WE 173: Working alone on Sunday

Working alone in an office is quite scary but I survived!

Looking at the laptop screen, I remembered those moments that I worked alone on Sundays.

I applied for a clerical job on an Agricultural Quality Assurance Department of Dole Philippines Inc. I knew that the usual work schedule for Dole offices was only on weekdays, Mondays to fridays. They worked 6am to 5pm every Monday to Thursday and 6am to 3pm every Friday. If ever I will be hired, that's a good schedule so I can have two days off. To make the long story short, I was hired and trained.

During the training, I became close to my workmates, office mates and even to my superiors. While working and during noon breaks they keep on sharing scary stories about the office.

One said that she witnessed a pair of slippers walking along in the office going to their pantry.

Other said that she heard a footsteps going up to the stairs through the office but time passed but no one comes in.

Old employees says that the office is ours during day time but it is owned by unseen people at night. That is the reason that they don't want to do overtime because they are scared.

Many also said that they hear lady's voice asking for some help. The story was told that there is a lady who commit suicide in one of the mango tree in that place.

I know that they exist because there are fallen angels but hearing those stories makes me felt scared.

One of my trainers always let me go with her every time she goes to the comfort room which is located a little distance below our office. In short, we go to the CR together always.

Our office is located far away from the residential areas, it has a wide lot and consists of many fruit bearing trees around. This is one I like being there because we can eat different fruits so fresh and free.

Our office is at the second floor and below us is a laboratory.

The training was over and my superintendent told me that I can now work on my own. I am happy about it but I was surprised when he told me that I will work until Saturday.

Sir, I am a member of seventh-day adventist and I am not working during Sabbath day.

The agriculture operation operates from Monday to Saturday and you have to incode their activities a day after.

Thinking how I can still have the job without sacrificing the Sabbath, I told my superior:

Sir, I am willing to work on Sunday instead of Saturday.

Even you're alone here in the office? My superior asked. Sunday is our rest day so no one is working here in the office.

Bravely, I said Yes sir!

On the first Sunday duty, I can feel the quietness of the place. It seems that I will become deaf because I can't hear anything. I am not really into listening to music for a long time but at that moment I really decided to turn the radio into an FM station so I can hear music while working.

The stories being told echoed on my mind and I felt scared but I keep on praying. Fortunately, the day ended and nothing scarry happened.

The next morning, my workmates and my superiors asked me how I am in my first Sunday duty? I said I'm okay but I felt scared because of the quietness of the place and I told them that I played music all throughout the day.

My superintendent felt pity on me for being in the office alone every Sunday. She told me if I can handle the reports for Friday and Saturday during Monday. I told him, I will try sir.

So, that Monday I worked until 5pm like them and I had the same work schedule with them. I don't need to go to work every Sunday but it also means that my work become doubles every Monday.

I used all my time to do the incoding even during noon breaks. My workmates had their nap time after lunch but I go back to work directly. Gladly I did it before the day ends and my superintendent congratulates me for a job well done and he said I won't need to go to work every Sunday.

I am so happy for his decision and I did my best to finish my reports on time.

That's my experience working during Sunday. Thank you so much sir @galenkp for this Weekend-engagement week 173.

Thank you so much for reading.