“What is it?”
“A time off request.”
She sighs. “Bring it here.”
I step into her office and hand her the envelope. “It’s for a couple of weeks from now. Wednesday through Sunday.” We’re closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so I’m only taking three days off. We’re not leaving until Thursday, but I was on the phone with Sterling last night, and he convinced me to take an extra day just for me. I never take time off, and a day just to do nothing or something other than work sounded amazing, so that’s what I’m asking for. I have over eighty hours of paid time off saved up. It’s definitely time I use some of them.
“Fine. I’ll look at it when I get a chance.”
“Can you sign it for me? There are two copies. I just like to keep one for my records so that I can keep track of my time.” It’s not a complete lie, but not the main reason either. I’ve had her tell me she never received my time off requests in the past and had to miss family events because of it. I’m not letting that happen again.
Tamara rolls her eyes, but she opens the envelope and pulls out two identical copies of time off requests. “I can’t sign this until I approve it.”
“Can you do that now? I have close to one hundred hours of paid time off in my bank.” I hold my breath as I wait for her to reprimand me for even asking.
“I’m heading out.” Dr. Jones steps into Tamara’s office without an invitation.
Tamara is not his boss, but she acts like she is. Her job as office manager is to run the office and manage the staff. The physicians in the practice report to the Director of Physician Services at the hospital since we are a hospital-owned medical practice.
“I’m leaving soon too,” Tamara tells him.
“Alyssa, are you done as well?” Dr. Jones asks.
He’s a nice guy, a great doctor, who keeps bringing up retirement. He’s one of the reasons that I stay here. He’s good to the entire staff.
“I am,” I tell him. “I was just asking Tamara to approve a time off request before I go.” I’m tossing her under the bus, and I couldn’t give two shits. I can see it in her eyes and the frown she’s sporting that she’s not impressed. She hates to look incompetent in front of the physicians. It happens a lot, hence the reason she’s always in a pissy mood. Honestly, I don’t really know how she’s keeping her job as office manager. She pushes all of her tasks off to the staff and sits in her office with the door shut all day. None of us really know what it is that she does all day.
“Good for you. It feels like you’re always here,” Dr. Jones tells me. “Big plans?”
“Just a long weekend with friends.”
He turns to Tamara. “Well, put the girl out of her misery and sign the slip.” He chuckles light-heartedly, but something tells me that Dr. Jones knows exactly how Tamara treats the staff. I make a mental note to do something nice for him. Of course, I’ll have to make it seem as though it’s for the entire office, but I’m fine with that. I bring in goodies often. Maybe that’s why Tamara doesn’t like me. I’ve long since stopped trying to figure it out.
“Of course,” Tamara says tightly. Her fingers click against the keys on her laptop as she verifies if I have the time that I say that I do. I’m not worried. I know how much time I have. As Dr. Jones said, I’m always here. At least, that’s what it feels like. Maybe it’s because of my boss’s not-so-sunny disposition that makes the days drag on.
“Approved,” Tamara says, handing me one of the signed papers.
“Don’t forget to sign yours,” I remind her. She glares at me but signs the second copy on her desk. I’m not taking any chances when it comes to this woman. “Thank you, Tamara. I really appreciate it.” I feel sick being kind to her when she treats me with nothing but disdain, but I won’t stoop to her level.
“Enjoy your time off, Alyssa,” Dr. Jones tells me.
“Thank you. I’ll see you both tomorrow.” I turn on my heel, my signed time-off paper in hand, and bolt to the break room to grab my things and get the hell out of dodge. I hear Dr. Jones talking to Tamara as I push open the back door, but I don’t care to stick around to know what they’re talking about.
I really need to find a new job.
As soon as I’m in my car and headed home, I hit the Call button on the steering wheel. “Call Sterling,” I tell my car.
“Calling Sterling Cell,” my car system repeats back to me as the phone rings through the radio’s Bluetooth system.
“Hey, you. You just get off work?” Sterling answers.
“Yes. I’m headed home now. Are you still working?”
“Just getting in the truck to head home. What’s up?”
“Tamara approved my time off request.”
“Seriously? Already? I was sure you’d have to fight with her over it.”