The countdown begins
Evil Izzie has done the deed. After days of dithering choosing between the path of spineless jellyfish or evil bitch, we have chosen to follow our true nature.
Last Tuesday, the infamous luminous green memo from Dolores appeared.
In large bold font and capitals, it announced
DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGE, ALL CARERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO SOME NIGHT DUTY SHIFTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL WE RECRUIT NIGHT SHIFT STAFF
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION,
The roster for the period of 28 September to 11 October appeared the following day and the Izzie was allocated four of these night shifts, Makende got 3 and the resident doormat got dumped with a whopping seven. And do you think that they had asked a single one of us if we were able to do these shifts?
Well. The Iz was most peeved indeed. A normal boss with half a brain would put up a notice requesting volunteers instead of charging around like a headless bull in a china shop. Conscription would be the last and not the first resort. But such memos are indicative of the current tone of the place - the culture of complacency and contempt which is now truly on steroids
Makende was working with Izzie until 4pm the day this notice appeared. He was just as peeved as us and said he was damned if he'd be doing any night shifts. Turns out the following day he appears in the Office of the High Inquisitor and hands in his resignation.
Izzie was most most upset to find out that he is leaving as he is a fun gentle person who does his work well and treats other house elves and the nursing home residents with respect but at the same time having a twisted and quirky sense of humour.
So we now face the choice - bearing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune - doing those damned night shifts or taking arms against a sea of troubles and telling Dolores just what she can do with them.
Truth be told, the Izzie is a wimp and has lived too long making peace with dragons by letting them eat her. But while this course of action disarms conflict in the short term, long term it leads to a lack of self respect and seething resentment and various manifestations of Kreacherly behaviour.
So, we have 3 weeks holiday starting 19th October. Will we make a fuss and risk having a battle with the unions on our hand hanging over that period or will we do those damned four shifts but do no more afterwards.
At first the Iz thinks - will do those four - keep out of trouble - don't make waves and then it will be some one else's turn on the next roster and then we will be on holidays so we don't really give a damn
And by doing those shifts, we indicate that we are being a reasonable and nice house elf acting in good faith.
But wait thinks Izzie - good faith, goodwill. These scum have long ago lost their right to any claim on that. It was not that long ago that we actually VOLUNTEERED to give up an already approved week of annual leave because the place was so short staffed. We did this before even being asked and was quite happy to do it. But that was in the days when the lowly house elves were respected and appreciated and not taken for granted like they are lately.
By resorting to such options to fill shifts, these folks have abandoned any attempts at being respectful and decent and do not deserve to receive it in return - not least of all the minor matter that it is their behaviour in pissing off and otherwise alienating the elves in the first place that is the cause of the staff shortages in the first place.
But yesterday morning at work when we seen Josie for the first time since she came back from her holidays, that was truly the clincher. This girl is a die hard doormat. Iz used to feel sorry for her because she is always being bullied by the boss and certain other bitch elves but not any more. The way she behaves - it sounds nasty to say that she is asking for it - but if you spend your time blubbering and quivering like a lump of jelly and crying to everyone but the one who is doing it how nasty they are all treating you and constantly apologizing for your existence - then it's a bit like putting up a neon sign proudly proclaiming to be a goldfish in a pool of piranhas. It is not enough to say that bullies are bad nasty people. You also have to teach their victims not to be such tasty morselses.
Once Iz had her hours slashed just after buying our house. But never once did we go grovelling to the boss begging for our shifts back because the bank would repossess the house and our pet rats would starve etc etc. The boss would so so have gotten her jollies out of seeing folks grovelling. The Izzie tells Josie yesterday at morning tea that Dolores actually lives on fear and worry and that supplying it to her will only make it worse. We says - if you don't want to do the night shift and feel too afraid to stand up and say so - then at least join the union so that you can play the bully at her own game. Oh now - we can't do that. Unions are bad bad things and the boss wouldn't like them and and and. Suit yourself thinks Izzie.
So - today - after finally getting confirmation of the legal position - based mainly on 'contract by conduct' since the Iz does not actually have a written contract of employment but has had the same two days off for the last ten years and has never done night shifts during any of that time - the Iz decides that it is time to write our own little memo - also on luminiscent green paper - this time a post-it note
20-09-05
DUE TO PRIOR COMMITMENTS, I AM UNAVAILABLE FOR WORK ON FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER AND FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER. I AM ALSO NOT ABLE TO DO NIGHT SHIFTS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
(*followed by Izzie's muggle name*)
Izzie stuck this little calligraphic creation in the roster next to her name which is just below Makende's which has all his shifts blocked out and 'resigned' written in the blank box on the right for notes. Izzie aligned it with the blank boxes so that all the shifts are still visible without removing it. The big advantage of putting it in the roster is that lots and lots of folks will see it - even the dopy doormat Josie - and so by the time that Dolores gets rid of it - it will be almost as infamous as a certain interview in the Quibbler.
And she won't be able to say that it is bad mannered and rude as it is written in such a similar manner to her own precious epistles. She cannot also claim that we should have approached her personally concerning the night shifts as she and her minions did no such thing for us.
So - tomorrow will be D-day. Assuming she is still there by the time Izzie starts the 4pm shift - wonders if we will be getting one of those infamous phone calls.
But Izzie does know one thing - will say as little as possible as quietly as possible - refuse to negotiate and casually mention the dreaded U word and 'contract by conduct' See - dearest Dolores just might find herself wondering what other tales this treacherous rat has been telling about her to those uppity union elves.
So all we need now is the guts to stand up to the bitch and not to be intimidated by her demented aura and evil eye or the phone of doom.
And at last, we might get some moneys's worth for those $$14 fortnightly union fees that we could not really afford. Strange - if Dolores only knew - the Iz had seriously considered leaving the union in April as we no longer needed to be in it since we had such a decent manager who mainly used consent and co-operation to run things with conscription and use of Boss authority as the very last resort.
Last Tuesday, the infamous luminous green memo from Dolores appeared.
In large bold font and capitals, it announced
DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGE, ALL CARERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO SOME NIGHT DUTY SHIFTS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS UNTIL WE RECRUIT NIGHT SHIFT STAFF
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION,
The roster for the period of 28 September to 11 October appeared the following day and the Izzie was allocated four of these night shifts, Makende got 3 and the resident doormat got dumped with a whopping seven. And do you think that they had asked a single one of us if we were able to do these shifts?
Well. The Iz was most peeved indeed. A normal boss with half a brain would put up a notice requesting volunteers instead of charging around like a headless bull in a china shop. Conscription would be the last and not the first resort. But such memos are indicative of the current tone of the place - the culture of complacency and contempt which is now truly on steroids
Makende was working with Izzie until 4pm the day this notice appeared. He was just as peeved as us and said he was damned if he'd be doing any night shifts. Turns out the following day he appears in the Office of the High Inquisitor and hands in his resignation.
Izzie was most most upset to find out that he is leaving as he is a fun gentle person who does his work well and treats other house elves and the nursing home residents with respect but at the same time having a twisted and quirky sense of humour.
So we now face the choice - bearing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune - doing those damned night shifts or taking arms against a sea of troubles and telling Dolores just what she can do with them.
Truth be told, the Izzie is a wimp and has lived too long making peace with dragons by letting them eat her. But while this course of action disarms conflict in the short term, long term it leads to a lack of self respect and seething resentment and various manifestations of Kreacherly behaviour.
So, we have 3 weeks holiday starting 19th October. Will we make a fuss and risk having a battle with the unions on our hand hanging over that period or will we do those damned four shifts but do no more afterwards.
At first the Iz thinks - will do those four - keep out of trouble - don't make waves and then it will be some one else's turn on the next roster and then we will be on holidays so we don't really give a damn
And by doing those shifts, we indicate that we are being a reasonable and nice house elf acting in good faith.
But wait thinks Izzie - good faith, goodwill. These scum have long ago lost their right to any claim on that. It was not that long ago that we actually VOLUNTEERED to give up an already approved week of annual leave because the place was so short staffed. We did this before even being asked and was quite happy to do it. But that was in the days when the lowly house elves were respected and appreciated and not taken for granted like they are lately.
By resorting to such options to fill shifts, these folks have abandoned any attempts at being respectful and decent and do not deserve to receive it in return - not least of all the minor matter that it is their behaviour in pissing off and otherwise alienating the elves in the first place that is the cause of the staff shortages in the first place.
But yesterday morning at work when we seen Josie for the first time since she came back from her holidays, that was truly the clincher. This girl is a die hard doormat. Iz used to feel sorry for her because she is always being bullied by the boss and certain other bitch elves but not any more. The way she behaves - it sounds nasty to say that she is asking for it - but if you spend your time blubbering and quivering like a lump of jelly and crying to everyone but the one who is doing it how nasty they are all treating you and constantly apologizing for your existence - then it's a bit like putting up a neon sign proudly proclaiming to be a goldfish in a pool of piranhas. It is not enough to say that bullies are bad nasty people. You also have to teach their victims not to be such tasty morselses.
Once Iz had her hours slashed just after buying our house. But never once did we go grovelling to the boss begging for our shifts back because the bank would repossess the house and our pet rats would starve etc etc. The boss would so so have gotten her jollies out of seeing folks grovelling. The Izzie tells Josie yesterday at morning tea that Dolores actually lives on fear and worry and that supplying it to her will only make it worse. We says - if you don't want to do the night shift and feel too afraid to stand up and say so - then at least join the union so that you can play the bully at her own game. Oh now - we can't do that. Unions are bad bad things and the boss wouldn't like them and and and. Suit yourself thinks Izzie.
So - today - after finally getting confirmation of the legal position - based mainly on 'contract by conduct' since the Iz does not actually have a written contract of employment but has had the same two days off for the last ten years and has never done night shifts during any of that time - the Iz decides that it is time to write our own little memo - also on luminiscent green paper - this time a post-it note
20-09-05
DUE TO PRIOR COMMITMENTS, I AM UNAVAILABLE FOR WORK ON FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER AND FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER. I AM ALSO NOT ABLE TO DO NIGHT SHIFTS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
(*followed by Izzie's muggle name*)
Izzie stuck this little calligraphic creation in the roster next to her name which is just below Makende's which has all his shifts blocked out and 'resigned' written in the blank box on the right for notes. Izzie aligned it with the blank boxes so that all the shifts are still visible without removing it. The big advantage of putting it in the roster is that lots and lots of folks will see it - even the dopy doormat Josie - and so by the time that Dolores gets rid of it - it will be almost as infamous as a certain interview in the Quibbler.
And she won't be able to say that it is bad mannered and rude as it is written in such a similar manner to her own precious epistles. She cannot also claim that we should have approached her personally concerning the night shifts as she and her minions did no such thing for us.
So - tomorrow will be D-day. Assuming she is still there by the time Izzie starts the 4pm shift - wonders if we will be getting one of those infamous phone calls.
But Izzie does know one thing - will say as little as possible as quietly as possible - refuse to negotiate and casually mention the dreaded U word and 'contract by conduct' See - dearest Dolores just might find herself wondering what other tales this treacherous rat has been telling about her to those uppity union elves.
So all we need now is the guts to stand up to the bitch and not to be intimidated by her demented aura and evil eye or the phone of doom.
And at last, we might get some moneys's worth for those $$14 fortnightly union fees that we could not really afford. Strange - if Dolores only knew - the Iz had seriously considered leaving the union in April as we no longer needed to be in it since we had such a decent manager who mainly used consent and co-operation to run things with conscription and use of Boss authority as the very last resort.