I probably didn’t think very much thoroughly when I volunteered myself to be the relief TC secretary. I honestly thought it would be a good opportunity for me to learn from the best spin doctors in the company, to get a feel of how our so called parent would lecture us and a peek of how to write the best papers that would get endorsed. The real problem with the role is that if at anytime the acting TC secretary or the current TC secretary gets a new role, I would be forced to take her/his place by default until the time a new one comes into the picture.
Now, considering all this, I still went and volunteered for it. A month down the road, I am beginning to think that it was quite a dim idea. Consider this, the current acting secretary has been asked and coerced to apply for the actual secretary job. However, she has stated quite blatantly that she will not apply for it because it is not a promotion, an upgrade of financial remuneration and worse, it is a heavier job for the same amount of money. Understandably of course, I would do no such thing either.
Then things took for an interesting turn. Her highest superior opened her window for her (in the company, your window has to be opened before you can apply for another job in the group) and she began to apply for jobs, every other jobs except the one that they want her for. Her immediate supervisor seems to be quite fond of me and has told me once or twice that she has began applying for jobs outside the current concern.
It really didn’t occur to me until yesterday when she was telling me about the job that was of an expatriation salary and a higher job group level but doing the exact same thing of a TC secretary in the neighbouring country. The sudden realization of that I might have to take over her role came late yesterday and today it ballooned up to a full blown panic attack.
Why you ask? Simple. I have holidays planned. A TC secretary is inhuman. Therefore the position requires you never to fall sick, take a day off or go jet setting on a holiday anytime where there is a TC, which is every week except for weeks of huge celebrations. Now, I am panicking because someone else needs to also be a relief if I am to go off and do what I have booked myself in for next year.
*shudders* *shakes* *faints*
