Irma, on the left, was one of my mother's favorite bosses (and not the subject of her notes). Norma is on the right.My mother worked for years as a secretary in a public school district. I found this in a notebook my mother had with To Do lists. Even though this was written more than 30 years ago, I was struck by how much it applies to the district today. People are still being asked to do jobs that aren't their responsibility, still being asked to work without compensation during the summers. And when a "favor" is given, the compensation is quickly forgotten. Just goes to show, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
From my mother's notes:
For the past six years I have (on the whole) been a loyal employee. I have done tasks beyond my job description. Every summer, I have worked beyond my "last day" without any remuneration - monetary or otherwise. I did it again this year, working a day and a half moving the department things over to the workroom. The thanks that I received were... none. No money, no thanks, nothing. I was even asked to come back earlier so that "the department could begin smoothly!" Of course, this would have been the usual, a "take from Norma" and maybe let's give her a "thank you" or a lunch!
Thanks to the sarcasm of today, my extra mile has come to an end. I realize just what my station in the office is and certainly will not cross the line that is drawn. I now work eight hours and no more Ms. Nice Lady. I will not stay one minute beyond my scheduled time and will not do one job beyond my level. No more doing the coffee at 4:30 for a meeting. I will fix that first thing and then let the rest go to hell in a handbasket.
I don't want a promotion. It will just mean more work for me, more responsibility and I've decided it is not worth it. To put it pure and simple, today the boom was lowered and this will have far reaching consequences for me and my attitude.
For the first time, I really feel the class distinction and I doubt if I can ever fully forget it. I felt like a child being scolded by my mother or a teacher and when you are 58 it is a bitter pill to swallow. Gone was the buddy-buddy friend, there was just a stranger. Maybe it is time for me to get real and set a limit on what I will accept as the work to be done. Maybe I should set my own work rules. For far too long I have tried to do every job ASAP and left the tasks in my job description to be done last. No more. A job will be started when the last job is done, filed, mailed, whatever. No more Ms. Friendly. We are now quiet and all work! No more idle chitchat in Room 16, no goodies, no eating, no nothing.
I did not plan to be late on Friday, but I should have cleared it with you. I did not realize that you are a stickler for lunch hour time, but I should have known that. I was surprised by your reaction to it and my feelings were hurt when you pointed to your watch and asked where I had been. You asked what time I left for lunch. Since I have worked uncompensated in the past to finish jobs, I thought that my few times of returning late from lunch evened things out. I will certainly be more careful of the lunch hour and I will be a stickler about leaving each day at 4:30.
From my mother's notes:
For the past six years I have (on the whole) been a loyal employee. I have done tasks beyond my job description. Every summer, I have worked beyond my "last day" without any remuneration - monetary or otherwise. I did it again this year, working a day and a half moving the department things over to the workroom. The thanks that I received were... none. No money, no thanks, nothing. I was even asked to come back earlier so that "the department could begin smoothly!" Of course, this would have been the usual, a "take from Norma" and maybe let's give her a "thank you" or a lunch!
Thanks to the sarcasm of today, my extra mile has come to an end. I realize just what my station in the office is and certainly will not cross the line that is drawn. I now work eight hours and no more Ms. Nice Lady. I will not stay one minute beyond my scheduled time and will not do one job beyond my level. No more doing the coffee at 4:30 for a meeting. I will fix that first thing and then let the rest go to hell in a handbasket.
I don't want a promotion. It will just mean more work for me, more responsibility and I've decided it is not worth it. To put it pure and simple, today the boom was lowered and this will have far reaching consequences for me and my attitude.
For the first time, I really feel the class distinction and I doubt if I can ever fully forget it. I felt like a child being scolded by my mother or a teacher and when you are 58 it is a bitter pill to swallow. Gone was the buddy-buddy friend, there was just a stranger. Maybe it is time for me to get real and set a limit on what I will accept as the work to be done. Maybe I should set my own work rules. For far too long I have tried to do every job ASAP and left the tasks in my job description to be done last. No more. A job will be started when the last job is done, filed, mailed, whatever. No more Ms. Friendly. We are now quiet and all work! No more idle chitchat in Room 16, no goodies, no eating, no nothing.
I did not plan to be late on Friday, but I should have cleared it with you. I did not realize that you are a stickler for lunch hour time, but I should have known that. I was surprised by your reaction to it and my feelings were hurt when you pointed to your watch and asked where I had been. You asked what time I left for lunch. Since I have worked uncompensated in the past to finish jobs, I thought that my few times of returning late from lunch evened things out. I will certainly be more careful of the lunch hour and I will be a stickler about leaving each day at 4:30.
