Bitterness...
A few months ago, I purchased a new mobile device. Long story short, before heading out for training, I did not take the time to get familiar with the device. On a couple of occasions I noticed that the internet browser on the phone was on and I thought that while pulling the phone out of pocket or pack, I accidentally hit the internet access key. Imagine my surprise when a couple of weeks later I received a bill for over $500? I called the company, the company that I work, for and found out what had happened. I gave them my side of the story. “Sorry. The charges are legitimate.” I started the escalation process when I received another bill for over $400 dollars. I pushed the escalation process, yanked on some of my networking strings and the powers that be came back with…..“Sorry. The charges are legitimate. Pay up ASAP or deal with the consequences.” Yup! Just like that!
But let me back up.
We have been staring at the possibility of strike so most of the members of management were assigned collateral duties and positions that if the strike would take place, we would need to report to a location out of town and more than likely, out of state. The company was nice enough to offer waivers, in case of a hardship. My case: my wife is a full time student with a massive course and study load. I have two sons, 13 and 10 and they are involved in after school programs, band and providing tutoring for younger kids AND of course, sports. My 2 year old baby girl spends her days at grandma’s house. However, grandma is set up for surgery next month and will not be able to chase after our bundle of joy. Submitting a hardship request would have been a no brainer but being the company man that I am, and having my wife’s support, “We’ll get through it”, I chose not to submit the request. I completed all of my required training and waited for the strike to go down. It has not happened but I am still standing bye, bags packed and ready to roll.
My point is that I have supported this company for over 11 years, worked my ass off for it, volunteered to work OT and weekends. If I have ever had a gripe, I put it out there constructively, I kept from dropping that hardship request. When I returned from deployment and my benefits, my families benefits lapsed, did I rock the boat? Nope, not me. I followed the due process. But the first time that I ask the company to look at my situation from my perspective, from a consumers perspective, I get the black and white response?
There go our plans for the summer.
But let me back up.
We have been staring at the possibility of strike so most of the members of management were assigned collateral duties and positions that if the strike would take place, we would need to report to a location out of town and more than likely, out of state. The company was nice enough to offer waivers, in case of a hardship. My case: my wife is a full time student with a massive course and study load. I have two sons, 13 and 10 and they are involved in after school programs, band and providing tutoring for younger kids AND of course, sports. My 2 year old baby girl spends her days at grandma’s house. However, grandma is set up for surgery next month and will not be able to chase after our bundle of joy. Submitting a hardship request would have been a no brainer but being the company man that I am, and having my wife’s support, “We’ll get through it”, I chose not to submit the request. I completed all of my required training and waited for the strike to go down. It has not happened but I am still standing bye, bags packed and ready to roll.
My point is that I have supported this company for over 11 years, worked my ass off for it, volunteered to work OT and weekends. If I have ever had a gripe, I put it out there constructively, I kept from dropping that hardship request. When I returned from deployment and my benefits, my families benefits lapsed, did I rock the boat? Nope, not me. I followed the due process. But the first time that I ask the company to look at my situation from my perspective, from a consumers perspective, I get the black and white response?
There go our plans for the summer.
posted by szamora at 10:40 AM
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