Remember! This is where I write about job situations.
I get to do a lot of venting in this one. I write about a variety of subjects including tips to better your organizational skills. Employee services your job may offer was a good topic! More than once, have I written about How to balance your work and leisure lives. etc. etc.
Today though, what erks me, is the little pay that mature adults are continually being offered and expected to accept. And because of the economy and need of the people, what they are being forced to accept as pay, is always mind blowing! And this is supposed to inspire a job well done! This an insult to the people who need to work for income! See, I've met some people on jobs, that have bragged that they "really don't need the money. I just do this to get out of the house! I just wanted something to do!" Some things we shouldn't say out loud!
Can you believe the audacity of them, to say that in the face of hardworking people. People who are trying desperately to support their families and themselves! UGH!!!!! I'm gonna need a minute to cool down.....
....OK. I'm back. Not SO angry, but still very much disgusted! And I have this to say.
"IF YOU CAN BRAG ABOUT NOT REALLY NEEDING THE MONEY your earning,
STOP SPITTING IN THE FACE OF YOUR CO-WORKERS AND QUIT!
GET OUT OF THE WAY AND MAKE ROOM FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
SOMEONE, WHO MAY REALLY NEED THE INCOME!
HOW DARE YOU LET anybody HEAR YOU SAY THAT! SERIOUSLY!
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DO, FINE!
Idleness is not good for anybody!
There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, ESPECIALLY with chronic company cutbacks. YOU LIKE WHERE YOU WORK, don't want to leave, but
don't really need the money? FINE!
STOP accepting the pay and BE A VOLUNTEER !
I'm sure they'll be glad to have you working for free!
Other wise, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, bragger! Who needs that around them!
Yes! I do feel better! Thanks for being concerned!
Anyway, recently, one of my dear and closest friends told me that at 46 years of age, her current rate of pay is $7.40 per hour. Since work is scarce she is only "on call" right now. Sometimes, she doesn't work for weeks on end! The temporary agency she got that job through, gets paid $4.00 above her wage for every hour she works! Where traditionally, the job she has through them, would pay $11.00 per hour if the company she (actually) works for would have hired her privately. THAT OUTRAGES ME! Who is this helping? Certainly not my friend, who her employers say is "a dependable and reliable hard worker", but they don't reward her like it!
I understand the companies avoid paying insurance for their employees and get other government allowed incentives, but IT'S NOT RIGHT! It's not right that ANY company can BY LAW, pay such small penance to their employees, particularly in this day and age! Everybody can't afford to work two and three jobs continually! That's about what it takes to make ends meet for the average person with responsibilities.
I personally know people (I've often been one) who have worked multiple jobs at a time! After a while, (all be it a long while) you figure out, you can't keep doing that! Health concerns, family obligations, and efforts towards a higher education, boldly thwart multiple job ideals for many! Multiple jobs may be OK when your twenties, and maybe when you are well into your thirties, but for many of us, multiple jobs. To HAVE TO do it beyond that, is ridiculous! While it is true that working certain jobs for a long period of time can directly negatively affect your health, you increase e the wear and tear on your body when you double the beating it's taking by having multiple jobs, especially in your older years!
You end up with all sorts of multiple health problems including bad knees, (cartilage is worn down faster between the joints) bad back, hip replacements, varicose veins, pinch shoulder nerves, blood clots in the legs, arthritis. These are some of the ailments that afflict people I personally know. Their ailments are the affects of their work life including multiple job tasking (along with aging. Some of these directly affect me. My doctor, after asking me many job related questions formed the opinion of my standing, walking and aging, have caused weakening in my body in certain areas. AND FOR WHAT? A SMALL PENANCE!
Many of us, like my dear friend STILL CANT PAY THE BASICS BILL REGULARLY AND ON TIME! Even while budget. OK! For those you who may want to argue that point with me.
Here goes, YOU CAN BUDGET ALL YOU WANT, BUT IF YOU DONT HAVE ENOUGH...
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH! And that's how many people fall behind in their bills. Not because they waste their money like many others do!
Many people, honestly budget! They have made and continue to make serious down sizing, lifestyle changes. Own no credit cards, no big debts, still they get halfway through their monthly bill paying and find that, their cell phones, their Internet, cable (a small pleasure). They no longer shop at department stores, mostly at flea markets and resale shops for clothing. They let go of their mortgages, sell their homes (even though they are paid off) and downsize their living spaces! Many find even THAT IS NOT ENOUGH! They go even further, sell off one of the cars, Carpool to work, eventually the other car breaks down, cant afford to keep repairing it, so..they sell it. Sell it and use some of the money to try and catch up on a utility bill or two and with the rest buy monthly bus passes, until they can figure out something else!
Some of these people have lost their home all together and living in a shelter or "transitional housing" with their whole family, the husband wife and the kids. Had to give up the dog, because they couldn't afford to feed it or keep up the vet bills, not to mention the own health insurance! And they're still working but for small penance. And while they are their in the shelter or transitional housing, they are expected to save some of their mere income to prepare them to go back out into their own residence once again. ON WHAT THEY'RE MAKING, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WILL TAKE? Even with both parent working?
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE ?
I'm curious!
These people who pay taxes too, just like you! The same people who, against their OWN, had to accept a government food stamp card and monthly groceries from the church, so they can feed their families EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WORKING PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU! But what they are being paid is A SMALL PENANCE!
Some of you mock your co-workers, because they don't a vehicle to get back and forth to eh job like you! You mick them because they walk and take the bus! They don't' need your pity! They need your understanding. If you're going to help them and help them with discretion, to allow them to keep their dignity...Do them a real favor and LEAVE THEM ALONE!
Because technically, you are not that far from being them!
What do you have to say to those people? Come on! I'm curious.
In the mean time, they've already, lost their better paying jobs AND NOW ARE Working for small penance! Two and three jobs, in their older age, running themselves further into the ground! I KNOW OF TWO OLDER WOMEN, who worked so hard to maintain and both unfortunately died of heart attacks while still on the job even! Both, had been wearing themselves down working multiple jobs. One died in the bathroom. Said she hadn't been feeling well but was so strapped for money trying to keep her bills up, she couldn't afford to take too many days off. When she didn't come out of the bathroom, they got the employee key and went in after her. They found her dead. She had had a massive heart attack!
The other one was a friend of mine. She was also one of my bosses long ago. She died last year in the middle of her work day. I was told she was talking and laughing with her employees, they turned around and she had dropped right the floor. They tried desperately to resuscitate even before the EMS came, but it was too late! Her funeral was 2 days before her birthday and that was one woman who enjoyed a party! So, I know she was siked about her birthday.
I'VE NEVER GONE TO A FUNERAL WHERE SO MANY CORPORATE PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
But what did that, do for her?
Her bosses, some serious big wigs, came to support her family. That was nice of them. She was an awesome worker! She worked tirelessly running two of their stores, (often times, both in the same day!) She'd work regularly 18 hours a day. A single mother who raised 3 or 4 children and grandchildren, on her own. My friend was in her early 50's.
Grown, mature adults working these jobs, killing themselves for $7.15, $7.80, $8.00, $8.50 per hour and part-time on top that! Working without benefits that the people can REALISTICALLY AFFORD! BUT OH! THEY BETTER NOT TAKE TOO MANY SICK DAYS!
"YOU'RE GONNA PAY ME WHAT?"
My dear friend, making the $7.40 has also has gotten another temporary job that offers her $8.00 per hour in cash, but only a temporary, one shot deal, for 4 days work, right now! Currently, her house is in foreclosure, her car broke down after multiple fixes. So her husband sold it for junk. He sold the other car too! She has saved some money and looking to purchase a well working used vehicle to up her chances at getting a better job, but imagines it will be well into the suburbs, ratter than the city. She's already greatly concerned about the cost of gas, the wear and tear and ultimate repairs on a car she hasn't even purchases yet!
She is not proud to work, and taking what she can find. She has many years hands on Managerial experience, but that ended 2 years ago. Her financial situation, has bean in a downward spiral ever since. Its not right! These companies pay such a small penance and want the best workers.
As one of my other dear friends said to me last night on the phone, it's nice when the boss recognizes you for the work you do and says "Thank you", but I NEED MONEY! I got a housenote, a car note, house repairs and utility bills. Thanks don't always cut it. I'm up in years too! What am I gonna do?" This friend is retired form another job, but still has to have extra income like most of us! And she's well beyond 40, 50, and even 60 years of age!
She's currently working a part-time job, making about $8.80 per hour.
YOU'RE GONNA PAY ME WHAT?
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