Okay, lets talk about my contract. After talking with the manager during my interview, she gave me an option of either 8 hour shifts/5 days a week or 10 hour shifts/4 days a week. Because we are headed into winter and our days are getting shorter, I decided to do 8 hour shifts so that I could get off and have a little time after work before it got dark.
This contract has 40 guaranteed hours per week. Meaning that whether I work 40 hours or not, I’m getting paid 40 hours!!
It took me less than an hour to realize that this department will not let you go home unless you are done for the day with your assignment. If your done early, you get to leave early. If your cases run late, you get off work late. It does not matter what hour shifts you are, you work until your assignment is done. This is a huge advantage for 10 hour shifts and totally screwed me as the one and only 8 hour shifter in the department. I was over an hour late getting out everyday and racked up over 4 hours of overtime on my first week here. I do NOT like working more hours than I have to, so overtime is NEVER a good thing when it comes to me!
I talked to my recruiter about my 8 hour contract not being honored and she said I would be better off going to 10 hour shifts and leaning on the guaranteed hours on days I get sent home early. With 10 hour shifts, I am less likely to go into overtime while also having a day off during the week. After addressing my concerns with the manager, she agreed to change my contract to 10 hour shifts 4 days a week. Not sure when this new schedule will take effect but I am hoping that this new schedule will allow me to work in this department with less frustration and I will be able to enjoy myself while here in Missouri.
This weekend, we decided to head to Paradise Pointe Disc golf course! On the lake just north of Kansas City, it was a beautiful 80 degree, bright and sun shining day full of spectacular views! It was a tough course with some serious distance but we had fun and Watson was in heaven running free in these wide open spaces!
Well, that’s all I’ve got… This was a long and exhausting week! Keep following every Sunday to see if my days get better and my weekends full of outdoor adventures!
12 more weeks to go