Author: Olivia

I don't care how high up the corporate ladder you are, if your making decisions that impact the everyday worker than you should be able to step into their shoes from time to time to remind you how your restructuring, budgeting etc effect their work lives. I don't think CEOs, VPs or any other upper level managers understand how their lower level employees days go. This goes across the board for most jobs. They make changes at the executive level that impact everyone without careful consideration of their employees. In a world run by the idea of profit this viewpoint probably will stay a pipe dream of mine especially in the US but I think a good CEO or VP would benefit from doing the hard work every now and then just to keep things in perspective. At least go undercover boss for a few days haha

So, I just accepted a job with a merchandising company (which I won't disclose for obvious reasons since I just got this job and need it horribly.) I recieved an email about two hours ago, “welcoming” me to “the team”. Rah rah, yeah yeah. (I hate corporate pleasantries. Shut up, just give me the details!). Anyway, they gave my start date, who to meet with, dress code, etc. At the end of the email, they “invited” me to “follow them on social media”. I'm not obligated, but it gives me the heebie jeebies and makes me laugh that they think I don't see the underlying purpose of this “invite”. I see your stalkin' ass! Now, I don't have any of the social media they suggested except one. That one account that I DO have is not for business purposes, it's personal…for my OWN entertainment. I didn't follow them, obviously, but…

My mum works as a carer and was told everyone would be receiving a £100 Christmas bonus in February. They said they were only allowed the bonus if they did not take a sick day until then. Covid then spread around her coworkers and my mum also got it. Of course, they’re not allowed to work with covid bc they work with older and vulnerable people. So everyone who had to isolate aren’t aloud the bonus now. It’s so infuriating because they work their asses off just to receive nothing in return.

And that is why I decided that I will most likely not have any. I am already 33 years old, and probably not going to change my mind.

It seems impossible to me that anyone, even if they have a good immune system, would only need 7 days a year for sickness.

I negotiated it when I got hired on and was scared to bring it up but when the boss had a free moment I inquired if he was going to honour it while showing him the amount I would need to match inflation. I was surprised it went so well. Am posting this to say your best time to negotiate pay raises, sick leave, vacation time, benefits, etc… is when they’re trying to hire you on. You’ll never have more leverage than when you’re in the process of getting hired. There’s much less incentive for companies to give you a raise if they already have you on the payroll. Get that shit all up front and in writing. Did that for the first time with this job and it’s satisfying to not have to ask for one.