22:27 - 23.10.08
willy nilly
An early start tomorrow, dear diary, so this entry will be short.
One of the most stressful things in our jobs is something completely out of our control. Sometimes the staff of the companies where we inventory are not co-operative or even become obstructive because of internal conflicts. If we can't gain access to their products, then we can't inventory them. Simple concept.
The contracts between each of the two companies - ours and their clients - are very specific about such things as preparation, as well as division of responsibilities. For example, we are not allowed to operate any of their machinery - much to my dismay, I might add. Insurance and liability issues you see. That means that all the product stored above ground level - which is substantial and many times what is contained in the holding or staging areas - has to be brought down for us by their staff. If their machines aren't charged and working, or if there is no staff qualified available to help, then our crews have no option but to stand around waiting. Expensive waste of labour it is. It happens a lot.
Sometimes there is considerable conflict between various departments of a store. Sometimes we become the political football through which they try to play out their power struggles. Oi. The last couple of days have been like that. One manager isn't pulling their weight - the one with the most stock to count moreover. They haven't even attended work the past few days. None of the preparation required by contract was done either. Means other managers have had to be seconded with no warning, along with their staff, to fill in for the "missing in action". Some of those managers have been exceptionally helpful, but, at the same time, very resentful of their lost time and opportunities to work with their own areas. This is a very busy time for retail services. Outright refusal to be seconded a second day meant almost a dead stop for us. A lot of our supervisor's time was tied up trying to negotiate with all the parties involved, trying to help them work out a compromise.
Then there was the news from our office today that multiple contracts for the same company at different outlets had been booked over the next couple of weeks. Double your pleasure, double the fun, eh? My last free day until the end of November seems to be from whenever we finish work tomorrow until 5 pm on Saturday. I need all the income I can get to try and catch up on bills so I guess there is a silver lining after all - as long as I can keep up the pace, that is. I think I need a nap now. Good night dear diary.
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