Yes that’s me, the one you give the jobs no one else wants to do to. The one that smiles at the challenge and appreciates the results of their own work, even if no one else does.

Well I ran into the milestone of being 48 years old, last month amazed that I got here with not too many regrets and still some joy and happiness and a definite zest for life. But it’s also another year of working for the man. My job role sounds almost exciting as a Projects and Support Officer but make no mistake about it, I was chosen in my interview and undertake the role on a daily basis of an office admin bitch extraordinaire. I answer phone calls into our department, I speak to people about a huge range of issues sometimes nothing to do with my job, but I quickly google their issue and give them the number for someone else that can help if needed, I respond to emails I make sure the bills get paid and other essential but low grade office stuff that keeps the wheels of the business turning.  

We have been informed and seen in other organisations the shutting of phone lines and streamlining of emails on a straight to a database email system rather than to a person first and with no one there to answer phone calls coming into a department in the office anymore my days appear numbered in the job I do and enjoy. I have been in my current job for 4 years from July and I would be ready to move on if there were any where for an admin bitch roles to move onto but sadly my days and skills appear at present to not be in demand.

Don’t get me wrong I’m busy I get results and work hard in my job it’s just that managers and those above them have decided my role will no longer be needed in the future and even though I am busy as ever their eyeing up those P45 exit papers for me and people like me. It’s not like the work wont still need to be done when I am gone they will just either hire someone after me to do the job cheaper or get in someone with a degree and pay them the same or more than me and call it a career.

In my present admin role over the last 18 months our office manager resigned due to ill health and we have been doing a considerable amount of her work since she left, when one of us now has holiday the other person does a hell of a lot in order to just keep things ticking over, its a bit of a nightmare. It has been to a point though a fantastic work experience and an opportunity to develop my admin/project/finance skills even more though. But they see our ability not to fail as almost a failure in itself. We have been pleading for extra support and a decision on what happens to admin bods in the office like me. That decision has been made in that are roles are up for redundancy and we might be up for redundancy too, if we don’t play our cards right and even if we do play our cards right we could still find ourselves out of a job – catch 22 situation, we will make you redundant because your job is to important to be done by you or not important enough to be done by you any longer. We will tell you which we decide when we hand you your departure papers.

To be continued or to be discontinued!

Distance, Light & Sky – Don’t Go Dark On Me (Official Video)