I'm starting to hate my job

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I can deal with the regular 8 hour shift but it's been getting super busy lately. Instead of hiring another proofreader they just keep asking me to come in early, stay late, and work weekends.

Last week the 1st shift proofreader took a couple of days off. Well they didn't plan it well and there was so much work we could barely keep our heads above water. Thursday I worked 3pm-1am. Friday they called me in at noon, so I worked from noon til 11pm. Then on Saturday they wanted me to work 1st shift (7am-3pm) and I told them I'd come in at 9am. I got so much shit for that.

I know people do work these hours and I should be lucky for the OT, but I am busy from the second I walk in the door until they let me leave. It's straight proofreading. And I don't get a lunch break. By the end of the night I'm drained and my eyes are so blurry I'm afraid to drive home. And I REALLY hate coming home at 1 or 2 am. There's no one around when I'm walking to my bldg after I park my car.

Shit, I am so late. They asked me to come in early and I just couldn't get out of bed today. I'm hitting that point where I'm crying in the shower before work.

[topless_mike]

be glad you are still unemployed... im hearing absolute horror stories.

[Death Metal Moe]

be glad you are still unemployed... im hearing absolute horror stories.

Not to minimize your problems Fuzzy, but I agree with Mike at this point. My job has been going through a lot of shit lately too, but with the job market the way it is, the economy taking a shit and the credit problems, I'm fighting to keep my job.

I'm not complaining to anyone and I'm just doing what I'm told.

[Aggie]

I sympathize with you. Luckily I don't have to work super long hours like you (sorry)! But I know if/when I leave they will have to hire 2 people to do the job I'm doing. It's almost bad to be such a reliable employee because they think you can handle it and keep saying, "oh she can do it, no need to hire someone else." BS!

I'm just so burnt out lately I'm useless when I get home. BUT like the others said I am very thankful to have a job, but that doesn't mean it won't suck balls sometimes.

I hope it gets better for you soon.

[Jujubees2]

Doesn't working long hours decrease your effectiveness as a proof reader?

[debit]

Why don't they just use spell check?



I didn't think proof reading was still a job.

[furie]

I thought you hated your last job too.
maybe proofreading just isn't for you

[Thebazile78]

Why don't they just use spell check?



I didn't think proof reading was still a job.

Spell-check doesn't do shit for usage errors, like the common ones where people misuse homophones interchangeably (like using "there" for "their" or "they're") or "that" where they ought to use "which" and so forth.

You also want a set of human eyes to check that everything has the same tone and style.

Proofreading is a lot more than checking spelling!

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Spell-check doesn't do shit for usage errors, like the common ones where people misuse homophones interchangeably (like using "there" for "their" or "they're") or "that" where they ought to use "which" and so forth.

You also want a set of human eyes to check that everything has the same tone and style.

Proofreading is a lot more than checking spelling!

The amount of errors people make in their papers is too staggering for a puny digital mind to comprehend. That's why proof-reading likes to abuse the spongy minds cuz our brains can absorb that shit and deal with it without just giving up and saying "there" and "their" are the exact same words because they aren't misspelled. 'Course it makes your head the dirtiest object in the kitchen, but it's shittons better than anything MS Duh can do.

As for the OP, my ex who was also a proofreader just got fired today from her job along with the entire department.

[razorboy]

I recommend drugs and alcohol.

[frye hole]

What is this thing you call OT? :wink:

[Thomas Merton]

Is the worst part the hours or the sameness?

Nothin' wrong with hard work, but doing the same thing for hours on end, even reading, must suck. I hope it doesn't affect your pleasure reading.

[Legit Bill]

Work sucks. No good comes from working harder.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I do like the work. Quite a lot actually. But, as someone noted, it's harder to stay focused the longer you work. The CEO gave us the "we have to work more with less" speech the other day, meaning the QC (quality control) dept will remain short staffed. Of course we've made a bunch of errors in the last week or so because everyone is overworked. But they don't see it that way. If you make a mistake and it costs the company money to fix it, you will be suspended for a minimum of one day.

I guess what it comes down to is that since my breakdowns and subsequent hospitalizations, my tolerance for stress is extremely low. I have to be very careful because my depression can creep in slowly; so slowly that I don't notice small little changes until, well, I'm no longer functioning and I need to go into the nut hut. I've noticed my thinking is very scattered and I'm getting forgetful. When i'm really stressed I forget to take my meds (I'll even forget if I write myself a note). It hasn't been a big deal; I just take them when i get home (but then they keep me up).

I dunno. I guess I have to figure out a way to keep this job and handle the stress.

[Devo37]

be glad you are still unemployed... im hearing absolute horror stories.

i'll assume you meant "be glad you're still employed..." a proof-reader would've caught that type of error. :tongue:

i'm getting sick of my job, but i'm thankful to have it. i don't have to work overtime (the company doesn't want to pay for it), but my boss is constantly assigning me projects, then changing his mind a day or two later and canceling what i'm working on.

i've got a list a mile long of half-finished projects that were sent to the scrap heap. i keep track of everything, so if a big-boss asks me why i have so many unfinished projects, i can show him everything that's either been canceled or put on the back-burner halfway through by my direct boss.

[DarkHippie]

Normally I would say "if you dont like your job, leave" but times are hard enough without being unemployed.

Proofreading is very mentally draining. i'm surprised that they have proffreaders work long hours. I would think that the longer you work, the more mistakes you make. Having you work long shifts makes very little sense to me.

But I feel your pain, and if you need to vent, i will listen and offer you tea and kreplach

[Thebazile78]

Normally I would say "if you dont like your job, leave" but times are hard enough without being unemployed.

Proofreading is very mentally draining. i'm surprised that they have proffreaders work long hours. I would think that the longer you work, the more mistakes you make. Having you work long shifts makes very little sense to me.

But I feel your pain, and if you need to vent, i will listen and offer you tea and kreplach

That's exactly what I was thinking ... only if you replace "kreplach" with "Christmas cookies" it would be more my speed.

(I finally have counter and table space enough to make cookies again. I am practically dancing with glee.)

[BMoses]

And I don't get a lunch break.

Well if you work in New Jersey the only laws on lunches/breaks apply to minors. However, a good number of other states do have laws require lunches.

http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/state/meal.htm#NewYork

[ahhdurr]

mine is the cause of great misery in my life.

But now I know math.