It's been awhile since I've posted anything here. Not because I haven't had anything to say, but because picking my battles was a full time job. Time to commit (from the drama "real life" was dishing out) to being able to contribute something coherent? SO not available.
But! Life is calming down. Sort of. Okay, not really, but the really bad sh*t (as defined by me) is gone.
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Yeah, I'm still raising a teenager. No, that hasn't gotten any easier. BUT other things in life have!
First and foremost:
THE SOUL-SUCKING-JOB-FROM-HELL is GONE!!!!
It's been replaced by a job with a company that I've wanted to be hired into for the better part of a decade. Queue the band and fireworks! (Oh, they went off on Wednesday? Nevermind....)
SOOOOO..... What does this mean, aside from the obvious?
Well...the big things are as follows:
I am no longer being "asked" to do things I find morally objectionable.
my commute has been reduced by 40 minutes and 21 miles - each way.
my benefits are MUCH better.
I have a flexible schedule.
I work with people with whom I have a lot more in common.
But it's the other stuff that is cumulatively more important, and what has made me want to work for this company forever:
I know lots of people who work here. They're not my area's biggest employer - not even close. I left one of the area's biggest employers. But I know at least 10 people who work here. Of those, 8 have been there longer than five years. 6 have been there more than 10. People do NOT leave this company.
When I tell people who I'm working for, the FIRST thing they ask me is, "Are they hiring? Can you help me get hired?"
Half of our new hires come from employee referrals.
INCREDIBLE benefits that focus on wellness. We get ins discounts for various things like being non-smokers or participating in smoking cessation programs
While I'm in a cube culture, I am in a LEED certified building, and my cube has a DOOR!
Our cafeteria delivers. Free.
Oh, I could go on and on and on......but the biggest thing for me is that I'm back doing something I love.
It's been a long, dark haul since the employer I thought would have done better laid me off, letting me know roughly a week before Christmas that my job would end on 12/31, telling me that my vacation pay would have to serve as severance. That ushered in 2 years (minus one day) of unemployment. I then spent 18 months in a really awful job - but one I had to take because it was all that was offered.
My county still has unemployment numbers near 10%, but every time I turn around, I'm hearing about people who have been unemployed for YEARS finally finding a job. My next-door-neighbor, who was unemployed for almost three and a half years, found a job in April. She then hired me. :)
As it is, I'm on cloud 9 and ready to start cooking up a storm again. And the thing is, in looking at the stuff I really love about my employer - it's the smaller stuff. That to me, doesn't cost the employer anything to offer. Let's take three things that give me immense happiness: flexible schedule, cubes with a privacy option, and cafeteria delivery.
The flexible schedule actually encourages me to work. I have a core set of hours I'm expected to work, and if I have to deviate from those, I need to make arrangements. But I was allowed to pick my schedule and my lunch break length. Since I have so many other things in my life that require attention, this is huge. It works for all employees. We have people who go out on long bike rides or go surfing during lunch. They've set up their schedule to allow for this.
Cube privacy - there are times when I need to be able to work without interruptions. Sliding the door to my cube closed works well to let people know this.
Cafeteria delivery - Oh. My. GOD. I love this. Parking is at a premium where I work - and has been at my last few 'corporate' jobs. We have an awesome onsite lunchroom, but the cafeteria is located in a completely different - and distant - part of campus. Having the delivery option on days I forget to or (just don't) bring lunch in is wonderful.
There are a gazillion and five awesome things about this job; those are just a few. As I've said in other places - for all the employment toads I've kissed, this place is a prince beyond measure. For me, all of the "little" bene's mean that I can make work and life mesh - and for my employer, that means that I'm working when I'm at work, and I don't need to take time off to fit life around a rigid work schedule. I think we all win this way, don't you?
What is the coolest benefit your employer offers? Or what would the coolest benefit you could imagine from your employer? Please - share in the comments.
Without further delay, here are tonight's Tops:
Top Comments!
From lineatus:
A really thoughtful, really important one......from CorinaR in Chico David RN's end-of-life diary.
From cv lurking gf:
I tried to say this, but Sally DeCamp said it better. We should be going after the politics, not using the same bullying tactics we declaim.
Top Mojo for yesterday, July 7th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) {{{{{Lorikeet}}}}}... by JeffW — 225
2) I, for one, was so appalled that I left the party by Hanging Up My Tusks — 150
3) Nice. I know a few Republicans with by slowbutsure — 141
4) I am just so sorry by chicago minx — 123
5) Lorikeet, dear one by Avila — 120
6) Good for you! by Horace Boothroyd III — 118
7) I'm so sorry for your loss. by NMDad — 113
8) (((Lorikeet))) by arizonablue — 109
9) ... by bubbanomics — 97
10) What is sad is our Country thinks by Horace Boothroyd III — 94
11) I'm so sorry for your loss. With time I hope the by nchristine — 94
12) {{{{Lorikeet}}}} by Thinking Fella — 93
13) I am so sorry by Diogenes2008 — 89
14) Oh my god, Lorikeet, I am so sorry! by TheOrchid — 89
15) {{{{Lorikeet}}}} by weck — 88
16) Lorikeet!!! How can I be helpful to you??? by navajo — 85
17) Other than complete by gchaucer2 — 84
18) Wow by Nespolo — 83
19) It so saddens me to read your diary by New Dawning — 81
20) So do we have one Kossack in every county by Horace Boothroyd III — 80
21) Same here. Our company had a match during by mrsgoo — 80
22) {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} by cfk — 79
23) Oh Lorikeet by high uintas — 78
24) sending you love by Avila — 78
25) I know a man who's been a Republican all his by ybruti — 77
26) I appreciate the underlying sentiment of loss, but by Lorikeet — 77
27) Sincere Condolence by middleclassadvocate — 76
28) I am so sorry. by The Nephew — 76
29) You posted this at this time by Otteray Scribe — 74
30) {{{Lorikeet}}} by According to Fish — 74
31) Job Cremators is the term you're looking for. n/t by Alumbrados — 74
Top Pictures for yesterday, July 7th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!