As you all know from my previous entries, I've complained about the people with whom I was hired to take care of their home in Outremont, meaning; cleaning, loads of laundry and ironing, and when I say loads, I mean LOADS, (lady of the house was 'high maintenance') understatement actually..... I digress, continuing on.... cooking, grocery shopping, attending to plumbers, interior decorators, computer, dishwasher, electrical repairmen and a gardener, etc.,. Oh and before I forget, tons of dry cleaning had to be delivered and picked up. All at slave labour wages.
To continue....well I'm 'tickled pink' to announce as of May 8th, I terminated my services too them. I handed them a one week notice in writing, I am a professional you know. Why did I do this? As providence would have it, I was offered another position which began the week of April 4th, 2011, here's the break down of how events lead to this liberation from, underpaid, being taken for granted.... slavery.
I had attended an event in March, which was held at a library in Cote St. Luc, featuring a group of authors, which gave readings from their various works, and discussed their experiences on how they became published authors. One of the authors was an elderly gentleman, David Reich, in his early eighties, whom I knew previously from the Canadian Writers Society, of which we both are members. We've known each other for about two years.
As usual after the event had ended I went to give my regards to David accompanied by Rosalie, the President of the CWS who was also in attendance, and we exchanged greetings and other pleasantries. I must reveal that David uses a walker, for he had suffered a minor bout with Polio in his twenties while working on a Kibutz in Israel in the late 1940's, 'if' I remember correctly. So I usually would escort him to his vehicle making sure he would be safe. Well on this particular evening he inquired what I did for a living, so I informed him, and I could discern that this information peeked an interest, but I did not give it much thought after returning home. Within a day or so I was contacted by Rosalie, who informed me that David was interested in my services and would I mind giving her the liberty to pass on my cell phone number and email so David could contact me. Of course I gave her my permission to do so. Within a couple of days David called me and we set up an date to meet at his home during the last week in March. Our conversation went very well, and he hired my services and I commenced work during the first week of April.
I continued working at the house previously mentioned and at David's also. But within a few weeks, I knew I could not continue on servicing two households, I mean... can I talk here? I was putting in 9-10 hours a day, both being three storied homes..... oy I suffered....my poor legs! David eventually wanted me three days per week with at least 15 hours a week guaranteed at a 30% increase in wages! I mean REALLY it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out! I would be working less hours while making more money attending to one elderly man, than at the other household which I looked after four persons, running myself ragged at slave labour rates, loosing money..... I mean HELLO!!!!! anyone HOME??!!!!!!!
So I started the mental evaluating process, looking at both circumstances extremely carefully, I mean I was facing some 'fear factors' here. I had been working at the house for four for three years, it was steady, I was secure...I knew them....they knew me....but I hated it, but that 'hate' never infringed upon me doing my job, after all I am a professional! Here is David an elderly man who, God forbid, could "bite the dust" at any given moment, then where would I be? Now all during this excruciating mental process of trying to make a 'practical' non-emotional decision...(yeah right!), Rosalie, the President of CWS, was also setting me up for interviews with other people who were looking for housekeeping services, and these were all well-to-do individuals. With these other prospects rising upon the horizon, and one interview with a lady that turned into another customer, it was all the 'heaven' given nudge I needed to arrive at a decision.
I gave my notice of termination to the household of four, with an exceedingly glad heart! I gave a proper one weeks notification, which was rightfully required, but was to the detriment of the self-absorbed 'lady' of the house. She called me and informed me that she read the letter, and was taken by surprise, I informed her that I had taken another position, and tried to work both, but it was not physically possible for me to continue. I knew my worth, and that the other position was financially more profitable for me. She understood and realized I had to do what I had to do, but she asked if I would consider giving them two to three extra weeks, so that they could secure another housekeeper. I told her 'if' I was too consider the extra time, it would not be at the old rate. Her tone of voice markedly changed, and with that I told her I would let her know as soon as possible my decision.
Well after I was retained by the other women for one day per week besides David, I did consider offering one or two days per week, but only for four hours per day at a sizable increase in my rates. But there was this nagging thought, "do you really want to do this, knowing what you know"? I came to a conclusion which strengthened me in only accepting in my life.....MY TERMS, MY WAY, for MY convenience, and MY financial worth! This was a revelation for me, a great turning point in my life. The Outremont household was self-absorbed, self-centered, pretentious, condescending, and patronizing, did I really want to subject myself to that any further? The answer was a resounding NO! I called the lady at the Outremont house and informed her I had no openings in my schedule to offer her, and said my goodbye. I was free and no longer had to carry that burden. I've come to understand a bit more concerning myself and the importance of taking authority concerning my life. I've learned a great lesson through this whole experience.
So that's my first segment of informing my 'readers' the dramatic changes that have undertaken in my life, so say tuned there will be more coming soon to this blog near you!
Later.......
Posted by The Manic Chef
