The Cats and My New Schedule

So, in my prior post, I explained why I am required to change my work schedule.  I am only going to be allowed to work 40 hours a week, in the near future.  And I am practicing doing this now.  So, it means that I am arriving home from work an hour or more earlier than I have been accustomed to do for the last I don't know how many years.  This has the cats befuddled, worries, confused.  Because they are in the habit of being fed when I get home from work, I give them treats if they ask for them.  But the cats and I are having to learn how to adjust to this new schedule. 

The plus is, I feel like doing more chores around the house. The negative is, I feel at loose ends sometimes.  And I am at a loss how to help the cats adjust.  And, although it is just an hour, it makes the nights seem really, really long.

Well.  I can adjust. I have before, I will again.  And then, I will wonder why I spent so many years working overtime when I could have been on my own time!

Learning to Say "No"

I have spent a lot of my life struggling with learning to say "no."  Especially at work. For years, I have been lazy about my time management at work, because although I was only supposed to work 40 hours, no one cared if I worked overtime.  That gave me the luxury of doing extra things, finishing what I started without concern about time, and not feeling rushed.  But, it also meant that as one more task and one more task came my way, I just accepted the tasks and did them, even if it meant working overtime.

There has been a change in the Fair Labor Standards Act in regards to overtime https://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/final2016/.  This was interpreted at my place of employment in a way that effected about 900 employees.  I will be one of them.  Starting November 1, 2016, I will no longer be a salaried employee. I will be an hourly employee.  Although I earn over the amount set to be included in this new ruling, as do many of my co-workers, the base salary for my position is below the set amount.  

My place of employment has done some educational sessions to 1) assure us we were not being "devalued" as employees and 2) prepare us for the way our salary is paid, especially because this change starts November 1, 2016, and it will effect our pay checks at the holiday season.  This was highly stressed at the sessions.

My supervisor was very good about explaining the changes, and giving the message that we were not being devalued as employees.  Her comments were consistent with the message at the session I went to that was presented by Human Resources.  And, my supervisor was very clear that we HAD to comply with the 40 hour work week, and failure to do so would be a performance issue at evaluation time.

The good thing about this change process is that we were educated in August, for a change that will be implemented November 1, 2016.  So I have plenty of time to "practice" working only 40 hours a week. The practice includes learning how to adjust my schedule, and learning how to say this will have to wait until tomorrow, or later.  That is very difficult for me.  I mean, why would I make something wait until tomorrow, when I am perfectly capable and willing to do it today.  Except it means I will have to work overtime.

I have done this delaying tactic this week.  I do not feel comfortable doing it, but I can do it, and with practice, it will come easier to me.

But, in reality, my employer will be losing work from me. It will be my gain of more free time and my employers loss. 

Learning a New Routine

So, for my entire life as a social worker, paid since June 1977, I have been a salaried or exempt employee, which meant that I worked the hours required to complete my job requirements.  If my employer allowed me to accrue compensatory time, I did. If not, I had to "flex" time.

Because the Fair Labor Standards Act https://www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/final2016/ has redefined the salary level for positions which can receive overtime, my position has been affected.  I am paid over the Federal limit to require overtime, but because the base salary for the position I hold where I work is under the payment level, all of the positions in that category are considered subject to the new Fair Labor Standards Act salary levels. So, I will be come a "non-exempt" employee subject to the new Fair Labor Standards Act and overtime laws.

So, my employer is very clear that overtime for my position will not be authorized.  An audit was conducted, and most of my coworkers only work 40 hours a week. I have a habit of working 45 hours a week. I have a habit of an 8 AM to 5 PM work week, but do not usually take an hour for lunch, although I have in the past. I did so when I worked at the Texas State Department of Health, and went home for lunch to check on my dog.  I did so, at my current position,  when I was bottle feeding a kitten and went home during the day to feed this kitten.  I am "practicing" working only 8 hours a day so I can be compliant with this new regulation when it becomes effective at my place of employment on November 1, 2016. 

I am accustomed to finalizing everything on my plate for the day it occurs.  That is not required of my position, but it is my preference.  So, I am having to adjust my mental status regarding leaving some tasks for the next day.  I have done this before. I can do this again.

On the other hand, I can use the time afforded to me by this change in my schedule to do more  personal chores or activities in my off time.  This amounts to between 2 to 5 hours a week.  I can benefit from that. 

This is actually a protection for me. In the past year, we have gone through some major changes at my employment, and we were told that to accomplish what the requirements were, we were expected to work what hours were required.  So, this will be interesting. If we experience these major changes in the future, will we be required to work overtime to accomplish the required tasks?  Will we be given required tasks that cannot be humanly accomplished within the 40 hour work week?  Will we be dunned or sanctioned because we cannot do the job required within the 40 hour work week? Will we be authorized for overtime?  Hmmm.

The 8 hour work day will be a little anxiety producing for me, but I can adjust.  I have in the past. I can do so again