Yes, another thing about work.....

 Well well well. Yet another work post. Will they never end? :)
Probably not...

   Recently, we've had yet another person let go. Just your standard No Call No Show. Seems that on a Wednesday, he called to say that his car wouldn't start. Okay, fine. But on Thursday and Friday, nothing. Not a call or text; just silence. Shows up on Monday, with no explanation. Seems that the contract service he belongs to (yes, we contract people for work, with the object to hire them eventually) didn't let him know not to come back, since there was no explanation at all for the absence. Our supervisor contacted them, and told them what was up, and to call him to tell him. They did, and he's gone.
   Now, another contract person - our last one, by the way - has pulled a few attendance 'tricks' as well: last minute call-ins, "Oh, I forgot to tell you", and the latest one: "I'll be there later. No, I don't know when." Followed up by: "I'll be there around 8:30." Then: "Nine o'clock." Then: "Stuck in traffic. When I get there I'll get there." Which he did. At 9:45.
   At the moment, he have someone out for medical issues; they should be back soon. But when people pull stuff like this, it screws us up and pushes other things back that we need to do.It doesn't help that these two still live at home, and don't need too much money it seems. The second person will probably be gone next week (just a thought). Which would not surprise me, but still screws us over. Attendance is IMPORTANT, people! just saying...
   
   Speaking of which...

I've mentioned before about our gift card program(which is currently on hold because of whining); it was just something our shop was doing. Now, though, the company has one in place that awards good attendance. Surprise, huh? The idea is, every quarter the names of people with good attendance are put together, and one is drawn. That person gets a $250 gift card. I've been in it the two times it's been done; missed out on the first, but won the second. It's company-wide, so you would think that with over 100 names, it would be difficult. But you'd be wrong.
   The first time, only 6 were eligible.
   The second time, 4.
   Now, this takes into account approved days off (like say, for a vacation). You'd be eligible for it for that. Call-ins, for being sick or otherwise, no. It's not that hard, people: show up, and you'd get a chance. But even then, people have a hard time at it.


   Some would fall back on the old "No one wants to work anymore!!!" thing, but I think it's more like "I want to earn money, but I want to do it my own way, without rules! You're lucky to have me here at all!" Well, no, we aren't. YOU'RE lucky we decided to give you a chance. Yes, there are rules, but they're there for a reason: to make sure you show up, and do the work you're here to do. You don't like it? Fine. Don
't be here then. Yes, it will inconvenience us, but we'll make it work. Just remember that eventually, you'll have to work *somewhere*. And follow their rules. Yes, it will be a pain, but if you're lucky, you'll benefit from it. Trust me.


   Failing that, good luck winning the lottery someday....

Another one bites the dust...

   Recently, we've had another casualty at my work.
   Someone had their job review, and they weren't too happy with it. Seems that their job performance - while good - was the same as the last time they were reviewed. In other words, no improvement. They would complain about working in a different area, or take a little too much time to do something...you know, 'cruising' through, and not stepping up a bit. Their pay increase reflected it, as well; the minimum.
   The following day, he wasn't there. Supposedly, he had something to do. Slightly suspicious, but nothing we could do.
   The day after, though, when he was still not there, our supervisor said that his WIFE had called him the night before; yelling at him, cursing at him, accusing our work of trying to basically screw him over, etc. She also quit for him, as well. Yes, SHE quit HIS job for him. And, yes, he was a hired-in employee, so that makes it stranger.
    Now, I don't know if he wanted her to do it, or if she just decided to do it herself (She's a very strong-minded individual, just so you know). But either way, it leaves us short. Again.
    We're supposed to receive more machinery later this year, for a couple of new jobs coming in. Like many places, we're trying to build up our workforce, but it's still an uphill battle. Contract people not staying...well, it happens. They find something else, or just decide to not want to work "just yet", or whatever. But someone who's a hired-in person, who *was* a contract, until they got brought on, just makes me shake my head. He's a nice guy, and this just took us by surprise. Needless to say, when I asked if he asked to come back, would we? The answer wasn't comforting.
    It's just so disheartening, you know? Our head office (which is out-of-state, by the way) doesn't really like to give us too much overtime, because of the usual budget worries. So our only recourse is to try and work faster and harder, or change our weekend plans when the overtime is approved. Don't know about you, but getting up at 3AM on a Saturday, when you've got to pick up the slack because of staffing issues, is NOT cool!
     Oh well. Like every other place, we just have to ride it out and hope for the best.
     I just hope that we get lucky people-wise, and actually not have to run ourselves into the ground anymore.
     Fingers crossed!