My work just called and wants me to work tonight.

[alarimer]

One, I can't fucking believe these people work every single fucking holiday. I mean this is a state agency after all. I am entitled to the holiday and not inclined to answer the phone for the rest of the day. Two, there will be a lot of boat traffic (not to mention traffic traffic) out there; it won't be fun to say the least. So I am thinking about calling my boss and telling him I have a headache. Which I do NOW. I hate my job and am inclined to tell them to go to hell (or at least ignore the phone call until it is too late to do anything about it).

[Haole Girl]

1. Couldn't you just tell them you think you're coming down with H1N1?

That sucks. Next time, don't answer the phone!

[alarimer]

2. I let it go to voicemail as soon as I saw the number.

On the one hand I do feel a little guilty but not too much.

[Haole Girl]

3. Don't feel guilty. Look at it this way...

if you don't get your mental health rest day, you'll be a worse employee. Right?

[alarimer]

4. That's true.

But they are unlikely to be able to get a hold of anyone else this evening.

One guy leaves his phone off all the time and then claims he doesn't get phone messages for days. I suppose that isn't my problem really.

[Haole Girl]

5. What do you do, exactly?

If you don't mind me asking.

[alarimer]

6. I am a biologist

Some of our sampling requires us to put out gear at night and pick it up in the morning. We do this for 10 weeks twice a year. Most of the rest of the year I work during the days and on some weekends. But when we set this gear out, I do not get home until 10 or so. And I was really looking forward to a 4 day weekend.

Anyway I did just talk to my boss and begged off. So I guess they will find someone else or not do it. I feel a little bit guilty because I wasn't completely honest but I am so sick of these people. I do not understand why they insist on working a major holiday when everybody and their brother will be out fishing anyway.

[alarimer]

7. Damnit I am going to stop feeling guilty about this.

It's not like they really need to do this tonight; we have all week. If they can't find someone else to do it, it simply gets put off for a day and doesn't really make a difference overall. Maybe my boss thinks less of me as a result but I don't really care. I've about had enough of all of this anyway. Why should I be the go-to person when everyone else gets to take the day off, or, as I said in another post, when they turn their phones off and leave them off so they do not get the message for days?

I have one co-worker who is the biggest sycophant I have ever met. He works every major holiday. He might be the only one there. I think he does it to earn brownie points or something (actually I think he does hate being at home for a variety of reasons). Still, it is long past time I found a better job in which my talents and abilities are actually used.

[styersc]

10. I feel your pain. I'm an archaeologist who had to drive 2 hrs

to check out a property in the pouring rain today. I don't like working on a holiday and particularly not in a thunderstorm.

[Lucian]

8. I never answer my phone when work calls.

I'm not obligated to go in on my day off, and you shouldn't feel like you are either.

[alarimer]

9. I know.

But I am the only who they could ask tonight. The other person never turns his phone on; it is impossible to get a hold of him.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I just got home from work.

But it was already scheduled so no surprise. Still, a 3-day weekend would have been nice.