The Pongo Blog
Are You Unemployed and Happy or Employed and Miserable?
July 09, 2009 (11:00AM) by Rick Saia, CPRW
I hear and read stories about people who feel miserable in their jobs, but can't risk quitting in today's job market. Some who have held onto their jobs are even expressing envy toward those who have been laid off. It reminds me of a line from an old TV drama about an impending nuclear attack: "The living will envy the dead."
That's a bit melodramatic, but it does seem highly ironic to be jealous of someone who's collecting unemployment while you're drawing a steady paycheck. Still, there's enough misery among the employed that I'm sure some of them have wished for their own layoffs. ("You mean I don't have to put up with this miserable job anymore and can sleep in?!? Excellent!!)
Even the optimists among the still-employed may be more apt to ride out the recession before they look for new jobs. Based on the results of a recent survey, 54% of employed adults in North America are at least somewhat likely to look for new jobs once the economy turns around.
That's understandable if: (1) They didn't like their jobs or companies even before the recession struck but feel they need to stay put until job prospects improve, or (2) They wound up working more hours and spending less time with their families after they took on more work following a round or two of layoffs.
Meanwhile, there's no shortage of stuff on the web that says how being laid off can be an incredibly exhilarating experience that gives you time to recharge yourself, learn something new, spend more time with the family, and, heck, maybe even win a Nobel Prize. In 2002, during my own 7-month-long layoff, I did all that (except the Nobel part), and while it kept my spirits up, the depressing feeling of being jobless didn't go away. It's an awful feeling, even if it lasts for only minutes. Trust me, you don't want it.
All this led me to wonder how people are faring in this recession. If you're employed, how are things at work? If you're unemployed and looking for a job, what are you doing to stay focused and optimistic amid your job search?
Take our poll below and drop in a comment.
[poll:13]
RELATED LINKS
4 Visions of the Post-Recession Workforce
You Know the Job Outlook Is Bad When …
Jobless? Sometimes You Gotta Leggo Your Ego
Personal Development Guru, Jim Rohn once said: "Work HARDER on Yourself than you do on Your Job!" sage advice...I'd say
Posted by: eResumes4Vips | July 09, 2009 at 6:50 PM | Quote This Comment
Right now I'm employed but miserable. I haven't decided whether being laid off would be better. I've been unemployed before and for the first little while it's nice, but after a while you realize that the unemployment cheques are just not going to cut it and you've fallen behind. Although the break was nice, having to 'work your butt off' to catch back up is not exactly fun.
So here I sit, employed, but miserable no knowing whether it's worth being unemployed and happy.
Stuck on the fence
Posted by: Stuck on the fence of misery/happyness. | July 20, 2009 at 5:07 PM | Quote This Comment
my boss used to be good,now she is so ridiculous rude to me always,everything i said she make fun off.and want me to sell and sell products for hair so she can get her bonus.I'm almost as old as her Mom and she disrespect me and make my life miserable.I have only few customers compare with her ,and she put her self as an example for us the employs.on meetings we have no rigths,we can not talk,she said if we do not come to her mittings we loose our jobs because those meetings are obligations,they do not pay for our meettings waste our time.She put us to shampoo her clients,and we never get not even a thank'you.She treatns us about getting fired/hair cuttery in midlothian.only commision on cuts for us ho do a lot other things for free.
Posted by: MW | July 24, 2009 at 10:30 PM | Quote This Comment
This is a great question - I've been unemployed for almost 10 months now. Even though I was totally burned out, I still needed that job. I had a heartless boss who took to writing me up which forced me to resign. I've been really depressed and my lack of income has affected the health and well-being of my whole family. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm open to them. It's really hard to give a good interview when you're feeling this way.
Posted by: BT | July 27, 2009 at 2:28 PM | Quote This Comment
Being unemployed has been great for my family. My wife has some jealousy issues about it but the kids love getting picked up from school. I like the stress free existence. I was a D*ck when I was working. I hated my job and everyone knew it. Now I am trying to figure out how to have it both ways. I need a job my savings is about gone but I think I want a job that just covers the bills. I don't need a new car or starbucks coffee a couple times a day. How can I cut back on materialistic things and just enjoy life and my family? I think a lot of people are realizing what they have been missing out on. I see a lot of dads picking their kids up from school and they are happy. I see a lot of families out and about going for walks or bike rides. You didn't see this stuff before. I see people with jobs rethinking things my neighbor got rid of his new truck and bought a classic truck. Probably $25,000 difference. I don't think the economy will be what it was anytime soon because I think people have shifted their thinking. People use to brag/show off their money by wasting it now the cool thing to do is get a really good deal and save.
Posted by: Kenny | August 25, 2010 at 12:58 PM | Quote This Comment
I worked at a high stress job for 25+ years that provided my family with a good insurance plan, a second and much needed income and good vacation benefits. My company moved the production side of the business to another state leaving my spouse and I without a job...along with many others. We both had severence pay that allowed us to adjust to not having jobs to go to while paying off the major debts. It took my husband seven months to find a new job that pays less, has high cost health insurance and a pitiful vacation benefit...he can never earn more than two weeks and it will take him 6 years to earn the second week! But he has a job and that fulfills his need to be productive. I went back to school for a year to finish a degree program and have found it difficult to find a job since I have no experience in that field. I have to admit I love not having to rush out the doors in the morning, I appreciate the chance to sit and read while enjoying that first cup of coffee, and have had the opportunity to spend time with our grandchildren, something not possible when I was working. The down side is struggling to find jobs I'm qualified to do to meet the requirements to collect the unemployment check every week and the ego busting of all those replies that I'm not qualified for even trainee posititions.
Posted by: Donna | November 11, 2010 at 5:58 AM | Quote This Comment
@ Donna -- Having been there (unemployed and stuck at home), I can tell you that just sitting down and reading over a cup of coffee, and spending time with the kids, are good for the soul and help cushion the blow of being out of work. Keep plugging away!
Posted by: Rick | November 11, 2010 at 4:29 PM | Quote This Comment