"New" Job

I've been working at GlaxoSmithKline since Septebmer 2004 as a contractor/contingent worker/complementary employee. I work in the Laboratory Instrumentation Services department as a "Benchmarking Specialist". I do a lot of database stuff, financial reporting, and whatever else is needed. It's a pretty cool job, and a great place to work. Even as a contractor, it's head and shoulders better than working at aaiPharma, my previous employer. There are no benefits, however, so that has been tough.

But GSK has an arbitrary policy that limits workers like me from working there more than 18 months. My eighteen months is up on 3/27. So rather than see me out on the street, my GSK employers got me hired as a full-time, permanent employee of Johnson Controls Inc., a company that handles all of the in-house instrument service, contract management, warehousing, facilities maintenance, etc. for GSK. Starting 3/27, I'll once again be a full time, permanent employee with benefits, and that is a huge relief. My new title is "FMS Systems Analyst". I have no idea what that means. I guess I should figure that out before my new business cards come in.

So when you hear that I have a "new" job, bear in mind that it's the exact same job I've been doing for the past year and a half. Same desk, same phone number, same schedule, same e-mail address. The only thing that changes is who issues my paycheck, the fact that I get a couple of days off every year, and now I can't wear jeans to work anymore.