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judecorpSo my agency, the one I just started working for, just merged with another, bigger agency. Well, technically it hasn't happened yet (July 1), but it's a done deal. Today I had to sit through 2.5 hours of merge/benefits information and fill out all of the same new hire forms I filled out a month ago. Good times, good times.
I was hired under the auspices of getting 15 days PTO this year. That's not so great, considering I was pretty spoiled at my last gig with the four weeks of vacation time, a ridiculous amount of sick time, and something obscene like 13 holidays. So going down to 15 days and 12 holidays was a cut, but hey, doable.
The new agency gives first year employees - wait for it - 10 days of total PTO. And 8 holidays. 10 days of paid time off, whether it is sick or vacation. I have a child. Who gets sick sometimes. And who attends a child care that takes 15 paid holidays. So right there? That's 7 out of 10 days of PTO if I covered all of her holidays. Well, 6 - since one of those days is the day after Thanksgiving and I don't work Fridays. But wait, maybe I do. Because the new place? Wants all salaried employees to work 40 hours. I work 36 (four 9s). So I went into this meeting more than a little surly, which is scaring my Director because she is worried I will leave. And if I leave they are kind of screwed. And honestly? I am considering jobsearching again, even though I don't want to.
The kicker was when they were going over the benefits stuff. I was already surly so it didn't take much. It was a no-brainer to decline the health insurance because even though it is somewhat better coverage, it's something like $135 more per month than what we have now. But I was considering the dental because our dental sucks. And the HR lady read me the spiel about how any benefits I get for Jen count as taxable income blah blah blah because of the stupid Feds and how Jen's portion can't be pre-tax blah blah and I nod and whatever because I already know the suckitude. But then she says that I have to sign this thing that states that I know all of this and she starts to hand it over and I notice that it's a form that was originally written to address domestic partnerships, and is in fact still in use for domestic partnerships of any gender make-up. So one of the things you have to "attest to," on the DP form, is that neither party is married.
I told them I wouldn't sign the form. Because we are married. And she tried to be all nice about it and be like, "I know, but to the Federal government blah blah blah," and I said, "Of course. But I am legally married regardless and I do not feel right about signing a legal form attesting to the fact that I am not married." And she offered to write in something like, 'according to the Federal government,' and at that point I decided that the increased dental benefits weren't really worth signing a shitty form. Because having to file taxes two different ways is ridiculous enough.
I wonder if this has ever come up before. It sure didn't seem like it had. Surprising, for a rather large social service agency.
I was hired under the auspices of getting 15 days PTO this year. That's not so great, considering I was pretty spoiled at my last gig with the four weeks of vacation time, a ridiculous amount of sick time, and something obscene like 13 holidays. So going down to 15 days and 12 holidays was a cut, but hey, doable.
The new agency gives first year employees - wait for it - 10 days of total PTO. And 8 holidays. 10 days of paid time off, whether it is sick or vacation. I have a child. Who gets sick sometimes. And who attends a child care that takes 15 paid holidays. So right there? That's 7 out of 10 days of PTO if I covered all of her holidays. Well, 6 - since one of those days is the day after Thanksgiving and I don't work Fridays. But wait, maybe I do. Because the new place? Wants all salaried employees to work 40 hours. I work 36 (four 9s). So I went into this meeting more than a little surly, which is scaring my Director because she is worried I will leave. And if I leave they are kind of screwed. And honestly? I am considering jobsearching again, even though I don't want to.
The kicker was when they were going over the benefits stuff. I was already surly so it didn't take much. It was a no-brainer to decline the health insurance because even though it is somewhat better coverage, it's something like $135 more per month than what we have now. But I was considering the dental because our dental sucks. And the HR lady read me the spiel about how any benefits I get for Jen count as taxable income blah blah blah because of the stupid Feds and how Jen's portion can't be pre-tax blah blah and I nod and whatever because I already know the suckitude. But then she says that I have to sign this thing that states that I know all of this and she starts to hand it over and I notice that it's a form that was originally written to address domestic partnerships, and is in fact still in use for domestic partnerships of any gender make-up. So one of the things you have to "attest to," on the DP form, is that neither party is married.
I told them I wouldn't sign the form. Because we are married. And she tried to be all nice about it and be like, "I know, but to the Federal government blah blah blah," and I said, "Of course. But I am legally married regardless and I do not feel right about signing a legal form attesting to the fact that I am not married." And she offered to write in something like, 'according to the Federal government,' and at that point I decided that the increased dental benefits weren't really worth signing a shitty form. Because having to file taxes two different ways is ridiculous enough.
I wonder if this has ever come up before. It sure didn't seem like it had. Surprising, for a rather large social service agency.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 03:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-23 01:09 am (UTC)But I want you to come tell off that lady!!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 04:08 am (UTC)I am sorry.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 06:08 am (UTC)I am sorry about that -- and I love the icon you used.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 06:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-23 01:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 11:10 am (UTC)I had not really realized until yesterday that my company has several social workers on staff. I learned yesterday in diversity training to not say (as if I ever would) that someone is just a social worker, because social workers are apparently great and multi-talented, and can diagnose mental illness! and can fly! So clearly you deserve more than this.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 11:32 am (UTC)Seriously though, social workers pretty much get the look of disdain from the general populace, and you just have to (if you are a SW) get used to it. Once I started doing multidisciplinary work and not straight social work, I stopped introducing myself as a social worker. Why? Because I got tired of people being suspicious that I was secretly working for DSS. That's what social workers do, you know? Take your kids.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 02:47 pm (UTC)I don't remember the exact words but that was the gist.
Send out feelers. Make a couple of calls to places that were interested before. And don't get guilted by your boss. She can leave too if it sucks for her. And if nothing turns up you like better, you stay, but I don't think that's how it will play out.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-23 01:11 am (UTC)