The "What's on your mind?" Thread -2017

[segelkatt]

 
Maybe this will happen to me.  I've searched my apartment for the three brushes that clean out Chula and Paul's fountain but they are nowhere to be seen.  They had a home and everything so all I can think of is that I absentmindedly stored them in the trash.  Now I have three fountain-cleaning brushes in my amazon cart so perhaps the other three will come out of hiding. Assuming they are not taking up room in a landfill somewhere.  

I am constantly misplacing my cell phone and I don't have a landline to call myself. Usually it shows up in a  stupid place like dirty laundry where it is in a jeans pocket but not always. I try to always keep it in the same place but sometimes I mess up and then I turn the place upside down trying to find it or hoping someone will call me so I can track it down by its ringer. Then I hear it and still can't find it because it rings only 4 times, rats!

 

[Alicia88]

 
I am constantly misplacing my cell phone and I don't have a landline to call myself. Usually it shows up in a  stupid place like dirty laundry where it is in a jeans pocket but not always. I try to always keep it in the same place but sometimes I mess up and then I turn the place upside down trying to find it or hoping someone will call me so I can track it down by its ringer. Then I hear it and still can't find it because it rings only 4 times, rats!

http://www.wheresmycellphone.com/

I've used that site more times than I can count for the very same reason.

 

[segelkatt]

 
http://www.wheresmycellphone.com/

I've used that site more times than I can count for the very same reason.

Thank you, I did not know such a site existed, this will be very helpful.

 

[tallyollyopia]

 
We had orientation.  John starts work Thursday at 10:30am and I start Thursday at 4:30 pm.  I had to get a pair of dark blue jeans without holes (all mine are "fashionably" holey), a black belt, and black non-skid shoes.  I borrowed money from my Grandma and got it all for less than $60 (plus a 6 pack of cute socks because of Payless' BOGO thing).  And Payless has a contract to give 25% off for people who work at Colton's and that applied to my cute new sock as well.  So, yippee.  John just needed the jeans cuz he already had suitable shoes and a belt and his mom loaned him the money for those.  So, we're all set.

And I STILL haven't heard anything from my sister.  If she doesn't get ahold of me tomorrow, I'm sending the cops to check on her.

Congrats on the low price for the new work clothes! 

 (I got mine for free, but then I also got it after the owner died and no one else wanted them. Luckily for me, she dressed way  younger than her age!)

 
DD messaged me and said she's fine.  She used the code word I gave her to prove that it's her and not one of them posing as her.  Yeah, I sound paranoid, but I don't trust them.

I don't think it's paranoid at all. I hope you don't mind, but I've brought your problems with your sister up with AWM and SD, and SD had a suggestion. SD suggested you contact child services and tell them point blank that they know abuse is going on and if she had to go to the hospital because of the abuse you will sue them for every cent of the bill. (I don't know if it's good advice or not, but that's what he said.)

 

[tallyollyopia]

Short rant here--how, just how  am I supposed to clock out at exactly six in the morning when my relief doesn't even arrive until six-oh-nine? Especially  when the previous shift has left me with a wagon full of and a pile of garbage to take to the dumpsters?!

Okay, rant over. I have a conundrum, and I would like some advice about it. My store has an opening for a lead person, and my manager is taking applications for the position from the people already working in the store.

The Pros: It's a full two dollars an hour more, plus time and a half for overtime and holidays.

It's more guaranteed hours a week--right now I'm only guaranteed to get twenty-four.

The Cons: I have to not only be able to work every  shift, I'll have to be trained for things I haven't learned how to do yet because it's not needed for third shift, of which I am primary.

I would be able to work double shifts, which is not allowed by my current contract.

I would have to give all my coworkers my cell number, so that they could contact me in the event that neither the manager nor the assistant manager is available.

 

[tallyollyopia]

Slight posting problem, so this is a different post. Asia was so cute this morning! In case you skipped my rant, I was late getting home so they were late getting their wet food this morning (we leave dry food down all day for them). Apparently Asia gave up on getting wet food this morning, because she came in with a dead bird! 

 (I think it was wren--it was small, dark brown, and had light brown speckles on top of its head.) She went over to the wet food we put down for her (by that point she was the only one who hadn't eaten), ate a few bites (and I swear, she looked like she was eating to be polite, because we went through all the trouble of putting it down for her), and then devoured her bird (plus bones, minus feathers--which were everywhere). 

 

[artiemom]

 
Short rant here--how, just how  am I supposed to clock out at exactly six in the morning when my relief doesn't even arrive until six-oh-nine? Especially  when the previous shift has left me with a wagon full of and a pile of garbage to take to the dumpsters?!

Okay, rant over. I have a conundrum, and I would like some advice about it. My store has an opening for a lead person, and my manager is taking applications for the position from the people already working in the store.

The Pros: It's a full two dollars an hour more, plus time and a half for overtime and holidays.

It's more guaranteed hours a week--right now I'm only guaranteed to get twenty-four.

The Cons: I have to not only be able to work every  shift, I'll have to be trained for things I haven't learned how to do yet because it's not needed for third shift, of which I am primary.

I would be able to work double shifts, which is not allowed by my current contract.

I would have to give all my coworkers my cell number, so that they could contact me in the event that neither the manager nor the assistant manager is available.

It all depends if you kind of want to be 'on call' 24/7... for all fill ins... 

If you want to be a 'supervisor' or just a regular working... I know the money is there, but burnout could happen pretty fast...

and would you really want to give your cell number to everyone??? and have the phone go off, being responsible to either cover the shift at a moment's notice, or go through the hassle of finding someone to cover?????

 

[DreamerRose]

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you, but there's much to consider. But you may regret it if you don't take it.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

 
Short rant here--how, just how  am I supposed to clock out at exactly six in the morning when my relief doesn't even arrive until six-oh-nine? Especially  when the previous shift has left me with a wagon full of and a pile of garbage to take to the dumpsters?!

Okay, rant over. I have a conundrum, and I would like some advice about it. My store has an opening for a lead person, and my manager is taking applications for the position from the people already working in the store.

The Pros: It's a full two dollars an hour more, plus time and a half for overtime and holidays.

It's more guaranteed hours a week--right now I'm only guaranteed to get twenty-four.

The Cons: I have to not only be able to work every  shift, I'll have to be trained for things I haven't learned how to do yet because it's not needed for third shift, of which I am primary.

I would be able to work double shifts, which is not allowed by my current contract.

I would have to give all my coworkers my cell number, so that they could contact me in the event that neither the manager nor the assistant manager is available.

I would recommend that, should you decide to take the position, you buy a Tracphone or something of the sort, and keep just enough minutes on it for emergency communications.  That will keep co-workers from having your personal number.  SHOULD you ever change jobs, your "real" number remains private.   Just a thought.

All well on the Eastern Front today.  Little Bit continues to use his shelter, but ONLY well after dark.  That's fine.  The main thing was that it would be available to him.  Hekitty continues to bug me to go feed him every day, starting at about 4:15 in the afternoon.  She will raise cain until I've set his supper out back for him.  Which is kinda hysterical, because on the occasions that he sticks his head up in the window, she acts like he has killed her!  It seems to be a process.  She wants to be friends, but really has no clue HOW to approach the matter.   

 

[artiemom]

 
I would recommend that, should you decide to take the position, you buy a Tracphone or something of the sort, and keep just enough minutes on it for emergency communications.  That will keep co-workers from having your personal number.  SHOULD you ever change jobs, your "real" number remains private.   Just a thought.

All well on the Eastern Front today.  Little Bit continues to use his shelter, but ONLY well after dark.  That's fine.  The main thing was that it would be available to him.  Hekitty continues to bug me to go feed him every day, starting at about 4:15 in the afternoon.  She will raise cain until I've set his supper out back for him.  Which is kinda hysterical, because on the occasions that he sticks his head up in the window, she acts like he has killed her!  It seems to be a process.  She wants to be friends, but really has no clue HOW to approach the matter.   

that sound so comical... and cute.. Hekitty and Little Bit.....

Trak phone sounds like a great idea...

 

[Alicia88]

 
Congrats on the low price for the new work clothes! 

 (I got mine for free, but then I also got it after the owner died and no one else wanted them. Luckily for me, she dressed way  younger than her age!)

I don't think it's paranoid at all. I hope you don't mind, but I've brought your problems with your sister up with AWM and SD, and SD had a suggestion. SD suggested you contact child services and tell them point blank that they know abuse is going on and if she had to go to the hospital because of the abuse you will sue them for every cent of the bill. (I don't know if it's good advice or not, but that's what he said.)

She's already on Medicaid so I don't think it would make any kind of difference.  If she wasn't on Medicaid, that would be a great idea.

 
Short rant here--how, just how  am I supposed to clock out at exactly six in the morning when my relief doesn't even arrive until six-oh-nine? Especially  when the previous shift has left me with a wagon full of and a pile of garbage to take to the dumpsters?!

Okay, rant over. I have a conundrum, and I would like some advice about it. My store has an opening for a lead person, and my manager is taking applications for the position from the people already working in the store.

The Pros: It's a full two dollars an hour more, plus time and a half for overtime and holidays.

It's more guaranteed hours a week--right now I'm only guaranteed to get twenty-four.

The Cons: I have to not only be able to work every  shift, I'll have to be trained for things I haven't learned how to do yet because it's not needed for third shift, of which I am primary.

I would be able to work double shifts, which is not allowed by my current contract.

I would have to give all my coworkers my cell number, so that they could contact me in the event that neither the manager nor the assistant manager is available.

The extra pay and guaranteed hours would sell it for me.

 
Slight posting problem, so this is a different post. Asia was so cute this morning! In case you skipped my rant, I was late getting home so they were late getting their wet food this morning (we leave dry food down all day for them). Apparently Asia gave up on getting wet food this morning, because she came in with a dead bird! 

 (I think it was wren--it was small, dark brown, and had light brown speckles on top of its head.) She went over to the wet food we put down for her (by that point she was the only one who hadn't eaten), ate a few bites (and I swear, she looked like she was eating to be polite, because we went through all the trouble of putting it down for her), and then devoured her bird (plus bones, minus feathers--which were everywhere). 

Well, at least you know she's self sufficient.  If she ever gets lost for a couple days, she won't go hungry.  And you've raised her with good manners!

 
I would recommend that, should you decide to take the position, you buy a Tracphone or something of the sort, and keep just enough minutes on it for emergency communications.  That will keep co-workers from having your personal number.  SHOULD you ever change jobs, your "real" number remains private.   Just a thought.

All well on the Eastern Front today.  Little Bit continues to use his shelter, but ONLY well after dark.  That's fine.  The main thing was that it would be available to him.  Hekitty continues to bug me to go feed him every day, starting at about 4:15 in the afternoon.  She will raise cain until I've set his supper out back for him.  Which is kinda hysterical, because on the occasions that he sticks his head up in the window, she acts like he has killed her!  It seems to be a process.  She wants to be friends, but really has no clue HOW to approach the matter.   

She's so cute and awkward!!!  I love it.

 

[tallyollyopia]

 
It all depends if you kind of want to be 'on call' 24/7... for all fill ins... 

If you want to be a 'supervisor' or just a regular working... I know the money is there, but burnout could happen pretty fast...

and would you really want to give your cell number to everyone??? and have the phone go off, being responsible to either cover the shift at a moment's notice, or go through the hassle of finding someone to cover?????

I really don't want to give everyone my number. I've had the same number for years, almost as long as I've had a cell phone. I'm kind of attached to it, and a couple of years ago I had a problem with a guy who gave my number to his one-night-stands-who-thought-they-would-be-girlfriends. (It was a nightmare, because every time I answered the woman thought I was the "other woman", and I was looking for work with my application, number included, out at several promising jobs--which fell through. I still don't know how he got  my number; I only gave it to potential employers.)

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you, but there's much to consider. But you may regret it if you don't take it.

The biggest problem is double shifts. Like I've said before, we don't get breaks; we're working every minute. I'm not sure I could handle it for sixteen hours at a time.

 
I would recommend that, should you decide to take the position, you buy a Tracphone or something of the sort, and keep just enough minutes on it for emergency communications.  That will keep co-workers from having your personal number.  SHOULD you ever change jobs, your "real" number remains private.   Just a thought.

All well on the Eastern Front today.  Little Bit continues to use his shelter, but ONLY well after dark.  That's fine.  The main thing was that it would be available to him.  Hekitty continues to bug me to go feed him every day, starting at about 4:15 in the afternoon.  She will raise cain until I've set his supper out back for him.  Which is kinda hysterical, because on the occasions that he sticks his head up in the window, she acts like he has killed her!  It seems to be a process.  She wants to be friends, but really has no clue HOW to approach the matter.   

Good thoughts.

 Aw, Little Bit is so cute!

 
She's already on Medicaid so I don't think it would make any kind of difference.  If she wasn't on Medicaid, that would be a great idea.

The extra pay and guaranteed hours would sell it for me.

Well, at least you know she's self sufficient.  If she ever gets lost for a couple days, she won't go hungry.  And you've raised her with good manners!

She's so cute and awkward!!!  I love it.

Medicaid doesn't pay everything.

I'm not sure, because, like I've said, we don't get breaks. It's hard at eight hours; I'm not sure I could survive sixteen.

She does, doesn't she? 

 

[DreamerRose]

It's not legal to not provide breaks in an 8-hour shift, much less a 16-hour shift. You can file a complaint with the Dept of Labor. Law requires two breaks of 10 minutes and one of 30 minutes for an 8-hour shift.

 

[Alicia88]

 
I really don't want to give everyone my number. I've had the same number for years, almost as long as I've had a cell phone. I'm kind of attached to it, and a couple of years ago I had a problem with a guy who gave my number to his one-night-stands-who-thought-they-would-be-girlfriends. (It was a nightmare, because every time I answered the woman thought I was the "other woman", and I was looking for work with my application, number included, out at several promising jobs--which fell through. I still don't know how he got  my number; I only gave it to potential employers.)

The biggest problem is double shifts. Like I've said before, we don't get breaks; we're working every minute. I'm not sure I could handle it for sixteen hours at a time.

Good thoughts.

 Aw, Little Bit is so cute!

Medicaid doesn't pay everything.

I'm not sure, because, like I've said, we don't get breaks. It's hard at eight hours; I'm not sure I could survive sixteen.

She does, doesn't she? 

I've never known Medicaid to not pay for something.  I'm going to call tomorrow to see what's going on.

 

[tallyollyopia]

It's not legal to not provide breaks in an 8-hour shift, much less a 16-hour shift. You can file a complaint with the Dept of Labor. Law requires two breaks of 10 minutes and one of 30 minutes for an 8-hour shift.

Sure I can--if I want to be unemployed again.

 
I've never known Medicaid to not pay for something.  I'm going to call tomorrow to see what's going on.

Medicaid in your state must be better than mine.

 

[margd]

@Tallyollyopia  Do you have any plans for submitting Magic School and Egg  anywhere?  Or any of your other writing?  You really are talented and I like to hope that someday you won't have to worry about breaks and lunch hours at the store.  It really seems to me that writing is your true calling.  Which brings up another issue when it comes to taking the promotion.  Would it have a negative effect

on your writing?  Would you be too exhausted to write?  Just another thing to think about.  

 

[segelkatt]

I don't understand how people can let employers get away with breaking a federal law. Not giving breaks is not just a violation of state law. You can't just run scared every time an employer breaks the law because you think you will get fired. As you know by now in a case like this you would be eligible for Unemployment Insurance.

You have to insist on being given required breaks. It is not up to you to cover for your employer's goof for not covering when you are not available. As long as you and others do that employers will keep taking advantage of their employees. You can also contact OSHA and the Labor Commission (also known as Labor Board) to have them investigate, this sort of thing is investigated without the employer ever finding out who complained. Walmart was fined because of just that sort of thing and now is really careful about violations.  Of course now they have gone overboard and become sticklers about their employees taking breaks exactly on the minute and fire them for breaking it. Mostly it is inevitable and the employee is eligible for UI which really pisses off Walmart.

You have to stand up for your rights. Ask your employer now how your breaks are going to be covered, what you are supposed to do when your relief is late etc. You need to fight abuse before it happens. Once it is entrenched it is almost impossible to get out of it. 

A defeatist attitude will get you nowhere.

 

[artiemom]

 
I don't understand how people can let employers get away with breaking a federal law. Not giving breaks is not just a violation of state law. You can't just run scared every time an employer breaks the law because you think you will get fired. As you know by now in a case like this you would be eligible for Unemployment Insurance.

You have to insist on being given required breaks. It is not up to you to cover for your employer's goof for not covering when you are not available. As long as you and others do that employers will keep taking advantage of their employees. You can also contact OSHA and the Labor Commission (also known as Labor Board) to have them investigate, this sort of thing is investigated without the employer ever finding out who complained. Walmart was fined because of just that sort of thing and now is really careful about violations.  Of course now they have gone overboard and become sticklers about their employees taking breaks exactly on the minute and fire them for breaking it. Mostly it is inevitable and the employee is eligible for UI which really pisses off Walmart.

You have to stand up for your rights. Ask your employer now how your breaks are going to be covered, what you are supposed to do when your relief is late etc. You need to fight abuse before it happens. Once it is entrenched it is almost impossible to get out of it. 

A defeatist attitude will get you nowhere.

The problem is: most people are "employees at will".. Although, it is against the law to fire someone for reporting their company or to even threaten to fire them; they can make their employment lives a living He!!.....

Because of "employee at will" status, your employer can trump up any charges in order to lead up to a firing..and they can make it sound legit.. it is then up to the fired employee to prove them wrong..

this is where Unions come into play.. alas there are so few of them around..

Do you forget what happened to @Alicia88  ??? it could be worse...

that is why people are so afraid of contacting the labor department... 

 

[DreamerRose]

One more thing. Every employer is required to put up a large poster supplied by the Dept of Labor describing these rights and how to file a complaint.

 

[foxxycat]

sadly employers will put a target on your back..because the little always sings..someone will open mouth and blab about it.

in my company we have to take a 30 min break for every 5 hours of work. we have to punch out for lunch. and so far it's working out ok. but hopefully you can find out exactly how to do the breaks...also find out how many hours they can make you work in a 24 hour period...not sure if there is a limit.