I Still Hate My Job

I wanted to follow up on a few comments that were left on Friday's post.

Mike commented: Family owned business = very low opportunity for advancement. I thought you were a natural born accountant. What's your degree field? Are you a math major?

And this family owned business is really top heavy on family. I have worked for one other, large, family owned business. Although some of the issues there were similar to what I am dealing with in my current position, they did one thing right - they required any family member who wanted to work in the family business to work elsewhere for 5 years before becoming part of the family business. This gave potential family member employees invaluable perspective on how "real" companies work. 

My degree field is paralegal studies. I was a late bloomer - getting my degree at 42 - and was able to work in the legal field for a little over a year (commuting to downtown Chicago) before it was decided that finding something closer to home was best for the family.

I'm With Stupid (Jay) commented: It probably won't make you feel any better when I tell you that your description of your work environment also accurately describes about 90% of corporate America. I think the two big things that would make any job better would be for it to be doing something interesting and for a decent amount of paid time off. Two things that are very hard to find in this country.

I have worked in corporate America for many years, 7 of those with 3M. Maybe I just got lucky with 3M, but it was nothing like my current employer. Employees were valued. Benefits (including paid time off, excellent and affordable healthcare, and the opportunity to work on independent, innovative projects) were readily available. I know there are much better positions out there, but I also know that I need to take my time finding one of those so that I don't find myself exactly where I am now.

I've been working for 32 years, and I've had some really bad jobs. Nurses Aid in a long-term care facility. Parts Masker in a steel fabrication plant paint shop. U.S. Army Soldier (great experience, crappy job). I've also had some jobs that I really enjoyed.

There was a time when I was just happy to pay the bills, but at my age? I just have no desire to spend my remaining 15 working years dreading each week day. I'd rather work 2, lower paying jobs that I actually enjoy, than 1 job that pays the bills but gives me too much insight into the "going postal" mentality.

Know what I mean??

I Hate My Job

I know, I should be grateful that I have a job ... blah-blah-blah. Here's the deal. Believe it or not, you can be grateful that you have a steady income and still HATE the manner in which you earn that income.

Two feelings at the same time. Go figure.

I have been working for the same company for 5 years. I took the job - a position not in my degree field, below my skill level, and with a salary about 20% lower than what it should be - when husband and I were still together. With his career being in the forefront, and requiring a long commute and long hours, taking this position was the best decision for the family.

When husband and I separated in 2009, I stayed at the job because it allowed me the flexibility and proximity I needed to deal with Cam's educational needs. My plan was to trudge through the daily grind until Cam finished high school and flexibility and proximity no longer needed to be my focus.

I don't think I can do it ...

I was AMAZED by the change in my attitude - in my stress level - in my libido - when I was off from work for 11 days over the holidays.

I woke up in the morning refreshed.

I had energy throughout the day.

I wanted to have sex (Yes, Mike did enjoy my vacation. Why do you ask?)

I wasn't concerned about how, or even if, my job got done while I was out, and being an accountant, I was missing not only month end, but year end (a BIG deal).

I didn't miss any of my co-workers.

I felt no longing to return to work to feel productive, because I don't feel productive in my job.

When I went back to work on the 2nd, I decided I was going to go in with a new attitude. I actually want to get some satisfaction from my work. I want to be excited about it. I figured a change in attitude could result in feeling good about where I spend the majority of my waking hours.

Within 30-minutes of returning to work, a co-worker decided to clip his fingernails at his desk. Another was chit-chatting in her cubicle - volume turned to 11. And yet another walked into the building, about 10 feet ahead of me, turned around to see me there, and then let the door slam in my face.

Attitude fucked.

Here it is, Friday morning, and I need another 11-day vacation. My stress level has skyrocketed. I'm not sleeping well. I'm tired throughout most of the day. I don't smile.

There is no accountability for work product. Reviews are based on subjective data (my phone calls with the school - about 3/week - are an issue, but co-worker Norm talking to his wife a minimum of SIX times a day is not an issue) and no employee input is allowed.

Communication is non-existent. This is a large, international, family owned business. Family makes the decisions and family decides if they want to communicate decisions/expectations to employees. They seldom do.

I have nothing in common with my co-workers and have ZERO personal relationships with any of them. In the 5 years I've been here, I have done something with a co-worker outside of work ONE time.

There is no opportunity for advancement and EVERYONE gets a raise annually, no matter what their value to the company is (or isn't).

Flexibility and proximity are no longer enough for me to trudge through the daily grind, and I would need to have my salary doubled for this job to pay enough for me to put up with the bullshit.

I cannot do another 18 months here. In fact, I'll be lucky to get through 18 more days without a temper tantrum.

It's time to look for something else.

What things are important to you in a job? What things are deal-breakers?

Back To Life, Back To Reality

I've been seeing a lot of New Year's "Spirit Words" (You know, like spirit animals?). I don't remember seeing these last year, although several people claim they chose one last year too (Obviously I have not been paying attention).

Anyway, rather than make fun of y'all for conjuring up spirit animals ... errrr ... words ... I figured I'd join in. I even made one of those fancy-schmancy spirit word banners ...

pur·pose·ful

1. Having or showing determination or resolve.
2. Having a useful purpose.

Synonyms
intentional - purposive - deliberate - resolute


I thought about using DRUNK as my spirit word this year, figuring it would be a lot more fun to strive for each day, but I figured a bunch of you would think that was cheating.

We'll see how purposeful works out.

~*~

Dana Does Digital

It's back ...

Unlike all of you other P365 lemmings, I started back on my Project 365 blog on December 16th.

'Cause I'm special ...

This year, my P365 blog is less about MUST.TAKE.THE.BEST.PHOTO, and more about a quick snippet of my day. Hopefully I'll get a decent photo in there on occasion, but if you decide to follow that blog you'll more often find a photo of Cam's closet, or a McRib than you will some wonderfully composed landscape shot.

That's purposeful ...