Heil Mickey

The title poem from my chapbook of the same name about working for Disney

Everyone is given a number when they come to work here

you become the number and less the name

Everyone wears a uniform that's specific to their area right down to the socks

There are guidelines on how a worker should look, specific hairstyles and colors

Men are allowed a moustache of a specific length and width

beards aren't allowed, neither are sideburns

tattoos are a different story

If you have a visible tattoo, don't even apply

If you get a visible tattoo or change your hair color

to anything other than a normal hair color that is suited to your skin tone

you are fired

Goth's need not apply

You must conform to their standards

cut your hair if it gets to long, or you get written up

stand straight, don't lean, or you are written up

you can't be sick, you can't be late, even for a minute

There's a point system

If you're late less than 2 hours it's half a point

more than 2 hours, it's a point

call in sick, it's a point

You can call in for 3 days in a row and it's only a point

as long as you say it's continuous

get enough points and you're written up

3 in 30, 6 in 90, 12 in a year

if you're written up 4 times you're fired

There are so many ways to get written up

safety infractions, appearance infractions, attitude infractions

for a job that's so short on people they can't fill every position

they sure don't make any effort to keep people

They've burned through most of the locals

so they have to import workers from other countries

or lie to college students about how great it is to work here

the college program is pretty much indentured servitude, with a smile

which is another way you can get written up, not smiling

They try to get their workers to conform

most of the workers are so conditioned they can do their jobs in their sleep

nonconformists are gotten rid of

they're trying to get rid of me and slowly but surely it's working

A clear signal that lets other workers know it's ok to run the ride

is an open hand, raised outward, arm extended, palm outward

Heil Mickey

 

Reviews

[Ciao.]

That kicks a*s...that you can get written up for not smiling. Makes me want to get a gig like that, frown, and collect unemployment...or better yet, sue the fuckers for firing me for discrimination against me for a disability like some mental health issue. Sweet. Where do I get an application so I can take Mickey to the cleaners?

[Ilene M.W. Lush]

rage on!

yet, work in mickey's house, play by mickey's rules. unfortunately.