Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Untitled

Some random descriptions of my life right now:

My new responsibilities at work are both consuming and confusing. I've been left pretty much on my own to figure everything out, which is both a blessing and a curse.

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Mom's having some pretty serious problems with her eyes. One eye is much worse than the other. She had some laser surgery last week as a very important first step. Unfortunately, it didn't do the trick. Her doctor recommended an off-label use of a medication, and she's trying it. Again, this is just the first step. Once this problem is addressed, there will be further treatments and surgery. It's tough for her, but she's bearing up with grace.

Without going into too much detail, this is a problem that has been evolving for some time. Mom's ophthalmologist wanted to do a procedure a few years back, but she couldn't bring herself to go through with it. She is courageous and she doesn't give up easily, but the literature they gave her to read about the procedure scared her. I would have been scared by it, too. I'm tough, and I read a lot of medical reports, etc., in my line of work. This literature really was scary.

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My husband is going through hell at work right now. His boss is verbally abusive to her employees. People have taken demotions and retired early just to get away from her. She laughs openly about this, and takes great pride in it. She has made twisted, sarcastic comments in the office about workers who have died. She yells at people and berates them. She gives vague, confusing, and inaccurate directions to employees, then calls them incompetent when they carry out her instructions.

I am so sad for my husband. He's a good man and an excellent employee. He doesn't deserve this mistreatment. No one should have to work in this kind of an environment.

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Went to a big meeting last week about major changes in the works at The Office. The story line goes something like this: budget crunch...overburdened staff...can't afford more boots on the ground (line staff)... have to reorganize completely to make things work. Is this starting to look like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic to you? Read on.

The new and improved system looks a whole lot like the system that was in place when I was hired, oh so long ago. About ten years ago, they overhauled the system to create the current one, and the reasons looked something like this: budget crunch...overburdened staff...can't afford more boots on the ground... have to reorganize completely to make things work.

And now, for the coup de grace: they will be hiring more management staff to make it all work. That's right, they can't afford more line staff, the people who actually deliver services, but they can hire more managers 6 PAY RANGES UP from line staff! As usual, line staff, if asked, could have suggested a few simple changes that had a good shot at making the current system work without all of this upheaval. And with far less cost. But, surprise, surprise, they never asked us.
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So that's it in a nutshell: Merci's life circa January 2006. Bit of a rough patch right now, but we'll get through it. Dinner with friends this weekend should provide some distraction.

And Colin Firth is on The Tonight Show right now, so life is looking up!

8 comments:

missmagnoliathunderpussy said...

So far darling, the year is showing itself to be a hidious bitch goddess, things will get better on all fronts. Chin up dear, both of them! ;)

Virginia Gal said...

Oh Merci - I'm sorry to hear about your mom, I will make sure to include her in my prayers - InshAllah it will all work out.
As for your husband, no one should have to put up with that - if the company wants to keep that kind of poor manager, perhaps he can get out. It's not worth it, you spend so much time at work, you don't want to be verbally abused etc.
I had to give a knowing smile about your job situation, they do the same thing here at non-descript airline. They love to hire these high-priced MBA kids who are so super smart and great, but they can't change a damn printer toner or unclog a copy machine. Idiots.

Maidy said...

I completely feel for your husband. I, too, worked for a poor excuse for a human being. She was our bank branch manager and she was the epitome of evil. Every possible example you can think of for an outright nasty, crude, obnoxious, rotten, pious, belittling, ugly (meaning on the inside) person was her. Sounds like your hubby works for her cousin.

Look at the whole thing in this aspect, what comes in like a mean ass lion could very well go out like a peaceful lamb. Here's to praying your year looks up as the days move on.

Joe Tornatore said...

how about hanging out clothes to dry during a tornado warning?

Pax Romano said...

But at least there is good coffee in the morning and good company; if it were not for that, I'd just throw in the towel!

Merci for Regional Administrator, there I've said it!

Merci said...

Miss Magnolia,
I firmly believe that you are right, and that things will get better. As for the chins, Drat! Guess the Hide and Sculpt makeup isn't doing the trick. Back to the drawing board! ;)

Virginia Gal,
Thank you for the prayers and for the kind thoughts for Mom.

I would certainly back my husband if he decided to move on. He is trying to work it out, so we'll see.

We've grown so accustomed to folly in our agency that we don't get to worked up. The more things change, the more they remain the same!

Maidink,
Sounds like my hubby works for her! Has she moved across the bridge? I've had bleak times at work in the past, too. You can only stay miserable for so long, though it's hard to see that while it's happening.

I think the days will look up soon. Thanks for the prayers - the good thoughts really help!

Joe-
Hanging out clothes during a tornado warning, yeah, that's us! Thanks for providing a more creative (and apt) simile.

Pax-
You are so right about the mornings. And speaking of coffee, I picked some up tonight!

And me as RA. As If :)

Julie said...

My company likes to make changes too, but once in place, they do listen to the grunts when they have suggestions. And so are the changes that are about to be made in the next couple of months. I'm fortunate to work for a company that has a 200 year history of caring for their employees.

Things will work out. I hope if your husband does get just to tired of the abuse that he can and does decide to expand himself to another position.

Julie
jsaurbaugh.blogspot.com

Merci said...

Julie-
Sorry to be so late in responding to your comment! Thanks for stopping by.

It might just get to that point. He's working on some options within his agency right now.

Glad to hear that there are still some companies out there that treat their employees with respect!