Work Rant

I sat in my office yesterday afternoon watching my manager use my relaxed open and friendlier than normal manner as a weapon against me. I forgot we are not friends, not colleagues this is a chess match between the manager and the managed except none of us know the rules. Our HR partner "Mufasa" mentioned you have had 26 sick days but you have not used your 30 holiday days. She, Mufasa also noticed you take holidays right after sick and it makes me look bad. I sat up straight after that. No more Ms Nicewoman. The game is on. Obviously, my back is up and aggression needs to be tampered or at least masked. Yes, I say because after I am sick I am tired. I am technically not sick so I can't say I am sick but I am exhausted after and as I have so much holiday I had better take it. Oh no she wasn't having that. Mufasa suggested you go to occupational health. Check!

So I have been thinking about this, stuck in rush hour traffic I  text my manager's work phone yes to occupational health, I hear there is a backlog so please tell Mufasa to arrange it. Check! I know that is additional work no one wants to do.  How is it I ask myself that some people find time for tea and coffee breaks every hour and some can't find time for lunch? Same organisation different realities. I, for example, live where I work. The fire alarm goes off a minimum of once a week for 9 months for 5 years. It can of off in the early morning, late evenings, weekends, weekdays, holidays. The fire alarm does not discriminate, it doesn't matter.  How does one rest and why is that not captured by Mufasa. Mufasa should ask what are the conditions that make a person sick for 26 days and have 30 days holiday. It is not hidden if you can't sleep you can't rest if you can't rest you can't work. Have you ever seen a dead body at work? I have, I am not in the medical field or any violent environment. It was certainly not in my job description that at least every 3 to 6 years you will find a dead person in your workplace. Where does Mufasa record this? A dead person swinging from the ceiling on your floor will make me sick.
So we have a lack of sleep, dead people let us pile on some more. A whole department understaffed for years, a revolving door of bosses coming in for their six to eighteen months no accountability, reduced resources and unhappy clients. Oh yes please for occupational health I have a lot to get off my chest.