Nepotism

[southernsis]

I have to rant for awhile. I was working 20 hours a week through Work Force for the county. I received a letter from the Work Force program stating that they were having to cut all hours down to 18 because they had over spent their budget. It was bad enough with 20 hours and minimum wage, but I accepted it because I had hopes it might turn into a better job with more hours. Then a few weeks after my hours were cut, the wife of the county project manager starts working in the office. I found out that she is getting 40 hours a week, plus medical. She is working through Work Force. There is not money to let me work 20 hours, but there is money for her to work 40 plus medical. That is why I say Nepotism is alive and well in Arkansas.
There is something wrong with this picture. I am so pissed off about this. They have been using me, repairing computers, getting Grant money, writing report for them to the government. I feel like a cheap hooker. Around here it is not if you are qualified for the job, but who you are related to. They have been dangling a carrot in front of me by telling me that they are going to try to get me on with the county, but I think that was just so I would finish doing their grant proposal and constructing electronic forms for them.
What does this sound like to you?
The person that was hired for the 40 hours is about 7 years younger than me. I am in my mid 50's and I think it is because I am not related and my age.
This whole thing stinks.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Sis, it isn't just in Arkansas....I think it happens everywhere.  Sorry about it though.  It stinks.

[southernsis]

Thanks Homegrown. I am so pissed and there is nothing I can do about it.

[glenn kangiser]

...at least you can come here and rant and we will feel sorry for you and ourselves, Sis.

[southernsis]

Thanks Glenn

[apaknad]

age discrimination is alive and well in this country ssis.

[Sassy]

That DOES stink...  there's always the "good ole boy" network, but this is pretty blatant...  I'd be pretty  too...  especially after you did so much work for them - stuff they couldn't have done...  I feel for you, too, sis   

[StinkerBell]

It is unfair. No matter what.

However if it is the wife of a county employee, maybe the reasoning (a stretch, but a possibility) is that the insurance plan is the same for the husband and the wife. Insurance companies are very clear that if your spouse works and she/he is offered medical they must take it. If a spouse is employed on the same medical plan the cost becomes a push and really does not cost anymore. Therefore it is better to hire an spouse for full time if the savings is the cost of the medical benefit.

I hope I made sense.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Ssis, there is still a lot of age discrimination.  My mom's been working for Mobil (Exxon Mobil, now) for about 28 years.  In recent years, she's been passed up for promotions that she was a shoe-in for because of her age (at least, ostensibly that is the only reason.)  In the past two years, they've been pushing her to retire, although she is not ready to retire and can't really afford to.  I think in part it is because she is a cancer survivor, and perhaps they are afraid she will have a recurrence (though she was only off a total of six weeks during the whole ordeal some six years ago) and cost more to insure?  I don't get it either.  Myself, I'd rather hire someone older and more experienced than some young pup still wet behind the ears.  New hires to Mom's plant are somewhat intimidated by the fact that she knows more about the processes and the plant than amost anyone else there because she's been there longer.

[glenn kangiser]

I dunno, Homey... with exec's hiring new help, there's a lot of merit to being, young, blond, bubbly, dumb and cute.  The new secretary could always ask your mom when she get's in a pinch.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

I dunno, Homey... with exec's hiring new help, there's a lot of merit to being, young, blond, bubbly, dumb and cute.  The new secretary could always ask your mom when she get's in a pinch.

That's pretty much how it works, Glenn.  That or being male.  When she first started there, all the execs were male, and for 'business meetings', they'd take the bigwigs out to a strip club. 

[muldoon]

that's lousy for sure.  I wont offer this as advise, because it might not be a very good idea.  However in the past I have been taken advantage of as well.  (It's not just elderly and women that get chewed up and spit out in corporate america as some may lead you to believe.  I'v learned over the years that the vultures feed on everyone damn near equally.).  Anyway, if your holding the leverage you claim you need to make them feel some pain.  If your doing grant writing, and technical forms they are unable to do themselves -- and they are treating you like dirt it's about time you gave them what they were paying for.  When your hours are cut, so are your deliverables.  No matter how much pride you want to take in your job, you need to remember they are the one imposing roadblocks to your success and not you.  Be sure they understand this.  People, especially those special kind of people who make up the dregs of middle management always care about 1 thing.  Themselves.  When they start looking bad then they make changes.  As long as you are making them look good when they disrespect you the situation will never improve on it's own.  As you are finding out, it degrades from there.  I think it's time you showed some respect for yourself, and demanded it from your employers. 

I'll be honest, it is almost always a bad idea to go above someones head in a complaint.  I have never seen it work and never it seen it result in anything but making an ugly situation worse.  What I have seen work is to make your boss sweat a bit... like fear of losing some grant money, which directly hits them in what they care about.  Because that would make them look bad going up the foodchain.  Make sure they see you leaving at exactly 18 hours, make sure they understand exactly what it is that is NOT getting done.  Make sure you time it to maximize impact and make it hurt.   You'll sleep better at night. 

[glenn kangiser]

I see you have a good handle on it, muldoon.

[cordwood]

that's lousy for sure.  I wont offer this as advise, because it might not be a very good idea.  However in the past I have been taken advantage of as well.  (It's not just elderly and women that get chewed up and spit out in corporate america as some may lead you to believe.  I'v learned over the years that the vultures feed on everyone damn near equally.).  Anyway, if your holding the leverage you claim you need to make them feel some pain.  If your doing grant writing, and technical forms they are unable to do themselves -- and they are treating you like dirt it's about time you gave them what they were paying for.  When your hours are cut, so are your deliverables.  No matter how much pride you want to take in your job, you need to remember they are the one imposing roadblocks to your success and not you.  Be sure they understand this.  People, especially those special kind of people who make up the dregs of middle management always care about 1 thing.  Themselves.  When they start looking bad then they make changes.  As long as you are making them look good when they disrespect you the situation will never improve on it's own.  As you are finding out, it degrades from there.  I think it's time you showed some respect for yourself, and demanded it from your employers. 

I'll be honest, it is almost always a bad idea to go above someones head in a complaint.  I have never seen it work and never it seen it result in anything but making an ugly situation worse.  What I have seen work is to make your boss sweat a bit... like fear of losing some grant money, which directly hits them in what they care about.  Because that would make them look bad going up the foodchain.  Make sure they see you leaving at exactly 18 hours, make sure they understand exactly what it is that is NOT getting done.  Make sure you time it to maximize impact and make it hurt.   You'll sleep better at night. 

Naaa! Backwoods Arkansas ain't swayed much by logic or factual things, Remember this where Wal-Mart is from. These people are very clannish even if it costs them money. Outsiders have to use different angles to get ahead. After dealing with them for most of 20 years I use the "When in Rome" approach and so far it has served me pretty well. Once you get in with them they will do anything for you, It's just a case of how bad do you want to "Get in with Them"
Around here if you see someone with no nose you can bet he was pretty mad at his face!

[muldoon]

The best thing about bosses is they come and go.  We have to live with ourselves no matter what. 

Backwoods Arkansas or New York city, London to Mexico city or Blackdirt Mississippi, middle management understands that they can treat people like dirt and most people will put up with it because they need a job.  UNTIL they get to feel the pain of their bad choices the situation does not usually self correct. 

I'm not advocating anyone do anything to put themselves out of a job, but the fact remains that if you dont respect yourself southernsis, not many others will.  I imagine you can find a way to be assertive within being confrontational.   However, being confrontational when your getting the shaft is not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. 

[cordwood]

 I totally agree muldoon, But it don't work to good around here! I've tried it, I've seen places close the doors just because they didn't think they should have to pay minimum wage Or the "Middle Management" has cooked the books for too long and their retirement fund is leaving with them.
Sharper Image, Wrangler, Sanyo, And a bunch of other manufacturers left Arkansas and not all went out of the country just out Ar. It's a beautiful state and I love it here but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone moving here for a good job!
One of my biggest gripes is that Wal-Mart has treated people here so bad for so long that the majority think it just the way it is supposed to be, And yes that many people here either have or still do work for Wal-Mart, They are one of few large corps. that allow immediate family members to work together. (the gene pool makes it mandatory in some towns here )
40 hour work weeks are rare at the Mart and other employers use that to manipulate the work force. Far too many companies around here are using Wal-Mart as a model for how they should run theirs and it's really hurting the general working population here. But fighting the small businesses don't seem to work, I think the big one is the root of the problem here. I just haven't found a viable solution for it yet

[rwanders]

When I have been faced with a bad boss, I usually try first to educate them (gently) and if that fails I feed out all the rope they want until they hang themselves. It's not foolproof, but if you're patient it usually works. Just be careful they don't see you with the rope in your hands.

[NM_Shooter]

I love Arkansas and consider it my home state, but it is a hotbed of nepotism and clan politics.  We moved there in '72 and my parents were educated very quickly as to how any available employment positions were filled. 

Northern NM is not far behind in this manner.

I feel for you!

-f-

[southernsis]

WalMart rules here. I have decided to open my real estate business back up. I had a buyers agency and with the market the way it is, I think a strictly buyers agency may work. Don't know, but it is worth a try. Yes, the Good Ol Boys club is alive and well. I told some one that one day and he informed me that he was one of the Good ol boys. I know everyone in the area I live in and still they are very clannish. The Mayor of the town is related to everyone. His family was once in the Guiness Book of World records for the most family member or something like that.
This way, I can be my own boss and make the rules. 

[glenn kangiser]

Sounds good Sis.  I have worked for myself since 1974.  No one else will hire me because I'm too ornery and I don't grovel well. 

[southernsis]

Just an update on what is happening. I was suppose to work today, but was told not to come in. I was told this 3 times. What is going on is they are having their Christmas party today, on the county tax $. I don't have to get hit in the head with a stick to get the message. It came through loud and clear, WE DON'T WANT YOU AT THE PARTY. What a slap in the face. Monday will be my last day there. I hope they have fun getting all the proposals written and budgets and repairing their electronics. Nothing like being used and abused. I always try to think the best of people, but that was the last straw. At least I have something else going.
See if I bake any Christmas goodies for them

[Sassy]

Your presence makes them feel guilty, Sis...  how mean spirited - glad you have other options, I'd hate to work with people like that.  They know you're the only honest one & see right through them.

[glenn kangiser]

That is crap, Sis.  Bad about the crap they are pulling on you and loss of income, but good to get away from that bunch of typical government assisted criminals.

[wildbil]

I'm sorry what happened to you. Perhaps you can file some sort of legal action? It won't go anywhere but it will give them a head ache as well as having to spend money on legal representation. I have had horrible jobs in the past but now I'm at a hospital with a union. I do bare minimum work whenever my supervisors tick me off.

[peternap]

I thought Nepotism was having sex with a dead person