It’s been ten weeks since starting my job as a customer service associate at a mail order pharmacy. Spent six weeks in training with a great bunch of guys. We literally became a family which can be said for many places of employment where you spend most of your life. Our group was ready to be placed in permanent headquarters. The map was made with each name designated to a cubicle. We would be scattered among several aisles but still in close proximity. Everyone had a space, oh, except me. My name was left off the chart and the seating could not be rearranged because a pharmacist had to be placed between a pharmacy tech or a customer service associate. The next morning a cubicle was found for me--on the opposite side of the room far away from my family. Yes, I felt like the forgotten child. The black sheep. Banished from the kingdom.
It’s been this way for a couple of weeks. Get to see a few of the gang on a daily basis, walk with one during breaks, but it’s not the same. I miss them all and they actually miss me (go figure). Already felt disgruntled about the job. Struggled in the job search before landing this gig but came to the realization that it’s just not my cup of tea. It’s a call center environment and much too sedentary. No variety. Just sitting at a desk working on a computer with a headset plugged into the telephone. Now we have mandatory overtime. Worked 51 hours last week and 51.5 this week and the overtime will continue until further notice. (Huh. Wonder what that means?) Doesn’t give you much time for a life, not that I have one, but would like to some day.
It all comes down to the fact that we were basically lied to during the interview process. The interviewers were contracted by a temporary employment agency and claimed that overtime would be a rare occurrence. The admissions (or omissions) led many to believe the opposite of what the jobs actually did entail. Many of the pharmacists are fresh out of college and believed the other employees were all pharmacy techs. If you asked the same question to three people, you might get three different answers. The company keeps hiring and the training leaves a lot to be desired. Not good enough for what is expected in this job. Not good enough for what should be required for this job. You may save money with a mail order pharmacy; however, if customers knew what happened behind the scenes, many would undoubtedly return to their local pharmacy.
Many of my friends wanted me to ask our supervisor if I could be placed in an empty cubicle over on their side. After much prodding, I did ask and JayAnn would have to ask the boss. Days went by and my name was already typed on the overtime list for my aisle, so knew I wasn’t going to be moved.
Well, this week, I was let back in to the fold. Came in to work and had a question for JayAnn. She looked at me and told me to come with her. Someone else was wanting to move. Natalie liked my spot so we switched. Now I’m in the same aisle as my training partner and my secret Santa. Still don’t like the sitting, but it has made all the difference in the world to be nearer to my family. Don’t know how long I’ll stay. Will just have to see what happens.
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