5 learning weeks since the prek graduation, and the final doorclosing of " MY" center. each passing week I have observed more about the " new"work place. my adaptation into the workplace. learning about my fellow coworkers. the dynamics of the workers. their skill level and ability to be teachers. Skills and ideas from my new boss. changing pecking order from old boss and fellow directors.
My own learning curve to just go with the flow, to adjust my own standards to fit in. to just survive!! or so it feels.
Things my staff, the staff we finally had that was what we as a company had wanted. followed the guidelines set up by the company that is to say. well obviously we were above reproach.
Our/my staff was in dress code daily. none of this so popular fluorescent undershirts hanging out, flip flops, and funny looking belts with skulls on them.
There's constant eating in front of the children, of fast foods, desserts brought from home, I myself even found myself in the supply closet eating movie popcorn!!!
cell phone usage is rampant! and the center phone is also in great demand for personal calls. one staff member today actually had a phone in each ear today. All day long someone is on the phone!!
so the other day I lowered my standards, my rules, and used the center phone to call a friend while the kids worked in centers. The supervisor above me came through the room and asked who I was speaking to. I said a friend & I would be off right away. and I was. As she walked back through she picked up the phone and took it to the front office with her. I would have done the same.
I don't hold it against her. yet the rules are not the same for all. there are the cigarette smokers. one especially takes a 20 minute smoke break every hour! often with the boss. so why don't we all get 20 minutes each hour.
of course this is also the staff who yells at the boss whenever she is reprimanded.
once a loud screaming match broke out over the employee not tending to a crying child, but ignoring her.
the argument rumbled forth from the classroom. I went for the assistant director,which is how we did it at our center. we backed each other. the assistant director here listened for a brief second and loudly proclaimed " I'm not getting in the middle of that!" and off she walked.
Ok. am I just a weenie? or hopelessly outdated as a supervisor? they kissed and made up, and the employee later hissed at me her outburst was not insubordination.
someone had obviously told her I had said i considered this insubordination. a write up or fire-able offense if I was in charge. what? am I supposed to be afraid of you??
I am frustrated. I came here to learn what I was doing wrong to lose my center. and I find a number of things that i had already handled and gotten in check at my center.
ridding myself of my old crew. lovable people all. but not the best choice for the job. the longevity of the staff here. well it is because many do as they please. and as long as they get their way, they work....so to speak.
so next time I think I will write about the original staff at my long gone center. they are really very similar. I feel I am really back to square one!!
