Early on when I first found out about the cancer, I knew that at some point I would be unable to work. Being eligible for full medical disability was a dead giveaway for me. I decided that I would work for as long as I could and sock away as much extra money as I could for the interim period waiting for the benefits to kick in. Also I thought that working was a much better alternative to sitting at home brooding. Too much time in my head has never been a good thing for me and now it seemed even more so a bad idea.
The problem with my little game plan was that my normal salary was not paying the bills adequately even prior to the added burden of the cancer. What little savings I may have had were depleted trying to stay ahead of the debtors. You see my income had been frozen three years ago and had also dropped because my employer in an effort to reduce costs was now paying 65% of the cost of medical benefits.
The option of finding a part time job was not available to me because I am on call 24/7. Also I was working 7 days a week. In 2010, I worked from July 4th until Thanksgiving Day with maybe 3 days off. I had scheduled and cancelled my vacation (several times) because it simply was not the best thing for the store for me to be gone.
The company requires vacation to be used prior to the next year's vacation time accrual. Which means that with my June 23rd anniversary date, the 2 weeks vacation from the prior year had to be used prior to that date or you lose it. On June 23rd, I still had 6 days of vacation that I lost.
When the cancer was found, my boss went to the owner of the company and explained this situation to him asking if it would be possible for me not to lose the vacation, the answer was to the effect of "real sorry about her situation but if I make an exception for her I will have to make it for everyone".
Now I have worked for this company for 8 years and to my knowledge no other employee has had this particular type of situation but whatever.
Now remember, I am trying to survive cancer here with as little disruption to my store and life as possible. I know from being me all this time that I do not do well when I worry about bills. No one does I am sure but I have known people who while their situation may be worse than mine they do not show the same signs of wear and tear about money.
My boss had asked the owner at the time that he denied her request to give me my vacation if the stores (there are 7 in the chain) could put up donation jars. You have seen them I am sure, money jars for spare change for donations to help whomever might be in need.
Since I was not privy to this conversation I can only say that I was told that he said it would be okay. Now all I had to do was get the jars, get the account to put the money in and so forth.
It took me until this past Monday to get this all squared away. Some of the stores took it upon themselves to get their own jars and start the ball rolling. They were just waiting for the where do we put this money answer.
I went to the bank on Monday and opened an account and gave the information to my boss. Now remember I opened the account on MONDAY, right?
On Tuesday, we (the managers and several other people from the main office) were scheduled to attend a seminar on, of all things, a customer loyalty program. I stress the word loyalty.
Minutes before the seminar was to start my boss pulls me aside and tells me that the owner of the company told her on MONDAY afternoon that he wanted the change jars taken down. Didn't want anything to do with it. Not sure why still do not have any answer to that but have stopped asking why about most things.
I was stunned. I mean why say yes then no. Why decide no the very day that I waste my precious time opening the account. Why not say no from the start. Oh yeah, that is right I have stopped asking why, right?
Keeping right in line with Alanis Morrisette (sorry if i did not spell that right) the truly ironic part of this is that I am scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday to do a new employee training class. Even as I type that the irony just about knocks me on the floor.
Since today is Thursday, it is obvious that I have completed one day of the class. Let me tell you what I know at this point.
In doing the class I realized that I truly like the job that I do. I like my employees. I like the customers. I like most of the vendors. I like what I do. There is such diversity to the job that it keeps me challenged.
I had already decided that my goal for the store is to get it fully staffed, fully trained and to get the 2 people fully trained who will take over the management of the store when I leave. Those goals despite the events of earlier this week remain in place.
Anyway this is where I am at today. One step ..... one day ...... then repeat.
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