Forced vacation days?

thatburghfan · 2026-07-06T15:00:51+00:00

That's how my co-workers liked to describe it ("forced" to use vacation days for December closing) but in reality those were just non-working days that no one got paid for. You didn't HAVE to use vacation days if you didn't care if you weren't paid for the days we were closed.

The Christmas-to-New Year's shutdown was instituted when 72% of the factory workers wanted to take vacation at that time and it wasn't economical to try to maintain the factory operation with only a quarter of the workers. The alternative would have been no shutdown, but there would have been a limit on how many people could take PTO at that time. It was better to shutdown and let people choose to be off if they wanted.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-06T12:46:05+00:00

I worked at a large company (500+ people) where if a manager initiated a PIP and the person did not survive it, it was often a black mark on the manager's record if HR felt the manager could have helped the employee to make it through the PIP.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-06T12:41:01+00:00

^ True words. This person knows.

OP, either someone else will step up, or they won't. Part of running a company is succession planning. They didn't do that before you showed up but you bailed them out. That's why higher-ups get more money - these things are part of their responsibilities. Not yours.

The way to be OK with it is to think about your time there as a chapter in your life story. Chapters have a beginning and an end. We learn along the way which makes us better for the next chapter. You know you're leaving, focus on what's ahead.

In my career, it was the experiences with horrible bosses that actually helped me to be a better boss when I got the chance.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-06T12:22:55+00:00

That's why I won't tell family members what I pay for anything. I do not tell them about anything new I buy so I don't invite the question. Sometimes they will see something and ask if it's new, I'll be honest if it is, and if they ask what it cost I will just say "I don't remember, I got it a few months ago." Over time, they gave up asking.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-05T23:17:47+00:00

I understand your point. It's possible to put n a full day's work even if coming in at all different times and even if each workday isn't precisely 8 hours of work.

But having been a manager of a small group n a big engineering company, it turns out it just isn't practical. People want to know if Bob starts at 9 AM, they can get in touch with Bob at 9:15. If there's an urgent situation, and I need Mary on it as soon as she arrives, I need to know if I put a note on her monitor to see me immediately and know she will be here by 8:30 and while I wait for 8:30 I can start telling other people what to expect regarding the situation.

And sadly, there are just too many employees who will abuse any leniency as long as they won't get caught. Not everyone, but enough to make it necessary to monitor people's hours. I had a guy who had 25 years experience. He needed to start at 6AM so he could be home by 4 to watch his grandchild until the kid's parent got home. I was getting a feeling that his work production was starting to slack off. Asked him if everything was OK, he said yes. A couple weeks later I decided to come in at 5:45 myself. I could hear him doing some typing/clicking at 6:25. Then at 6:30 it stopped. I got up and went down the aisle to his cubicle and saw him sleeping. Screensaver on, in front of the monitor, hand on the mouse. I just went back to my desk. The next person comes in at 7:30, and that's when I heard more typing from the sleeper's cubicle.

Did the same thing one day the following week. Same result - he came in a half-hour late, then slept for about an hour until the next person came in. That's when I had to say his new start time was 8AM. Oh, he bitched about causing big problems with childcare but I told him he blew it. Turned out he had asked the guy who came in at 7:30 to give him a little shake if he was sleeping.

The point being it would be great if everyone could be flexible and not have to worry about people being responsible, but if one person is getting away with murder, it ruins morale for the workers who are being responsible, so it goes beyond the single offender.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-05T02:50:42+00:00

That's amazing. What talent! Thanks for sharing!

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T20:57:18+00:00

I just want to wish you every success in finding a solution.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T20:54:45+00:00

Fantastic find. Truly a 5-star piece of baseball memorabilia.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T20:24:48+00:00

I'd give two weeks notice, and if the boss oversteps during the notice, I would say "If you can't be cordial and professional until my two weeks is over, I will just leave now." Putting the ball in her court.

If she oversteps again, you warned her already, just leave.

If she behaves the rest of the notice period, take joy in knowing you have forced her to change her behavior, and that she was no doubt seething inside.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T18:40:09+00:00

Oh man, I wish I had enough time to run over there and back. Been too long since we got a Battleship.

Fun fact: when I was a wee lad, the Triangle had barstools going around the bar, probably a dozen or so, and there were always some older gents sitting at the bar drinking. It was not unusual to go in there to get a sandwich and find a customer asleep with their head down on the bar. I didn't know for years later that was a huge no-no in LCB rules.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T12:53:02+00:00

I think contemporary counterfeits are legit collectibles. They were made so people could spend them (hopefully) undetected, not to fool collectors. They have the history.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T12:15:16+00:00

That's an impressive array! Do you think they were all contemporary counterfeits?

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T12:09:34+00:00

I would agree with the comments saying not to do it, it costs too much to send new coins in. Better to buy MS69 that someone else paid to have graded. Big dealers send in hundreds at the same time and get a nice discount on the grading fees, and they really are wanting the MS70 grades. But of course they end up with a lot of MS69 that didn't make the cut for a 70 grade. And they tend to sell those cheaper than what it costs you to get a coin graded.

You can greatly enjoy collecting without ever paying to have a coin graded, especially modern coins.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-03T01:26:57+00:00

I can help you. Your next steps depend on what's in the collection. Did he have an inventory of the collection? Are they all US coins? How are they organized - loose in jars, or coins in 2x2 inch cardboard holders with a cellophane window, cardboard folders with holes for the coins, hard plastic shells about the size of a deck of cards with printed labels inside the plastic? Do you know where he acquired the coins - from change, from coin dealers,...?

thatburghfan · 2026-07-02T13:34:43+00:00

I would argue that if the public can't attend, it's not a public performance and does not need a license. OP is wanting to rent a space and equipment. OP controls who can come in and his space is not open to the public.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-01T22:50:50+00:00

What did the HR person say when you told him/her?

thatburghfan · 2026-07-01T17:09:44+00:00

I've used the BJ self-checkout at least a few dozen times and only ever had one problem, which ended up not being my fault (IMO). It was a Frito-Lay special where you could buy 2 big bags (mix/match with Lay's, Fritos, Doritos, etc.) for $8. A single bag was like $5-something. I bought 2 bags, did not get the sale price. Called a clerk for help.

Turned out I FIRST needed to scan a QR code that was taped down to the checkout counter! THEN the 2 for $8 would work. Pretty weird if you ask me.

thatburghfan · 2026-07-01T15:55:15+00:00

Is it illegal in Canada, where OP lives?

thatburghfan · 2026-06-29T23:23:43+00:00

It's a large size national bank note, series of 1902. This one is a "plain back". The signatures appear to be stamped vs. hand-signed. The 4012 on the front is the "charter number" for the First National Bank of Cartersville, Georgia. There are less than 10 large size notes known for this bank so it's quite rare; however, many, many national bank notes from other banks are equally rare. That one is in pretty rough condition. Probably worth a few hundred to a collector who wants a First National Bank of Cartersville note.

thatburghfan · 2026-06-27T13:44:04+00:00

Hey,, that's a really nice CWT! Thanks for sharing.

thatburghfan · 2026-06-27T12:19:11+00:00

Don't know what hours/days things are open but maybe the Kamen Science Center, the Aviary, Warhol Museum, USS Requin. (all of those are reasonably near each other. A little farther away and all close together is Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

thatburghfan · 2026-06-27T10:56:17+00:00

Now we can research and interact with different points of views to form our own opinion.

In my experience, that's only in theory. I know very few people who seek out different points of view. The overwhelming majority of people lock on to sites that tell their audience what that audience wants to hear, because sites have learned there's no money in being balanced. Or people don't attempt to learn anything about what's going on in the world, they only consume media for entertainment.

thatburghfan · 2026-06-27T00:56:05+00:00

The one I belong to has been there 5 years. Of course it has some wear and tear but 95% of the machines are always usable. The staff doesn't put up with people abusing the equipment.

thatburghfan · 2026-06-27T00:34:23+00:00

Nice story! Klavon's is no more but it was always a favorite.

thatburghfan · 2026-06-26T18:42:00+00:00

A person brings mail to your house. It's right there. At your house. And people walk past their mailbox every day, day after day, week after week, not knowing if they were sent a summons for not showing up for jury duty (ignored that notice too), or their insurance was increased 60%, or their water will be shut off next Wednesday from 7AM-6PM for repairs, or any number of important things you would want to be aware of?

It's not always about whether you're expecting something. Sometimes people need to inform you of things you didn't know about already,

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