a word or two about the new job

So I started my new job as an AT&T DSL tech on Tuesday. After months and months of either being jobless or working for peanuts at dead-end jobs, let me tell you – it’s nice to finally get paid what I think I’m worth. Also, I’m very proud to finally work for a union shop. The union rep hasn’t come around to my new hire class yet, but in a few days I will become a member of the Communication Workers of America. Labor unions have done a world of good for people who, before the advent of unions, had no choice but to work under deplorable conditions. Yes, I’m a pinko socialist wingbat and proud of it.

my hat

So I bought a hat at City Stages a couple weeks ago. It’s an Obama hat. It’s a simple white hat with black stitching. Pretty cheap really. I took it to work and set it on top of my cubicle’s cabinet. Today my manager told me to take it down. She said that she is an Obama supporter but that we can’t have political stuff up at work. Apparently it’s in the employee handbook. Also, somebody complained. Maybe more than one somebody. So I took it down. No problem.

But I can’t help but wonder why I never heard first hand from anybody who had a problem with the hat. (Set aside for now the question of why somebody would have a problem with it.) A few people came up to me and told me that they also support Obama but nobody said a word to me about disagreeing with me or having a problem with the hat. I don’t think I’m a mean person; in fact I think I go out of my way to listen to other points of view and be kind to folks who disagree with me. I wonder why nobody said anything to me about the hat…

I guess my question is if somebody at work were displaying a hat or a poster or whatever and you disagreed with it would you confront them or go to your manager?

New job!

Finally. It’s with Oakstone Publishing and I couldn’t be more excited to be gainfully employed once again. The company “has become one of the foremost publishers of professional reference and continuing education materials for physicians, educators and human resource professionals.” I’ll be supporting the sales staff and helping field questions from professional clients. And getting a regular paycheck.