Resist The Useless Aggravation

Yes, I'm blogging again, and it's the next day! Go me! Actually, my Mom wrote that she'd like one of my posts everyday. Well, Ma, Happy Mother's day. I'll try to do one every day this week (but no guarantees). I'm writing at work, so sorry--no pictures. I do, however, feel the need to explain the Human Resources drama I am currently trying to put to bed. As of the beginning of April, I was changed to Part-Time status (68 hours/pay period) at end of 1st Quarter 2009 because my Benefits Eligible Hours (BEAH) = 69.64. If they are not at or above 72, then you are considered part-time. The very next pay period, my average hours were 73.44 (I'll explain further on). I discussed the situation via e-mail and in-person with my supervisor (who has since moved to California . . . thanks, buddy) and my HR representative. The HR chick said she could change my status back to FT manually when my average hours were > 72. She completed a PAR form and submitted to the Corporate HR Hag, who refused to change PT status until end of 2nd Quarter, which is mid-June. That's bunk, if you ask me. Okay, you didn't ask me, but since you're reading this, you get my opinion. And it's bunk. I have been told that I can submit an appeal, but they only meet once a month, and the next meeting is May 20. So by the time I get an answer, it will pretty much be the end of the 2nd quarter anyway. Grrr! Even so, I'm going to submit the appeal to see if I can get some $$ back from the increased insurance premiums and lost PTO accrual (that's about a -3 on a probability scale of 1-10). Oh well--it's worth a shot, and I'm so agitated about it all that I need to do something. In brief, this is an explanation of what happened with my hours: · Took FMLA (physician-ordered) in August 2007 for shoulder dislocation (approximately 4 weeks; this is when I found out I was pregnant) · Took FMLA for physician-ordered bedrest/recovery from C-section in 2008 (approximately 10 weeks). · Approximately 2 weeks not covered by FMLA for August 2007-August 2008 · Average hours at the end of the 1st quarter of 2009 were calculated including 2 weeks before I returned to work from maternity leave, which 2 weeks had no hours worked and brought down my average significantly. This is where the problem lies, and I believe the company is in the wrong, because my maternity leave should have been covered retroactively as of August 2008 (rolling 12 month period for FMLA). In essence, I am being punished monetarily for taking a medical leave more than one year ago, and now I'm working full-time but getting part-time benefits because of a stupid policy. I'm sure that they will say that the policies are black and white, and I just have to live with it. I just have really bad luck (according to my new manager--thanks for your vote of confidence). She also says that I should pay out-of-pocket for the short-term disability insurance for this quarter. The company pays for it for full-time employees, but not for part-timers. Yeah, and I have an extra $200 bucks a month to do that--no problem! Especially since I'm already paying an extra $200/month for part-time insurance! Double GRRR!! That's what's weighing on my mind at the time being. It's pretty depressing, but the quarter is halfway over already. I think it's because I'm really coveting the Nikon d5000. I want it BAD, and they are just taking money from me that could be going to a camera! Triple GRRRRRRR! Okay. That's enough. More of my troubles tomorrow.