My boss is the nicest sweetest guy. But that doesn’t mean I can make ends meet with that job. Because it is such a small place I know exactly everything about everything. I should be asking for a raise and increased benefits, but there is not enough income to pay for it. I was laid off unexpectedly in Jan and Feb, but did not get unemployment because he kept saying “well, call back in a couple of days, call back next week.” 2 months and it’s not the first time this sort of slow-down has happened either. Then I won’t be there and a big case will finally settle and he will pay off all his debts but he won’t have to pay me because I wasn’t there.

So I’ve been busting my ass and now it looks like there won’t be any work for me very soon. When we discussed it he said he has just been drifting. I often keep the place going. But I don’t have a law degree so I can’t do this stuff on my own. Anyway when he asked what I wanted him to do about the situation, all I could answer, lamely, was that next time he lays me off he should do it properly. He replied that unemployment insurance won’t make it for me. No, it’s true (although last time I was unemployed my check was bigger than what I’m currently earning). BUT if I know there’s no work it is much different than being constantly on call.

He likes to be able to turn me on and off like a tap. This really doesn’t work very well for me – it leaves me unable to structure the rest of my life. Sometimes it’s ok to go like that for awhile, but I should be saving, putting money into a retirement fund – you start to need these things eventually. Instead, while working for him, I’ve had to dip into my previous savings to make ends meet.