I am a: Quirky sysadmin. Geek. Gamer. Comic fangirl. My little space, my home on the interwebs. I blog about personal stuffs, work, various coding projects, and anything else I feel like.

Someone walked up to me today and said “You look upset.”

‘Upset’ isn’t quite the word I would use. I get upset sitting in traffic. I get upset when radio DJ’s talk over a favorite song rather than shutting the hell up and letting me listen to IT instead of THEM. I get upset when delayed payroll keeps me waiting 2 hours past end of business on a Friday just to get a check because the Fedex couldn’t find the truck had gotten stuck in Montgomery.

No, I’m past upset.

For the last 2 (now 3 weeks), Jim and I have been involved in a project for our employer. It was not related to our jobs and was to be considered a side job — granted we were “volunteered” for it, meaning that he promised someone he would do something, and he delegated said promised service to us.

“Here, I told [so ‘n so] I would do this for him, and now I need you to figure out how to get this done … and I need it yesterday.”

Great, as if I don’t have enough work to do. So Jim and I bust our asses, get the project done — despite 2 major re-do’s because our employer changed the scope of the project — and it turned out to be a smashing success. “So ‘n so” loved it.

The problem: well over 30 hours were put in by Jim for this, and at least 15 by me. Granted I did a great deal of mine at work, on company time, and told Employer that I wasn’t going to charge them for that. We did want payment for Jim’s time though. We cut the hours down to a “reasonable” flat time amount and figured up the off-site charge (time and a half) to come to $550. Employer freaked.

I knew right away we weren’t going to get paid for this shit.

Apparently, when Employer was first telling Jim about the project, he quoted $100 for the project. It wasn’t enough in my book, but at the time the scope of the project was simple and small. However, 3 days later, the project size tripled. Then they changed the scope AGAIN, which entailed us having to start all over again — 3 days before the due date!!!

After going back and forth with Employer (READ: he ducked us for the last few days), I spoke with him yesterday and he told me that the amount was fine, he just had to talk to his wife. *I had my doubts and figured he was lying to me.* Today, he told Jim that he would give us $300 — and we probably won’t even get the check for a week.

So, no, I’m not ‘upset.’ Even ‘livid’ doesn’t quite come close.

I decided today to end all of my progression projects for work. From this day forth, I will do what I am assigned and ONLY what I am assigned, and let them figure out their own enhancement problems on their own. I’ve increased productivity by over 300% for one department alone and never asked for a cent. The least he could have done is pay me and Jim for busting our asses on his “favor” AND keeping our workload up-to-date.

A former employee who is a friend of mine was recently contacted by the labor board concerning claims that this place has been withholding overtime payments. (which they have, to me and several others) I was given their contact information. I think I may give them a call Friday.

Also, I had been emailed by a friend of mine about a job that recently came up at his company. I think I’ll dig up my resume tonight and send it off to him.

A couple of months ago, I had resigned myself to finish out my projects here and build up my portfolio through side jobs. I wanted my next season of job hunting to prove more fruitful and could fare much better with more paying work under my belt — seeing as how my “on the job” stuff isn’t that impressive to anyone outside of the scouting field. However, I don’t like being lied to, and this place has done nothing but lie to me since Day 1. I’m through here.