Good Riddance Dorothy

I had not seen Dorothy since my last day of work at SAT TV.  Even though I'm now again working in the same building I haven't seen her in weeks.  Until this morning, that is.

I saw her in the lobby while waiting for the elevator.  Her shift starts a half hour before mine so she must have been running late.

She saw me come into the building and the moment she saw me her face changed.  "You don't belong in this building!  What are you doing here?  You don't belong here."

Before I could even say anything, she went over to the security office and persuaded one of the security guards to come to to escort me out of the building.

"There she is.  She doesn't belong here.  Her job was terminated."

The security guard started to chuckle.

Dorothy's face grew red.  "Why are you laughing?  Throw her out.  Call the cops.  Do something."

"No, I won't do anything."

"She doesn't work here anymore."

"Yes, she does.  She found a new job."

This whole time I had stood there saying nothing.  I knew security knew I worked here again.  When the guard said I had found a new job, I just nodded my head, tossed my hair back and walked to the elevators.

Working Holiday

"Fran, come in my office.  Now!  Please."

The mere sound of Dorothy's voice fills me with chills.  I wonder if this is how a pig feels being lead to slaughter.

I finished the call I was on and went into her office.  She waved her hand, indicating to me that I should shut the door behind me.  Now I was really nervous.  Nothing good ever comes from Dorothy wanting the door closed behind me.

"You wanted to see me?"

She squinted her eyes as if she couldn't see me otherwise.  "Yes It has been determined that since you are the only one in your department who is single and has no kids -- "

"I doubt if I'm the only one."

"You're the only one.  As I was saying, it has been determined that since you are the only one in your department who is single and has no kids that you should work Thanksgiving and Christmas this year and, well, every year."

"Every year?"

"Oh, you'll be compensated with holiday pay at a rate of $10 dollars."

"Ten dollars an hour?"

Dorothy laughed.  "No, ten dollars a day extra."

"Oh, but -- "

"You can leave my office now.  You have customers waiting."

Dorothy waved her hand again, and I left her office feeling humiliated and angry all at once.  Who had determined I should work holidays?  Was it really HR like she implied or was it her?  I think it was her.  No, I know it was her. 

At lunch I went and bought a mirror with a stand.  I have it facing the door to Dorothy's office so just like she can watch me at all times now I can watch her.

No Raise, Cut

A while ago, when I was given more work at work, I decided to ask for a raise.  I waited until I had been doing the extra account for two weeks.  I had written every reason why I deserved the new raise then I made an appointment with HR and presented it to them.  They said they would review it and get back to me through my supervisor.

About mid-morning, I heard Dorothy call my name, like a mother calling a child, from her office.  I went into her office where she instructed me to sit.

"Fran, you went to human resources to ask for a raise?"

"Yes."

"Well," she started to smile, "they have declined your request."

I felt disappointment rush over me.  Why had they denied me?  What I had done wrong?

Still smiling Dorothy went on, "They feel you're actually not doing enough work around here and should have your pay cut, starting next pay period."

"What?"  I stood.  "How much of a pay cut?"

"Two dollars an hour."

"That's crazy.  How am I supposed to pay my bills?"

"SAT TV doesn't care about you and your bills, Fran.  It cares about productivity.  You need to be more productive, at lot more productive.  If you're not going to be more productive then you need to find another job where your work ethic is appreciated."

I squinted my eyes.  Suddenly, I knew what had happened.  I didn't blow it at all with HR.  They had consulted Dorothy and she told them lies, lies that could get me fired.  I felt sick but knew what I had to do.  I have to escape Dorothy.

Dippy Dorothy

I wish I had Dorothy's job.  Well, not her actual job, the ease of her job.

She comes in every morning and, after logging into her computer, disappears.  She'll return a while later carrying her coffee and laughing with the people she hangs out with out of the office.

When she finally sits down at her desk, I'm the most nervous.  From her office she can stare directly at the back of my neck.  My pretty sure she's sending me subliminal messages to quit.  We don't get along all that well.  I can tell by how she speaks to me.

Not only do I get crapped on at every opportunity but Dorothy doesn't even do her job.  Whenever callers ask to speak to a supervisors, which is often, we can't just forward her the calls.  Oh, no, we have to check first and see if she is free.  Most times we can't find her because she isn't at her desk.  And then even if she is at her desk, she'll say to tell the caller she is unavailable and that we should handle it ourselves.

One day, not long ago, I found out how much supervisor positions make at SAT TV.  It was sickening.  I get paid next to nothing, am highly in debt and am stressed out the wazoo.  But Dorothy, uggg, must be nice.

Tuesday

My boss at SAT TV is named Dorothy.  Her office sits behind my cubicle making me feel like I'm on pins and needles all the time.  Dorothy doesn't work, at least not as much as the rest of the department.  I've caught her filing her nails at her desk a time or two.

Around ten, Dorothy called me into her desk.  I figured it was because I had been late the day before.  I tried to explain to her that I did make the time I missed but she cut me off.

"It's not about that.  How many accounts do you currently have?"

"Um, well, I have the entire state of Florida and the Dakotas and when someone is on vacation, I fill in." 

Dorothy leaned forward and somehow managed to say with a straight face, "Don't you think you should be doing more?"

More?  I swallowed and felt my hands start to shake.  I just knew she was going to fire me.  How would I pay for my car repairs?

"Yes, more," Dorothy said.  "You'll be doing California."

"All of it?"

Dorothy rolled her eyes as if I were a silly child.  "Yes, all of it.  Crystal quit so we need someone to fill in."

"So it's only temporary?" 

It wasn't so bad if it was only temporary.

"No, it's permenant.  We won't be replacing her.  Oh and, Fran, there is no pay raise either so don't even ask?"

I walked out of Dorothy's office feeling numb.  More work for the same pay at a job I hate.  Am I being punished for something?