# Temp work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597 "2011-02-08T00:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/1 "2011-02-08T00:21:22Z")
Being a sub, my job is nothing but temp work. The longest I’ve been in the same room at one time is one week, five days. Sometimes, I’ll be in the same school 2-4 days in a row. However, I’m usually in a different school every day of the week. Sometimes, I’ll have the same school twice in the same week but with days seperating it. Anyway, I’m in a weird position in that I’ve been to MOST of these schools enough to have a good rapport with some of the staff/teachers. I also have what I consider a few work friends. However, most of those are subs. So, their in the same boat as me. So, sometimes, I’m active in the workplace socializing. Other times, I feel so isolated I don’t even like venturing into the lounge. I once went into a lounge to eat lat one school and no even said hello to me. :o So, being a temp working, I try to have good communication and am always helpful and polite. That and helping regular teachers make my break go faster. However, I don’t really see the point in diving to the social working of a place I won’t be possibly again. So, if you were doing temp work of a short time nature, would you make a big attempt to interact with coworkers? Or would you keep to yourself mainly? ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/2 "2011-02-08T04:13:13Z")
I used to do temp work. It wasn’t the best time in my life. I didn’t socialize with the perm workers, I knew I’d be moving on in a day or 2. I read a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/3 "2011-02-08T20:48:43Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I used to do temp work. It wasn’t the best time in my life. I didn’t socialize with the perm workers, I knew I’d be moving on in a day or 2. I read a lot. I find myself reading a lot, too. Especially during testing periods. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/4 "2011-02-08T20:54:55Z")
> [@Trubie](#): > > So, if you were doing temp work of a short time nature, would you make a big attempt to interact with coworkers? Or would you keep to yourself mainly? I keep to myself a lot as it is, and moreso back in the days when I was a temp. But if there were other temps, I’d usually chat with them a bit. Longer assignments, stronger relationships. I was at one place for so long that I actually had seniority in the department. But if I was the only temp in a place where I was only needed for a few days, I totally kept to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/5 "2011-02-08T20:56:28Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I keep to myself a lot as it is, and moreso back in the days when I was a temp. But if there were other temps, I’d usually chat with them a bit. Longer assignments, stronger relationships. **I was at one place for so long that I actually had seniority in the department.** > > But if I was the only temp in a place where I was only needed for a few days, I totally kept to myself. How long were you at that job? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/6 "2011-02-08T21:05:11Z")
> [@Trubie](#): > > How long were you at that job? I think it was about five months. I ended up having some real power there, like the power to withhold a reimbursement check from the CEO. I left that job for another, and I was there for five months as well. I even went to the office holiday party. Pretty different from your situation! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/7 "2011-02-09T01:39:35Z")
If I’m only going to be there for a week or shorter, I don’t make a lot of socializing efforts - I bring a book and just read during my breaks. I’m always perfectly cordial and friendly, but I don’t go out of my way to make friends at temp jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/8 "2011-02-09T06:48:22Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think it was about five months. I ended up having some real power there, like the power to withhold a reimbursement check from the CEO. I left that job for another, and I was there for five months as well. I even went to the office holiday party. > > Pretty different from your situation! That’s interesting. Sounds like it was a nice job. Yeah, I hope by the 2011-2012 year, I have something perm, even if just in house subbing. ---
**Author:** ![Trubie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Trubie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trubie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temp-work/570597/9 "2011-02-09T06:49:40Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > If I’m only going to be there for a week or shorter, I don’t make a lot of socializing efforts - I bring a book and just read during my breaks. I’m always perfectly cordial and friendly, but I don’t go out of my way to make friends at temp jobs. Yeah, I’m not going out of my way. Sometimes, when I come into a school where I know people, I can’t interact with them due to where I’m placed.