All better!

I am in my final days of antibiotics for the ear infection I had nearly two weeks ago!  I tell ya, when it rains it pours.  I am quite the healthy 30 year old, but that ear infection and a short bout with pink eye (yes, pink eye) that I suffered from simultaneously almost took me out!

What was funny to me, was when I spoke to two of my best friends this past Sunday on our ever informative 3-way call, after mentioning my sickly condition, and how I still was able to orientate a new employee, move into my new office, continue to work two roles and attend my own surprise promotion party, one said, "wait, you still went to work?"  And I replied with no hesitation, "yeah!".  "Why????", my inquisitive PhD'd friend shrieked....because I am a hard worker, I responded.  But long after I hung up, I thought to myself again, "why did I go to work, despite my feeling completely under the weather, unable to hear out of my left ear and squinting my red hued right eye!  Yeah, I looked and felt very crazy! 

Was it because I was worried about my reputation around the office?  Well, not really; because my only sick day in four years was when I sprang my foot, but I was back to work the next day.  So, that's not it. 

Am I trying to save my so called - "call off" day for something good.  No, can't say that is it either.  I plan my vacation time very wisely always have enough days to accommodate the activities I plan for myself.

Do I have very irrational and unreasonable bosses - no, not at all.  While my old boss was "something else" she knew I put in waaaaay more than I get in my job and recognized that I had integrity, therefore she was okay when I had to come into work late because I had to take my sick cat to the vet.

So, what is it?  My conclusion is that my internal self drive propelled me to work each day, with a smile on my face ready to handle my business.  I realized that my actions are simply not to impress, but a reflection of my own beliefs and while I believe that somebody is always watching.....the most important eyes are your own!

Telecommuting or snow day?

Like most of the Midwest and Northeast, this morning I awoke to lots of snow and a slow snow plower.  After trying to power drive my way through 6 inches of snow, I backed my car back into the garage, called my boss to let her know I was stuck and logged onto our work system to telecommute until I am no longer being held hostage by the abominable snowman. 

While my job does not support telecommuting unless we are subjected to situations like this one, I started thinking maybe I should revisit my proposal (about a year ago, I suggested our company move in this direction with no success) for flex schedules and telecommuting where possible. 

With a quick google search I have already located 10 reasons it works! 

Some include:

1. Conserving Energy - See I am using my own energy right now, not the company's
2. Improved Health - I feel great, positive attitude, ate a balanced breakfast all in my living room
3. Promotes Safety - Because the weather is bad, I am way safer at home than on the street
4. Allows employee freedom - Granted I am blogging right now, as soon as I publish it, I will be right back to work - because I am disciplined!

For the full list, check out the link below.

http://www.gilgordon.com/telecommutesafe/telebenefits.html

Get out of work free!

For those who have trouble committing to a 9 to 5, ideas of how to get out of work or cut the time you are actually there are always coming to mind. My friends and coworkers all agree that as much as we need our jobs to live, eat and survive there simply are days we just don’t want to go to work and would rather endure some pretty interesting situations than go to work!

Here are the Top 10 scenarios that my friends or myself have actually thought of and wished would happen to cause either our tardiness to work or to miss it altogether!

1. Hoping for a tornado or some natural disaster. Ok, maybe at least a warning!
2. Getting into a minor car accident - nothing serious people, just a little tap that would warrant stopping and getting out to talk to the other driver.
3. Fire in the bldg – of course no one gets hurt! Ok – maybe just someone burnt their pop tart in the toaster. Enough for the alarm to sound and an evacuation to occur.
4. Electricity out in your home, or in the company’s building - either one would work for me.
5. My cat gets sick on the carpet right as I was walking out the door – so, I have to clean it up which makes me a little tardy.
6. Pregnant coworker to go into labor right there at work – “breathe!”
7. Building is taken hostage by a disgruntled former employee with a fake weapon, of course – no one is trying to get hurt people!
8. Fire drill/tornado drill/earthquake drill, etc – any kind of drill - this will benefit everyone
9. Catch a cold from someone, grabbing babies who are sick all to get a quick virus, strong enough to keep you at home, weak enough for Airborne to kill in 2 days.
10. Simple sprang of the ankle not broke, sprang or fracture - something that would allow me to work an altered work schedule hobbling along on crutches for a couple of weeks!