Job Satisfaction

Losing a job is traumatic, but those left behind also feel the pain. I worked for company thirty years that annually went through a layoff. The anxiety leading up to the layoff was intense, and the loss of coworkers to those left behind was depressing. In addition during times like these workers feel trapped in a job they may no longer want to be in, and their productivity may diminish.

EaTN, I agree. I've been there in both places.

This cartoon is funny, but in a depressing way.

I think EaTn had it right on the money with the assessment that, "during times like these workers feel trapped in a job they may no longer want". I guess most people don't particularly enjoy their jobs. In fact, many folks probably hate them. But as this cartoon observes, it's increasingly difficult to hate something that you feel lucky to have.

EaTn,

"In addition during times like these workers feel trapped in a job they may no longer want to be in, and their productivity may diminish."

OllieH,

"I guess most people don't particularly enjoy their jobs. In fact, many folks probably hate them.

I'm not being contentious here, but those are some pretty depressing sentiments.

I'm having a hard time imagining why anyone would accept a job that they do not enjoy doing, or remain in a job they've burned out on.

Is the feeling of being trapped due to financial overreach and lack of planning? If not, why doesn't Mr. Cubicle up there gather up his things and walk out for a new start doing something he loves.

I've never gone more than a few weeks without somw type of job since I was 14. Some of them I knew were merely gap fillers, thus it was easy to remain mentally engaged(to the extent possible in my case) and have fun with it. Others have been career type jobs that I thought I would like, but later found were either not challenging enough to stick with for long periods of time, or were actually dead ends that only looked good from the outside because of pay and/or benefits(likely Mr. Cubicle's problem above).

Dear Mr. Cubicle,

Tonight, on the way home, get a six-pack of cheap beer, procure the movie "Office Space" from a video store, go home, start drinking the beer and repeatedly watching the movie until you get the correct attitude.

Warning: this may cause one to no longer be trapped in one's job.

Our grandparents and their forebears only knew work. Once they were of age(?), they simply went into the family trade.

Most of our parents, coming out of the depression, just grabbed a hold of whatever job they could find, and that is what they did, for necessity's sake.

Those of us in the "Boomer" generation were able (for the most part) to make a living out of what we 'liked' to do, as many still are. (Oh, how I wish I were still in that number.)

These later generations have played 'musical jobs' much of the past quarter century, trying to climb the "ladder of success" without falling.

And now, it appears as though we may be regressing back to the "Depression-Era" mode of thinking. Those with a job are doing whatever is necessary to hold onto it (like it, or not), while those looking for work are ready to fight for any and every opening to come along.

Computer skills will count a lot, however, it will be the "multi-taskers" (those who can and are willing to do more than the job actually calls for...for less pay) who will likely come out on top

I would say "...may the best man win..." but there are many women and recent graduates to think about, as well.

Thank you for your time and attention, Woody

SCOTTYM-

For most people, I believe work is only a way to pay the bills. For most folks, their private lives, not their working lives are the source of their contentment. Many people get trapped into a job through their educational or professional expertise only to find out that what might make them the happiest is not what best pays their mortgage.

I too, have worked since the eight grade, but it wasn't until my adult life that I had a job that I truly enjoyed or, more accurately, found enriching.

The problem is, even those folks who might want to take your advice- quit their job and start over doing something new, are less able to do that in the current economy. Any job opening (lousy, mediocre, or ideal) is rare. I think the point of this cartoon is that it's really hard to complain about something, if nothing is a very possible alternative.

And by the way, SCOTTYM-

I too, LOVED the movie 'Office Space'.

EaTN, I worked for a company that went through regular layoffs too, and you're right that it was very stressful, like waiting for the results of a tumor biopsy. Even when it isn't you, you feel obliged (grateful?) to work harder to avoid the next layoff. Pretty soon, it is not a fun place to work any more.

Re: OfficeSpace

Peter Gibbons: Well see, they wrote all this bank software, and, uh, to save space, they used two digits for the date instead of four. So, like, 98 instead of 1998? Uh, so I go through these thousands of lines of code and, uh... it doesn't really matter. I uh, I don't like my job, and, uh, I don't think I'm gonna go anymore.

Milton Waddams: [talking on the phone] And I said, I don't care if they lay me off either, because I told, I told Bill that if they move my desk one more time, then, then I'm, I'm quitting, I'm going to quit. And, and I told Don too, because they've moved my desk four times already this year, and I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were married, but then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll set the building on fire...