Green Smiley
Hi everyone,
So due to the sequestor several people have been laid off at the non-profit where I work. When I started there 10 months ago there were 11 employees in my department. (3 of us are social workers). Now there are 6 and a half. One person is down to 20 hours per week so she's the "half". One social worker was laid off. Cheryl and I are the only two left so we absorbed the clients that belonged to the other social worker. This past Wednesday the Transportation Coordinator and the Teen Parent Coordinator were also laid off. Cheryl and I will be absorbing the teen parent caseload now.
The green smiley part is that I still have a job. That's good right? The bad part is my caseload went from about 33 cases to about 45 now. I do not know how I will manage 45 cases and do an excellent job. I work a 40 hour week. That's less than an hour a week per family. But as I said to my boss I will do my best.
The government seems unable to understand the concept of pay now or pay later. A little prevention goes a long way with short money but the government would rather build prisons.
I don't get it. The neediest of the population are being hit by these cuts.
I am grateful that I have a job.
xoxo Linda
So due to the sequestor several people have been laid off at the non-profit where I work. When I started there 10 months ago there were 11 employees in my department. (3 of us are social workers). Now there are 6 and a half. One person is down to 20 hours per week so she's the "half". One social worker was laid off. Cheryl and I are the only two left so we absorbed the clients that belonged to the other social worker. This past Wednesday the Transportation Coordinator and the Teen Parent Coordinator were also laid off. Cheryl and I will be absorbing the teen parent caseload now.
The green smiley part is that I still have a job. That's good right? The bad part is my caseload went from about 33 cases to about 45 now. I do not know how I will manage 45 cases and do an excellent job. I work a 40 hour week. That's less than an hour a week per family. But as I said to my boss I will do my best.
The government seems unable to understand the concept of pay now or pay later. A little prevention goes a long way with short money but the government would rather build prisons.
I don't get it. The neediest of the population are being hit by these cuts.
I am grateful that I have a job.
xoxo Linda
Replies
This is a dumb way to save money. We don\'t even need to do this. Just change the taxes hidden outside our country, loop holes, raise taxes on the 2%. Find other sollutions, but don\'t save $ on the most vulnerable. That\'s just cowardice.
not the place where there should be cutting to save monies,,,,glad you still have a job,,,but your job is so important,,,much more thatn,,,\"what animals think\",,, \"how to use condoms\" :robotic squirrels\"
Oh, Linda... Never is this right and I felt that way as a teacher when I saw all the cuts being made in education. The children are our future as is the kind of work you are trying to provide. All you can do is your best and I know you give so much. Just wish the government could figure this out and give as much as its caring citizens do. Deepest of sighs...
I\'m grateful you have a job yet this is just the beginning of seeing the continued domino effect of all of these cuts where the funds are sorely needed. My mom used to say that if more women were running the country we wouldn\'t be having all of these problems.
Please take care of yourself with all of this added responsibility.
With love,
XO Joanie
Linda, working in the school system for so many years. I had one job that I could do in 3 hours a day. The extra time drove me nuts! I could read a book or listen to the radio but I hated it. It was a Federal Program and such a waste! After 8-9 months I sought out another job.
Everything is so political and unfair. I agree the emphasis is not where it should be. One of my first kindergarten students killed a man at age 11 for half of a beer and pocket change. At the time he was the youngest murderer in Colorado. I held this kid on my lap to constrain him almost daily. Does not seem possible!
Yes, the good news is you have a job. They are lucky to have you for any length of time. Pray, do what you can. When the schools cut the offices down to one person, I would always work extra time until November for the student count which meant $$$. After that I prioritized, students first, principal second, parents third, and downtown last. Oh that phone did ring.... I did what I could in the time I had. I was not Superwoman.
Keep trying, pray, and I know you will find a way.
Sending love your way,
Leda
I feel for you, Linda...that is a heavy caseload. For someone that strives to do her best, like you, it must be quite frustrating not to be able to devote as much time to each case as you feel necessary...I hope that you will be able to remember you\'re \"just one person\" and not let the work affect your health negatively, as you are super conscientious! Thank heavens you did not lose your job..but it doesn\'t surprise me in the least that you were one that was \"a keeper.\" They\'d be hard pressed to find someone as excellent an employee and a fine, upstanding woman as you! Like you, I don\'t know what this government is thinking by cutting the programs of those that need help the most...why don\'t they cut back on their top of the line health care benefits for gov. workers that the general public can\'t even get...or their huge pension allotments or somesuch instead, right?! Hoping your hubby\'s doing well these days and headaches remain decreased... p.s. at least you were able to learn the job position\'s ins and outs before the cuts came..that would have been even harder perhaps then...being new to the dept and all...
Love, Donna
I don\'t understand why these cuts are happening! Our hospital is struggling so hard as we had to purchase a computer EMR system, as all hospitals must have them by next year. We a tiny, private facility, and could not afford it. But the government is making them mandatory. I\'m so happy you still have a job! You\'re right, that is a good thing! Praying for you to keep up! Love, Barbara
Lots of loop holes....lots of waste. Not much about our government makes sense to me. Taxes are out of control!!! I\'m sick of working my butt off to give the government 1/2 of what I make! Yes, I did say 1/2!! It\'s ridiculous what small business owners get stuck paying for!! My husband and I keep asking each other, \"is it really worth it\"....the answer is getting closer and closer to NO every day.... We have to pay unreasonable taxes which prevent us from hiring new employees, which we need! Our government does not want the population to do better...that much is clear. And Donna is so right, pension plans are bankrupting America! California has already begun the bankruptcy process.
And don\'t even get me started on jails and prisons!!! Good grief!! Let my son sit in jail, because an officer lied to him, instead of letting him go to work and make a living and contribute to society......just baffles the mind!! If all murders and rapists would be executed the prisons would not be overcrowded. If drug addicts were given real help instead of jail/prison sentences, there would not be overcrowding. OK, enough as Abby says!
OK, ending on a positive \"green\" note....YAY! You have a job!!
Love you dear one!
That is not reasonable..but govt never makes decisions on what is best for people in the long run...the case managers here run from 75-120 people, again not reasonable caseloads...
Hugs
Marylou
Awful, awful awful. I\'m glad you still have your job, but it isn\'t fair to increase your workload so much! Please just do your best but remember that you cannot just work all of the time -you need relaxation time too! xxxxx
Our government is so dysfunctional it makes me sick.
So glad you still have a job but I\'m sure the increased case load must take it\'s toll.
Tight hugs and love, Terry
I am glad you are still employed. Our government is just as dysfunctional. I live in the \'richest\' province in Canada, yet we have a deficit and the cuts are happening in health care. I can\'t even count the number of cuts in the facility where I worked since I left. In my opinion, it is unsafe. If people want adequate care, they must hire extra help. How sad.
We went to a concert last night - Billy Bragg from England. He is an avid advocate for the common man. He explained why Margaret Thatcher\'s \'improvements\' were good for the rich. He said that he had been interviewed and was told that the free market encouraged individualism. He said he does too. However, if people can\'t access an education, decent health care etc, they don\'t have much chance to practice their individuality. I guess I should get off the rant. I am just tired of hearing cuts cuts cuts cuts while incredible million plus dollar mansions are on former grain fields. Someone has money and privilege - the execs who occupy the oil company head offices in down town who do not pay their fair share of taxes.
Enough! Good luck at work. They were smart to keep you on!
Love and hugs, Marlene
Don\'t even get me started on all the waste and hand outs the gov\'t gives than cuts what is really needed. A little common sense could go a long way. All you can do is your best with the resources you have and hope & pray it is enough. Hugging you close...Hugs, Ann
Linda if those nuts in the house & senete would take a pay cut give up their insurance paid by us the rest of their days, look at what we would save.......
This whole thing makes me mad.
I wish you well in your heavey case load, do not work yourself to an overload, every one needs you.
Hugs Penny
What a mess, but so glad you still have your job! Sue xo
Thankful that you still have a job but so sorry that your case load is now heavier. Hugs