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Mar. 16th, 2011 08:26 am
Pink-Slip Roulette
It's that time of year again. Not looking for pity or anything; just venting my frustrations.
So, I found out yesterday that I am, indeed, getting pink-slipped again this year.
First, the depression
I'm having a hard time being copacetic about getting a pink slip. Normally they're really not all that scary; you tend to assume it'll be rescinded and you'll be back to work. But this year is different; so much depends on voters who probably don't even understand the issue they'll be asked to vote on and will vote according to poltical hacks lying to them both about the tax extension and about what I make and what I do every day. So I'm making back-up plans.
It's not entirely without hope even if I do get laid off; I'm guaranteed hire-back for openings within five years (if I haven't found something better by then, of course), and I would, if laid off, go on the Substitute Teacher rolls over those without normal teaching credentials, but I'd lose my insurance and my income would take a hit. And Elli's job ends in August, so if her contract isn't extended or she doesn't find another job, we're screwed.
Due to this, we've decided to scale back the plans (whatever they were) for my 40th birthday in May.
Now, the Anger
I'm ok with people thinking my salary is perfectly fine, because you know, if I was ten years younger, it would be fine (though it's not, in other places--California pays teachers better than almost every other state). I'ts nobody's fault but mine that I entered the profession late. Although I do think people need to realize that the summer is not "vacation," as I'm not paid at all for it even though I actually work on school stuff, some on my own time and some that is demanded by the district or school. I once worked out that if I worked year-round, I'd still be making $20,000/yr less than other professions with equivalent educational requirements do. But enough digression.
What I'm NOT ok with is people adhering to the myth that in America, raises and promotions are based entirely on merit. It's nonsense, and several studies by economics specialists have proven it. The truth is that in American business, promotions come more from office politics than true merit, and pay increases tend to be the same across the spectrum based on how long you've been working in a given company. Every position has a range of salaries, and they're generally based on formulae that are followed pretty closely by HR departments, and raises are given ever six months to a year. We all like to pretend it's based on how great a job we're doing, but I've worked in the private sector, and I can tell you easily that that isn't the case. If you meet the minimal competence requirement, you'll make the same as someone else--until and unless they get a promotion.
And hey--what other job, especially one that requires four years of college and four years of post-graduate work, as well as continuing education throughout your entire career, requires you to face losing your job every year? And how many people NOT in education have to reapply for their jobs every year? Because that's what the anti-permanent folks want teachers to do.
So, I found out yesterday that I am, indeed, getting pink-slipped again this year.
First, the depression
I'm having a hard time being copacetic about getting a pink slip. Normally they're really not all that scary; you tend to assume it'll be rescinded and you'll be back to work. But this year is different; so much depends on voters who probably don't even understand the issue they'll be asked to vote on and will vote according to poltical hacks lying to them both about the tax extension and about what I make and what I do every day. So I'm making back-up plans.
It's not entirely without hope even if I do get laid off; I'm guaranteed hire-back for openings within five years (if I haven't found something better by then, of course), and I would, if laid off, go on the Substitute Teacher rolls over those without normal teaching credentials, but I'd lose my insurance and my income would take a hit. And Elli's job ends in August, so if her contract isn't extended or she doesn't find another job, we're screwed.
Due to this, we've decided to scale back the plans (whatever they were) for my 40th birthday in May.
Now, the Anger
I'm ok with people thinking my salary is perfectly fine, because you know, if I was ten years younger, it would be fine (though it's not, in other places--California pays teachers better than almost every other state). I'ts nobody's fault but mine that I entered the profession late. Although I do think people need to realize that the summer is not "vacation," as I'm not paid at all for it even though I actually work on school stuff, some on my own time and some that is demanded by the district or school. I once worked out that if I worked year-round, I'd still be making $20,000/yr less than other professions with equivalent educational requirements do. But enough digression.
What I'm NOT ok with is people adhering to the myth that in America, raises and promotions are based entirely on merit. It's nonsense, and several studies by economics specialists have proven it. The truth is that in American business, promotions come more from office politics than true merit, and pay increases tend to be the same across the spectrum based on how long you've been working in a given company. Every position has a range of salaries, and they're generally based on formulae that are followed pretty closely by HR departments, and raises are given ever six months to a year. We all like to pretend it's based on how great a job we're doing, but I've worked in the private sector, and I can tell you easily that that isn't the case. If you meet the minimal competence requirement, you'll make the same as someone else--until and unless they get a promotion.
And hey--what other job, especially one that requires four years of college and four years of post-graduate work, as well as continuing education throughout your entire career, requires you to face losing your job every year? And how many people NOT in education have to reapply for their jobs every year? Because that's what the anti-permanent folks want teachers to do.
