. (I may hold him to that.) I'm going to miss him, although I already knew he was retiring this August. He'd told me well over a year ago that this was his plan. Actually he'd told me four years ago. So not a big surprise.
What COVID-19 has demonstrated to me is how horrible our leadership truly is.
I took three CBD gummies after the meeting, which kind of helped. Wrote an email to my union rep, and contacted HR (which was useless). I'm wondering if Occupational Safety might be more useful. HR doesn't care if we die. HR is a useless department. I honestly have no idea what our HR department does, to date they've been more of a hindrance than help.
Ugga Bugga. I'm trying to convince myself that I traveled to and from work, and sat in a cubicle from January through March, at the height of the infections, without getting sick. Of course I have no idea if I got sick.
Only a few people will pick up on the joke in this picture. If you do, keep it to yourself or message me.
I am thinking more and more of hightailing it out of here next year and moving upstate. Finding a job. Buying a bike. Killing myself the old fashioned way - by driving. Most likely a pipe dream.
Struggling with my faith in the Universe right now, folks. I'm trying to be optimistic, but the bad news keeps coming. And the world it seems out of balance. I know people who are having lovely summers wandering about beaches, state parks, mountains, and not working at all. I'm working hard and ...
The world isn't fair, is it? Don't answer that, rhetorical question.
Sorry, my mind is fuzzy. And I'm not in a charitable or pleasant mood. No flowers or pretty cheery things. All I want to do is scream at the universe...but instead I find myself crouched down and looking speculatively at tombstones.
Didn't take a longer walk - because I knew it was going to storm at any moment - could see the storm clouds hanging in the sky. Also, I get edgy when it's about to storm.
The workmen were banging about next door again. And they rarely wore masks outside in the hall. When I was leaving my apartment at lunch time to take out the trash and pick up my imperfect foods grocery box, they were out in the hallway, mask hanging about their chins. I turned my back on them to ensure my safety. I'd missed my mother's call - because I'd watched the governor and ran those two errands. So gave her a brief call at 1PM, was off in about two minutes. I thought I had time - I thought that it had been rescheduled for 1:30PM. Turned out I was wrong. Cubicle mate sent me a quick email telling me about the meeting. Thank god. So I jumped into it - five minutes late and missed boss's introductory spiel - which was vital information. I wish he would leave that to the end, I really don't care what my co-workers are working on.
Crazy Workplace vs. Union
The picture above has to do with what happened at the meeting.
Boss: - you will all be returning to the office on August 3. Any questions?
Me: Wait, did I hear that right, we're returning en mass to the office on August 3?
Boss: Yes, I had a lengthy and respectful conversation with your union rep on this score.
Gabe: Are we following the A and B weekly schedule?
Boss: No, that would be discontinued and you'd all return together - we're working on ways to make you safe.
Yeah right. It's impossible to social distance on that floor. And this is a direct violation of the NY Forward Guidelines under Phase II. If they make me go back, I'm taking photos and filing a complaint with the Governor's office.
On top of that? It makes no sense. We're doing fine working from home. I actually work better from home. No, this is due to the MTA hunting ways to reduce it's workforce from both management and union. Apparently they are monitoring computer usage. And were apparently exploring ways to reduce hours or costs via the work from home initiative.
Anyhow, I texted Gabe afterwards, and she's furious too. Her anxiety is through the roof - she talked me into contacting Employee Assistance Personnel - who basically is a bureaucratic social worker, who does little more than send you a form and a list of therapists to talk to. I don't need a fucking therapist. I'm considering contacting my project manager over in occupational safety and telling him - my concerns. It's his job to ensure we have a safe work environment.
But I may wait until next week, maybe they'll provide more information or resolve the issue by then?
Sigh. Every other week, my boss scares the frigging hell out of his entire staff. I'm coming to dread staff meetings.
Also, I remain unconvinced that Crazy Workplace isn't still trying to kill me.
On another note, Lando handed in his "retirement" notice. He's retiring from the Railroad and joining a friend's law firm on August 17. Lando is a former defense attorney. He said, he'd give us legal advice for free. (I may hold him to that.) I'm going to miss him, although I already knew he was retiring this August. He'd told me well over a year ago that this was his plan. Actually he'd told me four years ago. So not a big surprise.
What COVID-19 has demonstrated to me is how horrible our leadership truly is.
I took three CBD gummies after the meeting, which kind of helped. Wrote an email to my union rep, and contacted HR (which was useless). I'm wondering if Occupational Safety might be more useful. HR doesn't care if we die. HR is a useless department. I honestly have no idea what our HR department does, to date they've been more of a hindrance than help.
Ugga Bugga. I'm trying to convince myself that I traveled to and from work, and sat in a cubicle from January through March, at the height of the infections, without getting sick. Of course I have no idea if I got sick.
Only a few people will pick up on the joke in this picture. If you do, keep it to yourself or message me.
I am thinking more and more of hightailing it out of here next year and moving upstate. Finding a job. Buying a bike. Killing myself the old fashioned way - by driving. Most likely a pipe dream.
Struggling with my faith in the Universe right now, folks. I'm trying to be optimistic, but the bad news keeps coming. And the world it seems out of balance. I know people who are having lovely summers wandering about beaches, state parks, mountains, and not working at all. I'm working hard and ...
The world isn't fair, is it? Don't answer that, rhetorical question.
Sorry, my mind is fuzzy. And I'm not in a charitable or pleasant mood. No flowers or pretty cheery things. All I want to do is scream at the universe...but instead I find myself crouched down and looking speculatively at tombstones.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-24 07:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-24 08:00 pm (UTC)I feel like I'm on an endless roller-coaster ride...from hell.
no subject
Date: 2020-07-24 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-25 03:44 am (UTC)Sounds like we're all kind of in the same boat...even if it feels like the Titantic. LOL!