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Lane Kirkland
You or Your Job?
By Nina Baruch
Do you feel depressed at work a lot of
the time? Do you hate what you do
but worry you might lose your job?
Maybe losing it is a good thing. Maybe
it's the universe's way of telling you
to move on
Most people think highly of joining the work
force. Most people think getting a job and
sticking to it is the best way to go. Many also
believe that the longer you stay in one
validates you as a stable and reliable person.
I used to think so myself. For years, I tried
to hang onto rotten jobs in awful organizations.
I put up with abusive, ungrateful bosses, and
suffered from depression, headaches and
indigestion. Only after losing four job in a row
did my perspective change for good.
The first time I lost a job, happened when I
was working for a small firm. It was the first
and last time I liked my job. After five wonderful years the firm went bankrupt and closed down. Some of my colleagues said it was because the owners were too nice, and nice people couldn't survive in business. I scoffed when hearing this, not realizing how true it might be.
My next boss wasn't nice at all. He thought very highly of himself, yet very little of his subordinates. He expected us to praise him and tell him how wonderful he was, even when he wasn't. He never bothered to praise us, and since I wasn't any good at the flattering game, I was singled out. When management told him to lay off one of the staff, I was the first to go.
My next boss was so incompetent, he appointed me to carry out his duties for him. I did so willingly and successfully, but after a while he felt so threatened, he decided to get rid of me.
By this time I started having second thoughts about organizations, bosses and work places. I thought perhaps it was time to give it up and find my way on my own but I was too scared, so I accepted a forth job.
After two reasonable years I accidentally found out my superiors were involved in fraud. I hadn't intended to inform them I knew, since I wanted to keep my job. But when they found out, they didn't want to take any chances, and sent me home.
That was my last attempt at exchanging my freedom for a poor income, and miserable conditions. When I look back on those years I realize that being fired again and again was the universe's way of telling me I wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.
Today I can't believe I put up with so much abuse, disrespect and lack of gratitude. After discovering my freedom, and the happiness I had longed for, I am certain there is something unnatural and unhealthy in spending over half our waking hours in authoritarian organizations that have little respect for our human needs.
<back ...1/2/next>
By Nina Baruch
Do you feel depressed at work a lot of
the time? Do you hate what you do
but worry you might lose your job?
Maybe losing it is a good thing. Maybe
it's the universe's way of telling you
to move on
Most people think highly of joining the work
force. Most people think getting a job and
sticking to it is the best way to go. Many also
believe that the longer you stay in one
validates you as a stable and reliable person.
I used to think so myself. For years, I tried
to hang onto rotten jobs in awful organizations.
I put up with abusive, ungrateful bosses, and
suffered from depression, headaches and
indigestion. Only after losing four job in a row
did my perspective change for good.
The first time I lost a job, happened when I
was working for a small firm. It was the first
and last time I liked my job. After five wonderful years the firm went bankrupt and closed down. Some of my colleagues said it was because the owners were too nice, and nice people couldn't survive in business. I scoffed when hearing this, not realizing how true it might be.
My next boss wasn't nice at all. He thought very highly of himself, yet very little of his subordinates. He expected us to praise him and tell him how wonderful he was, even when he wasn't. He never bothered to praise us, and since I wasn't any good at the flattering game, I was singled out. When management told him to lay off one of the staff, I was the first to go.
My next boss was so incompetent, he appointed me to carry out his duties for him. I did so willingly and successfully, but after a while he felt so threatened, he decided to get rid of me.
By this time I started having second thoughts about organizations, bosses and work places. I thought perhaps it was time to give it up and find my way on my own but I was too scared, so I accepted a forth job.
After two reasonable years I accidentally found out my superiors were involved in fraud. I hadn't intended to inform them I knew, since I wanted to keep my job. But when they found out, they didn't want to take any chances, and sent me home.
That was my last attempt at exchanging my freedom for a poor income, and miserable conditions. When I look back on those years I realize that being fired again and again was the universe's way of telling me I wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.
Today I can't believe I put up with so much abuse, disrespect and lack of gratitude. After discovering my freedom, and the happiness I had longed for, I am certain there is something unnatural and unhealthy in spending over half our waking hours in authoritarian organizations that have little respect for our human needs.
<back ...1/2/next>
"If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have
kept it all to themselves"
kept it all to themselves"
Joseph Lane Kirkland (1922-1999) was president of the American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organizations from 1979 to 1995. Kirkland supported the Solidarity movement in Poland, that contributed to the decline of communism, and supported the U.S. foreign policy during the 1970s and 1980s.
"There is something unnatural and unhealthy in spending over half our waking hours
in authoritarian organizations
that have little respect for our human needs"
in authoritarian organizations
that have little respect for our human needs"