Prepressforums.com

lux_nunchucks · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2006, 02:39 PM

Couldn't it?

I think I've hit an all time low at work today; this place is a pit of despair and bad business. Just over a year ago this shop had at least eight employees: a couple salespeople, production manager, CSR, two pressmen, bindery worker, prepress tech.

And now?

Prepress/darkroom: Me.
Graphic design/company website: Me.
CSR: Me.
Job ticket creator: Me.
Bindery: Me.
Shipping: Me.
Press operator: okay, there is ONE other employee. I'm not that good.
Person who has to fend off all the calls from angry bill collectors because Boss-Man doesn't pay on time, if ever: Me.

Portion of my "work" day that there is actually real and challenging work to be done: about 9%.

And the other 91%?

Browsing PPF, of course.

Get me out of this place....

Please.

SlaveToTheMan · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2006, 03:27 PM

Yeah, screw that. Start shoppin' and watch yer back.

lux_nunchucks · #3 (**permalink**) 03-01-2006, 03:54 PM

It just got worse.

Boss-Man just let me know that he is leaving town Thursday afternoon and won't be back until Monday. I am the ONLY EMPLOYEE in the shop.

He's having his 78 year old mother come in to back me up on the phones because I'll be "back in bindery all day" cutting the 38,000 run that printed today.

This weekend I am fine-tuning my r?sum?.

Time to start shopping.

tbJAMMIN · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2006, 07:51 PM

You either are making a ton of money, or have no confidence.

Truthfully, I've been there before. Just watch out for late paychecks. The good thing is that you are getting a ton of experience in aspects of the business that you wouldn't normally get to actually perform.

Did I say good thing???
sorry.

pix3lphr3ak · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2006, 08:15 PM

tbJAMMIN does have a point having the knowledge of everything can lead you into lucrative positions...if management is where you want to go... then again looks like this company doesn't have much of a future. In the past when I have had downtime (after the files are organized, desks whiped, blah blah) I learn other functions, bindary, press, estimating, cutting, etc.

Looks like you've stayed on the sinking ship while everybody else jumped on the life boats. Use your resume as a lifejacket and get the hell out!

Hope that wasn't too cliche.

prepress_brillance_43 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2006, 05:23 AM

yea, seen that road too.. better start looking. and fast. is there a reason the owner is going out of town??.. like maybe someone is trying to serve papers or warrants this weekend for delinquent payments??..

good luck bro, stay strong.

Peon · #7 (**permalink**) 03-02-2006, 06:06 AM

I too have press, bindery, prepress, supervisory experience which is why I am where I am today. I am now a Production Planner / Estimator plus the CTP back up. Knowing how a job has to go from beginning to end is definetly a positive. I am the 3rd highest paid hourly employee in our shop and working my way to being the highest paid hourly employee. Diligence and persistence are great virtues to harbor. You have proven your worth in many ways and make sure you put that in your resume in a tactful way, post your resume online, be willing to move and get the hell out of there.

lux_nunchucks · #8 (**permalink**) 03-02-2006, 11:50 AM

Fellow prisoners,

Thank you for that encouragement. I have this thing called "loyalty" to Boss-Man. No, I am not making a lot of money - $15 hourly - certainly not the combined salaries of three people, as I am technically filling the roles of at least three others who jumped off this sinking ship in recent months.

The end is near!

prepress_brillance_43 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-02-2006, 12:40 PM

dude, for $15/ hr loyalty become a whipping boy. please get yourself to higher ground quickly, for the water t'is rising.

lux_nunchucks · #10 (**permalink**) 03-02-2006, 12:55 PM

Dude, I'm no dude! I'm a chick! Girls are prepress prisoners too! And we are just as surly!