thoughts on taking work home.

My lovely boyfriend has said "you're not at work right now, it's not your problem" to me enough times to break me of the habit of inviting my problems from work into our home. I think part of what makes me so good at my job is that I care, and I feel like my reputation is on the line when things go wrong despite the fact that I'm just a hired employee.

That being said, I have become increasingly more aware of how my job takes a toll on my personal life. I can't be an attentive girlfriend or daughter or friend at home if I left my head at work. For the longest time, I felt guilty leaving work knowing that I am more knowledgeable and more skilled at certain things; it felt as if my absence was a sure sign that everything would fall to pieces.

Well, that is not true.

I take a lot of shit from my coworkers for not answering my cell phone on my days off (and even on the days I work, too); this issue comes up at least once a week, so much, in fact, that one of my coworkers is convinced that it is a problem with my cell phone carrier and dropped calls. Truth be told, I have finally gotten myself to a mental state in which I have no guilt for living a life outside of work, and I've found there is little room to test my patience on such things like calling my cell phone on my day off in the middle of dinner.

It is TWO DAYS in a row now that I have received phone calls of the professional nature. Let me clarify: two MISSED calls. I refuse to answer.

Maybe I have a bad attitude, but I feel that as an employee who is paid hourly I am not obligated to provide any services outside of the hours I am scheduled to work. If something has gone wrong, if something needs fixing, if someone needs instruction, and if I am off the clock, I believe that my boss (who conveniently happens to be the manager/owner) should be the one to call.

Perhaps if I was paid more I would feel differently. I appreciate the vote of confidence in my ability to manage the property from afar, but I don't appreciate being asked how to fix a minor computer issue while mid-bite at dinner.

OFF THE CLOCK = NOT MY PROBLEM = FUCK OFF.