Fear of being fired or laid off in this harsh economy is creating a workplace that has all the trappings of what I would call, in the words of the late Hunter S. Thompson, fear and loathing in the American workplace.
I just gave up my livelihood rather than work in a climate of fear and degradation. I feel for my co-workers who don't have the financial means to do the same.
I wonder, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the rising unemployment rate in the United States? Most likely, it's the sad plight of workers who've lost their incomes, health insurance, retirement accounts and, most likely, a big chunk of self-esteem.
And, there is no question about the fact that the unemployed grapple with these losses on a daily basis. Many rise early to jump on job boards, write cover letters, and perfect their resumes, only to be met with rejection. Many of them are anxious, depressed and suffering increasingly from related physical illness.
But what about the ranks of the still-employed who live in fear of being tapped for the next layoff or becoming the target of managers who can fire them -- in most cases -- at will?
A study at the University of Michigan shows that people who constantly worry about losing their jobs report poorer physical health and more symptoms of depression than those who have actually been laid off.
Researchers analyzed nationally representative samples of surveys from more than 1,700 adults over age 25 who were asked about their physical and mental health, as well as their feelings about the security of their job.
"The negative effect of being persistently insecure was more significant than the unemployment itself," said study author Sarah Burgard, a research assistant professor at the school's Institute for Social Research.
People are working overtime without being paid for the extra work. They're putting up with lower or no increases in compensation as a reward for excellence. They're scared to speak up against management. They're undercutting one another in the belief that it's better to see a former workmate fired than to be fired oneself.
"By no means am I trying to belittle the stress of job loss," Burgard said. "But the negative anticipation of an event can be more stressful than the event itself. People feel they have the sword of Damocles hanging over their head, but they can't exert any control over the situation."
And it's not just the slackers who are worried. It's been my observation that the most productive employees, those who show the most talent, are often targeted by managers whose own insecurity drives them to harass or oust top performers, people who could challenge them for positions in management -- possibly for lower salaries, saving the company money.
It's not just a battle between employees and their superiors. This rampant fear creates hostility between equals at all levels: manager on manager, worker on worker.
Perhaps the saddest thing about this climate of fear and hostility is that this is just the time when people at all levels in the workplace could be finding solace in a mutual dedication to survival of the best.
They could be banding together to ensure that the hard working among them would weather the economic storm. Instead, it's every man for himself.
We need to get off of the money system and onto a resource based system as described at www.thevenusproject.com - this means we own our homes, healthcare and education systems and we let technology do the heavy work. We might work one day a week or whatever the community needs to flourish but the stress of trying to outwit corporate bankers while working 3 jobs and trying to raise a family is unthinkable in such a system.
Truly
I've been consulting at Bloomberg LP for the last 2+ years -- renewed in 6-month increments -- but have been told (sub rosa) that I'm "too old" to hire. But not "too old" to keep on the clock.
No sick-time, no vacation, no paid holidays -- it takes a physical, emotional, and financial toll.
I'm sure I'm not the only one in this situation.
Mostly all that means is that when you get into your fifties all that talk about portable work is just a lot of nonsense. Fair warning to the younger on this site.
"Banding together" AKA "Unions". Excellent idea ... but just try it south of the Mason-Dixon line.
We're working in our district to find a replacement for our lame Representative. Find people in your districts and run someone against them. People are fed up with the status quo. Now is the time to act!
"Perhaps the saddest thing about this climate of fear and hostility is that this is just the time when people at all levels in the workplace could be finding solace in a mutual dedication to survival of the best.
They could be banding together to ensure that the hard working among them would weather the economic storm. Instead, it's every man for himself."
Is this a joke? What an antisocial opinion. This creepy opinion is at the root of our current difficulties. "Survival of the best." What does that mean? Only "the hard working among them" should survive the storm? We don't need to revalidate the Protestant work ethic. We need to kill it.
In your comment you stated: Only "the hard working among them" should survive the storm?
Have you ever worked a job and worked really hard at it only to be laid off and the person who did not work half as hard as you did or accomplish as much work as you did be kept?
People who are slackers should be laid off NOT the ones who go to work everyday with a positive, hardworking attitude.
Workers do have the capacity to control both the pace of their work and the length of it--and even being laid off--they just haven't used this capacity. They can't use it, because they aren't aware they have it. Americans are raised to see themselves as mere human resources. It's time to stop teaching children this backward way of seeing their future roles in society.
Americans work too much. They work too fast. Americans don't get enough vacation. An employer should not be allowed just to fire someone. Currently, we have profitable companies that are laying off workers. Workers need legal protection against job loss. Yes, democratic practices can be used to control the workplace. No, everything does not have to be based on the market.
I keep thinking every day, it could be worse. I could still be working there.
But for the rest, I say this: YOU are responsible for this mess that you find yourself in.
YOU elected people into office (GOP) who sold you the fantasy of "trickle down economics"
All they had do to was say "I will lower taxes" and people said "YEAH, YEAH"
But they didn't mean lower taxes for the poor or middle class, NO, they meant lower taxes for the RICH and for corporations.
YOU elected people who sold you the fantasy of DEREGULATION, for BANKS, for UTILITIES, for HEALTH INSURERS, etc.
Bank deregulation made KINGS out of bank CEOS and peasants out of Americans, the banks now how so much power that they're probably unstoppable.
YOU elected to put your money in a 401K at some Wall Street outfit, why are you surprised that its GONE?
Some people like me who KNOW Wall Street invest in the REAL WORLD, so I put my money in CD's, savings bonds, and cheap real estate, not in a 401K. So the finanical CRASH didn't affect me at all.
DIVEST yourselves from Wall $treet, cut-up your credit cards and start voting for LIBERTARIANS.
If we don't break the power of Wall $treet we are all doomed.
It does not matter if you have a 4-year (or more) college degree... if you can't think and question, and reason things out you will beleive almost anything.
How many times have you heard someone refer to a sports person as their hero?
They are NOT HEROES... they are just people working in a business (and they make MILLIONS of dollars) that they choose to do (baseball, football, etc).
A real hero is someone like a fireman, policeman or just the girl/guy next door that does the right thing.
I, too, recommend that employees become more than *just* empoyees. Develop some healthy interests outside any employer's control.
However, I am puzzled by the last paragraph: "They could be banding together to ensure that the hard working among them would weather the economic storm. Instead, it's every man for himself."
If I were a slacker, why would I help a harder worker survive?
On the other hand, if everybody pulls together and shares ideas and helps each other, the whole department accomplishes more and looks better, which might keep everyone from being laid off. I have experienced both a helpful environment and one where the supervisor, instead of using the knowledge employees have and learning what they can from them, tries to make employees look bad to hide their own ignorance. This not only makes for a hostile atmosphere where workders don't/can't do their best, but sets up the whole department for being disposed of.
Once the economy turns around, and I believe it will, the worst offenders are going to wonder where everyone went. Between the good people that management tossed out the door and the survivors who were just waiting to escape, there's going to be nobody left but the honchos and their syncophants.
A few medical researchers are finally getting the eyes out of the microscope and looking through the "macroscope"
Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa