bossesA bittersweet Monday holiday
I was getting excited about the Labor Day holiday until I realized, I have every Monday off. Rats! I feel like I’ve been robbed of that excited holiday spirit. Doesn’t matter which Monday holiday it is, having it off is special. For me it’s just business as usual, well… almost. Lite1x’s day off is also Monday except on this Monday he has to work. At least Matt’s off from school, and what does he want to do? Run an early morning cross country race, of course. Hmmmm. Sounds like my non-holiday day off is going to get complicated.
I was quite old before I found out what Labor Day was really about. At my house labor meant work, and work we did. That was the day my dad mowed the lawn and did various home improvement projects. I think Home Depot and Lowes must have known my dad because I noticed both had large advertising circulars stuffed in the morning newspaper this week.
But Labor Day is to celebrate the workers of America. I never could figure out why my dad didn’t consider himself a worker. Because of his job status as an engineer, he was salaried and therefore considered part of management. Now how picky is that! Anyone who holds down a job is a worker as far as I’m concerned. From the highest paid CEO to the lowly minimum wage employee, all work. All who work for the same company should think of themselves as on the same team. But these days, as it also was over 100 years ago when Labor Day first began, those in the top positions seem to think they can screw over those on the bottom. But they forget, those on the bottom are the ones who actually do the work of the company. In other words, they are the ones who produce the goods or services.
I’ve been an office worker most of my working life. In observing people in different jobs in different kinds of companies, I’ve come to a few conclusions:
1. The company receptionist should be one of the best trained people in any company. The phone receptionist should know proper telephone manners and know all about the company. This person should be well paid and treated as a vital part of the team. A receptionist who meets the public should also be trained in both manners and attire. First impressions can never be made a second time. An office temporary should never be hired as a receptionist.
2. The office staff, whose function is to make the bosses look good to the clients should also be considered part of the team and be well compensated. Since these people know a lot about the companies they work for and their clients it seems to me there would be less turn over if they were given the respect, and pay, they deserve.
3. Bosses should never breathe over any “secretary’s” neck while he/she is trying to type something for the boss. No matter how impatient the boss feels, this technique will only slow the typing process.
4. Chatty bosses also slow down an office worker’s productivity. If companies do not wish to pay overtime, they need to monitor their bosses’ behavior.
I think that will do for now. To all the workers of America, enjoy this Labor Day weekend. Stay safe. Rest. And be ready for work on Tuesday.
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If anyone is keeping up with my dental saga, I broke the temporary inlay this afternoon. Now I have to wait until Tuesday to get it fixed. Sometimes Monday holidays are obnoxious!
