The Pongo Blog
Has Fear Driven You to Stay in a Job You Hate?
June 03, 2010 (4:30PM) by Brianna Raymond, CPRW
The Wall Street Journal online posted an eye-catching article last week: More Workers Start to Quit.
Without reading the article, this headline made me wonder several things:
- If more workers are starting to quit their jobs now (as opposed to a year ago), how many have actually been happy in their jobs? Are most employees putting up a front just to ensure they receive a paycheck?
- It looks as if people are no longer letting the uncertainties of the recession control their workplace happiness (or unhappiness, as the headline implies).
- Was it the fear of the recession that drove workers to switch or not switch jobs? I think so.
That last one is a pretty big deal. Fear can impose poor judgment and eat away at a person's overall happiness. It can make you settle into a state of unhappiness simply because the fear of the changes you need to make to become happier can overrule your better judgment.
Does that make sense?
I'll paint a picture: You feel undervalued by your current employer and know you would be happier working for someone who'd appreciate your contributions more. In turn, you'd respect yourself more. But then come the fears: Maybe the new employer won't value you as much you need them to. Maybe this is the best you can do and there's nothing better for you out there. Maybe they won't like you and you'll be unemployed in a matter of months.
I simply assume that fear is what causes people to stay in jobs they don't like: fear of losing a paycheck; fear of change; fear of not finding anything better and being stuck in an unhappy place.
So I leave you with this question:
[poll:27]
If you have a deeper opinion on the matter, please leave a comment below.
I answered with "This doesn't apply to me: I'm happy with my job and have no interest in leaving." seems like many others did too!
Posted by: Job Interview Questions | June 04, 2010 at 12:06 PM | Quote This Comment
This is such a horrible recession brought on by the Republicans shipping the good jobs overseas. I won't make as much if I quit. There's a 100 applicants for every job. No wonder people are scared.
Posted by: Harry | June 05, 2010 at 3:03 AM | Quote This Comment
After teaching twenty years and putting up with NCLB, teaching became more of a babysitting job for students who had no desire to be educated but medicated and reformed. I said if I had a kid in public school I would home school them because with full inclusion, large classes, no material, teaching to a test, students entering middle school unable to read, add, subtract, multiply and divide, consistently new teachers leaving or working for principal approval, I was mentally through with teaching. When teachers are forced to pass kids who attend school 30 days, complete 25% of the work, made to give 70 percent for work 2 months late we as a nation are in trouble. We have students in classes that seriously belong in self containes special education classes and these students egardless of an aid do not belong in the regular classroom. My heartaches for the average student who needs the extra assistance from the teacher that is consumed by a kid who is a severe behavorial problem needing to be self contained. One day I looked at what was coming next year and I said if I wanted to teach special education I would have majored in that subject. I am said I am finished with being made to pass failures etc. I am going to open a Charter school for gifted and talented students. Whatever happen to our high achievers? We are loosing this battle as a country because we have lowered our standards in public school to meet the needs of eveyone. This so called tiered lessons. Have one teacher using 3 books is about as crazy as having a Principal for two schools. How can one person provide your child with a 100% of teaching with a class of 30 using 3 books. Someone is loosing out based on which level the teachers favors. So, I said I love teaching and this is no longer where I see the current administration going. Maybe when the White House changes its direction I can return but for now I am hating to come to work everyday and changing careers or starting a Charter School.
Posted by: Irene | June 05, 2010 at 5:46 AM | Quote This Comment
I worked for 29 years at a profession I loved until the last year. For 1 year I was miserable and dragged myself to work everyday because of the money.
I rfecently left and my health has improved. Yes I am frightened because I have no job, but I still dont regret it. Life is too short to live everyday in emotional pain.
Posted by: c price | June 05, 2010 at 8:04 AM | Quote This Comment
Our co. recently sold, many were hired by the new owner including myself. I loved the co I worked for and my job. After one week with this new employer ,going to work has become unbearable . I have stayed with this co , continued to look for a job in my filed. I would not give a second thought to leaving if I did not have a family to support.
Posted by: Sally Jane | June 05, 2010 at 8:35 AM | Quote This Comment
I decided not to take a lower paying and less secure job (in the same institution, same responsibilities) after my most recent position was eliminated. After 12 years in one field, I've been looking for other kinds of work. Right now I'm settling for very part time work, which is not my preference. However, if I had to choose between respect for my qualifications and experience at part time and no respect at full time, I'd rather take the respect. If I'm changing careers, I don't mind a low starting pay to gain experience, but not after 10 years!
Posted by: Kathleen | June 07, 2010 at 12:46 PM | Quote This Comment