Roaring about Work

OK – the work thing.

 

First a warning: what follows will probably constitute a rant. I’m putting it here, separately for my own benefit. Seeing things in black and white can often bring them into sharper focus. I’m also using this as a tool to help me set things a bit straighter in my mind. So while you’re free to read on, and pass whatever comments you wish, don’t expect a fun packed post. You have been warned!

 

I have the privilege (apparently) of work for a public sector organisation, so our funding comes through local taxes. It also comes with the red tape and bureaucracy that ties up such places.

 

I feel what I do has a lot of social value and impacts upon people’s daily lives in a big way. So the rewards in terms of seeing results are pretty good.

 

Some background: I started here in 1993, and I saw this as a temporary place until I found something more suitable. However lots of changes and quick promotions saw me heading a section by 1997. When your career is in full flight like that it’s easy to get swept along.

 

1997 saw yet more changes, and more responsibility passed on. Changes to policies, both at national and local government levels have kept the playing field moving almost constantly since then. The grass is certainly never growing under your feet here.

 

In October 2002 I was informed that I would be responsible for another arm of our operations, in addition to what I was currently doing. I think I paid the price for  sorting out problems. This new area was one I was aware of, and I knew it was in a  shambolic state.

 

There were huge gaps in their records and no certainty of anything that had been done, for at least the previous 7 years.

 

Sorting out the mess was a huge task. It became clear that the staff I had inherited from this section were either clueless or careless. These problems had originated at the problem, but the supervisors hadn’t taken the time and care to ensure things were done right.

 

Whilst I had been “awarded” this responsibility, there was no talk of any extra salary; instead it was decided to wait until “things had bedded down properly” before we talked about such matters.

 

Four and a half years on, I still haven’t received an extra penny for doing this work, despite resolving the huge discrepancies. There’s been talk of sorting something out, but nothing has yet materialised.

 

Added to this, we had an organisational realignment back in October 2005. (I’ve started to dread the month of October) Since the newest area I had had been sorted, although there were still staffing issues long term visitors will remember, I was given yet another area to take charge of. This involved extra payments of around £24m ($47m) a year.

 

Has my salary increased? No. To be fair, in this instance, nobody affected by the realignment has had their salaries revised yet, so I am not alone.

 

By now, if you’re still reading this, you must be thinking “What a fool, how much crap will he put up with?”

 

I realise this myself, this is partly why I’m laying it all down here. I’ve taken on several difficult areas in the last 5 years, streamlined them, got them working efficiently, and probably saved thousands of pounds along the way.

 

Due to services that I provide to external organisations, I actually earn this organisation £10k more a year than I get paid!

 

Due to monthly timetables, there isn’t a whole week in the month without a deadline for me in it somewhere. The consecutive longest time I’ve had off in the last 5 years has been at Christmas times, when this place effectively shuts anyway. Apart from the festive season I rarely take more that a couple of days off at a time.

 

Last year I even came into work, with Godzooky 2, while Mrs Zilla was in hospital following the birth of Godzooky 3, to make sure that payments happened when they should.

 

I know that I’ve been stupid and taken for a mug. This is where it starts to change though. Instead of just carrying on blindly, I’ve started to question my rationale.

 

Things are going to change. I’ve arranged a meeting with my boss this afternoon, and my case for financial reward is going to be put very strongly. I know I have the best hand. I don’t wish to sound arrogant, but, if I left tomorrow (which technically I can’t because I have to give 3 months notice) there are areas of this place that would simply grind to a halt.

 

The service agreements we have with organisations wouldn’t be met, and the organisation would be liable to be sued.

 

I’m not going to make threats, just make people realise that I need to be valued appropriately. Words of praise and thanks need to be supplemented by the promised recompense.

 

I’m not out to claim more than I think I’m worth. I know how much I earn for this place and I know what other members of staff get paid. I just want a fair deal, and I’m going to get it.