Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Waiting for Blagot


Allegedly the contract staff are getting a stay of execution from the governor of Illinois, but not a pardon.  They are giving us all a 90 day extension.  At the end of 90 days we are supposed to either (1) be converted to state employees (that'll takes a lot of pixie dust); (2) become temporary employees (of course, we were already temporary, but that depends on the meaning of temporary. Although I've been here for years, compared to the Age of the Dinosaurs, I'm temporary); or (3) be gone.

Let's just suppose the contract staff become state employees.  How many of them will become clock-watching, break-taking, never-take-a-leak-on-your-own-time, grievance filers.  It's not a natural role for contract staff but most contractors have proven that they can be trained. 

I know what I'm talking about.  I used to be a state employee.  I got in trouble for working through my breaks.  The clock-watching, break-taking, never-take-a-leak-on-your-own-time, grievance filers take great care to ensure that no one makes their lethargy noticeable by comparison.

So I quit.  On my 40th birthday, I gave up my oh-so-safe, boring state employee job.  I became a consultant, one of the undead.  Some people thought I was crazy.  But how crazy was I?  I went to work for the state as a outside consultant for twice the pay.  I may have been crazy but I wasn't stupid.

It is time to pad the pension.