Job (Dis)satisfaction

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Created on Tuesday, 26 March 2013 11:49

Written by Pat Pughe-Parry

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My last post was The Why Factor. Have you given any thought to the various questions I raised?

Did you come to any conclusions either positive or negative? Are you going to make any changes to the way you live or are you content with your life?

I have just read an article, Most Americans Not Happy at Work: Yahoo! Finance/Parade Survey. 60% of those surveyed were not happy at work and would rather be doing something else.

I find this quite staggering that as individuals we choose to remain in a job we hate.

OK I accept that every single job has negative or boring aspects that we don't enjoy but have to do. We spend most of our waking lives in the work place so why do we so willingly put up with such misery?

As the self proclaimed Queen of Careers (I have had more than 12) I can honestly say that there have only been two jobs that made me very unhappy and I quickly extricated myself from them. I was being asked to compromise my principles which I was not prepared to do.

A problem with my constant career changing was that I was always having to start at the bottom because each new career was very different from previous ones. On the other hand when you come in at the bottom you have the opportunity to watch, listen and learn from those who have the experience. Because they are your superiors they may not even notice you until you are ready to make your presence felt. This is a powerful opportunity.

Think about the domestic worker in your home. I bet many domestic workers could write best selling novels about what they see and hear their employers doing. Yet so often the employers don't give them a second thought. They are invisible.

In America they refer to McJobs, those jobs that are mundane and supposedly a stepping stone to something better. Yet what is happening is that the "something better" never materialises and people become stuck on the treadmill.

• Is it a fear of being unemployed?
• Is it a fear of change?
• Is it a lack of self esteem that keeps you trapped in a job where you don't see a future?
• Are you being fair to yourself.
• Are our expectations about what a job should be out of line with reality? Do you have the skills for a better position? If not what is stopping you from acquiring those skills.

Unions play a very strong role in the lives of working South Africans. Sadly self interest has largely replaced the role they were meant to play. We have become a nation of people who blame others for all our problems and when we don't get our way we throw tantrums, toyi toyi or strike. In the end everyone loses.

There are bad employers and good employers just as there are bad employees and good employees. Most employers would far rather have contented and motivated employees than disgruntled ones who are unproductive and miserable.

Surely if we each started to take responsibility for our own happiness and success in the workplace our lives would be so much happier.

Decide that as of now you will look at your job in a different way. Find a better way to sweep the floors, do the filing or checking the invoices. Practise your social skills in your job as a waitron. Spend your lunch hour learning a new skill.

If you are a teacher, engage more positively with the children in your class. Treat them as the learners you would like them to be. They will surprise you.

As a nurse spend a couple of minutes chatting to your patients. Make them comfortable. Offer to wash their hair just hold their hand if they are frightened.

Be employable and not employed. This will allow you to pick and choose the job that is rewarding and fulfilling.

You deserve to be happy and only you can choose happiness.

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