46 - Sunday, December | 15, 1991 — North Shore News LIFESTYLES Temporary worker feels slighted Judith Niartin | “MISS MANNERS DEAR: MISS MANNERS “When I. accept an 2 ‘assignment ‘as. a temporary secretarial. employee, 1 go with the attitude that Iam a member of that firm's work force. for the length of- ‘time - Tam there: : -# However,. -only. too often “temps” are treated ina demean- ing manner as though they are ig- norant and unskilled. (In actuali- . ty, most: are- highly skilled, .since they. must undergo rigorous testing by the temporary-services agency.) Can you imagine the. put-down “> ‘feeling when there is a birthday --¢ake ‘and celebrations for one of - the: permanent empicyees snd everyone: is. . invited except the femp? : ‘ “Can ‘you ‘imagine * a ” Christmas "party where every single employee rose,: as though on cue, and went ‘to the. party,. leaving the temp —- me — sitting alone in the room? ao Every. firm is not, of course, as ” Ssude- as ‘this. It is a’ pleasure to work at a place where you are. in- troduced to.-the other people, : “shown ‘the coffee room and - restrooni, ‘and told that you can take. “breaks” just like the other employees. It is ‘even - pleasanter - when’ someone there invites you to “hunch. .- - And, for someone looking for a 7 permanent ‘job, starting as a tem- porary. is.a good way to find. out “what: a: company | Is really | like on a ‘the. inside.’ : GENTLE READER — Miss Manners is happy to assist you in championing the cause of polite- ness toward those essential workers who pass through an of- fice in time of extra need. Kind- ress and appreciation are due them both as workers and as new- comers — perhaps, also, as you suggest, as prospective staff. She deplores a Christmas spirit that would turn its back on any- one present. And introductions and office courtesies should be a matter of course. In fact, these should not be left to chance but should be an assigned task. But she hopes you will not classify her with the callous when she inquires whether the tem- porary worker may not be exactly the . person to cover while the employees celebrate a birthday or participate in other quasi-social activities based on their iong-term ties to one another. Mind ‘you, Miss Manners has always been against partying in the office: Her idea of an office Christmas party is the announce- ment that everyone can take the rest of the day off, with those who choose to celebrate together gathering off the premises, and others pe.haps preferring to go home. Birthday cakes and showers, with their inevitably burdensome collections of money for those whom one may not vol- untarily choose as friends, seem to her to be oppressive. Again, those who happen to like one another personally ought to pursue their social relations after hours. - DEAR MISS MANNERS — My husband and {f are planning to invite 30 close friends to a Christmas party at our home. We would like to include, maybe in the form of 2 small note at the bottom of the invitation, a request for a good item to be douated to . the homeless shelter for their an- sual Christmas dianer. Would this be better not in- cluded in this manner but achiev- ed at a different time and in another way? If it is acceptable, could you suggest how ¥ might word the request? GENTLE READERa — Miss Manners appreciates your delicacy in worrying about the needs of both your guests and the homeless, rather than assuming TUBC fees are now $1800 per year. Consider helping worthy graduates from North Van high schools pay for further education by contributing to a scholarship or starting a new scholarship in your own name or the name of a loved one—contact the North Vancouver High School Education Foundation 721 Chesterfield Avenue #eeeoeoeeee0d8 North Vancouver B.C. V7M 2M5 non-profit, registered B.C. society & Canadian charity all donations get tax receipts: minimum membership donation $5 Started in 1979 when North Van High closed after almost 70 years over $220,000 in fully insured bank deposits audited annually by a North Shore firm of chartered accountants run by elected board of 15 volunteer directors no paid positions or remuneration of any kind 100% of all donations or bequests go toward scholarships last year's 38 scholarships totalled $23,550; expenses totalled $401 all scholarships indexed to cost of living $5000 finances a 15-year scholarship, $5700 a perpetual scholarship The Foundation currently offers awards in the names of: eJames Buchanan Art Creeiman Norman M. Crute John Enwright « Jottery Harbottie William E. Lucas Warren G. Mayo * Mickey McDougall ®Dr. Loo Marshall Eve Southwell Chris Abney © Margarat Dorrell Don Kay Margaret Jean Nicho! *®Or. Gordon Stewart *Emie and Erika White © Wilma Morden McLachlan Canadian Parents tor French + Barry Sultivan (Classes of '58) Kenneth James Fleming © Daniel Vivian Williams ® District of NV Firefighters Youth & education: our most valuable resources that the virtue of the latter con- cern cancels out your obligations as a host. You cannot charge admission to a party that you give, even admis- sion on behalf of the unfortunate. Inviting people to a.party and then telling them that they must donate an item to ckarity is im- pertinent as well as unhospitable. But you can organize a drive to supply food for the shelter. Dash off a note to your friends saying that you are doing this, and if they would like to bring an item to your house, you will undertake to pass it along — and that you hope they'll stay to supper as well. You'll jump with joy at our prices (the boss wil! love you toc!) Meeting Toons from $40 . 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