All's fair in Unionland.....

So, if you've read the previous blogs then you know the work situation isn't the best. Paranoia seems to be my best friend these days. I think they are leaning in hard on the fuck ups around here because per union they have to lay off in seniority.

Here's the good news. It doesn't go by how many years you've put in. Instead it's something called "time served". I know, sounds more like a prison sentence than a job, and yes at moments it feels that way too. With that in mind my overtime that I've worked like a nut in my first 18 months here put me ahead of someone who was here five years. So, while I don't like to count my chickens before they hatch, I know I'm on the cusp of losing my job.

So why pick on the fuck ups? Well, if they quit or if we give them enough ammo they will fire us. What happens then? The newbies and the ones they like get bummed up the food chain. I find it interesting now that I have intermitten FMLA that my tardiness, absenteeism and failing to swipe in and out are brought to my attention. I also find it interesting since I've stopped volunteering for extra shifts all of this has come to light. Or, perhaps since all of this has come to light I have not been offered extra shifts. Hmmmm.......

My mom had the best response ever. "But wouldn't it be nice to collect for a little while?" Hell yeah was my answer. I mean I could go back to school like I want to.

My second conspiracy theory is that they are going to totally eliminate the mental health assistant position, hence all the new hires for mental health workers. Why hire one group of workers when others are getting canceled all the time?

Another juicy rumor is that they are looking to sell the place. New lights in the hallway, new chairs, supposedly new computers are to follow suit. Fresh mulch in the beds outside. What do you do before you sell your house? Give it more curb appeal and fix the minor things, like the elevators.

My all time favorite scuttlebutt is the latest and greatest treatment I've personally received from my employer is in retaliation for using my FMLA. I find this funny. I've had a quasi confirmation from a peer who also has FMLA . She was left alone on the floor often or if there was someone scheduled to come in they were canceled. Within ear shot of someone with clout around here overheard her and before you know it, she had help on the floor.

With that teed pit in mind, I find it very interesting that on Saturday night the charge nurse was not allowed to call for help for 18 patients but called me on Friday for the same census. Also, to further confirm my paranoia, tomorrow will prove significant. If we are at the same census, and there are two of us working the floor rather than one of us canceled or floated to another unit, I know at the expense of the patients' safety the administration is setting me up to have every right to terminate me.

We'll see how far they get because I'm up for a fight.