2009-03-06
3/6/09 Entry #2
A large part of my job is working with subs. Teacher, playground, lunchroom, teacher aide, custodian and bus driver subs all go through me. I walk them through the paperwork and schedule their fingerprinting. I explain how much they'll be paid and when. A lot of our subs are newly graduated college students. It's not uncommon for this to be the first job they've had that wasn't in fast food or afterschool retail. With these subs I have infinite patience.
Then there are the people who come in and although they are in their 30's, 40's and older...they need more patience than the kids.
These quotes are all true. I've not embellished them.
Me: "Would you be interested in having your paycheck direct deposited?"
Sub: "What are my other options?"
Me: (Brief pause while I swallow my laughter) "Ummmmm, a check?"
Sub: "I used to get a lot of calls to sub, but I don't get any now. Do you know why that is?"
Me: "I can't find you in our database. Did you used to have a different last name?"
Sub: "No."
Me: (Checking the computer AGAIN) "I'm still not finding you. When was the last time you subbed?"
Sub: "1994."
Me: "I need to see your Driver's License and Social Security Card."
Sub: "Why?"
Me: "It's required by law. I have to sign off on a form that I've seen them. It used to be for INS, now it's a Homeland Security form."
Sub: "I've worked for 30 years. I've never had to do this before."
Me: "This has only been required for about 5-10 years."
Sub: "I started at my last job 3 years ago and didn't have to do this."
Me: "Who did you work for?"
Sub: "Myself. I was self-employed."
Just in case you're wondering, yes I spend a lot of time laughing at work.
After these people have left the building.