overtime

I could have blogged earlier but work came right after
Jumong (meaning past 11pm).

This is what I was afraid of when Nona, the language program
division head of FSI wished me "Happy Weekend" on the phone. I called
to ask her the training hours for each term. Ninety hours is the
answer. I noticed that my personal data sheet needed updating as I
copied some entries there into an inch-thick document that I was
filling out.

For our unit, "Happy Weekend" has been a harbinger of
weekend work since 2004. I tried to explain to Nona what it meant to
us and hoped that it has lost its venom. I was wrong :)

And the sad part is, we can no longer claim overtime pay for
work done at home during weekends or after office hours. I raised
this issue during the second day (July 17) of two consecutive meetings
regarding flexi-time. Among all units in our agency, ours is one of
the two units that have the most tendency to work at ungodly hours or
under time-constraint. It's the reason why our former head of agency
had fax machines and computers installed in our homes in 2003. We
should be able to work anytime.

Our admin head said my issue had already been raised before.
But in order to claim overtime pay, we should time in and out at the
office.

There are many counter-arguments but then, it's the admin's
job to look after the interest of the office. And when I told my boss
about it, he just shrugged it off. And it brings to mind an
expression I often hear, "Binigyan ka na nga ng trabaho, naghahanap ka
pa ng sweldo." Loosely translated as "You were already given a job,
why are you still asking for a salary?" It's quite weird.

But I am fortunate tonight. I only had to coordinate for
more or less an hour. And though I left my contact's cellphone number
in my log book at the office (I didn't know that I would need it), I
was able to trace her through the DFA action center.

If there's one government office that really needs a huge
increase in the budget, it's this. In almost three years of studying
foreign language at the DFA, I have learned how poorly the staff are
paid when compared to the responsibilities they are given. I know
that many kababayans working abroad don't have much regard or
confidence for those in the DFA. But as I told one of my high school
classmates working abroad, its assistance is very much restricted by
its limited resources. If one refers to catty personalities in the
service, well, all agencies have them. But most service-oriented
government agencies have action centers where one can bring one's
issues. And there's always the Civil Service Commission.

Anyway, I'll continue later on today with what should have
been my entry tonight.

sayong
07-28-07 2am