Have you ever had one of those days when you not only suffer from dive fever but the weather is perfect for diving and you are surrounded by freakin' idiots who remind you that you are not doing something fun?
Today is one such day. I had a labor relations negotiation meeting this morning with a bunch of unprepared people that made me think some people just don't have any sense.
To make a long story short the policy offered (which they didn't read ahead of time) full-time employees 10 days of vacation time after the first year with no accrual time and no rollover. Unused days are lost. Five extra days are earned on the fifth anniversary date.
And, 5 sick days, no accrual time and no rollover, for full-time employees. All sick days taken must be substantiated with a doctor's excuse. Sick days not used at the end of the year may or may not be cashed out to the employee based on a historical precident and an individual case-by-case basis. Additionally, the Employee of the month was given a paid day off and anyone getting married was given a paid day off.
I proposed that management change the policy to allow all full-time employees 15 days of paid time off with 5 extra days at the fifth anniversary date. This time off was to be based on accruing 1.25 days a month from the hire date but not to be available for use until after the 60 Introductory Period. The days to be taken in succession or as vacation were to be requested for approval in advance. The days needed for sick or emergency were to be taken as needed and as available without an excuse, however the manager or supervisor of the employee must be notified each day in order to cover the shift. Furthermore, I proposed that a maximum of 3 days (24 hours) of unused pay could be rolled over at the end of the year. All other time off would be unpaid.
After 45 minutes of trying to convince the employee representatives that this was a better deal for the employees, I decided that since the just didn't get it, maybe the policy should just stay the same.
Now, I have a wopping headache and all I can think is I wish I was diving.
The only way to relax is to sit here in my office chair and imagine...
the wind in my hair on the way to the wreck. Ah, we're there.
Let's gear up. Man this is gonna be great. I can't wait. Buddy check. All clear. Noone's behind me. Roll back, "splash", ooh the water is chilly but the sun feels good. Signal "OK" - respond "OK". Divers down.
I plane out horizontally and decend down the anchor line the rays of sun are shining into the aqua water and the people topside look wavy through the surface. A flip of my wrist and I watch my depth get deeper and deeper. 10 ft - equalize - 20ft- equalize - check my psi, good. 30 ft equalize-Oh look there's a lot of Jack swimming around. Wow, look at Cuda. I signal to my buddy "you ok?" nod back with signal "ok". 60ft - hold nose/blow out - 80ft- hold nose/blow out 100ft.
There she is. I can see the bow of the wreck. My she's pretty. Look at the angelfish. They are everywhere. "OK - today I am finding the props." "You follow me", I signal and we're off. 20 ft down the ship I notice a figure on the bottom - gotta check this out. At 120 ft there's the prettiest ray, gray with a few white spots about five foot of wingspan. Oh my gosh, there's a shark. Cool! I've got to get a closer look. Hand on my head "shark - shark" I signal. Buddy shakes head, "Yes." My grin is so big my mask floods a little. He is so amazing. Clean lines maybe 6 -7 ft long. Ok. He just runs from me.
Back to the prop. "Look" I point out all the starfish on the deck. Check my psi, time. We don't have long. This sucks, no nitrox. Wow, 400ft is a big A$$ boat. Finally, I see it. The prop is hugh. Wow. OK. Kodak moment. You have to use me to show the size difference. This is so cool. Time to turn back. "I'll follow you." I signal. On the way up the other side, there are lots of fish everywhere. Oh look, someone lost an anchor and it looks brand new. It must have 60 ft of rope attached. Free anchor from ship. Lift bag out. Inflat slightly. Swim it over towards our anchor line.
What a minute, what's this opening? I've got to take a quick look inside. She pokes her head in. Hello fishes. Wow, that Cuda lives in here. OK guy. I will leave you alone and you will be just find. Proceed to the anchor. Turn for one more look. Man wrecks are so cool. Diving is so cool. Check my time again - psi. Signal "Up" reply "Up." A slow up helps with deco. Flip of the wrist, depth is getting more shallow. "Look there's a loggerhead", I point out. Buddy nods, "Yes". I feel like I am a parachutist going backwards under water as I make my way to my deco stop.
When I break the surface, there's a voice. "So how was it?" "Great!" Oh my gosh, wait til I tell you. It was soooo cool." My buddy is surfacing behind me. "you OK" I signal. Reply, "Ok" and a nod. As I hand up my fins and climb up the ladder, I can't stop grinning from ear to ear. I shed my BP and immediately begin to describe everything. I grab my towel and clear my ears. As they put my gear away I look for food, I always have the munchies after a dive. Shed the wetsuit to my waist and --- What (the phone rings and she thinks I am busy) "Robyn speaking" (she ends her call and frowns realizing she's still at work, has a screaming headache, she didn't get her massage last night and SHE HASN'T BEEN ON A DIVE IN A MONTH.
Have you every had a one of those days?
I wish I were diving.
R
Today is one such day. I had a labor relations negotiation meeting this morning with a bunch of unprepared people that made me think some people just don't have any sense.
To make a long story short the policy offered (which they didn't read ahead of time) full-time employees 10 days of vacation time after the first year with no accrual time and no rollover. Unused days are lost. Five extra days are earned on the fifth anniversary date.
And, 5 sick days, no accrual time and no rollover, for full-time employees. All sick days taken must be substantiated with a doctor's excuse. Sick days not used at the end of the year may or may not be cashed out to the employee based on a historical precident and an individual case-by-case basis. Additionally, the Employee of the month was given a paid day off and anyone getting married was given a paid day off.
I proposed that management change the policy to allow all full-time employees 15 days of paid time off with 5 extra days at the fifth anniversary date. This time off was to be based on accruing 1.25 days a month from the hire date but not to be available for use until after the 60 Introductory Period. The days to be taken in succession or as vacation were to be requested for approval in advance. The days needed for sick or emergency were to be taken as needed and as available without an excuse, however the manager or supervisor of the employee must be notified each day in order to cover the shift. Furthermore, I proposed that a maximum of 3 days (24 hours) of unused pay could be rolled over at the end of the year. All other time off would be unpaid.
After 45 minutes of trying to convince the employee representatives that this was a better deal for the employees, I decided that since the just didn't get it, maybe the policy should just stay the same.
Now, I have a wopping headache and all I can think is I wish I was diving.
The only way to relax is to sit here in my office chair and imagine...
the wind in my hair on the way to the wreck. Ah, we're there.
Let's gear up. Man this is gonna be great. I can't wait. Buddy check. All clear. Noone's behind me. Roll back, "splash", ooh the water is chilly but the sun feels good. Signal "OK" - respond "OK". Divers down.
I plane out horizontally and decend down the anchor line the rays of sun are shining into the aqua water and the people topside look wavy through the surface. A flip of my wrist and I watch my depth get deeper and deeper. 10 ft - equalize - 20ft- equalize - check my psi, good. 30 ft equalize-Oh look there's a lot of Jack swimming around. Wow, look at Cuda. I signal to my buddy "you ok?" nod back with signal "ok". 60ft - hold nose/blow out - 80ft- hold nose/blow out 100ft.
There she is. I can see the bow of the wreck. My she's pretty. Look at the angelfish. They are everywhere. "OK - today I am finding the props." "You follow me", I signal and we're off. 20 ft down the ship I notice a figure on the bottom - gotta check this out. At 120 ft there's the prettiest ray, gray with a few white spots about five foot of wingspan. Oh my gosh, there's a shark. Cool! I've got to get a closer look. Hand on my head "shark - shark" I signal. Buddy shakes head, "Yes." My grin is so big my mask floods a little. He is so amazing. Clean lines maybe 6 -7 ft long. Ok. He just runs from me.
Back to the prop. "Look" I point out all the starfish on the deck. Check my psi, time. We don't have long. This sucks, no nitrox. Wow, 400ft is a big A$$ boat. Finally, I see it. The prop is hugh. Wow. OK. Kodak moment. You have to use me to show the size difference. This is so cool. Time to turn back. "I'll follow you." I signal. On the way up the other side, there are lots of fish everywhere. Oh look, someone lost an anchor and it looks brand new. It must have 60 ft of rope attached. Free anchor from ship. Lift bag out. Inflat slightly. Swim it over towards our anchor line.
What a minute, what's this opening? I've got to take a quick look inside. She pokes her head in. Hello fishes. Wow, that Cuda lives in here. OK guy. I will leave you alone and you will be just find. Proceed to the anchor. Turn for one more look. Man wrecks are so cool. Diving is so cool. Check my time again - psi. Signal "Up" reply "Up." A slow up helps with deco. Flip of the wrist, depth is getting more shallow. "Look there's a loggerhead", I point out. Buddy nods, "Yes". I feel like I am a parachutist going backwards under water as I make my way to my deco stop.
When I break the surface, there's a voice. "So how was it?" "Great!" Oh my gosh, wait til I tell you. It was soooo cool." My buddy is surfacing behind me. "you OK" I signal. Reply, "Ok" and a nod. As I hand up my fins and climb up the ladder, I can't stop grinning from ear to ear. I shed my BP and immediately begin to describe everything. I grab my towel and clear my ears. As they put my gear away I look for food, I always have the munchies after a dive. Shed the wetsuit to my waist and --- What (the phone rings and she thinks I am busy) "Robyn speaking" (she ends her call and frowns realizing she's still at work, has a screaming headache, she didn't get her massage last night and SHE HASN'T BEEN ON A DIVE IN A MONTH.
Have you every had a one of those days?
I wish I were diving.
R
