GOOD EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE PROPER PROFESSIONAL PROTOCOL FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES

I would really like to know if anyone thinks Good Employers need some tips in etiquette for interviewing and post-interviewing manners? Such as: (e.g.-"Well, Ethel you have all the qualities, experience and skills we are looking for. But..." Does Ethel need to point out Post-Interview that anything that comes after the "But" part is B.S.?

Let's talk about something I feel is important to address. Discrimination. As my "Some Scars" post my friends and I have been discussing and often dissing about employers and different types of Discrimination. Here is some of our best discussion list for you to peruse and decide for yourself. I will point out that in some points in life these are more pertinent that at others.

*** "I'm in that awkward stage (there are tons of examples)
*** I am too young and don't have the right experience.
*** Am I getting too old to change jobs now? (If you ask this question, you probably are approaching       the danger zone. NOTE: "Your Career Dissipation Light is Flashing".
***Where are the jobs for Disabled?
***Are there any good employers who still hire with benefits and training reimbursement?
***Are there any good employers who will at least let me know the job has been filled?
***Are there any good employers who do follow-up telephone or emails letting me know the "Good"      news or the "Bad" news that I have or have not been hired?
*** Are there any employers who use proper protocol and say "Thank you, it was a pleasure meeting      you? Thanks for coming in?"
***Will taking extra credit classes on my own time really help me get credits that will help me keep          my job? Must I really do that? Even 'free' classes at the library? On a Saturday or Sunday! Why      should I sacrifice a day off.

Discrimination comes in a whole myriad form of shapes, sizes, colors, textures and other almost invisible veils and it takes discernment.

The disclaimer about Gender, Age, etc is a noble clause on the company application, so let me toss out a few other discrimination that doesn't always make the list:

*** CREDIT SCORE, Obesity, Physical Characteristics, Height, Weight, AGE, Clothing Style,           Neighborhood you reside in, Number of Claimants on your tax forms, Unpaid Loans, Back Taxes, Felony Convictions, DWI, Drug use,  Pre and Post-Medical Conditions.

Are there any good employers who have proper professional protocol for dismissing a candidate for a job or use good human relations? Are there any employers around who recognize that Creativity, New Thinking power and great enthusiasm new employees and even tenured personnel are the life blood of the future of the company regardless of what the above lists suggest?

Employer Manners and Discrimination

SOME SCARS JUST DO NOT SHOW. SERVICE ANIMALS ON POVERTY LINE

It is painful to admit you have limitations and disabilities to yourself, sometimes it is even humiliating to have to do so to a large audience in a store, especially when you have a Service Animal surrounded by a store full of shoppers and shopping clerks. It is hard enough "Livin' on Poverty Line" without the extra Anxiety prolonged drama it produces.

Recently, while proceeding to shop at my local  WAL%&#T store, my Service Dog and I were literally verbally and intimidatingly "Assaulted" by store clerks in the front of the Service Area. I have a small service dog which I place in the cart (former Manager suggestion) to keep her from being run over or stepped on. It has which has happened somewhat regularly in the past.

Quite often shoppers do not pay attention to what is going on around them while shopping. You may have noticed this affect. I call it "The Zombi Shop". They stare blindly frequently unconscious to the the fact there are other who are also staring blindly and with no sense of direction. Often they seldom notice their own children rampaging and squealing around them,  let alone what other shoppers may be doing. Especially other shoppers who have a Service Animal. So I felt it was somewhat important to set my fingers to keyboard and post something to share my experience with others who may have "some scars and disabilities that just don't show".

First, ask yourself, "When was the last time I saw someone with a Service Animal or a Blind person who uses a cane shopping for themselves." Probably not very often. Usually they let an Attendant who shops for them or aids them while they shop. The Service Animal or Cane is a "Visible" notice to others that they are different. Is it Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seldom or Rarely.

Disabled persons can have Service Animals for Diabetes, Epilepsy, Physical Infirmities. If the Police, Search and Rescue Personnel and Park Rangers use an animal to help them do their job there is little notice. Hospitals and Doctors also use Dogs and Service animals to detect forms of Cancer in diagnostics and for Visiting Therapy Animals are found doing walk abouts in Hospitals, Nursing Facilities, Eldercare and many people rely on these specially "Trained" Animals to assist and help others. Persons with Mental and Emotional Disorders, Veterans rely upon a Service Animal assist them in their daily lives. The reliance we and "Special People" require "Special Equipment such as our Service Animals is paramount to how we navigate and blend in Society and in our own homes. They Help us,, Heal us and Service us.

I have in the past had many Service Animals. We go through "hours" of basic training, then Specialty Training, Regular continued Socialization Training in multiple situations to be "Desensitized". These Animals are our Eyes and Ears, they can indicate if we are going to have a problem. The training involves extensive "Socialization" in social Settings such as Shopping Centers, Stores, Restaurants, Buses, Airplanes, Trains and Crowded Public Transit. This help the animal assimilate and eliminate things and sounds which would normally Traumatize your normal family pet.

There are many sizes and shapes for Service Animals, not all of them are Black, Brown, Yellow Labrador Retrievers. If a disabled person lives in a one bed room home or apartment are they equip with the extra space a larger dog needs? Of course not is it even reasonable or safe to have a large dog if you have limited space?

Service Animals should be approached by others with carefully. Yes, Please ask if you want to pet them. Most of the time our Animals are Recognized by their vests, some simply have ID tags with their names and a picture of them and their handler. They serve a special purpose.

 THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS THESE ANIMALS TO BE EVERYWHERE BY THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT. STORES, RESTAURANTS, PUBLIC TRANSIT, ETC ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ALLOW THEM ACCESS WITH THEIR HANDLERS/OWNERS. UNLESS OTHERWISE POSTED. IF THEY ARE POSTED THEY CAN BE TAKEN TO COURT AND THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING A DISABLED PERSON CIVIL RIGHTS CAN BE VERY COSTLY.

IT IS A VIOLATION OF MY CIVIL RIGHTS, I CAN TAKE YOU TO THE SUPREME COURT AND YOU CAN BE SUED AND FINANCIALLY PENALIZED FOR DOING THAT.

IT IS ANOTHER FORM OF DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE WHICH IS IT SEEMS IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE FOR STORES TO DETER PERSONS WITH SERVICE ANIMALS TO NOT DO FOR THEMSELVES AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY OUT IN THE OPEN!

My Service Animal was severely traumatized and so was I to be treated in such an manner! There were  clerks which yelled, screamed and threatened me with police action if I and the dog remained in the store. I had my Animals Papers, ID's, Medical and Vet Papers in hand. I was detained by hostile workers on this occasion and even my lawyer friend who was with me tried to explain. We were detained for an hour until a manager could be located to allow us access. I was reprimanded to never allow the dog to even touch the cart because people put their groceries in the carts, the Animal needs to be in a cage while I shop if I bring it in the store again.

The irony is that I have shopped in this same store almost daily with my Service Dog and no one ever made a peep that she was even there.  When she is not with me I am always asked "Where's your Dog she is safe in the cart and such a good dog."

An additional irony is that I see any number of shopping carts sitting abandoned on corners, parking lots exposed to dirt, dust, germs, rust and parking lots and garbage. When they are finally retrieved (if they ever are, based upon the number of them I see in Metal Collectors Trucks to be sold for scrap) they simply get pushed back into the store without being cleaned or sanitized for the next person to come along and enter the store. I have also witnessed people changing their child diapers in the grocery store in their cart, not even bothering to use the bathroom and the soiled diaper left in the cart when they leave.

After returning home I did the next best thing to be Pro Active. I filed my complaint with the store Corporate Head Office. My Lawyer also made a complaint by telephone. I sent and Email and then spoke with a Walmart VP who said some "severe"changes would be made at my local store. I do not know if this is true. I am afraid to return to the store I do  not know how I will be treated next time. Perhaps "Drawn and Quartered" in the Customer Service Area where I will be stripped naked again.

                                 Holidays on Poverty Line

Well, it is barely after Halloween in the USA and perhaps some other countries celebrating one night of Pagan in Religion, but I am not going to get into that, nor am I going to get into the Consumerism of Thanksgiving and the rest of the 'fest. Now is not the time of year to speak of the "Sham the whole thing has become.

Here on the line this time of year means final crunch time. Does my heat work if I have a home? Do I have warm enough clothing, blankets and food to help me survive Winter? Did I secure a place in a shelter on time, will I be mugged/raped or rolled for what little I have? Does anyone really see me when all the tinsel is shining in their eyes and the blinking colored lights cloud their minds?"

This year for the holidays I am giving several gifts to close friends (adopted family). I can provide Unconditional Love, Gratitude, Humility and Compassion and Loyalty to help them in their struggles. What more can a person give on the holidays...or every day for that matter. That is what is most needed, and the blanket, sleeping bag you need to get rid of make a donation directly to the Ma'am/Mister begging on the corner while you are driving home. Mittens, Gloves, Old Winter boots, caps and scarves.

Oh, you may toss your spare change into that Red Bucket in front of Macy's, Target or Costco, but did you actually interact with the person some of that change may actually help. Your donation helps Administration, little gets down on Poverty Line where it is needed most.

I heard a man giving a mini-lesson on Wealth, Money and Poverty. This will be my gift to you.

"Here in the USA if you are earning $20,000-per year or anywhere else in the world for that matter. You dream about the better job, the better car, more money and unfulfilled dreams and opportunities you may have missed by poor choices. That is okay, yes, it really is.

 Somewhere in the world someone is working 18-hour days, 7-days a week for say $530-per year and they are jumping up and down and happy just to be working.

No, they may have no hopes or dreams, they don't have time for them. To then those things are like clouds in the sky, they are smoke in the wind. Those things are not real. They will evaporate and disappear into nothingness.

The only reality they have is they lived another day, their children have food, they have a roof over their heads and clean water. Those things are their Holidays, their celebrations.

 The Simple Gratitudes for what they have brings to them more than all the fancy gifts, cars and anyone could conceivably have or give.
Realign yourself every day to giving thanks for what you have and celebrate your life one moment at a time."

I think that about sums it up folks. Till next time.

Loneliness on the Line

One would think that with all the living hand to mouth and such, there is little time to pander toward Loneliness. In case you have never been a resident of "the Line", loneliness would be the furthest from your mind. Well, no one is immune and like a whole lotta other things. Loneliness and Poverty fit like a hand in a glove.

I use to be prone to blessed lows of Loneliness, than I graduated to Isolationism which goes much better than poverty than loneliness. Then giving thought I realized Isolationism is far more destructive than the run of the mill "just don't fit in". I first learned Isolation when young like most people do. As a child. However, rather than rehash Isolation, Loneliness and past ills. I would ask that you consider for a moment like I have. The Gifts of Loneliness and Isolation among life's garden.

When was the last time you spoke to a friend or acquaintance and "thanked them" for being a part of your life. What you appreciate about them, what you would like to emulate about them that you are grateful for. Oh, my stretch those 'trust' and 'good feeling' muscles. Thank someone for being a part of your life and your time. Use your Isolation and Lonely periods for reaffirming that you are 'blessed' not with a whole auditorium of adoring friends, but those few who truly "know" or have taken the time to get beneath your skin and that thick shell. The true friends that no matter what happens, they just call or show up. Despite you may be up to your bra in crocodiles, manure and enough rain clouds to have Noah hoist the sail, they just appear with shovels, a net and some Rain-Ex and stick by you no matter what kind of insanity prevails.

Those are the gifts of knowing Loneliness and Isolation. All things change, but true friendships and voluntary "family" get beyond the quarrels, grumbles and "sorry but" and know what the real value of life can be gleaned. Yes, beat your "Blues and Isolation and Loneliness" by letting your friends know you care and love them.

Even on Poverty Line, flowers grow. The lessons lie in what you notice and learn from them. I do not have many friends. The ones I do have can be counted upon 1 hand and only a few fingers. I have had them forever. They are a part of the package God blessed me with.

Thank you.

Who could b3 living in your bed?

Living the Line

Each one of us have to live. Each one of us needs to know that they are filling a place in the world, that their lives make a difference. On Poverty Line it is more than working or getting out in the world. Sometimes...it means just getting out of bed, if you have one.

I have a bed now. I use to sleep on a slab of rug or foam mat. Going to sleep in a bed is fantastic! A real live honest to God Mattress and Box Spring! You know what ruins a bunch of your life on Poverty Line or not...Bed Bugs! 

Yes, mean, bitey, little vermin that you can get anyplace. Riding the bus, night in a hotel, even shopping. They jump from another person to you in the elevator or in a crowd. You go home. Next thing you know you are "critter-fied" and you don't even know where and how they got into your domicile, your rug, bedding and furniture. They do not go away as easily as they come in and it isn't about being a slob, clutterbug or obsessive-compulsive cleaner and controlling neat buster. However, awareness starts everywhere. 

Roaches (as in Cockroaches, not the kind you smoke) and probably Bed Bugs are left overs from the Dinosaurs and the great extinction. They survive Fire, Ice, Floods and prolonged Famine, they could survive Nuclear Winter and plagues. We should all have such longevity and adaptability as these little menaces. When things get ugly, they just hole up and go dormant until conditions are more to their liking. Oh, and they don't get charged or pay taxes. Nor are they overly concerned over foreign policy, illegal alien status or international boarding passes as fees.

Isn't is nice to know you don't need to be broke and poor, living on the line and even the wealthy can get Bed Bugs and pests. They are equal opportunity offenders.

July 2015