Scribblings from the Mitchy Side

Interesting week this past week. First of all, PartyGirl and I were so efficient, we've basically run out of work to do. This is ok for her, she can make stuff up. It's more difficult for me, however, to look busy right now. Tuesday was a nightmare of dull, dull, dull in Dullsville, which makes for a long day. It wasn't as bad the remainder of the week, but it was slow enough I was forced to draw my lack of work to BigBoss's attention.

The result?

SickNote, who's job this is, has been avoiding doing some major archiving and boxing up of old files for weeks. She was supposed to start the work last week and promptly went off sick for two days. Not a coincidence, I feel. Now, however, her skiving has paid off, because it'll be me lugging files off shelves, putting paper into boxes and carting the results up to the loft.

Charming.

I'm not pleased.

In addition to this, a disturbing rumour has reached my ears. I work for Brook Street. Manpower are the employment agency that deals with County Hall. So basically, I'm paid and run by Brook Street, but everything goes through Manpower - salary, hours, details of contract. Now, apparently, it's been decreed that anyone who's been working in the same job at County for longer than 16 weeks and who ISN'T with Manpower directly, will have their contracts taken over by Manpower. If they don't want to move agencies, they have to move jobs. This sucks on a lot of levels, because Brook Street aren't brilliant, but Manpower are seriously crap. Also, at the moment, I can accrue holiday hours (so many a week). Won't be able to do that with Manpower, as far as I know. Also, there's no guarantee my deal won't change - lower salary for example. Still, this is only rumour at the mo, although it's happened to one of my Brook Street colleagues, whose job in fact, was the first job I did for Children, Schools and Families. I covered for her while she was on 3 weeks leave last year. She's been there a year next month though, so is well over the limit. However, so am I, having been in the current post for 17 weeks now. I tried calling my gal at Brook Street a couple of times this week but wasn't able to catch her. I'll try again next week, and this time be more persistent.

If it turns out to be the case, my instinct will be to move jobs, as in "out of county hall altogether". Why? Because I've just found out how bad the salaries really are and how little I will actually earn if I stay in this current post. Currently, my annual income is well over 3.5k down on what I need, minimum, to live on. This isn't good. However, what's REALLY insulting is, I am earning MORE than both PartyGirl and a couple of other permanent members of staff in the office. How screwed up is that? No wonder they're all so pissed off. So I suspect I will have to move really soon anyway, in a bid to try and get more money for the remainder of the year. Hope I can at least get the minimum.

*peers at flist* Any of you London types know someone who needs a great admin? I'm a terrific typist with a great telephone manner and I can admin the shit out of anything :)

*sighs* Alternatively, maybe I should start considering jobs that might actually use my degree. Kinda. I dunno. Meh.

Anyway, today I was supposed to do the following:-

Get up early
Go shopping for a new mattress, an air bed for Sherbs to sleep on and one or two other sundry items.
Get back, watch the rugby
Start cleaning kitchen
Clean bathroom

Failed totally to get up early so I've skipped all the shopping and gone right to "watching the rugby" :P I must, however, get off my fat, lazy, mousey arse and start cleaning something tonight. Or I'll have to do it all tomorrow and miss the football *nods*

Oh and I forgot to warn work I'd be late in on Monday. Buggerit. It's Superbowl Sunday tomorrow and I wanna stay up and watch. Kinda torn on who to cheer for but I sorta want the Seahawks, I think. However, I think the Steelers will get it *nods*.

Ooh! I know! I can text PartyGirl on Monday and ask her to let folkses know I should be in by 11 and to apologise on my behalf for the lack of warning! Problem solved! Hurrah!