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Today marks the date when my temporary work-hiatus is done, and I’m back at work at my “old” job, doing what I love in the same place with the same people in the same downtown of my hometown.<\/p>\nToday marks the date when my temporary work-hiatus is done, and I’m back at work at my “old” job, doing what I love in the same place with the same people in the same downtown of my hometown.<\/p>\n
It took a bit of finaggling to get here, but I’s here.
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\nSome regular readers of this blog may have been wondering why my “boots at work this week” postings suddenly stopped. That’s because I disappeared from my old office at the end of March. The contract for my “old” job ended on March 31 and was bidded out. Another company that has a history of underbidding and different from the one for whom I had worked, won the contract. This new company is run by people I have concerns about in how they deal with people, or fail to do so… but I’ll let time inform me if my concerns are well-grounded.<\/p>\n
A representative from the “new” company contacted me at the end of March to feel me out if I wanted to come back. I said, “yes, under the right circumstances” then laid out my requirements, which (in my opinion) were reasonable considering my experience and education.<\/p>\n
Then I didn’t hear anything until two weeks ago, and only then to ask me to restate my requirements to return to that position. I did so again, then heard nothing, then I started to get a flurry of frantic telephone calls and emails. I went back-and-forth by phone and email for way too long, but these guys were persistent in offering me shit. I was tempted, but did not ask, “what part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?” when it came to their low-ball offers.<\/p>\n
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Up until the last minute, I was uncertain if I would be coming back to this job. The new company’s low-ball offers had to be continually rejected … seven times. Eventually with pressure from me and some well-positioned and influential people, the new company came around to my terms through ongoing negotiations, so the only negative thing I will have to “eat” is an increase in the cost of my share of health insurance. (If DOMA is struck down by The Supremes, then I can get on my spouse’s health plan and drop my more costly individual plan.)<\/p>\n
I will be assuming some new duties, too, well within my scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities. I am excited to return to my new-old-new-old again stomping grounds in the downtown of my hometown. Best yet, I can ride my Harley to work and park it for free in the garage under my building. I fought darn hard for the legislation that provides free motorcycle parking in public garages, so I intend to reap the benefits of what I fought for.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, I did make optimum use of my unpaid three-week vacation: I got married; I went on several mid-week motorcycle rides; I removed aluminum wiring from a friend’s house and replaced it with copper; I helped my spouse do a lot of home maintenance projects; built a cabinet and did some electrical work for several senior pals; and other stuff. Man, I shouldn’t have been such a slacker. <\/p>\n
What’s old is new again. Life is sweet.<\/p>\n
Life is (also) short: negotiation is important–remember the old adage, “you don’t ‘get’ unless you ‘ask’ and ‘Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer if you know you’re right”!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today marks the date when my temporary work-hiatus is done, and I’m back at work at my “old” job, doing what I love in the same place with the same people in the same downtown of my hometown. It took … Continue reading