| | “Vacation”
So for those of you who do not know already, I am on a little “vacation” form work at the moment. Basically the grant that pays me ran out of money for the year and can only pay us part time until July 1 when we get more grant money and can all get paid full time again. So instead of firing any of us, we all get to be on what is called a furlough. Basically I work part time and only get paid part time, but am still a full time employee as far as having benefits and earning vacation and sick leave and all that. The furlough started today and goes until June 30th, so seven weeks one day. Of this time I can only work for 15 days and 5 hours. I do get Memorial day as a paid holiday too. So basically during this time period I would normally be paid for 36 days and work 35 of them (paid for the holiday), but now I work 15 days 5 hours of them and get paid for 16 days 5 hours. But I do qualify for unemployment because this is a kind of temporary layoff thing and I am now counted as underemployed. And to get unemployment, I have to work full weeks and then have full ones off.
Today I worked a full 8 hours and do not go back to work until next Tuesday. So my work week is over if anyone wants to hang out during the week. For once I can go out drinking at 11:30 on a Tuesday for example! Or go to a museum during the day. Or whatever! So let me know if you want to hang out.
For those that want to try to follow it, here is when I work the next few weeks: May 20-23, June 9-13, and June 23-30.
I have off (including weekends) May 13-19, May 24-June 8th (yep 2 weeks off, in a row!), June 14-22.
At work we are staggering when we are there and not so that we have the office covered.
It is so odd that this is the only day I work this week. I have not had time off like this since I got this job 2 years ago, and admittedly, it is kind of nice. I mean not getting paid sucks, but I do get unemployment and I am glad for my tax returns and that economic stimulus check. If not for those things I would be hurting money wise, but with them I actually come out as still getting a bit of a tax refund so yay!? I am also working the last part of the furlough, so it makes it so I only have three checks that are smaller instead of 4. It is just those three are even smaller, but I feel I am not affected as long that way.
I have tried to find all the positives from this. I still have a job, I get free vacation time, not using up vacation days on some things I would have, so that means more to use later! Financially I will be OK. More time with friends and family, I can finally unpack this place! I may be able to sneak in a trip to see someone. I am trying to not get mad at the situation and really don’t want to because it is wasted anger, nothing I can do about it so why not find the silver lining and make the most out of the situation? I mean the work break will actually be nice. This is the time of year for a break like this with the weather getting warmer and all. All my friends are getting their summer break from college so I get one too! I have been working the last two years solid with no break like this when I was used to one every summer and that long Christmas break, and a Spring break every other year of my life since I was 5! I was missing that. I know in a job like mine that is how it goes, and in most peoples job, no breaks like back when you were in school, and I accept that with my job, but now I get one so hell ya I am making the most of it! I will be OK with money, more so than I was the last few years of college in the summer, or during the school year for that matter.
It is still weird though and I keep thinking that someone is going to tell me it is a big joke and when I don’t go into work for a week all hell will break lose. It is still sinking in that I get to keep my job, benefits and what not and they are giving me a vacation! Unpaid true, but still, time off!
So anyway, let me know if you want to do anything during the week. I am excited to do things that I normally can’t because of work, so help me celebrate my furlough!
Jodie :)
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| | Posted 5/12/2008 6:32 PM - 106 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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