I need to talk to you about committment.....This was the message left on my answering machine by my weekend boss. I know EXACTLY what he is talking about. The person who I replaced who came back to work in the Spring is going to be unable to work for about 4-5 months because of impending surgery. She mentioned this to a couple people but never really spoke to the boss about her upcoming surgery that her doctor wanted her to have 3 months ago.
This is the co-worker who is not adapt at communicating about shift coverage, but boy did she talk my ear off the last weekend I worked. Like talked to me for a couple hours. She had a lot to get off her chest and into my ear. Most of it I had already heard through the grapevine and some of it was just chatting. But she did tell me that come the middle of October, she was going to have to go in for surgery and then not be able to work for at least 4 months, depending on her recovery time. She had not spoken to our boss about this, but I know he "knew" about it. She just had not told him face to face. I told her that she really had to speak to our boss and let him know. He travels out of area for most of October and November and the last thing he needs to worry about is finding and training new help.
The message I got from my boss was that he needed to talk to me about "committment" which I am translating as "I need to know if you can go back and work your old shift of every weekend until your co-worker can come back".
He knows that I've been using my non working weekends to do "things", work around the house, socialization, volunteer work, etc. He probably thinks that I may not be willing or able to work every weekend again. He's partially correct. I will come back and work since my weekday job is still not going back to full time hours, I most definatly can use the money (gutters, redo the bathroom, life expenses). I will tell him that I will have to schedule some time off so I can stay "fresh" and get done some of the chores around the house that take longer than 30 minutes of my time. I think he will go for it. Now to just actually catch up with him and have this conversation!
6 comments:
Extra money is always nice. Pay now, play later. :)
Well her loss is your gain, too bad you lose your weekends though. I can't believe she didn't tell the boss.
This will be the 3rd time in 3 years that she will need to take extended time off for a medical issue. She has worked for our mutual employer for tada 3.5 years. So she did not want to "upset the boss". He sort of knew about it through the ever present grapevine.
Yeah it's surprising she didn't come to the boss right away when she found out about her medical 'leave' that she needs. Maybe she shy's away from accountability or her anxiety holds her back. My anxiety debilitates me from a lot of social situations.
Well, it seems that your doubts that she would be able to come back successfully were correct.
Three times in 3 years? I understand that she may be scared to let go of this job because I'm sure she needs the income whenever she's capable of working BUT I can't help wondering if she would do better with something less physical.
Not to mention that coming to that realization would be better for your boss, you and everyone else her absences impact at your work.
For me, I need those weekly breaks to do some things totally not related to my daily work. Your officemate is really a pain in the butt. Not wanting to upset the boss by not telling her plans that has an impact on her job?Ugh
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