Temp to Perm
One of the things I am working hard to internalize - by which I mean believe as opposed to just know - is that happiness is not finite. There is absolutely no relationship between my happiness (or lack thereof) and the success, romance, health, whatever, of other people. But my subconscious isn't totally down with this notion. Some years ago I had this dream(which I still think about, obviously) in which I was at a large fondue-centric gathering. It included my high-school-friend-who-was-always-cooler-than-me (who I haven't seen since 1995). We all had our forks at the ready, and the party host was doling out cubes of cake and dip-able goodness, and everyone got a piece, except (of course) for me.
I started at my foster job in August, and a few weeks later, the office hired a second temp to coordinate The Office Moves to End All Moves (we moved a 3-person staff from room #146 to room #151, but the drama paralleled the transfer of nuclear waste). Anyway, said temp stayed on after the move and worked her ass off. I have also worked my ass off, but to be fair, my ass remains mainly intact and hers shows significant shrinkage. Because it sucks sucks sucks to be a contractor, we periodically commiserated and compared notes about how long it would take for us to be instated officially.
Last week she got the word: she is now an official VPS employee, and is chirping (not in a mean way) about vacation time and sick time and retirement benefits and access to the gym and all that. Everyone is super sensitive about my reaction, and our mutual boss said right away that "her #1 job is to work the bureaucracy to get Dori hired permanently," but this woman is an admin (former temp) and really? There is not much she can do. Our supervisor talks constantly about how hard she is working to get this sorted out. I know that the other woman's official employee-dom has no bearing on mine, and that she's totally deserving of everything, and that this means the world to her.
But still. I have already suggested plans for a celebration (and the purchase of a VPS T-shirt), but I know it will be really hard to get fully joyful. Even though I know I should.
Posted by Dori at 5:55 PM
9 Comments
Ugh! Yeah, I hate that stuff that I know but do not yet believe. Here's hoping you get to be permanent very, very soon!
You have no obligation to be joyful, and I think it speaks to your character that you are striving to be.
Even if former-temp is a lovely, intelligent, highly qualified possible BFF, can I have permission to hate her on your behalf? Just a little bit? Until you get hired permanently and all is forgiven?
Oh, oh, OH, that's crummy! It just is. I hope you get your cake soon, or something even more delicious-- maybe a lemon square or a rhubarb pie.
It sucks that it has been a full nine months and it is still a foster job.
Is there something about the other person's job that has made it permanent before yours? Like it's at a lower level or in a different capacity, or she gets paid less? Clearly they are not going by seniority here, so can you tell what they are going by? (This kind of job weirdness always puzzles me.)
Oh, you are such a good person that you are striving to be joyful for this co-worker. Hopefully that good karmawill come back in a permanent position for you soon!
You guys are the best.
To explain: the other temp is a much older woman, definitely not BFF material, but a truly good person who has had a REALLY difficult life. And yes, the reason it's easier for her to become permanent is that she's doing an admin job - she's the assistant of our mutual supervisor. Her job is already in the budget and mine is a new position, therefore harder to perma-nize.
I think it's okay to be happy for her without being completely joyful. Nothing wrong with knowing you deserve something great too.
I'm with Melinda - I'll hate her for you (or at least the massive unfairness of the situation) while you try to be joyful about it. Your time will come!
I would vote that we all aim our hatred at the evil tall acceleration-happy non-permanentizing boss, rather than the dingo admin ass't who has had a tough life.
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