Message ID: bnlo1v$11mo4s$1@ID-202214.news.uni-berlin.de
I have been employed with the same company for 20 years. They are very strict with their employees about getting to work on time, taking the allotted amount of time for personal business and vacation. I have followed those rules for the past 20 years.
One of my co-workers (22 years and at the same management level position as I) moved and was having difficulty getting in on time because of the commute. Then she had a baby, and her next excuse was that she had to take the baby to day care.
Over the past six years she has taken a 40-hour workweek and made it 36 hours. I was out recently and when I returned I learned that she was allowed to take a 4-day work week. She continues to come in an hour late. Now she's working 28 hours a week. I checked and made sure her vacation time was pro-rated accordingly, but she continues to receive the same benefit level as the rest of us. My boss said she took a pay cut and that it was his idea, but I don't believe it.
I finally got up the nerve to say something to the boss, that something should be done about it -- or spread these same privileges on to the rest of us. He said he would, but he hasn't. Any suggestions on how to handle this situation?
-- Kim from Detroit
Dear Kim:
My first suggestion is that you get your nose out of your co-worker's personnel files. Unless you are your company's benefits manager, I'm wondering how you came to know what her deal is. I know it's rough when colleagues seem to "work" the system or the boss, but that's the way the cookie crumbles and the boss bounces -- (insert your favorite cliche here, as long as you get the message that sometimes you just have to accept that someone else got the sweeter deal).
If you don't get satisfaction from your boss, your option is to take your talents to another company. Ideally you'll find a place that values your snooping and enforcement capabilities.
Amy Dickinson
Published October 28, 2003
In her usual kowtowing to breederism, my esteemed counterpart has missed the point. However, given a glance at her bio, her bias is not surprising. Again and again, the Childfree are asked to take up the slack from coworkers who use their children as an excuse to beg off early, come in late and otherwise goof off. Rest assured that as soon as Bratney reaches school age, it will only get worse. After all, (sarcasm mode on) the ChildFree don't have families or lives, and always enjoy having to step in to cover for Moothers and Duhds who just gotta be there for preschool graduations, soccer games, recitals, whatever. (sarcasm mode off)
Now, pertaining to the benefits, etc., there may not be much you can do. However - if Moother's absences and tardiness is effecting your productivity you have a legitimate complaint that can be taken up the line - to your boss or HR accordingly. That said, be prepared for the breeder backlash - the entitlement attitude is far reaching and all-pervading. There is, though, one thing that all companies hold dear - far above their employees - and that's profit. Prove that these absences/tardiness are costing the company money, and you *will* get action.
Childfree Abby - learning from the Ferengi
The ChildFree Abby Archives - http://www.dismal-light.net/childfreeabby/