Site Wide Shift Changes and Other Work Stuff
Flinging aside my concerns about writing spoilers at the beginning of my blog posts, I'm going to explain the effect the upheaval at work is going to have on me. You are here for me, right?
Starting June 2nd, I'll be working 7 am (AM!) to 3:30 pm with Sunday and Monday off. *Sigh*
By my own choice.
It's a little crazy, I know, when I have never been the up with the sun type. Just days ago I waxed poetic about midnight. I alternately suffer from and enjoy insomnia.
Here's the thing:
I've been working four ten hour days since March 2007. I love having three days off from work. It has been wonderful. The downside is working 9:30 to 8:30 those other four days. That day is gone, baby, gone. By the time I get home, I'm zonked. My job isn't physical, but the mental work of talking for ten hours straight will fry your brain.
Last week, it was announced that every single agent in the call center would be required to bid on a new shift. This has never happened before in the more than two years since the site opened. It's unpopular and stressful for folks who childcare issues and whatnot, but from a business standpoint, it's a good move. At this point, they needed to radically change staffing levels. For the last couple months, we've been over-busy or over-staffed much of the time. Over-busy stinks (wait time = grumpy callers). Over staffed is a waste (as much as I love getting paid read a book).
We also are going to be on the same schedule with our direct managers. Up until now, a team would be assigned roughly by start time. Days off, break times, everything else, was all over the place. Team has never been a huge deal for this reason. Half the time, I'd see my manager two days a week, if any. Now, it'll be a stronger tie. Only good news for everyone involved.
I knew I'd basically have my pick of shifts. The rank was done by 50% seniority, 25% each quality scores and schedule adherence in February and March. Of 550 odd agents, I was 94 in the ranks. With around 18 on a team, I figured I couldn't get below my sixth pick.
Why exactly did I go for o'dark thirty?
In truth, I'd been thinking of trying for an opening shift for some time. I want to be able to come home from work, spend time with Chris, work on the blog, call Mom, and go out once in a while. That hasn't been possible on work days on this shift. Come home, eat dinner, shower and bed. Or stay up too late to get some writing or reading done only to pay for it in the morning.
What I've decided is that even though I am not a morning person, doesn't mean I shouldn't go to work in the morning. One of the advantages of my job is it's easy for me. I go in, take my calls, my numbers are good without struggle.
I don't want the job to be the center of my life, so I've decided to stop giving the job the best hours of my day. And if I hate it, I can look for a trade after 60 days. Early shifts are in high demand.
Trackbacks
-
6/3/2008 9:12 PM
The Creative Nerd wrote:
My new shift started today. I was up at 6 AM to be at work at 7 AM. As it happened, I was scheduled to work with new hires during their first two weeks taking calls. Meaning eight hours of walking around helping and answering questions. I love the helping and answering questions. The walking around, not so much. I don't want to lose weight bad enough to go back to a job were I'm on my feet the whole time. I forgot how crappy it is in the three years since I last worked retail. It's quarter after nine. ...
You can do it! Sounds like a little change might make all the difference. I, a fellow night owl, started my career working 5:30 AM - 1:30 at a radio station. I enjoyed having afternoons to myself. Got a lot done, even got naps!
Reply to this
Thanks for cheering me on. I may be looking at your comment on rough days.
What I'm looking forward to most is plain old day light. Hubby and I can take a walk in the park or fire up the grill any day of the week.
I'm figuring by Friday afternoons I'll be ready for a nap. I haven't worked five days in a row in almost two years.
Reply to this