You know, looking back at my lifetime employment history, I can easily say I have NEVER worked a job whose hours were 9-5 (well okay, 5:30, for those nit-picky ones). I guess the closest has been 8-4:30. I’ve always been too independent to really have a full time job (even though I have one now as a go between until I can get a film or two off the ground), so I’ve never gotten into the swing of that kind of routine. That and dealing with all the rush hour traffic daily just to get to work would drive me batty after 20 odd years.
However, more recent events have given me just proof that 9-5 just doesn’t work anymore. Most recently, as I have whined, whinged, and moaned about on this blog, I had a HELL of a time getting my bloody headlamp working on my car. And, being pulled over by the cops not once, but twice for the irritating electrical issue, my hand was forced to have it fixed and shown to the authorities before they took action.
Well, after being fixed at the 11th hour, I had all of one day to show the cops. To my dismay, however, the cop shop is only open 9-5, Monday to Friday, no evenings, no weekends. Luckily enough, my normal 8 hour workday ends at 3:30 PM, which gives 1 1/2 hours to dodge traffic and get to the cop shop. And as luck would have it, it took me 1 hour 25 minutes to get there through lovely traffic conditions to ensure I don’t wind up with an impounded car and a whopper of a ticket. Though I’m left with the thought. What do people do who work a more 9-5 schedule (ie those with office jobs downtown)? Must they use a sick day to have someone look at their lights for five seconds?
Though with the police, it’s a more urgent matter getting fines and notices sorted, when couriers deliver parcels to residences, and it’s obvious that most residents would probably be working during the day, that maybe having extended depot hours may be favourable to be a convenience for people to ACTUALLY PICK UP THEIR PARCELS. This concept sadly is lost on Purolator. When Dawn and I moved to our current address, our new internet company chose to send our high speed modem via said courier company. With Dawn sat at home in tow waiting for the delivery, sadly she did not hear them ring the very functional buzzer. But, aside from Purolator’s lack of reading skills to find out my buzzer code is my apartment number, their depot in Surrey is only open, ready for it, 9-5:30. Monday to Friday, no weekends. To all of this, I just wonder this:
JUST HOW MANY SICK DAYS DO THESE FUCKING GITS THINK WE HAVE ANYWAY?
I mean, couriers are in a service based industry. From my experience, service industries are more than just nine to five. Needless to say, once again I had to race like a madman to get my parcel before it was returned to sender. Once my film work really takes off, I can just as easily say I’ll never, EVER use Purolator.
Well, this past week, UPS pulled the same prank of not buzzing us to drop off a care package (read more of my books and my rollerblades) from Mom back east. Dawn clearly at home, waiting, with no buzzer. Our running theory? They came just as the office closed (which was confirmed by UPS customer service), buzzed the office with no reply, and left the sticky note. Luckily for me, their depot is open until 8PM. Wow, flexibility with a courier. I tell you though. The 9-5 mentality of Purolator is going to cost them a load of customers in the long haul.
That is all.
