The Salaried Employee: Coping With The Times

An employment office was checking on an applicant’s list of references.  “How long did this man work for you?” a former boss was asked.  “About five hours,” was the swift retort.  “Well!  He reported to us that he’s been with your company for a long time!” exclaimed the surprised caller.  “Oh, yeah,” replied the ex-employer, “he’s been here all right, for two years.”

Indeed, there are many people who just do their job without putting in more effort.  In this time of economic crisis, many companies are looking for ways to stay afloat.  Most of the time, the alternative to bankruptcy is either a huge pay cuts for the employees or, worse, cutting them loose all together.  When an employee is fired, many benefits go out the window: medical insurance, productivity bonuses, access to payday loan companies , and even paid vacations and leaves.  Still, unemployment is a very present reality—for both good and bad employees.  But, ask any business owner or company manager, it is harder for them to let go of good employees than bad ones.

So for those who are salaried and still have a job despite the financial crisis, human resource experts and head hunters have this important advice: look at the advantages of the work and love it.  That is, while the employee still has it.  Here are some advantages that salaried, hourly employees and workers have.  These are just small reminders to count one’s blessings of having a job during the economic slowdown.

• Regularity of schedule.  Office workers or those who have eight to five jobs often complain of the monotony or boredom they experience because of the regularity of their job.  They could see this in a different and more positive way.  How?  In reality, have regular work hours gives them the freedom and ability to plan their time.  They can look forward to certain nights being open for some night out with friends or quality time for the family.  Weekends are usually open, too, for a lot of fun activities.
• A defined job.  Most jobs of this nature are specifically set. Employees and workers know exactly what to do how it is to be done, with regular deadlines or time line to boot.
• Stability of location.  Persons who are office-bound move less frequently than others.  A forced move within a particular company is unlikely unless there is a major economic problem, like when a plant or company closes.

Just like in any kind of job—from driving trucks to driving race cars—some are very enjoyable, some quite difficult, and some easy.  It is just a matter of finding the right attitude to deal with it and, most importantly, make it WORK!