A little item in today’s SMH collum 8 - scroll to the thrid item:

“This email was received by several people working in a Telstra call centre yesterday,” writes Padraig Collins, of parts unknown. “If you use it, please do not mention the woman’s name, or from which Telstra office it has come.” OK, but gee it’s tempting. Here’s the email: “Subject: Working Saturday. Hi guys, As you have all taken two or more days of leave this month already I have scheduled you in to work this Saturday from 10 - 3 to recover some of the hours you have not given. If this is not possible then you need to come and have a chat with me about this today, otherwise see you on Saturday.” The author of this astonishing missive is described under her name as Sales Team Leader - Team Assassins, Telstra Customer Sales & Service.

(hat tip to CPSU news)

Given I’ve taken 4/5 days off on sick leave this week, and assuming that would be being applied to sick leave, it’s a bit of a worry. (no, I don’t work for Telstra) Yes, it might be nice to have that option to make up some time if you have that free time rather than taking it off on leave, but generally speaking most people working for Tealstra and for large agencies should have enough leave granted to them to cover a few sick days. Right? And you should be able to use those sick days properly to rest and recover, and not feel that you’ll need to go in on a day when you are sick so that you don’t have to make it up on a weekend when you have a life to live. *ahem* where’s that work-life ballance rhetoric when you need it?