Finally feeling it
So in my 10 years of working, I have never really felt the impact of being Orthodox on my work life. Until now.
I have always considered myself lucky for never feeling stressed or pressured regarding taking off for Jewish holidays, leaving work early on Fridays for Shabbat, and eating kosher. My current employer has been really terrific about it; as a consultant, I have had plenty of opportunities to telework when I needed to, which has allowed me to travel to NY to see my family and work at home on Fridays while cooking for shabbat.
All of that still stands, for the most part. Teleworking is frowned upon with my current client, but I still worked out a plan where I can work 9+ hours Monday-Thursday and 4 hours on Friday mornings, leaving me wriggle room in the afternoon (I never actually only work those 4 hours on Friday anyways, since something always comes up, but my managers understand the firm deadline I've set for leaving at least an hour before sundown).
But, doggone-it, these chagim falling out during the week are killing me! Not because I have to miss work, but because I'm being forced to miss team events after work!
Background: For five days in September, my team worked hundreds of collective hours writing out a proposal for a huge contract with our current client. Long story short, we won the proposal- $27 million over 5 years for an expansion of the work we're currently doing for them. Needless to say, this was a HUGE win for us; it was, in fact, the largest contract my firm has ever won.
Now the partner in charge wants to celebrate with the core proposal team, 7 of us, but can only do it this Thursday- yes, TOMORROW, on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. I don't begrudge him for this, obviously; they tried working around my schedule, but it just won't work.
So I'm sad- I'll miss the cruise on the Potomac and a limo ride to a fancy-shmancy restaurant in Alexandria (where admittedly, I'd only be able to have a salad). It's not the actual activities, but the out-of-work time with my team that I'm really sad about missing.
The salt on the wound is that the larger team- including our client, spouses, significant others, kids, etc.- is having a get-together on the last Saturday of the month as a celebration as well.
My consolation prize is that they're buying me a $100 gift certificate to a spa as a thank-you for my hard work and an I'm Sorry you can't join us. I guess I can deal with that. ;o)
I have always considered myself lucky for never feeling stressed or pressured regarding taking off for Jewish holidays, leaving work early on Fridays for Shabbat, and eating kosher. My current employer has been really terrific about it; as a consultant, I have had plenty of opportunities to telework when I needed to, which has allowed me to travel to NY to see my family and work at home on Fridays while cooking for shabbat.
All of that still stands, for the most part. Teleworking is frowned upon with my current client, but I still worked out a plan where I can work 9+ hours Monday-Thursday and 4 hours on Friday mornings, leaving me wriggle room in the afternoon (I never actually only work those 4 hours on Friday anyways, since something always comes up, but my managers understand the firm deadline I've set for leaving at least an hour before sundown).
But, doggone-it, these chagim falling out during the week are killing me! Not because I have to miss work, but because I'm being forced to miss team events after work!
Background: For five days in September, my team worked hundreds of collective hours writing out a proposal for a huge contract with our current client. Long story short, we won the proposal- $27 million over 5 years for an expansion of the work we're currently doing for them. Needless to say, this was a HUGE win for us; it was, in fact, the largest contract my firm has ever won.
Now the partner in charge wants to celebrate with the core proposal team, 7 of us, but can only do it this Thursday- yes, TOMORROW, on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. I don't begrudge him for this, obviously; they tried working around my schedule, but it just won't work.
So I'm sad- I'll miss the cruise on the Potomac and a limo ride to a fancy-shmancy restaurant in Alexandria (where admittedly, I'd only be able to have a salad). It's not the actual activities, but the out-of-work time with my team that I'm really sad about missing.
The salt on the wound is that the larger team- including our client, spouses, significant others, kids, etc.- is having a get-together on the last Saturday of the month as a celebration as well.
My consolation prize is that they're buying me a $100 gift certificate to a spa as a thank-you for my hard work and an I'm Sorry you can't join us. I guess I can deal with that. ;o)
posted by elanit | 1:14 PM
2 Comments:
that sucks the moose. the gift certificate is super nice, though. really sends a strong message that they value you and wish you could join them.
Yeah, that sucks but congratulations to your team on the contract.
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