Equinoxically Speaking October 11, 2004 11:59 pm

I realize that didn't come out right. I really love you guys.
 

When I Think About Things, I Jinx Myself October 13, 2004 12:02 pm

 
By discussing "The Detonators" in the last entry, I have apparently jinxed myself and started the final self-destruct sequence for the gang. We were told yesterday that, in order to better facilitate peak call center periods, everybody's work times have been changed by anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours. In our group's case, it's the latter: we will now be coming in and leaving two hours later than we are now.

For the two of us in the group without kids, the change is not that big of a deal; a bit inconvenient, but nothing we can't handle. For everyone else in the group, this shift means not being able to spend any time in the evening with their kids: by the time they get home, their kids would likely already be asleep. If they can't swap shifts with someone in another group, they'll have to quit & find work elsewhere. Expect a very high turnover rate out there.

Checking around, just noticed that my site is more popular than Channel 41's (#2,464,787), and it's pretty obvious that they've got a professional web designer working for them. Another sign that life just isn't fair: these web designers can make good money, and here I am barely scraping by.
 

Can't Get It Out of My Head October 16, 2004 11:33 am

 
A one-hit wonder that went to #3 on the charts back in 1982, Charlene's "I've Never Been to Me", is the current song that's stuck in my head and doesn't want to escape. For those of you who've never heard of the song, consider yourself lucky. For those who remember it, this reminder is my misery-loves-company attempt to get it stuck in your heads as well. If you need a little assistance in remembering, here's the lyrics.
 

They're Trying to Drive Me Away, Ha-Ha! October 21, 2004 11:54 pm

 
Just before our weekend started Tuesday, The Detonators were told that none of us were working to expectations. Based on our time on--and off--the phone, and more importantly to us, based on nothing else, we are supposed to be at a certain threshold. None of us have reached that level, so we now have to go into retraining in some sort of attempt to raise our numbers.

Simply put, if all they care about are the phone numbers, and nothing else is being taken into account, then all the company cares about is quantity, and they care very little about quality. Oh, sure, there's a Quality Assurance group who monitor occasional calls, and as far as that end of our performance is concerned, for the most part we're doing magnificently. We're just supposed to be doing that magnificent work a whole lot faster.

Well by and large, we quickly discovered it doesn't work that way. You can either do the work fast and slipshod, skipping several steps, or you can do it at a methodical pace and get it right. When you factor in the several restrictions they've placed on us (as, for example, having to put a customer on hold in order to get permission to call another department that has to take over the job, even though we know full well they have to do it because we don't have the ability to, despite the fact that putting a customer on hold counts against us), it becomes virtually impossible to work at the level they supposedly expect. If we go any faster, our quality will suffer. But they won't let us keep going at our current rate. Catch-22.

I think I've figured it out, though. It's so simple when you think about it:

They're trying to get rid of us!

By first moving us to an unreasonable shift time, then by trying to make us work at an unreasonable rate, they're forcing us to either quit or be fired. Either way, we wouldn't be there long enough for them to worry about having to pay us for vacation time, or pay for our insurance. If most of the staff don't stay that long, saves the company a lot of bucks.

So, even though I'm going to stick it out for as long as they'll let me, I am actively back to looking for something else. We were promised that promotions would be easy to come by, yet none of us can even get an interview for another position. No promotion, no increase in pay. And frankly, I'm barely getting through the house payment and utility bills. Other stuff that needs to be done is falling by the wayside.

• I haven't completely filled my gas tank in nearly three months. Most of the time I stop after adding five gallons.
• Just had the car looked at, and while everything is OK for now, the transmission fluid needs to be completely replaced, as does the front strut. Although neither problem needs to be fixed quickly, it will need to be done sooner than later.
• My toilet's tank has been leaking since May. The seal at the bottom of the tank is no longer a tight one, so in order to flush I have to refill the tank manually using a pitcher and water from the tub. I either need new componets for the tank or, given it's older than me, a whole new toilet. Either way, can't afford it.
• All six of my cats need their shots, and the two kittens still need to be fixed. Not having the money to do that is making me feel like a bad father.
• And, the office chair I'm sitting in while typing this is about to give out on me. Need another one before I have to go back to using a 40-year old kitchen chair, the only other chair in the house that can be used at this spot.

Most of you who read this know me and know what I'm able to do, so if any of you hear of any job opportunities you think I could handle, I'd be greatly appreciative.
 

Bi-annual Hell Week, a.k.a. The Elections October 28, 2004 4:17 pm

 
Well, it's an even-numbered year and we're approaching the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, meaning it's once again time to vote a bunch of idiots into office. So, here's my personal bi-annual recommendation of how to vote. Let's start with the State Questions:

And once again, all opinions are mine, I'm not looking for differing ones, nor will I post them. If you don't like them, get your own weblog!
 

The 269th Sign of the Apocalypse October 29, 2004 11:37 am

 
Mattel has come out with an entire line of Barbie products...for your cat!