Surfergal
03-22-2007, 03:58 PM
probably really stupid, My job is with one of their biggest, busiest most profitable products. My work group went from 3 people to two people last year, and I absorbed all the work. The third person did little and I had to do his work to until he just retired. new guy barely getting up to speed and I get to train him too (of course he makes more money, and I have to cover for him while he takes every Monday off and leaves early daily, and talks on the phone all day to his buddies.) I was kept while most other contracters were let go. Recent changes have added additional work too for my job level. Most other 3 person product teams of company employees were not reduced.
There was an across the board paycut 7 years ago for contracters. I have received no pay increases since then. All overtime pay was cancelled. no vacations or holiday pay anymore. I used to like the challenges and the people I worked with. I managed to perform for all these (15) years. I was respected.
Meanwhile, the company people, my equals in job type, get raises, bonuses and cost of living increases each year. (ok a little less than 10 years ago.) They at least have reason to do extra work - to get raises and pensions. Although, most work 8 hr days or less (+ 6 weeks vacation, 10 sick days, and 20 paid holidays and would never get fired). I have been working at least 9-12 hours a day for the last few years.
I really have no say, as the high ups drafted the extreme expedited plan that I am following, to protect their profit margins. Everything at the company is in shambles. Morale is low. There are lots of new management, all giving contradictory direction. and infighting.
Now my new management under restructure is treating me like a dog, as I am only a lowly contract person. It is no win. The stress and workload finally just got to me. I worked 11 to 12 hours a day the last two+ weeks straight to put together a newly required pretty presentation for new high management on my product for a small deadline that just passed, in addition to trying to meet a huge next deadline to support the normal product work. (ps. huge Deadline missed as I could not be in two places at once and now I have tons of reports to prepare daily on my "catch up status", while working on next deadline. ) My reward, they said, was to do another presentation at the next deadline in three weeks because it went over so well. Sorta was the last straw, only gonna get worse not better. So now I have two weeks to find another job in an area that has high unemployment.
I assume I cannot collect unemployment because I quit, but should I document all the hours I worked without pay? I do keep a spreadsheet showing my actual work time. and I can print emails too proving I was at work during the time shown if needed. if that would help.
on the bright side, I have less stress and only worked 8 hours today.
There was an across the board paycut 7 years ago for contracters. I have received no pay increases since then. All overtime pay was cancelled. no vacations or holiday pay anymore. I used to like the challenges and the people I worked with. I managed to perform for all these (15) years. I was respected.
Meanwhile, the company people, my equals in job type, get raises, bonuses and cost of living increases each year. (ok a little less than 10 years ago.) They at least have reason to do extra work - to get raises and pensions. Although, most work 8 hr days or less (+ 6 weeks vacation, 10 sick days, and 20 paid holidays and would never get fired). I have been working at least 9-12 hours a day for the last few years.
I really have no say, as the high ups drafted the extreme expedited plan that I am following, to protect their profit margins. Everything at the company is in shambles. Morale is low. There are lots of new management, all giving contradictory direction. and infighting.
Now my new management under restructure is treating me like a dog, as I am only a lowly contract person. It is no win. The stress and workload finally just got to me. I worked 11 to 12 hours a day the last two+ weeks straight to put together a newly required pretty presentation for new high management on my product for a small deadline that just passed, in addition to trying to meet a huge next deadline to support the normal product work. (ps. huge Deadline missed as I could not be in two places at once and now I have tons of reports to prepare daily on my "catch up status", while working on next deadline. ) My reward, they said, was to do another presentation at the next deadline in three weeks because it went over so well. Sorta was the last straw, only gonna get worse not better. So now I have two weeks to find another job in an area that has high unemployment.
I assume I cannot collect unemployment because I quit, but should I document all the hours I worked without pay? I do keep a spreadsheet showing my actual work time. and I can print emails too proving I was at work during the time shown if needed. if that would help.
on the bright side, I have less stress and only worked 8 hours today.