In keeping with our great state's motto, this post is a little late, slightly later than the eleventh hour, which is when our bill fixing the budget issue for court reporters was passed. Last Thursday, the last day the Senate and House would be in session until mid-April, mid-afternoon our bill was passed - barely, I might add with a vote of 32-26. We were assured it would pass by those in the know...and I'm told that by the time it gets to a vote, there are no surprises. Such was the case for us.
Thankfully, all the layoff notices and furlough orders were rescinded. Everyone gets to stay fully staffed...at least until July.
It just so happens that our annual seminar was on Friday. I dreaded it all week because if the bill did not pass, it would have been VERY unpleasant. Turns out, it was the exact opposite. Everyone was in good spirits, the sessions were very informative and it was actually one of the best seminars I have been to in 18 years. It would have been a totally different story had the bill not passed. No one would've been able to focus on anything other than the gloom and doom.
The gal over court reporting services in Springfield filled us in on how everything unfolded and told us that we will be fine through the end of this fiscal year. They were told to make a 10% cut on their request for the next fiscal year, but she said they will most likely ask for the same amount they asked for last year, and have no reason to believe they won't get. Even if our budget is slightly reduced, it should not require layoff's or extended furloughs. The most likely scenario for a cut would be not rehiring for every new retirement position. That is doable. Most people can get by here and there with one less reporter for a while, if they had to. And no one loses their job.
When I searched the phrase, "eleventh hour" I was somewhat surprised that its etymology comes from the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard told in Matthew 20. It relates to the workers hired at the end of the day. Makes sense. They received the same pay the workers hired in the morning received. I especially like the last verse, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Maybe the House and Senate were just saving the best for last...ha!
This crisis created a lot of stress and anxiety on many, and caused quite the uproar in each circuit as they tried to implement some sort of plan that would be feasible for continuing the court process and stretch the budget out. Maybe it was a good drill for us all, maybe some of us needed the wake-up call. I know I was thinking about every purchase and future purchase I wanted to make.
Although I was looking forward to a month of part-time employment, I am relieved that no one is losing their job or insurance. I'll just look ahead to my vacation time this summer (and get paid for it).
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Whirlwind budget issues
In January court reporters across the state were notified of a little snafu in the budget for our salaries. The mistake occurred in July, but no one fixed it. Fast forward to January, and we have a new governor. The tables have turned and the issue has exploded. It is a political tug-o-war, no doubt, and one in which the low-on-the-totem-pole official court reporters in our sweet state will suffer.
In the past, we have had hints of problems like this before and they always resolve. No one ever really worries about them, but this time is/was different. Two weeks ago, the Supremes directed our chief judges to come up with emergency plans for the crisis.
The present crisis is this - the court reporting salary line item depletes on April 24. It needs to last until June 30. Three full months. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 550-600 reporters in our state, I'm guessing the majority are women. Can you imagine the chaos that this has created?
Every circuit has implemented their own plan, or will implement their own plan on April 1. Many have already started. It is sad to see that reporters with 35+ years of experience are being laid off come April 1. Yes, they are eligible to retire, but they don't want to or they would have already.
Our plan doesn't begin until April 1. At that time, the reporters in our circuit will work two days a week and be furloughed three days. My little county will be able to carry on, pretty much without complete disaster, but I cannot imagine the much larger counties! Even with our plan in place, it doesn't stretch the money our circuit has through the end of June. Something else will have to go down...that could get interesting.
I'm very fortunate in that my family receives our health insurance through Jay's employer. If that were not the case, I might be in a bigger panic myself. The powers-that-be are very aware of that situation and say they will do their best to make sure the majority will work enough to keep their insurance. One has to be furloughed 31 days to lose the insurance. I saw one reporter that has just been diagnosed with breast cancer...I pray she doesn't lose her insurance. The stress that poor girl has to be under...
We have a Facebook page for our state reporters and it really has been informative, but also depressing. I try not to get too caught up in the postings because some people are really struggling and having a very difficult time. I'm more of a positive person, so I just keep thinking, it will work out.
I have learned that despite what is catastrophic to us, as reporters, the powers-that-be have continued to work on important issues such as declaring Pumpkin Pie the official state pie, sweet corn as our official state vegetable and implementing a Dan Fogelberg day. I laugh because it is truly laughable.
As of last night there has finally been a little bit of sunshine in our storm. A house bill has been proposed to be voted on. It is positive, but as I said, this is a political battle, and we are very low on the totem pole. I'm somewhat hopeful it will be resolved sooner rather than later, which is what I was beginning to think. I just looked and the bill has passed through the committee. I really don't understand how it all works, I suppose now would be a good time to learn.
I wouldn't mind a couple days off, even without pay, but long-term it doesn't sound so great...and for many that have serious situations it could be a nightmare. I remain hopeful!
In the past, we have had hints of problems like this before and they always resolve. No one ever really worries about them, but this time is/was different. Two weeks ago, the Supremes directed our chief judges to come up with emergency plans for the crisis.
The present crisis is this - the court reporting salary line item depletes on April 24. It needs to last until June 30. Three full months. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 550-600 reporters in our state, I'm guessing the majority are women. Can you imagine the chaos that this has created?
Every circuit has implemented their own plan, or will implement their own plan on April 1. Many have already started. It is sad to see that reporters with 35+ years of experience are being laid off come April 1. Yes, they are eligible to retire, but they don't want to or they would have already.
Our plan doesn't begin until April 1. At that time, the reporters in our circuit will work two days a week and be furloughed three days. My little county will be able to carry on, pretty much without complete disaster, but I cannot imagine the much larger counties! Even with our plan in place, it doesn't stretch the money our circuit has through the end of June. Something else will have to go down...that could get interesting.
I'm very fortunate in that my family receives our health insurance through Jay's employer. If that were not the case, I might be in a bigger panic myself. The powers-that-be are very aware of that situation and say they will do their best to make sure the majority will work enough to keep their insurance. One has to be furloughed 31 days to lose the insurance. I saw one reporter that has just been diagnosed with breast cancer...I pray she doesn't lose her insurance. The stress that poor girl has to be under...
We have a Facebook page for our state reporters and it really has been informative, but also depressing. I try not to get too caught up in the postings because some people are really struggling and having a very difficult time. I'm more of a positive person, so I just keep thinking, it will work out.
I have learned that despite what is catastrophic to us, as reporters, the powers-that-be have continued to work on important issues such as declaring Pumpkin Pie the official state pie, sweet corn as our official state vegetable and implementing a Dan Fogelberg day. I laugh because it is truly laughable.
As of last night there has finally been a little bit of sunshine in our storm. A house bill has been proposed to be voted on. It is positive, but as I said, this is a political battle, and we are very low on the totem pole. I'm somewhat hopeful it will be resolved sooner rather than later, which is what I was beginning to think. I just looked and the bill has passed through the committee. I really don't understand how it all works, I suppose now would be a good time to learn.
I wouldn't mind a couple days off, even without pay, but long-term it doesn't sound so great...and for many that have serious situations it could be a nightmare. I remain hopeful!
Thursday, October 16, 2014
The Fill-It Fairy
Too funny, I could not think of a thing to write and then a coworker popped in my office and a subject surfaced.
We have a 'break room' so-to-speak here at work with a coffee pot, microwave and refrigerator. I think all of those items are hand-me-down's and have seen better days. Regardless, I use them and I'm glad they are here. I have a mini fridge in my office (thanks to Spank), but when I get groceries on my lunch hour, I put the cool stuff in the fridge over there. Unfortunately, the fridge is more like a freezer...but I am aware of this and don't put anything in there I don't want exceptionally cold. It works.
It is nice to have this space, and I utilize the microwave almost every day. Plus, there are napkins, plates, cups, salt and pepper, etc. over there that people bring in to share. Several coworkers use ice from the ice trays in the freezer, which brings me to my point.
On a consistent basis, the ice cube trays are either left on the counter empty in front of the microwave, or they are put back in the freezer empty. Repeatedly. I didn't really get it until my friend "Kathy" departed. You see, her office was right next door to this break room and somehow it became her job to tend to it...or so it seemed anyway.
Every morning she made coffee, first cleaning out the coffee from the day before...although she didn't really drink the coffee very often. She was always filling the ice cube trays, even though she only used a couple here and there. I remember her making comments about the ice cube trays every now and then, but it didn't really sink in. And most likely it didn't sink in because by the time I went over there, Kathy had refilled the empty abandon trays and put them back in the freezer - get this - to make more ice cubes! The trays weren't lying in front of the microwave door...empty...when I was going to heat up lunch.
After Kathy left, I soon realized that, much to my dismay, coffee duty was now on me (even though I don't really drink coffee either), and more importantly, I began noticing the stupid empty ice trays. One day when a gal from another office was over there, I said something about the ice trays. She pointed out the culprit and said she wasn't sure why, but another lady who uses the ice cubes leaves the empty trays for someone else to fill. She will not refill the trays.
Honestly, I do not understand this concept. There is no Fill-It Fairy floating around here, someone has to physically take the trays to a stream of water and fill them, replace them in the freezer to freeze or THERE WON'T BE ANY ICE CUBES the next time you go to get some. Am I missing something?
Do not even get me started on the empty containers of creamer that are left on the counter, with the lid off.
It is akin to leaving an empty roll of toilet paper on the toilet paper holder when there is a full roll readily available. If you are going into a women's restroom to relieve yourself, either way, you will require toilet paper. I can (sort of) get it from a man's standpoint (although it's still ridiculous) because they don't always use toilet paper, but a woman is an entirely different story.
When I worked in the other circuit down south, I don't know who it was, but there was a female at the courthouse upstairs who never, ever replaced an empty roll. She just left the scrap hanging. WHO DOES THAT? It was maddening. We are all adults.
I am very fortunate to have a restroom pretty much to myself, unless we have a jury trial...and unless men get impatient waiting on the men's restroom and use mine (I HATE THAT - it is clearly marked, "Women" on the door). Every now and then another female coworker uses the restroom when she is up here. I had to say something to her one time because I went in after she had been in there and the roll was empty. The process of elimination pin-pointed her as the culprit. Please don't leave me stranded!
There is no Fill-It Fairy around here. If I use it, I will glady refill or replace it, but I am not touching those empty ice cube trays.
We have a 'break room' so-to-speak here at work with a coffee pot, microwave and refrigerator. I think all of those items are hand-me-down's and have seen better days. Regardless, I use them and I'm glad they are here. I have a mini fridge in my office (thanks to Spank), but when I get groceries on my lunch hour, I put the cool stuff in the fridge over there. Unfortunately, the fridge is more like a freezer...but I am aware of this and don't put anything in there I don't want exceptionally cold. It works.
It is nice to have this space, and I utilize the microwave almost every day. Plus, there are napkins, plates, cups, salt and pepper, etc. over there that people bring in to share. Several coworkers use ice from the ice trays in the freezer, which brings me to my point.
On a consistent basis, the ice cube trays are either left on the counter empty in front of the microwave, or they are put back in the freezer empty. Repeatedly. I didn't really get it until my friend "Kathy" departed. You see, her office was right next door to this break room and somehow it became her job to tend to it...or so it seemed anyway.
Every morning she made coffee, first cleaning out the coffee from the day before...although she didn't really drink the coffee very often. She was always filling the ice cube trays, even though she only used a couple here and there. I remember her making comments about the ice cube trays every now and then, but it didn't really sink in. And most likely it didn't sink in because by the time I went over there, Kathy had refilled the empty abandon trays and put them back in the freezer - get this - to make more ice cubes! The trays weren't lying in front of the microwave door...empty...when I was going to heat up lunch.
After Kathy left, I soon realized that, much to my dismay, coffee duty was now on me (even though I don't really drink coffee either), and more importantly, I began noticing the stupid empty ice trays. One day when a gal from another office was over there, I said something about the ice trays. She pointed out the culprit and said she wasn't sure why, but another lady who uses the ice cubes leaves the empty trays for someone else to fill. She will not refill the trays.
Honestly, I do not understand this concept. There is no Fill-It Fairy floating around here, someone has to physically take the trays to a stream of water and fill them, replace them in the freezer to freeze or THERE WON'T BE ANY ICE CUBES the next time you go to get some. Am I missing something?
Do not even get me started on the empty containers of creamer that are left on the counter, with the lid off.
It is akin to leaving an empty roll of toilet paper on the toilet paper holder when there is a full roll readily available. If you are going into a women's restroom to relieve yourself, either way, you will require toilet paper. I can (sort of) get it from a man's standpoint (although it's still ridiculous) because they don't always use toilet paper, but a woman is an entirely different story.
When I worked in the other circuit down south, I don't know who it was, but there was a female at the courthouse upstairs who never, ever replaced an empty roll. She just left the scrap hanging. WHO DOES THAT? It was maddening. We are all adults.
I am very fortunate to have a restroom pretty much to myself, unless we have a jury trial...and unless men get impatient waiting on the men's restroom and use mine (I HATE THAT - it is clearly marked, "Women" on the door). Every now and then another female coworker uses the restroom when she is up here. I had to say something to her one time because I went in after she had been in there and the roll was empty. The process of elimination pin-pointed her as the culprit. Please don't leave me stranded!
There is no Fill-It Fairy around here. If I use it, I will glady refill or replace it, but I am not touching those empty ice cube trays.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Contentment & Attitude
I'm not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
I've always been a big believer in having a glass-is-half-full type of attitude. If you focus on the negative, you will become consumed with the negative. If you focus on the positive, you're always hopeful. I still believe it.
All of us need an attitude adjustment every now and then. This Spring I was forced to give myself one. I was becoming consumed with negative thoughts of my job. I was bored to tears and very frustrated with the fact that it suddenly occurred to me I was about 25% court reporter/75% secretary, and more importantly 85% bored. I have nothing against secretaries or if I was one 100% of the time, but I went to school to be a court reporter. I went to school to type really fast on my shorthand machine...not to answer the telephone, with a majority of the phone calls intended for another office within the courthouse, and not just to sit here and look busy. I was drowning in this revelation. And it was really getting me down.
We had our annual court reporting seminar in April and I got to hang out with my former circuit girls. I literally puked out my frustrations with them and others. And I don't know if it was that exercise, spewing from my lips to people that understood how frustrated I was, that finally did it or what, but on the way home, it clicked that I had two choices. I could either accept my current position, the good and the bad, and change my attitude about it, or consume myself with pity and dread coming to work every single day.
I'd also been struggling with painful arms, shoulders, neck, wrists and hands. For some reason, I suddenly made the connection. If I was doing more of my actual court reporting work, I am not sure my upper body could take it. For real. Could I even handle being 75% court reporter? If I get what I want, I may not be able to handle it physically. Duh.
It was like God was telling me: Sarah, shut up and do your job, the one I have given you. I put you there, I know what is best for you. Just be content with the situation and find the good.
So, here I am, content with the situation as best I can be. I have a very good job with stability. I am fortunate to at least being doing a little of what I enjoy and went to school for. Some are never blessed with such an opportunity.
None of us know what tomorrow holds. I don't know if my body could take the physical demands of being a full-time court reporter anymore. But I can do the job I have right now. After the change in attitude and outlook on the situation, I'm fully content (well, almost) with the situation at work. (There's always room for improvement: see glass half-full rationale.)
And my goodness, when I look around outside my own little box, I can see many folks who have a lot to be depressed about. Wouldn't they love to trade me for just one day of my 'frustrations'?
The definition of contentment is: the state of being happy and satisfied. Our outlook on life and attitude has such a powerful hold over the joy in life. It is mostly within our control. Today, I choose to see the good. Today, I choose contentment.
I've always been a big believer in having a glass-is-half-full type of attitude. If you focus on the negative, you will become consumed with the negative. If you focus on the positive, you're always hopeful. I still believe it.
All of us need an attitude adjustment every now and then. This Spring I was forced to give myself one. I was becoming consumed with negative thoughts of my job. I was bored to tears and very frustrated with the fact that it suddenly occurred to me I was about 25% court reporter/75% secretary, and more importantly 85% bored. I have nothing against secretaries or if I was one 100% of the time, but I went to school to be a court reporter. I went to school to type really fast on my shorthand machine...not to answer the telephone, with a majority of the phone calls intended for another office within the courthouse, and not just to sit here and look busy. I was drowning in this revelation. And it was really getting me down.
We had our annual court reporting seminar in April and I got to hang out with my former circuit girls. I literally puked out my frustrations with them and others. And I don't know if it was that exercise, spewing from my lips to people that understood how frustrated I was, that finally did it or what, but on the way home, it clicked that I had two choices. I could either accept my current position, the good and the bad, and change my attitude about it, or consume myself with pity and dread coming to work every single day.
I'd also been struggling with painful arms, shoulders, neck, wrists and hands. For some reason, I suddenly made the connection. If I was doing more of my actual court reporting work, I am not sure my upper body could take it. For real. Could I even handle being 75% court reporter? If I get what I want, I may not be able to handle it physically. Duh.
It was like God was telling me: Sarah, shut up and do your job, the one I have given you. I put you there, I know what is best for you. Just be content with the situation and find the good.
So, here I am, content with the situation as best I can be. I have a very good job with stability. I am fortunate to at least being doing a little of what I enjoy and went to school for. Some are never blessed with such an opportunity.
None of us know what tomorrow holds. I don't know if my body could take the physical demands of being a full-time court reporter anymore. But I can do the job I have right now. After the change in attitude and outlook on the situation, I'm fully content (well, almost) with the situation at work. (There's always room for improvement: see glass half-full rationale.)
And my goodness, when I look around outside my own little box, I can see many folks who have a lot to be depressed about. Wouldn't they love to trade me for just one day of my 'frustrations'?
The definition of contentment is: the state of being happy and satisfied. Our outlook on life and attitude has such a powerful hold over the joy in life. It is mostly within our control. Today, I choose to see the good. Today, I choose contentment.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Colored Pens
Funny, sometimes out of nowhere I get an idea about something to write. Today is just an example of that. (And don't set yourself up for something amazing here, this one is pretty simple.)
I do a lot of proofreading with my job. I have found that after making the correction on the paper, I need to circle it so I catch it when I'm flipping through my rough draft and making the noted changes on the computer. But even circling it isn't always enough. Sometimes I have to open my drawer and pull out the magic red pen. Like today.
As I reached for my red pen, I was reminded of grade school and how much I loved those red pens the teachers used. There were a couple teachers that would let us grade papers and use their red pen. I felt so special. I loved pretending to be a teacher and making huge markings at the top of the page. Like an E or E+ with a big red circle...or an A+++++ for Ralphie (cue scene from Christmas Story). You know what I'm talking about.
I prefer to use blue ink pens at work and when signing things so I can tell if it's an original. I know that there are some that think colored ink is unprofessional, but seriously, there are times I have to hold a document up to the light to try to decide if it is a photocopy or an original. It is so much easier when it's signed in blue.
The very first state's attorney I worked with in Lawrenceville wasa little very disorganized. He couldn't walk into the courtroom one time and be ready to go, it would take at least two or three trips for him to actually sit down and begin. Only to realize he had forgotten a writing utensil. And then he would take mine. (I often joked about putting a shock collar on him, with my hand on the remote.)
Although I do a majority of my note taking on my stenographic writer, I still make handwritten notes on my docket sheet to help me remember important points, or in case someone (like a very disorganized state's attorney) asks me an hour later what we did with so and so. I need my pen. I also bought all of my own supplies at that courthouse, including my ink pens. I didn't appreciate providing ink pens for someone who had his own office budget.
I've been known to be a smarty pants a time or two (or ten thousand), and I came up with the perfect plan to fix Mr. C. and his pen-snatching ways. I got colored pens. I had red, purple, pink, green...and I don't just mean on the outside. I mean the ink was colored. It worked perfectly. I pretty much cured him and anyone else from 'borrowing' my ink pens. Not too many 'professional' men want to write in pink or purple ink :)
Colored pens, what a great invention. And with that being said, I better get back to proofreading with my bright red ink pen!
I do a lot of proofreading with my job. I have found that after making the correction on the paper, I need to circle it so I catch it when I'm flipping through my rough draft and making the noted changes on the computer. But even circling it isn't always enough. Sometimes I have to open my drawer and pull out the magic red pen. Like today.
As I reached for my red pen, I was reminded of grade school and how much I loved those red pens the teachers used. There were a couple teachers that would let us grade papers and use their red pen. I felt so special. I loved pretending to be a teacher and making huge markings at the top of the page. Like an E or E+ with a big red circle...or an A+++++ for Ralphie (cue scene from Christmas Story). You know what I'm talking about.
I prefer to use blue ink pens at work and when signing things so I can tell if it's an original. I know that there are some that think colored ink is unprofessional, but seriously, there are times I have to hold a document up to the light to try to decide if it is a photocopy or an original. It is so much easier when it's signed in blue.
The very first state's attorney I worked with in Lawrenceville was
Although I do a majority of my note taking on my stenographic writer, I still make handwritten notes on my docket sheet to help me remember important points, or in case someone (like a very disorganized state's attorney) asks me an hour later what we did with so and so. I need my pen. I also bought all of my own supplies at that courthouse, including my ink pens. I didn't appreciate providing ink pens for someone who had his own office budget.
I've been known to be a smarty pants a time or two (or ten thousand), and I came up with the perfect plan to fix Mr. C. and his pen-snatching ways. I got colored pens. I had red, purple, pink, green...and I don't just mean on the outside. I mean the ink was colored. It worked perfectly. I pretty much cured him and anyone else from 'borrowing' my ink pens. Not too many 'professional' men want to write in pink or purple ink :)
Colored pens, what a great invention. And with that being said, I better get back to proofreading with my bright red ink pen!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
A sigh - a sign?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary gives the following as the definition of the verb, sigh:
: to take in and let out a long, loud breath in a way that shows you are bored, disappointed, relieved, etc.
: to make a sound like sighing
: to take in and let out a long, loud breath in a way that shows you are bored, disappointed, relieved, etc.
: to make a sound like sighing
: to say (something) with a sigh
I would say that I am not a sigher (my made-up word for this post). I feel confident about that statement because I am around at least three people who sigh...a lot. I know for certain I do not sigh as much as some people, if indeed I do sigh.
I guess I have never really noticed people who sigh until recently...thanks to the three sighers of whom I speak.
I won't throw out any names, you can try and guess them on your own, but I will start off with Sigher #1. This person sighs a lot, sighs loudly, and almost growls as the sigh is expelled. Many times I want to holler out, "Is there something I can help you with?" because I am assuming that the sigh is a sign that there is a problem...and perhaps this person wants my assistance?? Most likely it is frustration with whatever #1 is doing, but honestly, if #1 doesn't want my help, then stop with the incessant sighing...
Moving onto Sigher #2 . #2 doesn't necessarily sigh a lot, but when he or she does sigh, it is loud enough for all the world to hear, and again, I can't help but wonder if that is intended for my ears and/or if it is a cry for help. Other times, I feel like it's my sign that #2 is having difficulties, doesn't really want my help, but wants to make certain I realize things are not going smoothly...as if to one-up me.
And finally, Sigher #3. #3 is just at that stage in life (I'm hoping) where everything is just one big sigh. I'm not even sure if #3 realizes how much they sigh. It's almost as if it has become an unconscious habit or something. If you just stop and wait for #3 to sigh, it is comical how many times you will hear it. And once again, do I offer some assistance? No, because I don't know anything of importance, I cannot possibly understand their situation, and frankly, I think it boils down to #3's age and stage in life. We can only hope...*sigh*
I have decided that even the Precious Hank the Tank II has picked up on the sighing...
It is funny how much I have tuned into the sighing during the last couple of weeks...perhaps because I have heard it consistently from all three sighers...or maybe I just have really good hearing. *sigh*
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