As I've mentioned, my writing is in its Dark Ages. It has to do with repeatedly being forced to organize my thoughts. I guess concentrating on structure does have its downside. In any case, I’m still recovering from that beating I took from my previous job, which has caused my lingering inability to write something sensible and noteworthy without due demand from a superior or a client.
It is midweek and I still have yet to accomplish anything groundbreaking. My boss seems content to let me sit pretty, at the moment. What makes it short of unbearable is not the work – or lack of it thereof – but the general situation of employees in the company, save for me and a couple of other middle management people.
A researcher recently resigned from office after having worked for four years in the monitoring firm of the group of companies I’m now a part of. The reason for her resignation was, predictably, monetary in nature. After her first increase during her regularization in 2003, she has received no further raises, despite having developed a reputation of being one of the most hardworking people in the company. She’s in her mid-30’s, has three kids, and has been having a hard time making ends meet. The decision to resign came after her son recently enrolled for school. With three mouths to feed and school matriculation to pay for, her salary, even combined with that of her husband’s, just can’t accommodate their expenses. Thus, she sought other opportunities and received an offer from a Call Center. The odd hours of work would be a major challenge, but what the heck. The job offered better compensation than what she’s been receiving.
Needless to say, the managing director of the company, who’s also a good friend of mine, was devastated. This has been the second resignation in a month, among people who’ve been working in the firm for more or less four years. I watched it from the sidelines, and halfheartedly offered some subdued comments as my friend whined her complaints to me after receiving the news. In the process of beefing up manpower to augment the services of her company, she now faces the need to fill in gaps made by those who left.
A lot of companies nowadays still do not place adequate priority on Manpower. The Big Boss usually hires top people for middle management – assets, he calls them, but he usually doesn’t give a damn about entry-level positions, the ones who implement the tasks to render the company able to effectively deliver its services.
I’ve always believed that happy workers are productive workers. So it wouldn’t hurt to invest on them a little, would it?
And in the midst of it all, here I am with my ho-hum job, doing almost nothing at the moment and getting paid three times what the other employees are getting! If you ask me, my boss is doing a really bad job maximizing the generous salary he has afforded to give me, in exchange for my prompt services.
My personal issue on this matter is, I’d like to feel that whatever I’m getting out of this job is hard-earned money. I guess this opinion is not something many would share. I’m willing to bet that a lot of people reading this would scoff and tell me I should recognize a good thing when it's there and learn when to keep my mouth shut.
But more than the money I’m earning, It has been my firm belief that work is supposed to be an opportunity to become part of something bigger than yourself. It’s a duty you render to make a difference, no matter how small the scope. I’ve had the honor to lead in advocacy communications, but I have yet to accomplish anything to render me a full-fledged advocate, in anything.
Sure, I can watch movies, pay my credit card and phone bills, buy DVDs, designer make-up and fragrances, go to bars and enjoy fine dining. I can take my family out during weekends, get full body massages and enjoy wine/beer/vodka and oysters, go out of town with friends, etc… But I miss buying stuff and doing things and going places and feeling that it’s worth it to have a little fun out of life, after a busy, accomplished week. I’m hoping that it will only be a matter of time before this finally gets underway. I’m beginning to be a trifle impatient.
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