As if we haven’t been through enough. After my husband recovered enough to go back to work, he was assigned to a new position at his work. It was a $3 an hour pay raise working on the only machine like it in the country. He has been doing fine on the job, but his supervisor, as well as the next boss up the command chain, told him today that he wasn’t cutting it at the job. This is not true. Their shift is producing better than any other. The supervisor has had it in for him for awhile, and the other boss is a real jerk (all the people in the plant feel this way). The boss wanted my husband to use his vacation days for while he was out of work instead of actually taking vacation. But he was on sick leave. He NEEDED a vacation. Now the boss is getting back at him. So he got bumped down to the job that people just starting in the company get hired to do. But here’s the worst part of all. They put him on second shift. He’s always worked thirds (except for a short stint on day shift). When he’s on thirds, I get home from work, he is either up or will be up soon, and we spend the evening together until he goes to work about 10. Now that he’s on seconds, he will be gone before I get home from work, and he will come in after I’ve already gone to bed. I won’t see him much at all except on weekends. This is a big deal for me. We’re going to have to tighten our budget even more (it’s already squeezed to the limit), but that’s a minor thing compared to the horrible work hours.
There’s no chance of him getting back on the other job because the two bosses are determined to make his life miserable. Now he’s going to have to be careful or he could actually lose his job. But, there is a chance that at some point he MIGHT get back on third shift. Please send good thoughts and/or prayers that he will soon be back on third shift. I can’t stand the thought of being away from him that much. And he will miss church every Wednesday night as long as he’s on second shift. They KNEW he hated second shift, and that’s why they put him there. The only bright side to this whole thing is that the second shift supervisor on this particular job really likes him and has wanted him on his shift anyway. At least work will be easier for him there. The bad thing is that he’s considered a “utility” person now, so they can move him around anywhere and on any shift at any time. As a Christian, I’ve always tried to keep my faith strong and believe things work out like they are supposed to. This is really hard for me right now. I feel like we’re being kicked just as we’re getting up from the floor. I’m trying to stay strong. I’m trying not to cry. I know life isn’t all rosy all the time. I KNOW there are people who are struggling with much bigger and more serious issues. I feel selfish even feeling this way. But I can’t help it. I’ll miss my sweetie while he’s on second shift. 😦
lauralynnelliott.com 
Sending good thoughts your way. My hubby and I had a similar situation several years back before he got moved to days at his present job. It’s rough.
I hate second shift. Maybe I would get more writing done, though. LOL. Seriously, I just hope these two jerks don’t find some way to make him lose his job. It’s hard to get fired there for no reason because they are union, so maybe that won’t happen. He’s planning on looking for another job, though. Maybe second shift won’t be forever.
I’m so sorry, honey. I hate you and the hubby have had so many problems. But I know you will bounce back and it will all be good. It’s just very hard right now I know. Try to stay positive and hang in there. I’m here for you if you need anything. *hugs* ❤
Thanks, Anya. He was so excited about getting this position, and it’s a shame that people like his bosses can do this. He’s done everything that company has asked him to do, and worked hard. Every job he’s ever had, the goof-offs have been treated better than the hard workers. I wish he could find something he could do to work for himself. Nowadays, that’s the only way to be treated right. I’m SO lucky to have the job I have at a small company that cares about the employees.
I’m sending positive energy your way as a vote for better times. All may be “fair” in love and war, but it certainly isn’t in the workplace. It’s a shame that people seem to hang their compassion and humanity hat at the door before stepping into the office. I’ve been in a relationship where our work shifts made it so we rarely saw each other, and I know how challenging that is. Wishing you better days to come…
Thanks for that positive energy, Michelle. This guy who made the decision is known to be a jerk by many. The union guy is mad, but this isn’t the kind of thing the union can do anything about. How can they prove that the decision was wrong? I feel so lucky to work where we are actually cared about as people.
I guess it’s especially hard on me not to be with my husband since all that stuff happened to him. It’s like every single moment together means so much more than it did. Nothing is taken for granted, you know?
Since 2008 we have had a situation that has kept me up nights for years as my husband’s employer positioned him where he had to spend half his week at home with me and the other half in the town 50 miles away working in his second office as area manager for a natural gas company.
Believe me when I say that only seeing him for several nights and several hours on those nights and on the weekends was very uncomfortable for us both Lauralynn, now he is home looking for new employment as he resigned on May 31st after 31 years 10 months with the same employer.
Not sure which was worse the stress of him being gone so much or the stress trying to scramble and get insurance and money situation settled with financial planner before he regains full time employment at 53.
Worse part is I have not worked since 2001 and have not been able to work since 2003 when my health started deteriorating and as have finally been diagnosed with MS back in late 2012 am still trying to recover from bad relapse that lasted on and off from 2010 to September 2012 when finally got hooked up with a neurologist and started on preventative medicine.
I feel for you and your husband, if a man and woman are used to your situation from day one of their marriage it becomes habit but after being together and enjoying time with each other like you two have and also after going through everything you two have in the past months this is just too much to deal with on top of it!
Hang in there, things are going to work out and my thoughts and prayers are with you for them to work out for the best sooner than later. 🙂
Thank you so much, Jackie. My husband is 54, and a change in jobs would be hard, but that might be what it takes. I know we can handle this for awhile, but long term it would be hard. And he will have to give up the class he teaches at church on Wednesday nights, which is also a bad thing since it’s hard to find anyone to teach anymore.
I’m sorry you’ve had so many health problems. After I was diagnosed with diabetes, I had to take charge of my health and change some things. In your situation, that’s harder because you can’t just change your habits and get better. I appreciate your prayers. I’ll say a prayer for you as well.
Lauralynn, determination, positive attitude, prayer, medication and lot’s of hard work have helped with my health issues as have the support of a loving Mother and Husband and my two cats without whom there would be no little warm furry body to cuddle and make me feel better just from listening to them purr. 🙂
I appreciate your prayers too, we are going to be fine because there is no choice but to make the best of things and go on from here and luckily financially we can do that but unluckily we are not independently wealthy so my sweetie still has to find a good job that he can commit to and pay our monthly bills with. He has good prospects on that, we should have an answer by next week which way he is headed job wise once his second interview is over Monday morning. :-0
Sorry to hear that Lauralynn. I hope your husband will settle in. Maybe one day soon the boss will retire or be replaced by someone a lot nicer.
Thanks, Emma. We can only hope and pray.
Oh, what an awful thing to do! It gets my Irish up to hear how bosses take advantage of people having been ill, pushing their weight around. I will keep you in my prayers, Lauralynn.
My husband and I have had to live apart several times during our marriage, due to jobs, and it is not fun at all.
Hang in there, and feel free to vent with us.
Thanks, Elizabeth. It’s going to be an adjustment. I’m trying not to have bad thoughts about the boss, but it’s hard.
When my husband called and told me, the first thing I thought of was that I had to tell my friends. 🙂
Aw, that really sucks. Hopefully it doesn’t last long, but all I can say is make the best of it that you can. Now your DVR is really gonna fill up since you have less time to watch TV together, but you will have more time to write. Best of luck to you both, I hope it works out or resolves itself in a manor more to your liking.
It looks like we’ll probably have to watch everything separately, or we’ll never get things watched! 😦 I will probably have more time to write, I just hope I don’t get so depressed I can’t write. I might have to talk my son into bringing his little girl down to see “Mimi” more often.
So sorry to hear this Lauralynn! It’s really horrible to have to work with people who treat their employees this way. It makes me so angry to see people with the power abusing it like that. Praying that things will get better for you two soon!
Thanks, Leslie. I’ve never figured out why people derive pleasure from being cruel to others.
Wow, that’s awful. I’ll be praying for you and your husband.
Thanks, Ruth. We’ll be okay. I just needed to rant a bit. I don’t understand why the hard-working nose to the grindstone people get the short end of the deal, while the people who do just enough to get by are the favored ones. I guess they kiss some…um…behind. LOL
Oh no! Lauralynn, I am very sorry to hear this. I cringed when I read the post title. I hope justice and improvement come your way – fast!
I’m sure we’ll bounce back as usual, Cate. What really gets to me is that my husband is a very GOOD man, and all kinds of stuff keeps happening to him. I’m just going to keep staying positive so I can encourage him. If he sees me getting depressed, he might follow my lead, and I don’t want that.
Oh no! I’m so sorry about everything. It is difficult when you feel like you have no other choice but to comply or your husband could lose the job. What a blow. Sending prayers your way that things will work out for you and they’ll put him back on 3rd shift so you can be together!!
Sometimes it just feels like we’re being tested.