Welp it happened. It’s late 2023 and I finally got COVID–19 for the first time. Three and a half years of Pandemic I managed to avoid getting COVID. And then, a couple weeks ago I had to go on work travel for my employer to a conference in Seattle. That little journey reminded me of a few things. First, your employer doesn’t give a shit about you so don’t kill yourself or your health for your employer. Second, I hate air travel in economy.
Oh, I’m pissed! For many reasons. Not only do I catch COVID and all the life altering side affects such as not being able to smell or taste food, but because the Pandemic is considered “over” my employer and health insurance company will not cover COVID tests. So after 3.5 years of continued productive value creation through the pandemic without missing a beat, not only do I catch the virus because of a work travel event that I did not ask for, but I get to carry the cost burdens of that travel myself.
What’s Lesson have I learned then?
First, I’m putting these expenses back on my employer. I got this virus as a result of travel required by work that I did not ask for and that were not absolutely essential. Lesson number one: never kill yourself for your employer. You are a cog in the machine and can be replaced at the drop of a hat. You are not indispensable. The company will carry on without you just fine.
Second, I really really despise air travel in economy. I flew United and the seats were horrendously small, and uncomfortable. The width of my shoulders is literally greater than the width of the chairs. And I’m not obesely large my any stretch. I refuse to fly on longer flights in economy. My employer has a policy that only C-Level get to fly business-class. Well fuck that shit. If it’s not worth it to the company to fly me business or better, then it’s not worth my time or health to fly for my employer.
😮💨 I have big talk, but we’ll see what happens when the time comes.
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