I don’t know about you guys, but for me, it seems to be incredibly hard to find a decent job these days that actually lets you express who you are. I’m curently in a job as a register operator qnd the company I work for have suddenyl cut back all of my hours. I’m not even rostered on ONCE next week at all. So I don’t know If i can survive. It just seems these days one mishap to another and I cannot take it anymore.
NO i’m not going to try and give the impression that i’m one of them “mopey” goths that always tries to commit suicide etc etc, But hey life stinks. Its not only me they’re doing it to. Theres about 20 of us that they’re doing it to. I get 10.97 an hour (adult wage) and that still isn’t enough for me to survive. ie car payments etc etc. What the company did is they hired all of these little Highschool childeren and put them on as trainees so they get money from the government and they only have to pay the 7.48 an hour.(and no I’m no jealous, I just need the money more than they do) So NOw seeings they have all these highschool kids rostered on. they don’t need us adults anymore so they’re giving us the flick so they don’t have to pay us adult wage when they can play 7 dollars. Now tell me, how fucking currupt is that. Now I must remind myself never to work for a company that doesn’t budget right which is probably about 75% of them.
Thanks for listening to my ramble. I’m just extremely annoyed, and I have lost faith In my surrounding community.
P.s Theres no Point in being in a job where you have to hid who you really are. (in most jobs you have to hide ) SO LETS ALL GO ON WELFARE!
I wouldn’t say that en masse registration for welfare is the way to go (that pays less than MickeyD’s)! But I definitely feel your pain. I had (notice past tense) a wonderful job teaching at a large southern University (roll tide) that allowed me and my class to emote our creativity and individual expression (My mistake was encouraging such an un-american notion!) However, after winning the college-wide teaching award and having two dozen current and former students vouch for me…the department decided to “find someone a little more normal.” Wow. So, now I too am in the land of crappy wages (again) and shitty bosses (again) and job-hunting (again) and outright discrimination based on lifestyle (again). Land of the Free? For whom?
Blessed, ShadowGod
Hey, I definately feel your pain.
Now, I don’t know what work you do, so it’s kinda hard for me to think up a good comment here. But I can tell you a little about my former job (which I quit for different reasons altogether).
About one and a half years ago, I quite my job. I had been working as a locksmith for the past two years, and everyone was *very* happy with my work. Practical things come easier to some people than to others, I guess. Anyway, this firm was family-owned (no, not the mafia). And my boss (the husband of the family) was a bit of an asshole really. You see, in my country, you have to write out a work contract together with your employer, he said that was unneccessary. Oral agreements are legal too (yeah right..prove your case), but still, with no contract, I had no job description. Which led me to my dilemma. I was promised to be ‘taught’ for the first six months (going on some kind of trainee salary) then full job, including assembling locks and driving to the destination to deliver them, and mount them onto the doors. Okay, sounds fine, except I worked for two years without leaving the fucking front door before closing time. He was so ‘happy’ with me cause I was geat with the customers, and I was great with handling the storage too. So, I had full responsibility of the store, the storage, and all the work orders (before someone else got the finished locks from me and drove to deliver them). So whats the big fucking deal, you ask? Well, the point of this little story of mine is, ALWAYS HAVE A WORK CONTRACT SIGNED BY YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYER! Why? Because: 1. It shows what your job actually is.
2. it shows your salary/benefits (if any)
3. it gives you an edge when it comes to cutting your hours.
4. It’s legally binding by both sides.
5. Such a contract will prevent you from being fired easily.
6. You get the job you asked for, and not a crappy job you didnt want.
I’m sure you all will find new jobs, I just hope you will be happy with them.
Zeke.
I know the feeling exactly. There are times when you have to hide who you are, in order to get what you want.
Once you start getting what you want, then it’s time to slowly becoming yourself again, right before their eyes.
At my last job, my boss said that he didn’t like me, however, he couldn’t ignore the fact that customers seemed to seek me out for help, rather than anyone else. I worked in the stationary department of an office suppy store.
I had more people asking me to assist them, direct them around etc, than any other member of staff.
Much to the bosses surprise, I even had the nuns from the local convent intentionally asking for me by name.
I think that once people realise that you are not a fake person, and you are being yourself, then they trust you a hell of a lot more.
Sure I had the whispering, the questioning and the stareing, but I didn’t care. The boss may have done, but I never did.
I eventually had to leave there because he was asking me to tone it down. I argued that I was an individual with rights. Well look where that got me… unemployed.
Hmmm, lesson learnt, nah, I still wannna be me for me and not anybody else.
Unfortunately we all have (or will) learn lessons like these above. I think one of the common threads is that employers in general do not value persons as individuals, and that the overall apprehension, bigotry and “corporate culture” dictate that YOU or I “tone it down” without understanding that “toning it down” is a direct assault on said autonomy. I have never been one to dress uber-goth when going to work, rather my experience was that the censorial attitude was in relation to my preferences and lifestyle (much like employers haranguing their workers over a religious type). In any event, it all fucking sucks (can’t phrase it more eloquently).
Wanna work as a telephone psychic? Can you read Tarot and play Dear Abby? Can you get a second phone line? Then you’re good to go. Write me if you’re interested. ‘m still doing this as my second job.
Alch, M’Dear….
I am saddened by your frustration. Is there no local MP you can call? It may seem futile, but here’s the deal. You say there are quite a few of you affected by this? Give the MP or Minister a call, or better still, drop him a letter. One letter from each of you can be quite moving. You, as I have said before, are STARTLINGLY aware and able. Write the letter, give each disenfranchised employee one, (ask them to change it a little), and send them along! Please, don’t take this next sentence as a pejorative. Leave out your age. The way you write, it’s NOT information they need! Let them make a decision based on what you say. ALL of you.
BUT…start looking through those wanteds….
V.T.
HDJ
**lopsided smile** even seeing the side of it that most of humanity rather turn a blind eye to life is what you make out of it. Of course, you’re not the only one the’re doing it to. They are a company and they work on the whole idea of getting as much profit as possible, and if that means hiring people that are younger than you so they don’t have to pay them as much they will. What’s wrong with that though, are you against capitalism or social Darwinism? Why shouldn’t they, because you’ve worked there longer than the tiny high school teens? If they can do what they need to and well, what’s the problem other than some of you are being weeded out.
Then again if you paid attention in high school economics and applied a skill some of us call math you would have noticed if you’re not planning on living at home with Mom and Dad, ten dollars and hour hardly cuts it. With a room mate you’d have approximately five dollars at the end of the month for what ever when you count in: car payments, rent, utilities, insurance, food and other average household expenses. Now that you’re there and complaining
Most jobs you do have to hid who you really are. Unless you’re your own boss you’re always going to be under someone so either get used to it and buck up or become your own boss.
Night Faerie
I’m not against anythng I’m just simply stating if they were going to do this to us all anyway maybe they should of told us?, You don’t know the full story so keep your rude comments to yourself,
It does stink something terribly. I myslef make sure I am careful not to offend anyone and only dress “crazy” after hours. I deal with alot of people on a national client base.
Of course I am happy to oblige for I get highly compensated for what I do.
I think it isn’t fair….but unfortunatly…no one can change the world. 🙁 maybe one day.
My friend has like a ton of peircings and tatoos all over the place, he got a awsome job as a club diva…. it pays ok and he can dress however all the time. Usually the jobs that they dont care about or want someone to look interesting are club dj’s, club bartenders, people working on an interesting side of town…(I live near chicago and my friend works downtown at a boutique that sells jewelry and gothic/punk clothes, she looks awsome all the time!) Factory work is usually non-discrimatory too (not that it is fun or anything however)
I wish you the best and hopefully something will come up soon.
Dark Blessings,
Belladonna Starfyre
Exterminating Angel
Perhaps I am just a sellout, but I hide what I am at work, at least as far as clothing is concerned. I find that it is rather helpful as far as promotions go, to seem to be what everyone wants you to be. I personally see nothing wrong with taking the shit they give you in the begining, so once your above them you can give it right back to them. Seems fair to me anyway.
As far as them discriminating against you because of what you believe, no it is not right, nor is it fair. The world though has never been right or fair, so it would be unwise to assume that your next employer would be so enlightend.
People are paid for services rendered…the painful truth is life is very unfair. Your time given for money factored into your duties and responsibilities. We all work in some service sector or another. Education and skills will place you in a better position to decide what work you will want to do. Even that alone does not gurantee much. Nepitism and favoritism are also constant events in the work place. All I can say get a degree for the sake of being educated and move into a field that you can stomach eight hours a day. Don’t worry about money…money is good for bills, but don’t play materialism games…you always lose. Buy things in life you really like, and screw what other people think. Remember though..the more money you make, the more the Goverment will take and redistribute to welfare programs. And that money adds up, especially if you have to be in a place for eight or more hours a day, more if your in management..be self reliant, screw all that welfare noise. Being on welfare is sucking on the nipple of society…the thing is you just get enough milk to know how much life really sucks.
EVP
I agree with you 100 percent…I hate people who whimper on about how life is so unfair…if you want something in life…other people do to, so you better be more competitive then them to be able to get it…whatever that might be.
EVP
If you look like a corpse in the workplace..people will treat you like one..and others will pass you by. The game is blend in for your eight hours and go home and dress any way you like…
EVP
actualy, I make even less then the high school wage your talking about, but I work 6 days a week to compensate.
Mcd’s does need to reavaluate their wages. I was there for over a year. I made less than I do now at the time I quit. I don’t blend in even in “normal” attire. not that many 6ft fems at work.
I have been told that I’m the best emloyee at my job, and I’ve been there a mere 3 months. (Evil laugh) My managers seem to think I’m quiet, respectful, and resbonsible. (possibly because I haven’t threatend to strangle anyone yet?) I even got invited to one managers wedding. Go figure.
anyway, the point is that this is life, and most of us have to put up with the same bs on a daily basis.
If you hold on, I’ll hold on.
~n~