Today we were suppose to go back to church. After all, it is sunday, and we'd missed the past two weeks because of the weather. We didn't go though. Shawn wasn't feeling well, and I was too tired from all the lifting last night, so we stayed home.
I went to bed at my normal 9am, after eating a bowl of cereal (a hot breakfast this morning was NOT on the menu, lol), and went to bed. Shawn came and got me up so that he could go to bed at 4pm, after the game went off. I was still tired, I guess from sleeping longer than I normally do, I don't know, my body just hurt.
Came downstairs and the kids were watching TV and I walked into the kitchen (I still had my pj's on, didn't bother getting dressed) and there were dishes in the sink, so I'm guessing Shawn didn't feel like doing anymore that I felt like doing. He was starting to feel bad last night at work (which is why we didn't make it to church).
I needed to make a pot of coffee...ugh, it was not going to be a good afternoon. Got coffee started, and preheated the oven for dinner...fish tacos. So after all that was done, in between the kids arguing over the TV and playing the Wii, I sat down. I have learned that if I want to stay awake, I stay away from the couch. So I sat down and checked my email real quick, and went to facebook for a minute while waiting for the oven to beep.
Long story short, I did manage to get some laundry folded, dinner made, dishes done...and that is about it. I already feel whooped again and I have 30 minutes until I have to get Shawn up for work. This reminds me that I hate weekends. Sleep is just all over the place. I feel just as tired when I wake up as I do when I lay down! Ugh, what's with that??
On top of that, Shawn and I get to start working out on my Wii Fitness Plus. Oh, Lord! I bet that will be a sight, if we make it...I don't want to even think about that right now. Ok, I need to sign off now and go get some ibuprofen...I can feel a headache coming on...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Back in the Office...Again
I'm sure you remember my post last week when I told you about getting coached because I went over my time limit for my department. Well, I ended up back in the office again Monday night, and received a 'D' day, aka Decision Making Day (is the next step in the discipline policy which is where they give you a paid day off for you to 'think' about what you did, why you did it, and what corrective action you will take. You are then asked to write a statement to that effect.) and it was all over 1 minute of overtime! One minute! I was shocked in a way, but just agrivated because this was the second time in two weeks that I ended up in the office because I did something 'wrong'. Apparently the store manager told them that this is what needed to be done, there is to be NO OVERTIME...
See, I had checked my hours during the middle of the week and noticed that I had 9 minutes to kill, so I told my supervisor, and he told me to just take an extra 9 minutes of lunch. So, I did. Well, then, Friday came and without thinking, I clocked in a few minutes early and didn't make it to the timeclock in time, but didn't realize it until when they pulled me into the office.
I know I am not the only one that this has happened to. I know that several people have been written up, while others like myself, got a D day. They strongly encouraged me to use the Open Door Policy (our right to talk to a member of management, usually store manager or higher)to have it reversed.
So, when I got home from work, I told Shawn and if you know Shawn very well, I'm sure you can imagine how upset he was, and he even suggested to call home office. I took the kids to school, and went straight back out to the store and spoke with the store manager and explained the her what was going on, and she said she could not reverse it because then she'd have to reverse it for everybody. She said it came from her boss that there is no overtime. Not satistfied with this answer, I got the District Managers phone number and called him, and spoke with his secretary who told me she was going to put me in touch with Pat, the human resources manager.
Heard nothing from anyone all day, and finally Tuesday morning she calls and leaves a message. BTW, I ended up with 27 minutes to kill from my talk with Kim...
Long story short, I am waiting on a call back from Pat, and half wishing it all would end. So many changes, so many wrong changes..
Edited to add: I just received a call this morning from one of my supervisors who told me that the store manager took away all the write ups for overtime this morning. I don't know why, but I'm thanking God she did.
See, I had checked my hours during the middle of the week and noticed that I had 9 minutes to kill, so I told my supervisor, and he told me to just take an extra 9 minutes of lunch. So, I did. Well, then, Friday came and without thinking, I clocked in a few minutes early and didn't make it to the timeclock in time, but didn't realize it until when they pulled me into the office.
I know I am not the only one that this has happened to. I know that several people have been written up, while others like myself, got a D day. They strongly encouraged me to use the Open Door Policy (our right to talk to a member of management, usually store manager or higher)to have it reversed.
So, when I got home from work, I told Shawn and if you know Shawn very well, I'm sure you can imagine how upset he was, and he even suggested to call home office. I took the kids to school, and went straight back out to the store and spoke with the store manager and explained the her what was going on, and she said she could not reverse it because then she'd have to reverse it for everybody. She said it came from her boss that there is no overtime. Not satistfied with this answer, I got the District Managers phone number and called him, and spoke with his secretary who told me she was going to put me in touch with Pat, the human resources manager.
Heard nothing from anyone all day, and finally Tuesday morning she calls and leaves a message. BTW, I ended up with 27 minutes to kill from my talk with Kim...
Long story short, I am waiting on a call back from Pat, and half wishing it all would end. So many changes, so many wrong changes..
Edited to add: I just received a call this morning from one of my supervisors who told me that the store manager took away all the write ups for overtime this morning. I don't know why, but I'm thanking God she did.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
My 'Nights' in Hell May Be Numbered...
I couldn't think of another title to more accurately discribe my situation and be nice. After last night, the company that I have worked for, for the past 13 1/2 years, can go fly a kite.
I have been bounced around in different departments of the store, depending on who our manager is on any given night. I was originally in Apparel, but was moved from Apparel to various GM departments, and finially over the last 6 months I have been bounced between working Chemicals (the dept with the bleach, laundry detergent, cleaning products) to different grocery isles.
As many of you know from hearing from us in person, floor associates now have a time limit. We are given so many hours in order to get the freight worked in the department we are working, so that we can move on to the next department and do the same. Most departments are given an average of 3-4 hours, depending apon how much freight they get.
On an average night, in most cases, I work Chemicals. I get freight from the GM (general merchandise side), and I get a skid from the grocery truck with bleach and laundry detergent that is what we call an 8 footer because I would have to get a ladder to get the little boxes off the top and work the skid. So, between each receiving area, I average 3-4 skids a night.
According to the Task Manager, for that department, it should only take me 3-4 hours to get all those skids done. This is not counting having any interruptions, moving stuff, zoning, helping customers because even at 1am, people still shop...doesn't matter.
In last nights meeting, while running down the little Task Manager line up they give us as to who goes where, I was assigned Chemicals as usual, and told that I had to be done by 4am. We were also told that if we weren't done, we'd be making a trip back to the office.
We leave the meeting and I go get my garbage bag and go hunt for a pallet jack (I've found I get done faster pulling the skid into the isle and working the freight that way), found the jack, and went to look for a cart to put my cardboard on. Well, what do you know, the few they had empty were being used by IMS to put the picks on.
Ok, I will just have to take my trash back after I complete a skid, and then I thought about it, and decided to jus tget the first two skids done and do trash then as not to waste time at the baler (because making a bale doesn't count either) so if I go back and there is a line that is taking from my stocking time. If I help make a bale, the clock still ticks.
So, I go through my skids and the managers come by and the one says (and this is at like 12:30, not long after 1st break, "are you done yet??" I had 4 skids total: I had the three GM skids, plus the 8 footer and was only finishing up the 1st one.
Cart party time rolled around. For those of you that don't know, every night at 1:45, all the overnight stockers get to go out and collect all the carts in the parking lot, which is why it is called a 'Cart Party'. That takes a good 15 minutes, and then it is time for lunch. I went to lunch last night at 2, so the minute I came in from the cart party, Shawn was looking for me to go to lunch.
Got back from lunch at 3, and continued my work, with only an hour to go. I still didn't take cardboard back because I didn't want to waste time. I was working on the last GM skid that I had and had the 8 footer to go when my manger came by and said 'you're not done yet?', I said 'no', and we talked for a minute and I told her I wasn't killing myself to try and get the freight done. I said I can only go as fast as I can and said I guess I'll be making a trip back to the office like our other manager said. I told her its's not that I don't care, but, I'm not going to try and work unrealistic time conditions. She said she understood and went on.
Shortly after that, one of our support managers came out and got me and it was my turn to go to the office. She said, 'you know why you're back here, right?' I said no, and she had the screen pulled up and showed me what she had been talking about with the times. I apparently had only 292 cases, so, it should only have taken me 4 hours (minus my lunch) to get the 4 skids done. That is 60 cases an hour, and looking at it by skid, that would mean an hour for each skid--including the 8 foot skid that could pass as 2 skids itself.
So, I was coached for not getting my job quick enough and placing more of a burden on the other associates by not getting my area done so that I could go on to other departments and work. I was told that by me taking longer than I should, I forced the other associates to have to work harder to get more departments done, because, apparently, their expectation is that all freight needs to get worked by 7am. We have an average of a dozen associates, no more than around 20 people to work each of the grocery isles, HBA, Chemicals, Pets, Infants, and Paper. I was told there are associates who work many departments a night and that it was unfair for me to take longer to get my department done.
At this point, I wrote my comment, asked to have a copy for my records as to what I said, then went back out to finish my skids. I was almost done the last one when Shawn came by and got me for break around 5:30. Came back out and finished that skid and started the 8 footer when Shawn came by and said he asked the other manager if he could give me a hand since there was coverage up front, so, he helped me get the giant skid done, and helped me take back my buckload of cardboard and trash. I pulled back my skid of overstock, did my dozen boxes of picks (they don't count either), and cleaned up just as 7am was rolling around.
I have since decided I don't care anymore. Tonight will probably be my last night because once you get coached, it stays on your record for a year and the next step is a 'D' day, or a decision making day which is your paid day to decide if you want to continue to work there, and if they want to continue to employ you. So, I guess tonight will tell the tale, but I have decided that if I get called back to the office for a 'd' day, I'm going to give them my badge and be done. I'm not letting them fire me over something stupid. Not when they can put me somewhere else and I can work there just as well.
So, not only is this my 'Friday night', it might be my last night working for Walmart...will let you know tomorrow.
Anyways, hope everyone has a nice evening, and I'm going to get some coffee and work on dinner... night all.
I have been bounced around in different departments of the store, depending on who our manager is on any given night. I was originally in Apparel, but was moved from Apparel to various GM departments, and finially over the last 6 months I have been bounced between working Chemicals (the dept with the bleach, laundry detergent, cleaning products) to different grocery isles.
As many of you know from hearing from us in person, floor associates now have a time limit. We are given so many hours in order to get the freight worked in the department we are working, so that we can move on to the next department and do the same. Most departments are given an average of 3-4 hours, depending apon how much freight they get.
On an average night, in most cases, I work Chemicals. I get freight from the GM (general merchandise side), and I get a skid from the grocery truck with bleach and laundry detergent that is what we call an 8 footer because I would have to get a ladder to get the little boxes off the top and work the skid. So, between each receiving area, I average 3-4 skids a night.
According to the Task Manager, for that department, it should only take me 3-4 hours to get all those skids done. This is not counting having any interruptions, moving stuff, zoning, helping customers because even at 1am, people still shop...doesn't matter.
In last nights meeting, while running down the little Task Manager line up they give us as to who goes where, I was assigned Chemicals as usual, and told that I had to be done by 4am. We were also told that if we weren't done, we'd be making a trip back to the office.
We leave the meeting and I go get my garbage bag and go hunt for a pallet jack (I've found I get done faster pulling the skid into the isle and working the freight that way), found the jack, and went to look for a cart to put my cardboard on. Well, what do you know, the few they had empty were being used by IMS to put the picks on.
Ok, I will just have to take my trash back after I complete a skid, and then I thought about it, and decided to jus tget the first two skids done and do trash then as not to waste time at the baler (because making a bale doesn't count either) so if I go back and there is a line that is taking from my stocking time. If I help make a bale, the clock still ticks.
So, I go through my skids and the managers come by and the one says (and this is at like 12:30, not long after 1st break, "are you done yet??" I had 4 skids total: I had the three GM skids, plus the 8 footer and was only finishing up the 1st one.
Cart party time rolled around. For those of you that don't know, every night at 1:45, all the overnight stockers get to go out and collect all the carts in the parking lot, which is why it is called a 'Cart Party'. That takes a good 15 minutes, and then it is time for lunch. I went to lunch last night at 2, so the minute I came in from the cart party, Shawn was looking for me to go to lunch.
Got back from lunch at 3, and continued my work, with only an hour to go. I still didn't take cardboard back because I didn't want to waste time. I was working on the last GM skid that I had and had the 8 footer to go when my manger came by and said 'you're not done yet?', I said 'no', and we talked for a minute and I told her I wasn't killing myself to try and get the freight done. I said I can only go as fast as I can and said I guess I'll be making a trip back to the office like our other manager said. I told her its's not that I don't care, but, I'm not going to try and work unrealistic time conditions. She said she understood and went on.
Shortly after that, one of our support managers came out and got me and it was my turn to go to the office. She said, 'you know why you're back here, right?' I said no, and she had the screen pulled up and showed me what she had been talking about with the times. I apparently had only 292 cases, so, it should only have taken me 4 hours (minus my lunch) to get the 4 skids done. That is 60 cases an hour, and looking at it by skid, that would mean an hour for each skid--including the 8 foot skid that could pass as 2 skids itself.
So, I was coached for not getting my job quick enough and placing more of a burden on the other associates by not getting my area done so that I could go on to other departments and work. I was told that by me taking longer than I should, I forced the other associates to have to work harder to get more departments done, because, apparently, their expectation is that all freight needs to get worked by 7am. We have an average of a dozen associates, no more than around 20 people to work each of the grocery isles, HBA, Chemicals, Pets, Infants, and Paper. I was told there are associates who work many departments a night and that it was unfair for me to take longer to get my department done.
At this point, I wrote my comment, asked to have a copy for my records as to what I said, then went back out to finish my skids. I was almost done the last one when Shawn came by and got me for break around 5:30. Came back out and finished that skid and started the 8 footer when Shawn came by and said he asked the other manager if he could give me a hand since there was coverage up front, so, he helped me get the giant skid done, and helped me take back my buckload of cardboard and trash. I pulled back my skid of overstock, did my dozen boxes of picks (they don't count either), and cleaned up just as 7am was rolling around.
I have since decided I don't care anymore. Tonight will probably be my last night because once you get coached, it stays on your record for a year and the next step is a 'D' day, or a decision making day which is your paid day to decide if you want to continue to work there, and if they want to continue to employ you. So, I guess tonight will tell the tale, but I have decided that if I get called back to the office for a 'd' day, I'm going to give them my badge and be done. I'm not letting them fire me over something stupid. Not when they can put me somewhere else and I can work there just as well.
So, not only is this my 'Friday night', it might be my last night working for Walmart...will let you know tomorrow.
Anyways, hope everyone has a nice evening, and I'm going to get some coffee and work on dinner... night all.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Is It Just Me??
I have been in an irritated mood all morning, and I think it's because I have had stuff build up over the past few weeks.
It drives me nuts when someone else (Shawn included...ask him, he will tell you) does my laundry or my dishes. We have things arranged in the kitchen a certain way and when someone else comes in and does dishes and puts them away where ever, it takes extra time to put everything back (once I find it) and creates unnecessary stress...
As much as I appreciate my MIL helping when she came to watch the kids Thanksgiving week so I could take Shawn to his appointment at Shepherd, while she was there, she did the dishes...and got bored and started doing my laundry. Like I said, I appreciate the thought, but had no idea that she was going to do this, so imagine the look on my face when we got home and she was folding laundry in the LR while the kids were watching TV. I knew it was going to take me several days to get it all sorted out because we had other stuff going on a the same time, and I did not have time to go back through and re organize everything. But I didn't say anything because she was helping....
I have just started getting things put away because I just left everything there temperarily until I had a moment to deal with it... she did explain to me how she had things arranged...ok, that's cool, but of course I forgot not long after because I was really tired.
It didn't take long to get the dishes back in order because we use everything all the time, but it was just unnecessary.
I started working on the laundry the rest of that weekend, but just couldn't motivate myself to put it away, so until this morning when Shawn was reorganizing the kitchen, I went in and grabbed the hanging laundry and started to put it away.
I sometimes thing that there is just something wrong with me because I will get upset with Shawn when he does dishes because he splashes water everywhere when he's doing them, and then water gets all over the floor (and generally the floor is still dirty and needs to be swept and mopped, so that means that there is MORE mess to clean, and with us walking in it)... I appreciate him wanting to help, but some things I think are best left for me to take care of.
I think that I'm irritated because he wants to have a hand in everything and some things he should just leave alone. Like, it worked well when he was letting me sweep because I could see the dirt and mess, and he would mop the floor.
I love when he cooks, because he does an awesome job...but the cleanup is a nightmare! I don't feel like there is a win-win!
It's utter chaos when there is no routine, and no system.
We went and got groceries earlier today and I was iritated because somewhere along the line, I lost my grocery list, and without the list, I felt grocery shopping was in vain because we'd just be winging it. We did, but I am hoping that I didn't miss anything we really needed. I have found that when I stick to a grocery list, we spend less and don't get things we don't need. Happens all the time.
I know things will eventually get worked out, but, it is very frustrating in the meantime.
It drives me nuts when someone else (Shawn included...ask him, he will tell you) does my laundry or my dishes. We have things arranged in the kitchen a certain way and when someone else comes in and does dishes and puts them away where ever, it takes extra time to put everything back (once I find it) and creates unnecessary stress...
As much as I appreciate my MIL helping when she came to watch the kids Thanksgiving week so I could take Shawn to his appointment at Shepherd, while she was there, she did the dishes...and got bored and started doing my laundry. Like I said, I appreciate the thought, but had no idea that she was going to do this, so imagine the look on my face when we got home and she was folding laundry in the LR while the kids were watching TV. I knew it was going to take me several days to get it all sorted out because we had other stuff going on a the same time, and I did not have time to go back through and re organize everything. But I didn't say anything because she was helping....
I have just started getting things put away because I just left everything there temperarily until I had a moment to deal with it... she did explain to me how she had things arranged...ok, that's cool, but of course I forgot not long after because I was really tired.
It didn't take long to get the dishes back in order because we use everything all the time, but it was just unnecessary.
I started working on the laundry the rest of that weekend, but just couldn't motivate myself to put it away, so until this morning when Shawn was reorganizing the kitchen, I went in and grabbed the hanging laundry and started to put it away.
I sometimes thing that there is just something wrong with me because I will get upset with Shawn when he does dishes because he splashes water everywhere when he's doing them, and then water gets all over the floor (and generally the floor is still dirty and needs to be swept and mopped, so that means that there is MORE mess to clean, and with us walking in it)... I appreciate him wanting to help, but some things I think are best left for me to take care of.
I think that I'm irritated because he wants to have a hand in everything and some things he should just leave alone. Like, it worked well when he was letting me sweep because I could see the dirt and mess, and he would mop the floor.
I love when he cooks, because he does an awesome job...but the cleanup is a nightmare! I don't feel like there is a win-win!
It's utter chaos when there is no routine, and no system.
We went and got groceries earlier today and I was iritated because somewhere along the line, I lost my grocery list, and without the list, I felt grocery shopping was in vain because we'd just be winging it. We did, but I am hoping that I didn't miss anything we really needed. I have found that when I stick to a grocery list, we spend less and don't get things we don't need. Happens all the time.
I know things will eventually get worked out, but, it is very frustrating in the meantime.
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