For
the past few days I have begun to think about where I work in a different way. Three months ago I was transferred from a job
that I loved with a passion. It was not a
transfer I sought nor was it one that I was happy about when it came. As I said, it was from a job that I loved and a job that was perfectly matched to my professional and personal
experience. I was the secretary in the
alcohol treatment program. This was not an
easy job by any means. Many, many days I
found myself working well past my quitting time. I knew that I would never get paid for doing
that but it was important enough to me that I wanted to see it done right even
if it meant staying late. My boss knew
what I was doing and I believe he appreciated my dedication but the bottom line
for me was, I did it for the alcoholics that we treated and to pay back
those who had been there for me when I wanted to get sober. I did it because I knew it was worth doing
the best I could do and it was important even though it was only administrative.
One day an administrator from
“upstairs” told me that my job would be ending in a few weeks and I would be
transfer to another department in the hospital.
It broke my heart to hear that news and I spent weeks denying this could
happen to me. Then I went to anyone in
the hospital who would listen to me and begged them to help me to either keep
from being transferred or help me find a job that was more “suitable to my
skills” than working as front desk clerk in Pediatrics.
Finally the day came that I could no
longer deny and I had to report to the Pediatrics Clinic. Bright and early that morning I went to the
Human Resources Office and pleaded one more time. I was pretty much told to either go to work
in Peds or quit my job, there were no other choices. I reported to my new job in a state of tears
and near hysteria. I even went so far as
to tell my new supervisor that I did not want to be there and I would do almost
anything up to quitting, to get out of this job.
A few weeks later I wrote a letter to the
chief administrator and told him what had happened and how I felt about it. This
all had the effect of stirring up the pot and getting me a face to face
meeting with both the chief administrator and the Director of Medical
Services. They both promised to “look
into the whole matter” and see if anything could be done. I felt satisfied that this “sweaky wheel”
would probably at least get recognized for the work I had so gallantly done
before I was transferred. Well, that
didn’t happen.
What did happen was something I wouldn’t have
believed possible. I reported to work
day after day at the Pediatrics Clinic and my work ethic took over and made me
do the right thing. I did the best job I
could. Eventually my anger began to
dissipate and I started doing an even better job. I made a point of keeping my distance from
other staff member in this clinic because I really did not want to a part of
the clinic. Well, they did not get the
message and they started to open up to me and treat me with more than just
courtesy—they were actually nice to me.
It is difficult enough for me to hold people off at arm’s length but
when they go out of their way to be nice it quickly becomes impossible. They kept talking about wanting me to be part
of the team—one can only resist that kind of pressure for so long!
As if that wasn't bad enough, I began to find
myself enjoying the interaction with both the parents and the children that
came up to my desk. My true feelings
were beginning to betray me and I was totally baffled. This morning I found myself writing a new
email to the chief administrator and the DMS thanking them for their help and
telling them I changed my mind and I now wanted to stay in Pediatrics. Within the hour I got an email back saying
the DMS would contact me this afternoon.
He ended by saying, “I’m looking forward to working with you.” I wonder if that statement is literal or metaphorical.
Well, so much for, “Grow where you are planted!”
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