Day Off

Today is my "day off". I am leaving the property for the first time in over a week. Last time I went somewhere it was a late evening trip to WalMart to obtain store stock. Today, I am sipping and savouring my coffee as I plan my getaway. First a nice leisurely shower, followed by carefully styling my hair and applying make-up. I will dress in something without grass stains and comfortable shoes for a long day of casual shopping..............

Hey, one can dream, right? Life is a little less hectic of late. Life can change in an instant. Our instant was Monday morning. I have mentioned the schedule of he who works before. He has been working for a convenience store for the past three years. When he was hired he requested to work only part-time. He was only required to work 24 hours a week to receive full benefits (health insurance). He agreed to work more hours during the winter months, but explained (over and over again) that he could not work more than 24 hours a week during our busy time. He offered to work every Sunday in exchange for Friday nights off. He has worked every holiday for three years. He has cheerfully gone in on his day off many times when someone failed to show for work. He even worked Memorial Day this year, despite the fact that we had a full park here and he had requested the day off.


His "boss" seemed determined to push him to the limit this year. He reminded her in March that our season was beginning and that we had a lot of clean-up and preparation that needed to be accomplished. He requested to only work three 8 hour shifts a week. despite this she continued to schedule him 4 days a week and throwing in 2-11 shifts. That extra hour was a killer for him. I try to alleviate his work load here, but there are some things that I simply can't do.


It all came to a head when he looked at his schedule for this week. Four shifts, two of them 2-11 and to top it all off, he was scheduled to work Saturday. He had requested the day off. We have a fishing derby scheduled and it is important for him to be here. I have watched him become more and more exhausted and frustrated. I kept telling him to tell her that he could not continue to work almost 40 hours a week. Having worked as a manager before I felt sure that she would want to work with him, a reliable employee, and try to come to a reasonable agreement. Reasonable? Who am I kidding? She has been hiring new employees and tossing them into the mix with little or no training ........... and starting them off at a higher rate of pay than my hardworking husband. Knowing that he is working because we need the insurance is something she has banked on. It has been an excuse to take advantage of a good employee for her.


Monday morning my exhausted husband went in to tell her that he could not work this Saturday and remind her that not only had he requested the day off, I had provided her with a list of all the events we have scheduled this season. (It almost seems like she is trying to antagonize him.) She told him that if he couldn't work when she wanted him to work that she didn't need him! He called her bluff and told her that was fine and that he was done. He was nice enough to remind her that she would need to cover his shift that afternoon (I wouldn't have even done that).


He is a different man. We will no doubt purchase the COBRA insurance and he will be able to find another job when our season is over. I know that jobs are not easy to come by, but when you live in a small town, your reputation as a hard worker will precede you as you inquire about work. He is catching up on rest and able to get more done since he doesn't have to rush through everything in order to get to work. Me, I am happy to have him here and share the workload with him and not worry every time I see how haggard he looks. My time is a little easier, too. I don't have to race to get back to the store.


So, I really am off to grocery shop and get a haircut and maybe even do a little window shopping!