On Christmas Eve, a supervisor came into the MDO's office, where I work as a general clerk, and mentioned that there were some employees on the workroom floor who were "whining because they had to work on Christmas."
I thought about what the supervisor said for a moment and replied, "Yeah, I would probably whine too if I were being forced to work. It's Christmas."
As we started discussing it, another supervisor (who had Christmas Day off, by the way) walked in and volunteered, "Maybe I'm old school, but no one forced them to work here. They want a job with benefits, then they shouldn't complain. If they don't like it they can leave."
It was clear that there would be no changing the supervisor's mind, so no attempt was made to do so. But as I thought about it, I realized that maybe I was the one who was "old school," becuase when I started here 27 years ago, Chritsmas was one of the two holidays considered "untouchable." The other was Thanksgiving.
It was possible to be forced to work Presidents' Day. Maybe Columbus Day, too. They were the "less significant" of the holidays. But you never were forced to work on Thanksgiving or Christmas, because there was a certain reverential respect for those days. It was volunteers only, and even at that, it was limited in its use.
Starting within the last decade, Management at Mid Florida has started to treat Thanksgiving as no different than the 4th of July. And in recent years, they are applying the same lack of respect to Christmas. It is truly a shame.
Yet a part of me wonders how much of this has been contributed to by us. We now live in a 24/7 world, and expect to be able to go shopping on those days, so if workers at the local department stores have to work, why shouldn't we?
The true answer is that they shouldn't have to work and neither should we. They should still be holidays as they were intended. Days for us to gather with families and loved ones and celebrate the holiday.
It was rather gratifying, then, that the Acting Plant Manager ordered the cutting of hours on New Year's Day, citing the lack of need for mandating most employees to work. Instead, he said to limit it to volunteers. In doing so, he appeared to be "old school."
It is not known what motivated him: true concern or simply a desire to save workhours used for budgeting purposes. But not knowing. he should be afforded the benefit of the doubt and his actions appreciated.
As we enter the New Year, it seems there is one thing desired by most employees: appreciation for doing their job rather than punishment when it is alleged that they are not doing it.
To all employees who come to work everyday and do their jobs to the best of their ability, yet are never really shown appreciation for it, thank you. For those who may not be reaching their true potential for whatever reason, thank you, too, and may this be the year in which you make progress towards your potential.
And to all, a Happy New Year on behalf of myself and the Mid Florida Local !!!
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A favorite management ploy which has been going on in my almost 23 years is to schedule as many employees as possible for a holiday - thereby not allowing them to make any plans with their families and then at the last minute allowing them the day off for lack of mail or sudden volunteer request(s) - another way to stick it to the union. After reading your article, it just sounds sooooo familiar. R Nadeau Southern Maine P& DC
ReplyDeleteA LOOK AT MANY OF THE SUPVS. HISTORY IN MID-FL TO ALWAYS COVER THEIR BACKS AND LOOK GOOD INSTEAD OF DOING THEIR JOBS. THEY COMPLAIN HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DON'T MEASURE UP TO THEIR WORK REQUIREMENTS. BUT WHEN ITS BROUGHT TO MANAGEMENT'S ATTENTION ON THEIR LACK LUSTER ABLITY TO NOT ACCOMPLOISH THEIR JOBS, THEY GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE AND END OF STORY. THIS IS PROVEN BY THEIR OWN BOSS NOT PICKING ONE OF THEM FOR THE PLANT MANAGER'S JOB.
ReplyDeleteMANAGMENT IN MID FL ARE TOO LAZY TO WALK TO EACH EMPLOYEE TO SEE IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN THEIR STATUS INREGARDS TO HOLIDAY SCHEDULING. YOU WOULD GET MORE VOLUNTEERS AND LESS FORCING. BUT SINCE THESE COLD HEARTED VIPERS DON'T CARE ABOUT US, THEY'LL JUST VIOLATE THE CONTRACT, FORCE AS MANY THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH AND TOO BAD FOR US. HAS ANYONE IN MANAGEMENT EVER HEARD OF THE WORD MORALE? WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. SINCE MOST OF THEIR FAMILY LIFE IS NON-EXSISTENT WHAT CONCERN ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE ABOUT YOURS. REMEMBER THE POST OFFICE IS THEIR LIFE. WE USE IT TO SUPPORT OURS. SORRY GOTTA GO FAMILY IS WAITING ON ME. BYE