bookofmirrors

I can't decide if I've just done something very stupid, or very pro-active and self-affirming.

When I lost my job at the Red Cross, I went to a part-time job I'd had to determine if I was still in their system and could start working there without having to do anything in addition. They said I was. So, of course, I immediately picked up as many shifts as I was able. Last Friday was payday. I go in. No check. The check I was counting on to pay the other half of my rent. I've been calling them (and in some cases, going in) at least once daily, trying to get the situation straightened out. Apparently, it would seem, I WAS taken out of the system. Well, that's all well and good, but someone should have told me so when I ASKED, and if the person who answered me, and who assured me that, not only was I still in the system, but that there was definitely nothing I needed to do prior to working another shift there, wasn't qualified to give me that information (which she apparently wasn't), she should have directed me to the person who was.

At any rate, this wasn't done, so here I sit with no paycheck, no satisfaction from the people at the office, and rent due in 6 days. I was told the money would be added to the next paycheck, which comes about 3 days AFTER rent is due.

simplysakka is most likely both willing and able to cover that for that short period of time, but the point is, she shouldn't HAVE to. Nor should I be put in the situation to have to ask her to begin with. NOR, at this point, do I even feel that I can trust them to pay me when they say they will, anyway, so next Friday might still come, and still no money. And anyway, I told them that waiting that long for them to pay me the money they owed me almost a week ago (due to THEIR mistake) was simply unacceptable.

Fucking *SIGH*.

So, I called the place up a few minutes ago. Asked if there was any change in the status of my check. No, there wasn't. State is apparently there, doing an inspection. And, yeah, I've been in the inner circle of enough state inspections to know what that's like. But it doesn't take long to make a single phone call to corporate and get the check thing straightened out. And (since I ask), I know the call hasn't been made. I was able to get my work done AND handle the state inspectors at the same time. And, goddammit, like I've said a hundred times before, not a single facility that I've been in in Georgia could pass an Illinois inspection.

I was scheduled to work 3p-11p tonight. We need the money, no question about that. But, I told the lady I've been talking to that, while I apologized for putting her in this position, I didn't feel comfortable working any more shifts there until this matter was straightened out. She took it very well. I was only scheduled for that one shift, so we're only talking about 8 hours, but still. Who knows, given my experience with jobs here, this may get me fired. However, the time I went in, the administrator and the director of nursing both seemed appalled that I wasn't paid. For all the good it's done.

Anyway, I feel both elated that I stood up for myself, and scared that I may have shot myself in the foot. A somewhat calculated risk that I'm not particularly in the best position to make. But I don't stand up for myself nearly as often as I should, even in the best position, so, despite the potential financial setback involved, I feel like I've done the right thing for myself on an emotional level.