office temp rant

[moinab]

Actually, this is a wife-of-the-office-temp rant.

Background: DH was laid off from a good job at the end of October. He was out of work for a month, but started a temp-to-perm position (at a 75% pay cut) the week of Thanksgiving.

Last week, the company had a holiday party. DH and the other temp weren't allowed to go because they are temps. They had to stay behind and run the office while everyone else was at the party.

Yesterday, he learned that he is expected to participate in the office secret Santa and contribute to the charity drive because, although he is a temp, his position will be going permanent in three months.

We are living on a strict budget right now to avoid depleting our savings. With our current income, we have a whopping $50 left at the end of the month after deducting our bare minimum expenses. We are generous people, but this just isn't a good time for us. $25 is half of our surplus cash for the month.

Anyone else have a problem with these forced participation situations at work? Thanks for letting me rant.

 

[caitycaity]

it sucks, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Since this is a temp-to-perm position, I say bite your tongues and participate. It is important that your DH is seen as a team player. Yes it sucks, but think of it as an investment for your future.

 

[MHopkins2]

I think there's a big difference between "expected to" and "forced to." If it were me - ESPECIALLY after the ridiculous and mean-spirited snub re the work hours holiday party - I would freely ignore the "expectation."

Worst case scenario, employ a white lie that no one could argue with, without looking like a jerk, "I would love to participate in the Secret Santa and Toys for Tots, but my wife and I have decided to donate our full gift budget this year to the Red Cross ( / American Cancer Society / whatever unimpeachable charity crosses your mind). I'd say the buttmunch behavior by the company more than excuses the lie.

 

[Kimnicki]

Wow. That's just not right. First they tell him he's "only" a temp and don't allow him to attend the party. Now he's "expected" to donate because he's "temp-to-perm". Too bad they can't make up their minds. Unfortunately they put you in a very tough spot. I hope everything works out for your hubby.

Kim

 

[tmfranlk]

Is there anything in his temp contract that addresses this? When my DH was temping the contract specifically said that he could not participate in office parties/functions. I don't know if it addressed things like the secret santa and charity drive. If it is important enough to you not to participate, I would check with the temp agency. If not, I would agree that if feasible, it might be better for DH in the long run. Good luck!

 

[Alex]

I think you are stuck. Yes you could make up an excuse or raise a fuss but you could endanger the permanent job. It's not a fun situation DH is in but I don't see how you can do anything but suck it up and look forward to the permanent postition.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I don't think it's fair that they exclude him from the party but expect him to participate in other things - especially things that cost money. Here at my work we sponsor a not-so-fortunate family but no one is required to participate. If you want to fine, if you don't fine, and the amount is totally up to each individual. We also have a gift exchange but it is totally optional.

 

[jipsy]

I guess the only thought I have is - does he really want to work for a company that treats people this way?

 

[Cindy B]

You can always find something for less than $25. Beleive it or not, you can spend less and look like you spent a lot..

Keep an eye out for Kohls two times since Nov, they have been doing free $15 GC at 6 am.. I did it twice, easy $30!

Look on the prowl for goodies..

You can make a nice things that looks country homemade (candies, fancy cookies, and chocolate cofee spoons or chocolate dipped pretzel rods) at a FRACTION of the cost.

You can always find a way to make it look more than what you spent.

 

[DocRafiki]

I don't understand being forced to participate in either of those. Tell them you're Jewish and be done with it.

No, really I think I would just suck it up since he has a potential future with the company. I wouldn't agree with it, but I would play along.

I've been reading a lot of posts lately that lead me to believe that CindyB is the queen of budget shopping. All hail CindyB!

 

[moinab]

Just to clear a few things up, we both have a lot of work experience, so we know all too well how these office politics situations work. Nobody can force you to participate, but if you don't, it damages your "team player" image. This is why I really object to this kind of thing.

DH hates this job and is actively looking for something else, but there's not much available right now, so he's making the best of it for the time being. Hopefully, something matching his skill and experience level will come through soon.

He actually spoke his mind, diplomatically, to the office manager. He said he would participate, because it's the right thing to do, but he feels it was handled poorly.

The secret Santa is a $10 GC from the store of your choice (how stupid is that? Why not hand each other $10 bills? ) and the charity contribution is $15, so there's no way to get around the amounts. Hopefully, we'll get a useful GC (like Target) so it won't be a total loss for us.

Is there anything in his temp contract that addresses this? When my DH was temping the contract specifically said that he could not participate in office parties/functions.

In all of our temp experience (in 3 different states) I have never heard of this. I realize every contract is different, but I don't think this is the case. I think they needed someone to stay and run the office while the rest ran off to the party, so they made the temps do it. (An amusing/irritating aside, last week one of his co-workers brought in a dozen donuts to share with everyone. There are 9 people in the office. The first woman to go up to the box grabbed 3 donuts for herself.)

I just needed to vent a little. I know we should be thankful he has a job. A sucky job is better than no job.

Keep an eye out for Kohls two times since Nov, they have been doing free $15 GC at 6 am.. I did it twice, easy $

Wow! What a great deal! Too bad we don't have Kohls here.

 

[Cindy B]

Thats a shame that its a gift card....I can always do lower than the limit with looking like I spent more.. and I don't overcompensate by spending more because I saved money. But scrounge for deals, sometimes you can get more money than the actual face amout.. for example, buy a $20 Pizzeria Uno coupon get another $5 one for free... (that was a deal a few years ago). Walmart had one two years ago as well.

As for the charity thing, can you already say in a diplomatic way, that you give of your time instead of $. I used to voluteer a lot with a clinic and soup kitchens and that was, in my mind, better utilitzed then some money (no administrative overhead costs with actual volunteering) .. your family could do something of that nature, and say that you already suport other charities?

 

[Pam]

Curious - was the reason your DH and the other temp not invited to the office party because they were filling in and covering the office while everyone else was at the party???

Being part of the "team" - ahhhhh.... sometimes it feels as though you never left grade school, huh?

 

[Pop Daddy]

call off sick that day

 

[Doug123]

Moninab,

The company is not interested in its employees as individuals, only as a whole. And, as a whole, they want to give a predetermined amount of money to charity for the holidays.

This happens WAY too much in our work world. Unfortunately, not participating -- as you already know -- would do more damage than it's worth. A lot of employers do not know the bitterness they instill in their employees when they force them to participate in what is essentially a non-work activity.

Good luck in your search for something better.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Maybe I should explain a little more where I was coming from. My post sounded a little harsh.

The company I work for hired me originally as a temp through an agency. I was making less than I hoped to, but I had just moved back the area and needed a job. This was over four years ago and within the first year I was hired permanently. Since that time I have had three promotions and numerous raises. So by taking that leap of faith and accepting a positition that I wasn't too crazy about and at a rate that wasn't that good, I managed to turn it into something positive through hard work. I remember the times working as a temp though having to cover the phones and other office matters when the others in the office all went out to lunch. But by doing it without complaining I was considered part of the "team." And believe me I have made up for the all the tongue biting I did back then (and then some). lol

 

[moinab]

Very well said, Doug123.