Thursday, February 26, 2004
Worthless
Transit workers will likely go on strike beginning next Tuesday, March 2.
I have no beef with the union. They're not asking for anything outrageous. But this does leave me in the lurch.
I spoke to the HR department at work, asking if they'd be able to assist those of us sans automobiles in finding rides to work. Initially they said, "Yes - in fact, we will drive you". They have now recanted, stating that, "The company needs to stay out of this". It was suggested that I could perhaps rent a car or take cabs. Perhaps one of my friends could lend me their extra car, or I could walk.
1) If I can’t afford $400.00/month for car payments & insurance, how am I supposed to afford $200.00/week to rent a car?
2) Ditto on the cabs. They would figure to about $200.00/week.
3) I don’t know what kind of crazy bling bling lifestyles your friends lead, but are you kidding me about this extra car business?
4) Yes, I could walk. You are correct. It is entirely reasonable to expect me to walk 4 hours each way, to and from work, each day. In the winter. Why didn’t I suggest that in the first place?
Okay, I never asked HR personnel to drive me anywhere, but I sure as hell expected a better response than this from a company that talks such a line about creating such a caring environment. Caring, my ass. The same bullshit I experienced in giant corporate world (GCW) runs rampant in small business land (SBL). Only SBL dishes it up with much larger side of hypocrisy.
At least in GCW, we had the bond of our shared insignificance. We were all tiny cogs, working for the man. SBL is much more Orwellian. The inequities are simultaneously flaunted and denied. One of the higher-ups from Sales, (who, incidentally, frequently comes to me to find the answer to such questions as - "What are the current sales for this account?" Um, hi - I don't work in Sales, remember? Shouldn't a Sales Manager be able to find that info on their own? And isn't it pathetic that a lowly peon cube dwelling phone answering keyboard jockey has their finger on the pulse of more Sales information than the Sales Manager?!)
Anyway, this person found it prudent to tell me how the strike is going to leave so many others in much tighter binds than me. Okay – true – I’ll give you that. This person continued to tell me that taking the bus is a choice for me. Oh really? I suppose that is true. I can either choose to take the bus to work or I can choose to stay home. Give me a goddamn break. This from someone who has, in the last year, purchased a new SUV, a new house, and other sizable luxury items that shall remain nameless.
I'll tell you about choice. I can choose to pay my rent and use the bus for transportation, or I can choose to purchase a car and live in it. Because clearly, I've chosen the job that pays far far less than someone’s sorry ass is making. Oh - and thanks for offering me a ride to work during the strike. What? You didn't offer? Oh that's right, it's your choice to ride alone in your gas-guzzling SUV, oblivious to the others in your office - some of whom live mere minutes from you - as they scramble to scrape up a ride to the job that pays them just enough to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Gotcha.
It was also mentioned to me that there are people in other, more expensive cities, making less than I do, and they manage to own cars. The implication here is what? I can’t manage my money? That if I tried harder I could own a car? Even if I got rid of every “luxury” item on which I spend my paycheck, up to & including my telephone, I couldn’t afford a car. Don’t mistake my lack of funds for a lack of intelligence, common sense or willpower.
So as things stand, a memo has been issued asking interested drivers to post their intentions. Same with riders. That’s the extent of the caring that goes on where I work. I can't remember ever being made to feel so horrible or like such an inconvenience.
I have no beef with the union. They're not asking for anything outrageous. But this does leave me in the lurch.
I spoke to the HR department at work, asking if they'd be able to assist those of us sans automobiles in finding rides to work. Initially they said, "Yes - in fact, we will drive you". They have now recanted, stating that, "The company needs to stay out of this". It was suggested that I could perhaps rent a car or take cabs. Perhaps one of my friends could lend me their extra car, or I could walk.
1) If I can’t afford $400.00/month for car payments & insurance, how am I supposed to afford $200.00/week to rent a car?
2) Ditto on the cabs. They would figure to about $200.00/week.
3) I don’t know what kind of crazy bling bling lifestyles your friends lead, but are you kidding me about this extra car business?
4) Yes, I could walk. You are correct. It is entirely reasonable to expect me to walk 4 hours each way, to and from work, each day. In the winter. Why didn’t I suggest that in the first place?
Okay, I never asked HR personnel to drive me anywhere, but I sure as hell expected a better response than this from a company that talks such a line about creating such a caring environment. Caring, my ass. The same bullshit I experienced in giant corporate world (GCW) runs rampant in small business land (SBL). Only SBL dishes it up with much larger side of hypocrisy.
At least in GCW, we had the bond of our shared insignificance. We were all tiny cogs, working for the man. SBL is much more Orwellian. The inequities are simultaneously flaunted and denied. One of the higher-ups from Sales, (who, incidentally, frequently comes to me to find the answer to such questions as - "What are the current sales for this account?" Um, hi - I don't work in Sales, remember? Shouldn't a Sales Manager be able to find that info on their own? And isn't it pathetic that a lowly peon cube dwelling phone answering keyboard jockey has their finger on the pulse of more Sales information than the Sales Manager?!)
Anyway, this person found it prudent to tell me how the strike is going to leave so many others in much tighter binds than me. Okay – true – I’ll give you that. This person continued to tell me that taking the bus is a choice for me. Oh really? I suppose that is true. I can either choose to take the bus to work or I can choose to stay home. Give me a goddamn break. This from someone who has, in the last year, purchased a new SUV, a new house, and other sizable luxury items that shall remain nameless.
I'll tell you about choice. I can choose to pay my rent and use the bus for transportation, or I can choose to purchase a car and live in it. Because clearly, I've chosen the job that pays far far less than someone’s sorry ass is making. Oh - and thanks for offering me a ride to work during the strike. What? You didn't offer? Oh that's right, it's your choice to ride alone in your gas-guzzling SUV, oblivious to the others in your office - some of whom live mere minutes from you - as they scramble to scrape up a ride to the job that pays them just enough to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Gotcha.
It was also mentioned to me that there are people in other, more expensive cities, making less than I do, and they manage to own cars. The implication here is what? I can’t manage my money? That if I tried harder I could own a car? Even if I got rid of every “luxury” item on which I spend my paycheck, up to & including my telephone, I couldn’t afford a car. Don’t mistake my lack of funds for a lack of intelligence, common sense or willpower.
So as things stand, a memo has been issued asking interested drivers to post their intentions. Same with riders. That’s the extent of the caring that goes on where I work. I can't remember ever being made to feel so horrible or like such an inconvenience.
// posted by Shelby Gelato @ 8:04 PM 
