That didn't take long...
Mood:  on fire
Topic: Work
Wow, it was just yesterday I posted about the crap I've been dealing with...and here it goes.

I was laid off today from work because my billable hours were too low. Now... ...they are supposed to give me the hours...I can't generate my own billable hours...at least not ethically. I could have always logged into a client's server and started shutting down services...that would surely generate help desk calls...and get me busy. But like I said that isn't ethical...nor legal I'm sure.

However, it isn't like I was sitting around twiddling my thumbs and picking my nose while I wasn't accruing billable hours. I was busy doing tasks that they asked me to do...they have a Visual Basic script that they use to document nearly everything that is on a client's network. It is a really neat script...I was also the only person that ever got into it and knew what the script did and how it did it. I'd been making changes to the script...cleaning it up some, fixing bugs, adding comments...none of which is in my job description.

Why did I do stuff that wasn't in my job description? Well, I had nothing to do that would have fit my job description...so rather than just sitting there scratching my ass, I decided to take it upon myself to get to know the script...and the corresponding Excel macros that imported all the data into a useful format.

Considering the fact that no one else there knows those scripts and macros very well, and that they still are not doing exactly what they want...because I wasn't able to complete my modifications...I guess they will keep wasting time doing it by hand. That is no longer my concern though.

I also, just this past week, wrote an Excel macro that searches the customer documentation folder for the licensing files, then runs a check and reports any clients that have software that is about to expire...so the company can call and sell them either an upgrade or renewal. This little program will generate new sales, but apparently I wasn't really working while I did that.

I hope they remember that I worked on those every time they are brought up. Maybe in time they'll realize that I was actually busy during all these "wasted" hours. I'm not going to hold my breath though!

The part that really sucks? I really liked all the engineers that I worked with...every one of them. They were all pretty cool...very diverse, but cool.

The part that rocks? (For those that don't know me, I generally can't look at the dark side for too long on an issue...I always look on the bright side of everything. Sometimes that leads me to be blindsided, because I always like to take people at their word, and I don't immediately assume that a comment is meant in a mean or hurtful manner.) But I've already set in motion the possibility for me to get my certification training paid for through unemployment. Once I get a couple of those (which this last company kept telling me that I needed to get, and said they pay for...but never did.) I should be making far more than I was!!!!

Well, I feel better now. What's for dinner?