Poll of the Day > Ugh... maybe just lost my job.

(+) Yeah! (+)

The current owners were renegotiating the contract. But they actually just decided to not continue with the rest areas any more.

So, midnight on Friday starts a new company running the place. We'll all have to apply again for any available positions.

The good news is, supposedly the new company pays much more than the current one, so any rehires would basically just be getting a raise.

I guess its likely goodbye to my nice slow nightshift that I work alone. :/
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That's not good. ;.;

Hope you still at least get a job back, even if it isn't the same one.
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How long have you been at your current job?
You seem like you're a hard worker and don't cause drama.
You should be fine.
You should offer to work the night shift, because not as many people want it.
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Been here like 6-7 years. I'm definitely going to apply for the same position again, but I'm concerned that I'll have to work with a partner. I have in the past and it was miserable.
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How was it miserable? Were they obnoxious people?

I know you like your solitude, I know I liked it when I used to work overnight shifts. But having people around might help you socialize more. It certainly helped me.

I can't really speak well, or hold a conversation. Being 1 on 1 means i run out of things to say after like 5 minutes. Then theres the times my anxiety flares up and i need to get away from everyone, but the office would have someone in there then. Its just awkward and stressful, and i hated it.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

I can't really speak well, or hold a conversation. Being 1 on 1 means i run out of things to say after like 5 minutes. Then theres the times my anxiety flares up and i need to get away from everyone, but the office would have someone in there then. Its just awkward and stressful, and i hated it.

You like video games, so there's something you have in common with other people.
What are your other interests? Do you like music or sports?
Talk about those things if you're stuck for conversational topics.
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At least if you get paid more you might be able to move sooner

I'd be surprised if they didn't bring back the previous employees. It's easier to just bump the pay than train new people.

PurpIePerson posted...

At least if you get paid more you might be able to move sooner

This, and find better work.
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SusanGreenEyes posted...

KogaSteelfang posted...

I can't really speak well, or hold a conversation. Being 1 on 1 means i run out of things to say after like 5 minutes. Then theres the times my anxiety flares up and i need to get away from everyone, but the office would have someone in there then. Its just awkward and stressful, and i hated it.

You like video games, so there's something you have in common with other people.
What are your other interests? Do you like music or sports?
Talk about those things if you're stuck for conversational topics.

Not really, just games, movies, and some tv shows really. I'm pretty boring, I need people to help expand things.

PurpIePerson posted...

At least if you get paid more you might be able to move sooner

Definitely, we were initially told that either way would end up with all the employees getting a raise, but now it seems like the new company might want their own guys. Idk, guess I'll find out later this week.

Cacciato posted...

I'd be surprised if they didn't bring back the previous employees. It's easier to just bump the pay than train new people.

I hope so. Then again, it doesn't take much training to teach someone ti change garbage, toilet paper, and scrub toilets. >_<
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Ugh... maybe just lost my job.

Probably not a big loss.
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True, but both my parents work there too. There'll literally be no income for any of us till it gets sorted out. They'll start taking my money again if we don't get rehired right away.
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Where/what do you do for work anyways?
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Maintenance at an interstate rest area.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

True, but both my parents work there too. There'll literally be no income for any of us till it gets sorted out. They'll start taking my money again if we don't get rehired right away.

That's why you need to get out of there.
Seriously.
Crash on someone's couch for a couple of weeks.
Go on craigslist and start looking at a cheap (couple hundred dollars a month) roommate situation.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

I can't really speak well, or hold a conversation. Being 1 on 1 means i run out of things to say after like 5 minutes. Then theres the times my anxiety flares up and i need to get away from everyone, but the office would have someone in there then. Its just awkward and stressful, and i hated it.

You need a partner like me. I don't even need other people to have a great conversation. I say we co-star in a buddy-cop movie.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Maintenance at an interstate rest area.

Whaaaaat

I thought you worked in some kind of factory.

Nope, I'm basically a janitor.
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PurpIePerson posted...

KogaSteelfang posted...

Maintenance at an interstate rest area.

Whaaaaat

I thought you worked in some kind of factory.

Well, it's kind of a poo factory...?
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Nothing wrong with that I just could've sworn you inspected airplane parts for defects or something

Life's crazy

I've worked a couple jobs with a partner where it was understood that neither of us really wanted to small talk. So we didn't and it worked out well. You don't have to socialize if you don't want to.
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At least it's highly employable work for the foreseeable future too. Ironic, given the topic title, but machines won't be capable of doing this job as well as a hard-working person for some time yet. They'll probably be able to write a good story first, in all honesty. It's an honorable job that people don't value enough.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

True, but both my parents work there too. There'll literally be no income for any of us till it gets sorted out. They'll start taking my money again if we don't get rehired right away.

You and your parents really need to have a set amount where you pay them rent or something. Just like any other landlord. Get a contract wrote up or something.
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DrPrimemaster posted...

I've worked a couple jobs with a partner where it was understood that neither of us really wanted to small talk. So we didn't and it worked out well. You don't have to socialize if you don't want to.

Eventually it was understood that I couldn't carry a conversation and it was a bit easier. I just really don't want to go through that again.
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wwinterj25 posted...

KogaSteelfang posted...

True, but both my parents work there too. There'll literally be no income for any of us till it gets sorted out. They'll start taking my money again if we don't get rehired right away.

You and your parents really need to have a set amount where you pay them rent or something. Just like any other landlord. Get a contract wrote up or something.

That's good advice, but from what I have seen it'll fall on deaf ears (no offense meant, I'm just pointing out the track record). It's almost Norman Bates-y and seems like a really toxic situation, but you can't help people who won't help themselves. Lord knows, I have tried with people over the years.
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TheCyborgNinja posted...

That's good advice, but from what I have seen it'll fall on deaf ears (no offense meant, I'm just pointing out the track record). It's almost Norman Bates-y and seems like a really toxic situation, but you can't help people who won't help themselves. Lord knows, I have tried with people over the years.

True enough. I guess it's just not something I can comprehend or even tolerate.
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Do I really come off like that? Like Bates I mean.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Do I really come off like that? Like Bates I mean.

You honestly don't bother me.
Stop believing the negative crap people say, and start making progress in terms of living away from your toxic family, and you'll be okay.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

I can't really speak well, or hold a conversation. Being 1 on 1 means i run out of things to say after like 5 minutes. Then theres the times my anxiety flares up and i need to get away from everyone, but the office would have someone in there then. Its just awkward and stressful, and i hated it.

Dude, you're at work. Between your own duties, your colleague's duties, breaks, individual tapping on the phone and the general atmosphere, you shouldn't expect to socialise more than 15 minutes total per shift.

The way you're talking, you sound like you think you must have a lively conversation throughout the entire shift every shift. And that's nonsense. You're at work. He/she is just your colleague, not your personal friend. All you need to do is to be cordial and bits of small talk here and there.

At least you wont walk into some weirdo masterbating in the restarea and start stalking you anymore

That was you that this happened to right?
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Embrace change.
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you gotta say conversation ending words whenever someone tries to talk to you and you aren't interested. just be like, yeah, or alright, that's good, or nice. don't ask them questions. and act like you are busy with something. like you don't have time for convo.
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Ogurisama posted...

At least you wont walk into some weirdo masterbating in the restarea and start stalking you anymore

That was you that this happened to right?

that was him and this story makes so much more sense now

Sorry to hear it.. ;(

Ogurisama posted...

At least you wont walk into some weirdo masterbating in the restarea and start stalking you anymore

That was you that this happened to right?

What the.. lol
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do_ob_tpkillr posted...

KogaSteelfang posted...

I can't really speak well, or hold a conversation. Being 1 on 1 means i run out of things to say after like 5 minutes. Then theres the times my anxiety flares up and i need to get away from everyone, but the office would have someone in there then. Its just awkward and stressful, and i hated it.

Dude, you're at work. Between your own duties, your colleague's duties, breaks, individual tapping on the phone and the general atmosphere, you shouldn't expect to socialise more than 15 minutes total per shift.

The way you're talking, you sound like you think you must have a lively conversation throughout the entire shift every shift. And that's nonsense. You're at work. He/she is just your colleague, not your personal friend. All you need to do is to be cordial and bits of small talk here and there.

There's so much downtime on this job. It's like 1 hour of work, and 7 of the attendance standing around trying to find something to do. Most of them spend the shift together in the office on their cell phones, but still talk. I just bring some games to pass the time.

Ogurisama posted...

At least you wont walk into some weirdo masterbating in the restarea and start stalking you anymore

That was you that this happened to right?

Yes, and it just happened to a co-worker last week at the same site it happened to me. This time it was a female employee and the guy (different guy from my stalker) kept following her around and doing it out in the open. She actually got fired over it because she never went back in the office, instead, she chose to watch him and lead him to the picnic area where no one could see... >_>
So, yeah, she was let go for fear that she'd get herself raped.

Melon_Master posted...

Sorry to hear it.. ;(

Ogurisama posted...

At least you wont walk into some weirdo masterbating in the restarea and start stalking you anymore

That was you that this happened to right?

What the.. lol

Some old guy kept stopping each week. Idk what was going on, but I caught him pleasuring himself at the urinals. I ignored it at first, hoping since he'd been caught that he'd just go away... nope. He started following me around and I had to lock myself in the office to get away. He'd wait in his truck till he saw me go in the men's room and he'd start it again. I asked him to use a stall, and to not do it in the open, but he didn't stop. He eventually cornered me, dropped his pants, and tried to get me to touch him. So I called the police that time. >_<
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Been here like 6-7 years. I'm definitely going to apply for the same position again, but I'm concerned that I'll have to work with a partner. I have in the past and it was miserable.

If they paying you more. Wouldn't they be cutting back on help?
Meaning more likely you work alone?
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Conner4REAL posted...

KogaSteelfang posted...

Been here like 6-7 years. I'm definitely going to apply for the same position again, but I'm concerned that I'll have to work with a partner. I have in the past and it was miserable.

If they paying you more. Wouldn't they be cutting back on help?
Meaning more likely you work alone?

I have no idea what their plan is. But I may end up on a different shift entirely, if I get hired back at all.

There's a guy at church who just started a real estate business and says he's swamped with work. He wants to have my mom get her license and work for him. I'll see if I can't join in on that too if this job falls through.
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Do you live in the middle of nowhere TC and that's why it's hard to find a job?
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Hang in there. Hopefully this is one of those situations where everything works out for the best. Sucks to be in limbo right now though.
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Jiggy101011 posted...

Do you live in the middle of nowhere TC and that's why it's hard to find a job?

Eh, kinda. There's not much here, but it's pretty easy to get a job at like a gas station or fast food place, but u really don't want to do that.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Some old guy kept stopping each week. Idk what was going on, but I caught him pleasuring himself at the urinals. I ignored it at first, hoping since he'd been caught that he'd just go away... nope. He started following me around and I had to lock myself in the office to get away. He'd wait in his truck till he saw me go in the men's room and he'd start it again. I asked him to use a stall, and to not do it in the open, but he didn't stop. He eventually cornered me, dropped his pants, and tried to get me to touch him. So I called the police that time. >_<

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Hmm, apparently the current employees will continue to work until the new company gets fully settled. Don't know how long that'll be, they just said "some time". My mom is suggesting that I cash in my vacation time and just chill until things settle down, but I'm concerned that the new guys might be assessing who they want to keep during this overlap time and I wouldn't be there if I did that. On the other hand, I might lose it all anyway. I was planning on taking time off in a couple of weeks and I doubt I'll be able to now.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Hmm, apparently the current employees will continue to work until the new company gets fully settled. Don't know how long that'll be, they just said "some time". My mom is suggesting that I cash in my vacation time and just chill until things settle down, but I'm concerned that the new guys might be assessing who they want to keep during this overlap time and I wouldn't be there if I did that. On the other hand, I might lose it all anyway. I was planning on taking time off in a couple of weeks and I doubt I'll be able to now.

Yeah, that isnta good idea. If you already had time booked off it would be different, but doing it now they might not rehire you.
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Do I really come off like that? Like Bates I mean.

No, I think you seem like a decent guy who allows himself to be treated like a doormat. I feel bad for you, but it seems like you've just accepted bad things you're not happy with because you lack the confidence to break free.

Like I said before, I'm not trying to be insulting, it just seems like you're miserable and accept feeling stuck (based on the stuff I've read here).
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KogaSteelfang posted...

Jiggy101011 posted...

Do you live in the middle of nowhere TC and that's why it's hard to find a job?

Eh, kinda. There's not much here, but it's pretty easy to get a job at like a gas station or fast food place, but u really don't want to do that.

So you'd rather deal with men jerking off, scrubbing nasty trucker toilets and do nothing for most of the time than actually work.... Am I right? I never seen a rest area staffed at night in PA, wait till they drop the night shift and don't rehire you because temps scrub toilets for less.....
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Rooting for you, Koga. Let us know what happens, okay?
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Melon_Master posted...

KogaSteelfang posted...

Some old guy kept stopping each week. Idk what was going on, but I caught him pleasuring himself at the urinals. I ignored it at first, hoping since he'd been caught that he'd just go away... nope. He started following me around and I had to lock myself in the office to get away. He'd wait in his truck till he saw me go in the men's room and he'd start it again. I asked him to use a stall, and to not do it in the open, but he didn't stop. He eventually cornered me, dropped his pants, and tried to get me to touch him. So I called the police that time. >_<

Excellent GIF choice.

Thanks for all the advice, and support guys. I'm just gonna ride this out and see how it goes.
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Good luck, dude!
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