Have had some health issues, so have just been reading all of your posted work issues when I can.  Surgery was canceled, as insurance company denied benefit.  Finding ways to deal with the pain, which comes and goes.

Hope to be posting more often, as I've always enjoyed DD.

I have tried to follow similar advice as found in this article during past annual performance reviews, which is the only time  raises are discussed--all to no avail.

What finally got my boss's attention was when I told him I suspected that others in my position were making more than me.  (non-union shop)  He finally checked that out with HR, and I received a raise this year to make up the difference.  This is one more thing you might want to try, if all else fails.

It's been slow in my office lately, since I'm caught up on all my regular duties.  I had been trying to get my boss to approve some changes to org charts so I could finalize them and send them out.  I saw him getting ready to put them aside (yet again) yesterday, so I told him, only half in jest, "You're holding up my work!"

He came back quickly, and rather sternly, saying, "Did I tell you to do this?" 
Sheepishly I said, "Well, no..." 
He said, "I haven't told you to do this.  It's really my work, not yours, so don't worry about it."

I guess he could say that about everything I do, in the long run, since I support his workload and help him get things out in a timely manner.  I've always been proactive, making sure the work gets done on time, if not ahead of schedule. I always thought of certain assignments as my own responsibility.  I was hurt he would be so blunt.  How would you feel about this?

I am finally in a cube right outside my boss's office.  I have worked for him for about four years now, and just last week was able to move to this desk.  I think work will be much more efficient now, since I'll be more aware of what is going on when I'm within earshot of his phone conversations, and can see who's in his office at any time.

One thing I've never liked about our cubes in that our computer screens are open to everyone walking by. 
There is also a great deal of noise from other cubes all around me.  I get much more done if I'm there by myself with no distractions.

I put in an expense report just about every week, in order to cover my purchases of bottled water, pop, breakfast treats,  and cookies for meetings.

Now and then I'll buy stationery items if our supplier catalog does not contain what I need, and will be reimbursed for that. 

I rarely get the assignment to set up new PPT slides, and this has been the case for the last 10 years' employment.  I do, however, sometimes have to clean them up to make sure formatting is consistent throughout.  A new role has come my way lately that requires a lot of this kind of work.  It can be tedious, at times, but it keeps my PPT skills sharp.

I've become used to having all those I support request the ability to take over routine tasks such as teleconferences.  I'm in the process of moving Internet-based conferences over to them now, also.  All of this makes it easier for them to set up their own meetings.  I was nervous about this at first, but then looked at my workload and realized giving up some of these items would make it easier for me to focus on more important projects for my bosses.

Both of my directors receive constant requests for reports from their bosses.  They pass most of these on to me, and I create blank templates, post them for collaboration, and the staff members create the final reports.  I then submit the reports to my bosses for review, then send them on to their bosses.  This gives me a much broader picture of what's happening in the company, and frees up my bosses for more important work.  You might consider offering to do this kind of work for your boss--but be prepared--once he gets the hang of it, he'll want to delegate a lot to you.

Travel will not be taken away any time soon, I don't believe, because forcing employees to go through the coordinators for travel presents at least one level of cost-checking (prior to expense reporting).

People with the proper badge can gain entrance to the building on their own during work hours.  Others must be logged in and given a temporary ID before entering the building.  They must also turn in camera phones until they depart.

Our front desk receptionist was laid off about a year and 1/2 ago.  The admin staff of 5 have been rotating each day of the week for a half-day (from 8:00 until 12:30).  From 12:30 - 5:00 the night ring is turned on for the phone, and people arriving at the door without a badge must call their party from the locked area and be let in that way.  These people must sign in and out of the logbook.

It has been quite difficult for me to cover on Mondays, to which I've been assigned, because I have been given the assignment of leading large sales meetings every Monday morning.  Therefore, I have to find someone to either switch the whole morning with me, or to cover for two hours.  It is difficult to find people, because nobody wanted Mondays in the first place. 

Our company is soon to start hiring people again, and I'm pushing for them to hire a new receptionist.  It is very difficult to cover two desks at one time.  My boss says the company does not plan to hire anyone to cover the front desk, even on a part-time basis.  Very frustrating for all of us.

Oh, yes....when I was quite young, I would sit at the kitchen table and pretend to organize paperwork, just like my mom was doing in her office (in the house).  She was a bookkeeper for my father's business, and she would type and stuff payroll envelopes and do all kinds of secretarial work.  I think that's why I was drawn to this work.  I really do enjoy it, still, after all these years. 

I regularly meet a woman who retired from my current company a few years ago.  She is a very dear lady, and I value her friendship.  We go to breakfast or lunch on the weekend. 

I have been calling to check on a gal that was laid off from my company earlier this year, since she was in a very fragile state and didn't have much income.  We left it that she would call me next time, but it's not happening.  She seems to think I'm too busy for her, but I really care about her, and don't want her to get depressed.

I still keep in touch with 2 colleagues from a company I worked for until 2000.  One I have lunch with now and then, the other we e-mail back and forth. 

I would like to look up some old co-workers on LinkedIn myself.  That's a good idea!

Mondays were always foggy for me until I was assigned just last month to start Monday morning meetings each week.  I must be on my toes right from the start, so I wake up at 5:00 in order to get to work early and get started right away. 

I worked 11 years at my first real job, with various transfers and promotions.  I am in my 10th year with my current employer.  I am loyal to my company when treated well.

Our American management team was in Stuttgart for meetings last week, and all of their return flights were cancelled.  We may have trouble extending their room stays, due to the situation.  It is fortunate they can all work from their computers, but their families must miss them.  I would have been looking into traveling eastward as soon as I heard the news...a trip around the world on the company tab.

My husband is out of work right now, but he is still the best thing that ever happened to me.  He is bow-hunting for deer this week, so I miss him.  But it does make me feel content just to think of how lucky I am.

• 2 GREAT kids in college (pre-paid tuition)
  fully-paid-for house
  heat is running
  food in kitchen

I'd say I've got it pretty good. 

Thanks, Susan, for making me think about these blessings.

Our furloughs started in March, and require 3 days off a month without pay.  That's a 14% cut.  We've been told to expect these cuts to last until August of 2010.  We've been through 2 series of layoffs and are expecting another one in December.  We are picking up the slack from those who left the company, so are quite busy every day.

Last month my husband was laid off.  Although he had never gotten along with his boss, he had been in the same line of work for 30 years, so it is hitting him quite hard.  The company does not expect to hire him back, due to the economic downturn here in Michigan.  To top it off, the company is enforcing a non-compete agreement that he signed when he was employed 7 years ago.  (Even though they terminated him.)

To compensate I find I've been eating much more than I should, and have been craving carbs.  I've gained back some of the weight I took off in 2008 (30 pounds), and it's very depressing.  I am, however, starting to walk regularly again, which helps decrease my stress levels.  I've been diagnosed with atrial tachycardia (abnormal heart rhythym) and it's being controlled with medication.  I guess you could say I'm not coping all that well with all the worry.

There's a guy at work who's been causing a bit of grief lately.  I would define him as a bully.  I will be meeting with my boss Monday to discuss my most recent "adventure" with this jerk last Thursday.  I have asked that HR be present.  I have been stressing about that all weekend.

But I do have some great friends at work, and we've all been supporting each other through these troubling times.

Gee, I just read this entire thread, but it doesn't appear to be over....what, pray tell, were the announced structural changes, and how did they affect your job?