Moving On

.With my job in utter confusion because of the management’s reorganization of our work load, I decided to not take any classes which would now slow my graduation plans, but in the end would prove to be the correct decision. I hired in at UPS to work five hour days. However, that was not the case now. We were expected to stay on the job until all of our trucks were loaded. The only good part of this reorganization was I was paid overtime for any hours worked over five. For the next three weeks, eight hours a day became the normal work day, and I was becoming very frustrated. As always I prayed for direction feeling like I was between a rock and a hard place. The workers were not happy at UPS and conditions were deteriorating there quickly.

.The UPS drivers started coming in early and rearranged their trucks packages not likening how they were being loaded. Some of the other part-time employees began to leave UPS because of the friction, and new work requirements. The environment was very tense and stressful. The foreman’s began to beg those part timers like me, not to quit, citing that these changes were making things better, and there would be bonuses paid for those who continued employment. I believe that fell on deaf ears. Back at school, I checked to see what was posted for my last exam grade and I did not enroll in the winter semester. I was happy to know I passed my exams and began walking to my car. I noticed a woman struggling to change her flat tire in what looked to be an on coming storm. It looked like it could get nasty. Both sleet and snow were in the predicted forecast.

. I offered my help and she was quick to accept it. As I began changing her tire, she began interviewing me, and I spilled my guts about what was happening at UPS. She gave me a number to the Detroit Medical Center, Harper Hospital Personnel Office. She informed me that she had been working there for a couple of years now in the Respiratory Therapy Department and just earned her RN certification here at Macomb. She would begin working in one of the critical care units after she received her license. She gave me her name and told me to use her for a reference. She had nothing but good things to say about the medical center, and included they paid her full tuition. They do that for their employees.

. Her description of the Medical Center piqued my interest. I was definitely checking this out. I finished putting on her spare tire and she told me to call personnel when I got the chance. I nodded I will and she thanked me for the help as she drove off. Just then it started sleeting and I thought wow I need to get my hands warm. I blew on them as I ran to my car. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I would see her again, and she would officially become a mentor. At work the next day I was now working almost nine hour days, and management talked about making me fulltime. I had to think about that for awhile.

..When I mentioned it to Sam, he laughed believing they were trying to minimize the part-time departures. Too little too late. He told me I was the only part-timer left, and it would probably be cheaper for them to pay me a fulltime wage. I was killing them on anything over 5 hours overtime. Sam always knew how to put me in a good mood. He would pressure the Forman to keep me unloading trailers with him. It spared me from having to reload the delivery trucks. I eventually realized this couldn’t’ go on forever. I made the call to Harper Hospital’s Personnel office the very next day. It was one of my best decisions. They wanted me to come in for an interview, and I was most happy to do so. …..My Life’s Journey Continued…