Come work for us!

We are hiring. We have a job ad that says, among other things, that we especially care about our employees' well-being, personal growth and enjoyment of life, that we are having fun in a relaxed environment and that we are flexible.

I think that our definition of fun and well-being is indeed quite flexible.

The air is clearing

On Friday we had a chat with BigBoss, NiceBoss and LegendaarinenSymppis. The main point of the chat was for the BigBoss to explain to LegendaarinenSymppis that the customer did not kick my ass out for anything I did, but for some resource-related reason of their own, which is what the customer told the NiceBoss in the first place.

For that the BigBoss called the EvilLemonBiterBoss and the EvilLemonBiterBoss explained to him that they were quite satisfied with me and that I am indeed welcome back there. Maybe he is not that bad after all and I should simply call him LemonBiterBoss from now on.

The vacation thing was not totally LegendaarinenSymppis's fault. This is a genuine change in the policy that will apparently take effect next year for everyone else, but BigBoss told her that she may apply it to me this year and she tried to do so disregarding an earlier agreement to the contrary (with the NiceBoss during the interview).

Anyway, we decided "let's all be friends" and "let's always get everything in writing". LegendaarinenSymppis said she has nothing against me personally and never had. I don't believe it, but I think there will be a genuine effort on peace from all sides, but my faith in the future is still not very strong.

Things to think about:

The NiceBoss, who normally deals with customers, knew from the very beginning that the customer had nothing against me and told that to the LegendaarinenSymppis, and later to the BigBoss. She was either not listened to, or not believed.

BigBoss told LegendaarinenSymppis not to treat me badly because I am a good employee (meaning that customer had no complaints). Is that supposed to mean that it is OK to treat employees that way if the customers really do have a complaint? Ugh.

Vacation revisited

Yesterday afternoon LegendaarinenSymppis sends me an email saying that I may indeed have unpaid vacation, preferably in June-July. My original request was for late September and early October.

I ask her whether "preferably" means "only", and she tells me that I am not entitled to any vacation anyway if I don't have it written in the contract, and yes, only June and July.

Now, I know that the employer decides on vacation, but so far employers have been rather flexible. Also, I specifically told the NiceBoss who was interviewing me that a) I would like a normal-sized unpaid vacation this year, and b) I normally divide summer vacations between spring and fall, is it going to be a problem? She said it was no problem as long as the customer is informed sufficiently in advance, but I guess everything is a problem where LegendaarinenSymppis is involved.

The other employees have told me that so far people who wantedvacations in fall have gotten them. Now I found a employee info where they say pretty much what the NiceBoss said, dated 5.4. I guess the "vacations only in June-July" rule only exists for those whom LegendaarinenSymppis hates.

But she was absolutely right about the "get everything in writing"thing.

MegaPointyHairedBoss

OK, she is a TeraPointyHairedBoss. This name is too nice for her. My readers are invited to suggest an appropriately evil name; until then I will call her LegendaarinenSymppis.

Anyway, yesterday I told the NiceBoss about LegendaarinenSymppis, and she told the BigBoss. She also told me that she had in fact informed LegendaarinenSymppis that customer had no real problem with me, and now she informed her again.

I considered asking LegendaarinenSymppis what exactly is her problem with me, but then decided just to ask whether or not I can have the damn vacation in September. She just kicked me out of her room:

Koodiorjatyttö (walking in): Hi.
LegendaarinenSymppis: I don't have time to talk with you today. This is not a matter for today. So you can just as well calm down.
Koodiorjatyttö (walking out): OK.

This is after I told her twice that I need an answer by today. Wonder if she gives the answer to me tomorrow after the deadline for buying the tickets, just for the hell of it.

Trying to settle on vacation time

Monday, May 30:

Koodiorjatyttö (by email): Can I have an (unpaid) vacation at time A and time B? If these are too close together, then A is the one I'd rather move.

Wednesday, June 1:

Koodiorjatyttö (by email, after having recieved no answer): So, what about the vacation?
PointyHairedBoss (by email): I'll decide next week.

Monday, June 6:


Koodiorjatyttö (by email): Do you think you can decide at least on the B-part today? I gotta decide on the plane tickets tomorrow.
PointyHairedBoss (by email): I'll try.

PointyHairedBoss leaves without answering.


Koodiorjatyttö (by phone): Sorry to bother you, but what about the vacation?
PointyHairedBoss (by phone): I am afraid I can't answer you now. Gotta talk to our salespeople. I think the customer did not like you much, I am not sure we want to keep you.

(That is after the sales manager told me that everything is OK with me and the customer.)

OK, out of 4 conversations with the PointyHairedBoss so far she only threatened to fire me in 2.