Celebrating 23 Years of Employment

I will celebrate 23 yrs. of employment in a few days. I have endured three name changes, five locations, and numerous employees.  The once handwritten request with no instruction is now flowing through computers with written procedures. The manually entered codes are replaced with pointing and clicking my way through the day. (trading carpel tunnel for tendonitis of the elbow… lol). Once one of the most stable jobs in town filed for bankruptcy in 2020. But good, bad, or indifferent I have remained employed.

So, I ask myself, “Are you happy with your job?” Honestly, I am not happy with my job, but I am satisfied. Allow me to explain. I do not wake up every morning in ecstasy about going to work. It is a job. I show up, work, and in two weeks I am paid for my efforts. I do not care for a few of my coworkers. I do not like the condition of the building, the temperature, or the lack of windows. I do not like many of the rules, procedures, nor formats for training. I do not like that I will soon be employed for 23 yrs. and have never received Thanksgiving or Christmas Holiday Vacation Weeks. But that same Seniority List that does not allow me the vacations of choice, also do not lay me off when jobs are lost( job cuts are from the bottom up). Although I am not happy with my job, there are some things that I am:

I am grateful.  For every bad thing I could conjure up about my place of employment, it is all overshadow with the fact that I am employed. I have had a consistent paycheck and insurance to assist with my family obligations. I have purchased a home, cars, vacations, paid college tuition, and have a retirement package. I am satisfied. I am by no means rich; but I have everything I need and can supply many of my wants.

I am committed.  When there is a call into my office, it is for a solution.  The complaining caller does not want excuses, blaming, or the problem to go unresolved. They expect me to fix it and I do my best to deliver. Regardless of me not being happy with my job; I am a good employee and that is because I am a woman of integrity. And integrity comes with responsibilities:

• • I work diligently. I learned that those who do their jobs stay out of trouble. Management begins to see you as an asset and spend less time monitoring you. They trust you to independently resolve issues, return calls, accomplish deadlines, and remain in compliance with company regulations. Being diligent does have a downside of harder task being assigned or “hot issues”. But it is productive for business to place the important issues in the most capable hands.

• • I am disciplined. In 23yrs I have missed less than five days of work (and none were for leisure). I am considered an essential employee which means there are no sick days or inclement weather days. I am expected to carefully report to work and complete my shift daily. But when it is time to go home, I leave. Not only the premises but everything that has to do with the job. (I am working at home during COVID-19. When I take about five steps from the desk to the couch, I do not return until the next business day.)

I am preparing for retirement.  I am preparing to retire at either 25 or 30 years. Whichever I choose, I will be under 60 years of age. I think that is a perfect time to start working for myself as a Freelance Writer. (I am using this blog to enhance my writing skills). I also want to volunteer. I submit monetary donations to Meals on Wheels, The Local Food Banks, Housing for New Hope, Domestic Violence, Streets of Hope (abused and sex trafficked in Kenya), and Guardian Ad Litem (mentor for foster children). But I am ready to use some muscle for the organizations that I love.

So, I am not happy with my job. But I am satisfied with the lifestyle achieved with employment. After retirement, I plan to follow my passions for writing and volunteerism. This will make me happy!