Buckling Down....

...or Slave Drivers?

Pardon me, but I am going to take a moment to vent a little bit. You have my permission to skip right on by this post if you so desire. Reader’s discretion is advised.

I have, over the last couple of weeks, come to develop quite the sour taste in my mouth towards the style of managing at the Homestead. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to make this a bashing session, there are just a couple of things about work that rub me wrong way (as well as several other co-workers that I have talked to). I am also not trying to gather allies or seek justification. Just simply vent.

In all of the jobs that I have ever had in the past I have received some sort of break, whether that be an extended lunch break or two small breaks with a smaller lunch – the kind of break doesn’t matter, but the fact that I was given breaks does. The Homestead doesn’t provide or even encourage its employees to take breaks. With the majority of their employees working 10-12 hour shifts (being on their feet the entire time) it is unreal to me that they condone breaks saying, “Well, if you really need to take a break then take 5 or 10 minutes to sit with one of the residents but make sure that when visitors/families come in you get back to work. And if you’re not happy with that then maybe this job isn’t for you.” Did they really say that? I understand that this business is to serve and assist others in their daily life activities and daily life never takes a break, but a 5 or 10 minute break for 10-12 hours of working? Come on! There’s something wrong with that.

What about the night shift people – like me? How are we supposed to go “sit with a resident” on a break when they are all in bed sleeping? This is was even more unreal to me. We were told that we didn’t need breaks but that the list of duties required of us to accomplish at night should take up the entire night. Well, what if we get done early? Their response, “There is always something that you can find to do or we can make the duty list longer.” Oh yes! Please make the list longer! Pretty please!?! Right. In talking with a friend about this we concluded that in any other job working the same 10-12 hour shift one would be provided with a total of about an hour and fifteen minute break – split various ways over the shift depending. And it is up to the employee what they want to do on their break – that is their time.

I don’t know how many of you have worked 12-hour night shifts before, but they are quite difficult at times (almost every night) to stay awake the entire time because simply you’re body naturally isn’t programmed like that. And even when altered it is still difficult. Combine the natural body’s tendency to want to sleep at night with the exhausting duties of work and you have one extremely difficult battle of staying awake. Did I emphasize extremely difficult? Yes, it is possible but fighting against nature is never an easy feat. It’s bound to happen. And are we cut any slack? You tell me.

That brings me to my next point. You might be thinking, “Well, how do they know if you accidentally fall asleep for a short period of time?” The Homestead has what they like to call ‘Big Brother’. Yup, you guessed it – a camera. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against cameras especially when it’s for the protection of both the residents and the employees. I have heard horror stories of things some people do to the elderly when nobody’s watching. It is the manner in which they use the cameras that make the difference. The employees at the Homestead have on more than one occasion received memos with nice little comforting reminders that read, “Remember Big Brother is watching you!” Oh, how comforting! They are watching my every move. I feel so trusted! How did they know I like threats? They must have read the fine print on my resume. They’re good.

I can take positive criticism. I grew up with it. No biggie…until that is the only thing you hear without any recognition of the good you are doing. “You need to do this better…You’re not doing that right…You messed up doing that…How did that happen?...Make sure you do this….Don’t do that…” The Managers have learned to call the building phone when I am working because they know I’ll answer it – I have to. (It doesn’t have caller ID). I have learned not to answer their calls on my cell phone because I always need a little prep time to be in the right state of mind to take what they have to dish out. It’s hard coming to a job when your every move is being watched, you’ve been threatened, and you feel like you’re not trusted and a crappy employee. OH, Pick me! Pick me! Where do I sign up? Ooh, wait…I already did.

The Managers aren’t the only ones that help me to love my job so much, but some of the co-workers jumped on the band wagon as well and started tooting their horn. Literally. This type of job attracts women. (I think there is one male employee, not including the owner and his son-in-law, who is the head Manager). And following the stereotypical women, the majority enjoy gossiping or tattle-telling. Another perk of this job! I bet you’re dying to apply. Maybe working with the elderly has some kind of age-defying effect because I thought tattle-telling was an elementary school phase. Correct me if I’m wrong on that. In addition to the “positive criticism” phone calls, my favorites are the calls that begin like, “So-and-so told me she saw you doing this…” Who does that? I guess they are taking the counsel to become child-like to the extreme.

To make working conditions a little bit more pleasant I would bring my laptop so I could listen to a variety of my own music while accomplishing the many duties of work. Music has the powerful effect of making you work faster – maybe it’s the beat of the music, I don’t know. Music also helps things to be less stressful; it has a calming effect. Singing along to the music distracts the mind from what you are doing, not hindering your performance by any means, but helps the mind get off the one-track focus of the task at hand. All in all, it helps. After accomplishing all my duties at work I also would use my computer to work on any homework that I didn’t finish during the week or work on work stuff for the Internet Marketing job I have. I always put my Homestead duties first and foremost and when called upon throughout the night from the residents I immediately responded without hesitating or taking those few extra seconds or minutes to finish up what I was doing. But the day came where I got that call from the manager telling me they were watching me on the camera and saw me “messing around on my computer” and told me that I am no longer allowed to bring my laptop to work. (I let this call go to voicemail and so I didn’t get the opportunity to explain that I wasn’t “messing” or playing around on my computer). So now I bring my iPod to listen to my music on and bring my text books to read from after all my duties are completed. I wouldn’t be surprised if I got another call from the managers prohibiting me from bringing those things to work as well. After that it’ll probably be my Chaco sandals and fleece jacket.

Ok, I know you can cut my sarcasm with a knife it is so thick and you probably think this is the worst job on the face of the earth and wondering why I am still working there. Every job has its downside and I probably overly embellished them a little. I have been tempted to quit a couple of times recently, but have resisted that unwise temptation. The job is rewarding and it is the residents that keep me coming back. If it weren’t for them I would have been long gone. Working with the elderly or just being around them was a very scary and intimidating thing for me before this job. By having this job I have stepped outside of my comfort zone and truly grown in many ways, but mostly grown to greatly love the elderly. In a frustrating moment a week ago I mentioned to one of the residents that I was tempted to quit. Tears swelled up in her eyes and she said, “Oh, please don’t quit! We need you. You help us so much and bring us so much happiness.” Her husband standing nearby also gave a similar plea. My heart melted! Who could resist such a cry? Or when getting up another resident each morning she always tells me, “I still like you a lot.” And even though I am not there for any of the meals the residents eat during the weekend they still take a moment to compliment me on how good a dish or meal was that I cooked the previous night. The residents make up and exceed what the manager’s lack in compliments and small recognitions which are important to have in any type of job.

So, despite the disagreements and frustrations I may have or the nit-pickiness and threats of management I still enjoy my job. It’s not an easy job for sure, but seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of the residents is what it is all about. That makes it all worth it. I just needed to take a moment to release some built up tension. Thanks for listening. Phew! I feel much better now. Now I’m ready to go back to work tonight with a big smile on my face and seek to help the residents have big smiles and some good laughs too.