Time Served

The amount of time someone has worked here carries weight, but not much. Occasionally our Manager will hold meetings in the morning. Every once in a while she will let us decide where we will be posted in the museum. Usually because we are short handed with a couple of call-outs.

The amount of time you worked here determines when you get to vote. Those of us who have worked here only a couple of years get snubbed in these moments. Depending what kind of guard you are you have less reason to be responsible in those moments. However you also have various hours you are required to work.

Special Event Guard: Auxiliary guard that can work whenever they want. No benefits or paid breaks, also can’t work longer than 25 hours.

Part Time Guard: Must work at least 20 hours, but can’t work more than 25 (according to museum policy). Paid break but not benefits

Full Time Guard: 40 hour work week with option of over time and double time. Paid breaks, health benefits, PTO time.

Relief Guard: Part Time officers that use to get health benefits. 32 hours minimum still required (five 6hr work days).

Monitor Room Officer: Full-Time Officer that only works in the Monitor Room, and sometimes in the gallery (if Management likes them enough to let them do that). Must work 40 hours, but are considered essential employees in times of inclement weather and holidays. From what I hear they also take the brunt of the abuse from my Manager, Supervisor, and Director.

In the last couple of years the above positions have changed policy so much, that I barely remember the way things use to be. I can tell you that there was not always a Part-Time position. Relief and Special Event Officers were considered Part-Time.

When that new position was opened up there was a lot of confusion as to what “Part-Time” applied to since there were basically three different types of Part-Timer. I can tell you from experience that “Special Event Officers” was a Full-Time position since for a year I worked 40+ hour work weeks without benefits or paid breaks at $9 an hour. The sad thing is I do not remember much of my off time in that year. I probably did not have any worth remembering.