While waiting for school to start (and in need of money), I took a job as a houseboy. Easy work, right? No, I learned that one should get down in writing what duties are expected. I was led to believe during my inital interview, that washing dishes was to be my one and only task. Now it seems that answering the telephone, turning the computer off and on, and other duties are added to the list as they occur during the routine of the day.
Meals for me are cold left-overs only; this is intolerable!!!
I have to run around the city shopping and am then expected to be back in time to cook the meals and clean up before my employers get home from work. Washing and cleaning out their cars every weekend, mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage are tasks which were added after we had agreed upon terms of my employment. Paying for broken dishes is eating away my paycheck. My mistress complains that I do not stack the pots and pans correctly, as a result I have had to follow a pots and pan stacking regime. Another one of my duties is photographer whenever they go out. I have to lug the camera bag and camera and am expected to snap pictures of them at every opportunity; "artistic" judgement is however not in my domain, either I am standing to far away or holding the camera at the wrong angle (have you ever heard of a "back-seat" photographer?).
School starts in two months, should I stay with this job and endure its the ever changing nature or seek other employment?
I am considering starting a "house-boy" union.
Gator
Dear Gator,
Oh poor you. What a hard life you have. Sheesh. Did you really think your only duties would be washing a few dishes each day? People can buy dishwashers for that, and they don’t have to feed them or listen to them complain. Gator, you need a temporary job that provides you with room and board. I think this fits the bill perfectly. One of the biggest eye openers in life is realizing that once you get old enough to live outside the family home you’re going to have to work to take care of yourself and its no piece of cake. But don’t look at this as a negative experience. I’m a firm believer in the idea that physical work is good for the soul. It helps you to appreciate all the times you somehow miraculously found clean laundry in your closets or food ready to eat sitting on the table , etc. and you never lifted a finger. Now you know the daily effort people go through for their families and themselves and generally for no pay. As for the photography thing, it does sound like sort of an odd situation, especially if your employers aren’t celebrities. I don’t know many people who want a photographer following them around taking pictures. It could be just one of their odd quirks, and like the “special pot and pan stacking” you just have to put up with it. Remember, it doesn’t matter what job you get in life there will be special rules and expectations and it will be up to you to show that you can handle them to the best of your ability.
PS. One last thought: next paycheck buy a microwave if they don’t have one, and warm up those leftovers.