[wrigh430]

At my place of employment, on the first working day of each month there is cake in the office and everyone comes in to celebrate all the birthdays that will happen that month. There aren't that many of us, so we don't have a celebration every month.

My birthday was yesterday. For the last few years the office has skipped June, even though my birthday was on the 2nd, but I was the only birthday in June and I didn't want to make waves, so I never complained. (The boss is constantly irritated with me anyway because I cause twice as much paperwork as the others.)

This morning I received an email saying there will be cake in the office next Friday to celebrate a new employee's birthday. I am tired of being deliberately left out and over looked.

I was thinking of taking a personal day that Friday so I won't have to be there.
What do you guys think?

[Ripperjack]

If you have the time and it isn't going to impact any deadlines, I don't see why not. Your just treating them, how they treat you.

However, if on the following Monday anybody asks, just have to resist the urge to be sarcastic and not say anything that could come back to bite you.

Also not sure of the job market where you are, or your skills/experience, but if your boss is always irritated, it might be time to seek other employment. By all means stick it out if you have to, but if you've got other offers, could be high time to seriously consider them.

If anything it might show you how he REALLY feels about you, when he knows your about to walk out the door forever.

Originally Posted by wrigh430

At my place of employment, on the first working day of each month there is cake in the office and everyone comes in to celebrate all the birthdays that will happen that month. There aren't that many of us, so we don't have a celebration every month.

My birthday was yesterday. For the last few years the office has skipped June, even though my birthday was on the 2nd, but I was the only birthday in June and I didn't want to make waves, so I never complained. (The boss is constantly irritated with me anyway because I cause twice as much paperwork as the others.)

This morning I received an email saying there will be cake in the office next Friday to celebrate a new employee's birthday. I am tired of being deliberately left out and over looked.

I was thinking of taking a personal day that Friday so I won't have to be there.
What do you guys think?

Hey, Wrigh . Happy belated birthday!

I'm sorry you're being treated so unfairly at your place of employment.

About taking the personal day on Friday: go for it. For one thing, all employees should be treated equally. And considering how difficult your boss seems to be, you could use the Friday off.Have an early start to the weekend. Kick back and relax with a cold beer.

Take care.

[hvert]

Happy birthday!

Could you respond to the message with a 'Let's celebrate my June birthday too! I like vanilla!'?

[CosmicRose]

Do they know when your birthday is? Maybe you should write it on the office calendar where everyone can see it next time. OR you can buy yourself a cake on your birthday and bring it to the office to celebrate, everyone will get the hint.

[wrigh430]

Originally Posted by Ripperjack

Also not sure of the job market where you are, or your skills/experience, but if your boss is always irritated, it might be time to seek other employment. By all means stick it out if you have to, but if you've got other offers, could be high time to seriously consider them.
r.

There aren't a lot of job opportunities here. I have a Masters Degree in Range Ecology and Watershed Management, and work as a Federal Civilian employee. I put in for a transfer about 9 months ago, but there is a 5 year waiting list.

The quality of my work is exceptional, he's just constantly irritated because I'm not a member of any of the churches, which causes more paperwork for him. (He has to fill out incident reports anytime a member of the public pulls a gun on one of us in the field. And since I'm not a member of any of the churches I get shot at far more than anyone else on the team.)

Thanks to budget cuts, the sequester, and a hiring freeze there is no hope of getting out of here any sooner.

[Ripperjack]

Originally Posted by wrigh430

The quality of my work is exceptional, he's just constantly irritated because I'm not a member of any of the churches, which causes more paperwork for him. (He has to fill out incident reports anytime a member of the public pulls a gun on one of us in the field. And since I'm not a member of any of the churches I get shot at far more than anyone else on the team.)

Wow, I'm stunned to hear that. I mean it's not your fault that you're surrounded by religious zealots, with a happy trigger finger. Also I am surprised at how these people even know of your in a church or not. If you're out in the field, how are they going to know your religious status?

Maybe you need to start wearing Christian camouflage. A few crosses or "Jesus" bumper stickers on your company vehicle might help.

[CosmicRose]

If you're being somehow discriminated or treated differently because of your personal religious beliefs, that's illegal. At least in the United States.

[Mrs. Mania]

Originally Posted by wrigh430

There aren't a lot of job opportunities here. I have a Masters Degree in Range Ecology and Watershed Management, and work as a Federal Civilian employee. I put in for a transfer about 9 months ago, but there is a 5 year waiting list.

The quality of my work is exceptional, he's just constantly irritated because I'm not a member of any of the churches, which causes more paperwork for him. (He has to fill out incident reports anytime a member of the public pulls a gun on one of us in the field. And since I'm not a member of any of the churches I get shot at far more than anyone else on the team.)

Thanks to budget cuts, the sequester, and a hiring freeze there is no hope of getting out of here any sooner.

I can totally relate to you! The first job I interviewed for here wanted a reference from someone in our city, they suggested a letter from my pastor! What!!? Then they offered me the job pending said letter making $4.50 less than I was previously making. They never saw a letter or me again.

[doyoutrustme]

I'd have said something. It's usually more about free cake than anything, and people always want cake excuses. Could have been an oversight.

[wrigh430]

Originally Posted by Ripperjack

Wow, I'm stunned to hear that. I mean it's not your fault that you're surrounded by religious zealots, with a happy trigger finger. Also I am surprised at how these people even know of your in a church or not. If you're out in the field, how are they going to know your religious status?

Maybe you need to start wearing Christian camouflage. A few crosses or "Jesus" bumper stickers on your company vehicle might help.

In a town with only 238 people, everyone knows everyone else, their kids, their dogs, and their dogs puppies, all going back for several generations. And yes, they all know who goes to which church and who doesn't go at all!

There are only 3,000 people in the entire county; most are related because they all interbreed and have been doing so since the 1860's.

Outsiders are viewed with suspicion, people who aren't christian are viewed with suspicion, people who aren't white are viewed with suspicion, government employees are viewed with suspicion. I am a non-white, non-christian, outsider, who works for the fed's, so I get shot at more than the white, christian's who work for the fed's for the simple fact that the local pastors frown on you shooting at people from your own church. Shooting at people who attend a different church is fine though, so my collegues get shot at occasionally as well, just not as much as I do.

Every time someone pulls a gun that means paperwork for the boss. Any time he schedules me for field work, the next day he gets to spend quality time with form 11-360DAD the following day.

[wrigh430]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

If you're being somehow discriminated or treated differently because of your personal religious beliefs, that's illegal. At least in the United States.

It's a civil issue, not a criminal one.
Besides they all get to claim that refusing to treat me as an equal is part of their "deeply held religious beliefs."

https://twitter.com/robtornoe/status/583378428704985088

[wrigh430]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mania

I can totally relate to you! The first job I interviewed for here wanted a reference from someone in our city, they suggested a letter from my pastor! What!!? Then they offered me the job pending said letter making $4.50 less than I was previously making. They never saw a letter or me again.

Yep. That is about how it is. We've got businesses in the area that only hire members of their own church.

The Mennonite School only hires Mennonite teachers. The Mennonite Bakery only hires other Mennonites.
The Catholic school, daycare, and food bank only hires Catholics.
A Mormon owns the grocery store, so 90% of the employees are other Mormons.
Heck! Even the bars are divided by denomination! Catholic bar in my town, the Lutheran Bar is 27 miles down the road!

[brainhi]

I do not even know what to say. Forget the birthday cake... I cannot imagine what it is like to have your job. Worried about being shot should result in a HUGE Birthday celebration... you made it through another year.

I hope you find a way to feel special and be good to yourself. Happy Birthday.. may your life get better and better!!!

[brainhi]

wrigh430... I just read over some of your other posts. I know finding a different job is very very difficult. How can you ever be happy/content under these circumstance. This will affect "who you are" from here on in. Is finding a good therapist enough (it is better then nothing)? They will have ways for you to cope even if they do not fully understand what you "choose" to go through to make a living.

I had no idea that you were in the United States. I know my comments are probably not helpful.. I'm just in shock. Please make a plan for a better life.

[Nicky123]

I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of taking the day off. I'd go in there, eat the cake and wish myself a very Happy Birthday!!!

[Crazy Hitch]

Geepers that sucks wrig wow I'm stunned that that even happened. You shouldn't have been left out!

If you're still there next year ... be sure to tell HR when your birthday is