Work status and expectations

[Cabrito]

I am on a very minimal plan. In the words of our beloved Beauregard many many years ago "Blue Cross / Blue Shiled, just like being uninsured but more exspensive."

I was probably going to go with the minimum too. Our Health Care system isn't ideal is it?

That sucks Michael.

I am sure many others are or have faced the same thing.

Good luck.

Thanks budman, but I'm still looking at the positives in my life. I got Moto's, friends, a solid house situation, ect..

I also have a fantastic life partner, and we're starting the domestic partner registration so so I can get on her insurance for the time being.

And, it's kinda like me and Mrs Cabrito are finally getting hitched after 21 years!... Sorta...

 

[Biga]

I'm the distribution manager for the security division for an international Japanese company here in USA based in Houston TX. (150 of us total but only 20 at the Distribution Center)
Since the COVID started, we had 2 cases within my crew, which we had to close it down for days to perform deep cleaning.
We also implemented the temperature check on everyone who enter the warehouse, bottles of alcohol gel everywhere and a tons of masks that our manufacture sent us, which I'm very grateful.
As sad it id to say, but the nature of the industry that we are, every time the economy wobbles, there is a need of safety overall and with that, our company is doing better than before, breaking sales quotas before the time expected.
Things are going so well that we need to relocate from a 16.000 SF to a 48.000 to accommodate the demand.
For months they even paid us for "hazard work" as a form of incentive to us...
Our main office will be relocated as well but we found out that less than half of the offices and desks are not necessary and they will continue to do their work from home from now on...
We divided the warehouse crew in 2 groups and implemented staggering shifts to have less contact with each other.

 

[900ss]

My boss has decided to have one individual take and record everyone's temperature at work. I have not been officially informed yet, but when he comes to take mine Im going to tell him to piss off.

I'm not comfortable with a person who has been in close proximity to all or part of the staff getting in close proximity to me. That and he's a fucking asshole anyway.

I bought my own thermometer and he can record the reading from it.

 

[bojangle]

And, it's kinda like me and Mrs Cabrito are finally getting hitched after 21 years!... Sorta...

Or, ya know, you could just do it.

My boss has decided to have one individual take and record everyone's temperature at work. I have not been officially informed yet, but when he comes to take mine Im going to tell him to piss off.

I'm not comfortable with a person who has been in close proximity to all or part of the staff getting in close proximity to me. That and he's a fucking asshole anyway.

I bought my own thermometer and he can record the reading from it.

I hope it's one of those butt ones.

You want my temperature? Come over here and get it.

 

[900ss]

Or, ya know, you could just do it.



I hope it's one of those butt ones.

You want my temperature? Come over here and get it.

Bloody weirdo. My sentiment exactly!

 

[ThumperX]

Bloody weirdo. My sentiment exactly!

Me too!!!
Cabrito, I’ll do it if you’ll do it!
Eeeek!

 

[bikeama]

I like the 7-month update.

I voted Retired - I should be good. I was just thinking about the financial side when I voted.

I did not think how much the Covid would change everyday life. I am 70 so not sure if I would be OK if I did get the Covid. Have taken the SIP seriously. We shop for groceries using curbside pick up and wipe everything down when we get home. Has turned into the new normal. Everything else we buy is online. I have used HD and Lowes curbside for projects.

My daughters and their family are so doing WFH - SIP. One daughter in town so I get to see the granddaughters. They have been coming over to use the pool all summer. My other daughter lives in Texas so have done a lot of facetime calls. She is the Ph.D. who makes sure we are doing SIP. She is the reason I started the Corona Virus are you ready thread.

It is the social interaction that I really miss. Have only done a couple of motorcycle rides this year. Have only eaten out one time and caught hell for that. Had to back up a trip to see my daughter in Texas to do a self-quarantine. She is pregnant and wants to make sure nothing goes wrong; she has had several miscarriages so I understand. In two weeks we will be headed to Texas to help when the baby is born. Travel in our Truck Camper so no interaction except for the gas pump on the trip.

I have not been to a Stockton Motorcycle Club meeting as I know several members have not and will not wear masks. Nothing I say will change their mind, so I do not try. I do miss our dinners before the meetings, great group of people.

The thing I did not see coming and upsets me. My sister is in a care home and in Hospice. The only visits are through an outside window talking on the phone. So sad to see others doing the same visits. Covid would decimate the care home so they have no choice. So many older people will die alone without family or friends.

Wear a mask and take care. I hope this is over in a year.

 

[berth]

We've (wife and I) have been WFH since March. In our recent company status meeting, we were told we're not going to be able to go back to the office until at least April.

We're all IT, so WFH is doable. I don't miss the commute, but do miss the camaraderie.

We go to the grocery store once a week, we go to other stores (notably Petsmart and Lowes), but still buy much of our stuff on line. We also go out to lunch every day, eat on the assorted patios.

 

[Cabrito]

Quick update.

The SF location just furloughed the last person on our sales team leaving the whole bay area without representation. To me this is a bad decision and will send the wrong signal to our customers if any of them are actually still in business when this is over. They are hoping by mid-1st Q or 2nd Q that they will bring some of us back to start getting ready to do some actual business.. Not holding my breath.

I secured covered CA for $38 a month for a Bronze PPO so I can keep my regular doctor..

Mrs Cabrito and I are now registered domestic partners so I might end up on her Kaiser insurance.

A friend went for a UPS PVD (Personal Vehicle Driver) job so I did too..

Mrs Cabrito wanted me out of the house and suggested I "go volunteer" or something... The lack of income has kept me from joining friends on Dirty Moto trips out of town that require motels, and eating out so I went for this UPS thing. It's just for the peak season. PVD drivers make $38 per hour and 50c per mile.

Let me tell you... This job requires some psychical hustle.. My ass is officially kicked but it feels great. I'm back to my 5am get up and workout routine, and the days are flying by.. It's nice to be busy, but this isn't an old man's job (I'm 55)

I've gotten several comments - "Coolest UPS Truck Ever"







I use my old luggage wheels and a shopping back to walk the block.






The past three days I've delivered over 100 packages



Some positives..
Getting paid
Working outside - the weather has been great.
Seeing my neighborhood in a different way. I'm lucky to work just a few blocks from home.
Seeing and meeting people briefly at a distance
Lots of exercise! My iPhone has me walking 6-7 miles, 10K-16k steps, and 30+ flights of stairs.. everyday.
Got a gift card for a tip the other day...


I do worry about getting into an accident though..

This is just temporary for a few months to make a little money.

 

[ThumperX]

Oh that's awesome Cabrito. I wasn't aware they were hiring.

 

[budman]

Good to hear some positives.

Exercise is a bonus!

 

[Cabrito]

Update on my COVID work status.

The UPS gig was a blast and lasted until mid-January, but it was a lot of wear and tear on my truck.

Last week my employer laid off more people, and extended my Furlough through Sept. The Entertainment / Events industry is still fucked beyond recognition. It feels unreal to have been out of work for so long. I have 25 years invested in this career so I am holding out for a while longer to see what happens. I don't have a degree, or a trade skill so although my skills do translate to other industries it still feels like my options are limited.
I'm a little frustrated, but at the same time trying to enjoy my extended time off. I'm hoping to get back to work sooner than Sept, but that depends on business coming back to the SF market. Edit: thank goodness for Mrs Cabrito holding things down financially for the most part. She's been a blessing.

FUCK Covid on so many levels..

 

[budman]

I agree. Fuck Covid.
Man... sorry to hear that.


I am on the other end of the spectrum right now.
51 hours in the first 4 days of this week. Office is back in full time and overtime for my dudes now in the game.

Hell. When I barely have time to look at Barf until I get home I know shit is real.

I guess my gig is good but it is also the suck.
No life at all. Good thing is guys alternating back to the office in 2 weeks. That will cut my load by 20% or so. Plus be nice to see people. Looking forward to 6 days a week.

Tonight a 4:45 site meeting led to an emergency “we need dimensions to pour concrete tomorrow” on a large manufacturing fast track job. The brain power to deliver was there with a lot of double checking. Hope I nailed it. Once concrete is poured mistakes are costly. Contractor just did not have time to coordinate everything so emergency Bud service to keep shit rolling.

Got it done at the cost of missing dinner & nice to get a quick post in and back to it at 6AM.

 

[ThumperX]

Sun staying out longer sure helps!
We're catching up and have an interview with a promising prospect to take over a lot of our work.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Sounds like I'll be back in the office by September, 3 days in office, two from home. We'll see how that goes.

 

[Yakoo752]

Sounds like I'll be back in the office by September, 3 days in office, two from home. We'll see how that goes.

Oct 1 for us and inverted days. 2 in office, 3 remote. This way we can run two "crews" with a clean day in between.

But there are other things on the roadmap that make me go

 

[Primo1]

I've been at work since Mar 2020. Mar 17th was our only day off. Then we got called back in.

Social distance in effect and mask. No temperatures checks , no covid testing. Been a year and 2 months since and about 10 people have tested positive since then. No sanitization , and we only find out because of hear say.

Limited employees (all the office staff that don't do anything stay home-send emails and what not) But since then we now know which people make the company stay floating.

The CEO however I respect because he's been here with us since day one. I work the tech sector so I don't deal with public. Washing my hands since Mar 2020 and staying away from feverish, mucousy and sneezy folks. Knock on wood but so far I've been healthy. I do test every few weeks. Just for my own sanity

If we didn't stay open I would have went stir crazy. I do miss the empty streets. Now that things open up, I'd rather stay home. LOL too many of the lame duck folks out there now.

 

[budman]

Dude that protocol sucks!!!

Likable CEO aside ... he ain’t that smart.

I am having employees start coming back Friday.
All vaccinated. Still...Alternating days.

Figure the protocols will be (we are well spaced):
1. Wear a mask in and anytime going to the restroom or when meeting
2. Ok to not when at your desk.
3. Wash hands and leave the light on in the restroom.

I sure hope the reopening cuts my demand. I am exhausted. 7 days a week all of 2021 except one wedding day.

So need some personal brain time. (Riding).
Pool is heating so back to swimming soon too.
Expect a return to teaching aerobics soon as well.

I see daylight at the end of a long dark tunnel.
Heard a quote “When you own the business every day is Monday”.

2021 has proven that to be oh so true.

 

[ThumperX]

Perhaps it’s the longer days or change in the weather but finally it looks as though we’re getting help wrt to labor. All the quoting we’ve been doing is coming back with deposits which eases the stress of the past year.

 

[Cabrito]

My Extended furlough ended Sept 30. I had low expectations about going back, but was holding out due to the 20 years invested in the company and industry, and my high salary. The corporate events industry remains mostly dormant with very slow comeback. Long planned and established conventions are still being canceled, attendance reduced, or moving permanently to virtual events. I'm out. I was burned out on the gig anyway so this is a good kick in the butt for me.

Many of my associates have left the industry.

Looking forward to the next chapter in my work life. Still working through the process of just getting a job or finding a new career or a mix..