Musical chairs in the workplace
April 15th, 2010 | by Leanne Chase
I’ve been wondering lately why colleges send us out into the work world with the mindset that we need to be constantly moving, climbing, making more money, getting better titles or we are failing. Why didn’t anyone stop to tell us that that kind of constant movement simply is not sustainable for everyone? Both personally and due to forces beyond our control such as recessions and off-shoring and technological advancements there are interruptions in that well taught plan.
Shouldn’t someone be teaching us that ebbs and flows are normal and will be part of our lives? And we need to learn how to not only go with the flow but embrace the changes and enjoy them.
The good news is that a college professor is talking about it. Robert Reich’s post “The Future of American Jobs” got me thinking. Particularly this line:
The only way many of today’s jobless are likely to retain their jobs or get new ones is by settling for much lower wages and benefits.
Which reminded me that it is a fact that most workers will be underemployed at some point in their careers. And some may even want to step off the treadmill for a bit. Because let’s face it..it’s not so much fun to settle. And there are those who do not have a debt problem, thanks to living below their means and saving. Or those who have worked because they like to work, not because they need the salary.
Shouldn’t society be supporting them to choose whether to settle or to not settle but simply take a break. Or as the media has labeled it “opt out.” Unfortunately in the world I was educated in and now live, this choice is seen as failure and settling…when in fact I think it may be not only the right thing for some people, personally but also for the economy as a whole. So as Cali Yost said wonderfully in her post yesterday let’s lose those labels and judgments and embrace the time for the slow (er) lane. And let’s start teaching our students that this career thing has its ups, downs, starts, stops and that’s normal. Embrace them and choose your own path..whether that be up, down, sideways or full stop. Thus making this game of musical chairs in the workplace kinder and gentler.
3 Comments
Leanne – great post. The corollary to this is that organizations also go through ebbs and flows and the way business school teaches future executives to deal with that is lay-offs and ‘restructuring’ – I think there is a more ‘social’ approach to be taken there too. Why not have a more transparent conversation with employees about who is interested in stepping off the gas pedal and reducing hours rather than completely severing ties? It would certainly help with rehiring costs when business picks up again.
Go back 150 years when almost everyone owned their own business or worked at a very small one – they all had to adjust to the ebbs and flows of the business cycle. If a family farmer had a bad year, they had a bad year. If, as employees, we are that invested and affected (and responsible) for the businesses we participate in, the quality of the product/service of that business would likely improve too.
It’s a great conversation that both employees and employers should be having.
I’ve been thinking through some of these same issues. I live at a university and the undergrads are much more achievement-oriented than most adults I know. The school contributes to this, yet I believe the imprinting starts even earlier. it is our whole achievement-oriented society that reinforces this notion of climbing for better or for worse.
As individuals we need to check the assumptions we make about what we should be doing vs. what we want to be doing, and teach our kids to do the same from the start. It is not all bad, though. I’ve been extremely fulfilled both on the fast track and slow track. But honestly, for me, the fast track has often brought the greatest rewards. The key is knowing when you need to recharge and being able to negotiate for some space in your life.
I have a related article “There is No Future in Work-Life Balance” coming out later today that looks at similar issues, too.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Rachel – Employers & employees having conversations and solving problems? Oh my goodness…what a wonderful concept. That is a large part of what I want this site to facilitate. Employees so far have been pretty vocal…employers mostly silent. Here’s hoping that changes. (Calling employers & HR – let’s talk!)
Jennifer – I absolutely agree that it should start earlier. But I do think colleges give a sort of “pie in the sky” version of careers that does not mesh with reality. I will be teaching my daughter to choose what works for her whole life…not just career first. It’s a shift in thinking, but here’s hoping we’re a generation away. And please post the link to your blog later today…I’d love to read it.