Supervisor upset about holiday time off

Posted by ( get_this ) on December 09, 2008 at 8:23 am

Observer and anyone else who isnt off for the holidays and thinks everyone else shouldnt be off, GET ANOTHER JOB! We make choices in life and have to work our way to better jobs. Sure some struggle more than others to get there but with determintation, hard work (going the extra mile), and a sincere giving attitude, you will be blessed. I know from experience.

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Posted by ( ironrose ) on December 08, 2008 at 9:25 am

Let’s try and put this back into context.
1.  The County employees did not ask for additional time off.  It was a motion made by a caring Board member who made a decent gesture of appreciation of his employees at Christmas with the realization that their receiving a cost of living increase next year is slim to none.  And, with a 5-2 vote in agreement, it seems the majority of the Board feels the same way.  However, the 2 opposing votes don’t want to let it go and would rather keep turmoil going, as if there aren’t more important issues the citizens could be worried about than County employees getting a little time off to spend with their families.  Yes, these are tough economic times and yes, everyone needs to tighten their belts but if the issue has already been voted on, then go on with the vote and stop being so petty.  I somehow feel this really isn’t about worrying on how this time off is affecting the taxpayers but more about someone not getting their way.  Personally, I’m more interested, as a taxpayer, on how much money is spent in travel and meals for Board members than the employees getting an additional 4 hours off for Christmas. 
2.  In many families, (my own included) Christmas Eve is actually the day that families gather, or travel to gather, for the holiday celebration.  If it were me, I’m much rather have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, rather than that Friday.  The State, however, determined the holidays and the County typically follows suit. I’m not sure where that became the employees’ *choice*.
3.  From my own experience in management with an employee number far more extensive than that which reports under County Administration or the Board of Supervisors, I feel safe in assuring you this:  employees don’t work well after being jerked back and forth. You don’t tell an employee they can have an additional 4 hours off, then let them read about how little some of their employers feel about them, PLUS how little some many residents seems to think of them. Especially when they realized they probably won’t get a cost of living increase next year even though, as for all of us, the cost to living expense will greatly increase next year. In doing so, you can be pretty certain that your man hours vs work input during those 4 hours aren’t going to be productively spent, so you might as well have let them off work. And for the record, these employees are also taxpayers themselves (and eligible voters).  For a season that’s supposed to promote good will towards all men, I guess I missed the fine print that said it’s alright to belittle others’ endeavors or fault them for having a job. 
4. Thirdly, I’m not sure where “Observer” got their information, but County Administration employees do not have December 31 off as a holiday.  And “Newsnonsense”, I’m sorry you don’t have any time off but your having to work doesn’t “allow” a County employee to be off. 
5.  Mr. Harville’s comments in the article that’s caused all this controversy refers to complaints about people not being able to get permits during the week of Christmas.  I’m not sure who he’s getting complaints from, but most local contractors enjoy having the holidays off as much as the next person and aren’t going to be asking for too many building permits the week of Christmas. 
  Lastly, I remember when employees in most businesses, aside for medical related fields, restaurants and shops, and public servants (that would include your local government, folks) got two weeks of vacation a year-the week of July 4th and the week of Christmas.  It was considered valuable time spent with family and necessary in the development of a healthy family environment.  And the theory is, a stable family developments stable, community-oriented citizens.  The same type of citizens who are willing to do jobs like work in a treasurer’s office, a police department, in the County’s administrative offices and like,  dealing with a public who consistently complains and is verbally abusive to them and doing these jobs with politeness and attentiveness.  So, I really am appalled at how mean-spirited the citizens are to those who keep their tax-paid services running.  It seems there are more Ebenezer Scrooges these days than Bob Cratchits.

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Posted by ( footballfan ) on December 05, 2008 at 6:44 pm

I am off from Christmas Eve until January 5th with pay so if the people who have the misfortune to work for the Pittsylvania County sweatshop get an extra half day off thats a good thing. If Ebenezer Harville and his evil minion Barber don’t like it well thats too bad.

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Posted by ( brown ) on December 05, 2008 at 1:29 pm

TO newsnonsense—I failed to mention that I had to temporarily relocate to obtain the promotions that I got.  It was difficult to do but is that an option for you?  Sometimes we just have to go where the job(s) is/are if possible to do so.  Good luck and God bless.

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Posted by ( brown ) on December 05, 2008 at 1:18 pm

It is not about feeling sorry for anybody unless we choose to feel sorry for ourselves.  It never hurts to do something nice for someone and at Christmas what better time to do that?  If your job does not treat you well, I suggest that you stay on your job but continue to look for one that treats you better.  As a high school dropout, I obtained my GED, and while married with a husband and 2 kids, went back to school (DCC) and obtained an Associate Degree.  Eventually wound up working for the Civil Service with the US Government with great benefits, but the work itself was overwhelming, never got caught up, always having to work overtime, stress and pressure level extremely high with government workers always being told by the public that Fed. workers do nothing and get paid big bucks.  That was never the case on my job.  I worked hard for everything that I got, but I still thank God that I was able to rise above the circumstances and better myself with His help.  If we have personal goals and the desire we can obtain those goals with God’s help.

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