In totally unrelated news, Robin Givhan (who writes about fashion) commented on Sarah Palin's wardrobe, style choices, etc.

There was a brief piece in the same issue of the paper (which I can't find online) about checking out prices at the local Neiman Marcus for a lot (don't remember the exact amount, but it was all designer stuff, name brands, real jewelry), then going across the street to Loehmann's and getting something comparable for under $500.

Yeah - she's getting slammed on this.

Happy birthday, Kate!

Happy Birthday, Kate!

Allyson - GRRR at your employers. May you leave them soon for a much, much better, happier position.

Also - check out this tarot card!

Yoiks! For a second I was worried that someone had put Sarah Palin on a Tarot card!

Thanks so much guys. It was hard to swallow a lot of what happened. I think 80% of what was said to me was horseshit, and 20% was solidly constructive criticism.

Irritatingly, I was insulted with the comment that I need to be more professional and develop poise...from a person who swears like a sailor all day. Ironically, when I was recruited for this job, I was told that what they really wanted was my personality and boisterousness.

I was hired to be the office manager, but when they also needed a safety program, safety officer, safety training, chemical recycling, purchasing help, a marketing assistant, a document review process, AND symposium planning...I couldn't do those jobs and be the office manager.

So, because I had the experience in the things they wanted, they hired a new office manager, and I took on these new duties.

So, symposium is getting closed out this week, and I had a sit down with my boss (not my big boss) who explained to me that I need improvement or meets expectations on everything. The only excellent ratings were symposium and doc review.

Then she put two pieces of paper in front of me. One had the job description and salary range for the office manager, which I began as, and one is my current hodgepodge of purchasing, safety, editing, doc review, assisting the entire admin staff, and whatever else they can throw at the wall.

I am worth 3K less than the college freshout they hired to take my office manager job while I put together their safety, doc review, symposium and a host of other processes.

She averaged the salaries of a safety officer, administrative assistant, and purchasing "person", and that's what she got.

Nothing extra for someone who does all three, and can spell opto-electronic oscillator in her sleep, knows how to store hydrofluoric acid, and assists the CFO, VP, HR (which is her), and the million and one other things I have to do.

Oh, and assist the Office Manager, who I am apparently under.

She averaged the salaries of a safety officer, administrative assistant, and purchasing "person", and that's what she got.

That's bullshit. If you're doing all those jobs, you shouldn't be getting the AVERAGE of all those salaries, you should be getting the SUM.

That is really an incredible load of bullshit. I mean, seriously. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised to learn what you are worth in the outside world.

That ain't right. I hope you can find something better.

Wow, Allyson, that sucks. And is craxy.

And because it deserves a separate post,

Happy Birthday Kate P!