I've read several polls that these days there are those out of work that wish they had a job. Those that are employed are about 30% love the job and look forward to another "challenging/rewarding day. The other 70% either tolerate or loathe their job. So where are you?
I've been with the same company for just over 19 years. 5 wage freezes since 2000 so I'm prob 85% of scale in my area. New younger management that is so MICRO MANAGING spread sheet/chart graphs prove what you doing a$$holes yet they have no clue what we really do. If I won even a 1/2 mil after taxes lottery I would be so gone. More processes/more work/stress/ condescending attitudes etc. I would say on a 1-10 I like my work maybe a 3. Probably why I drink like a fish. 13 more years looks like a bitch at this point. u6juu
Thank G_d we have good music and the UMA! I'm sorry to hear that you are in such a crappy enviornment for 8 hours a day Lester. I used to really hate my job I had 10 years ago. I was working for an Health and Beauty aids company as a "Reclamation Supervisor", (big title- $7/hour) and I drove from warehouse to warehouse all over the Atlanta metro area, and basically sorted through garbage, so big stores could get reimbursed for faulty packaging or expired stuff or 10 other reasons. Some of the warehouses were sooo disgusting! They would hold stuff for months on end in totes or boxes with rotted food products (crawling with maggots) and gooey ooze and I had to sift through it all. I also inhaled a lot of bleach/ ammonia and I was always sick. Anyway, I worked with inventory specialists that I would meet with at each warehouse, and they were the most horrible, hateful, condescending semi-humans on Earth. It was so sucky! Then they wanted me to put more mileage on my pitiful car and drive in gridlocked traffic to more locations and I couldn't del with it any more. I only have a h.s. education and both my kids started college in 1999-2000, so I used myself as a great example to them. I only work part time now, but I also take care of my grandson a few days a week after school because both of his parent work and I always yearn to help my family out. So like I say, Monster friend, we got music, laughter, family and the UMA! Hang in there and know that a lot of us are living the nightmare sometimes.
I hated my job when it was still owned by the original owners (a husband and wife) who were all about cutting corners and were very cheap. After many years they sold the company to an Australian investment group and business started to get better and they were actually putting money into the company. Although they had hired a new CEO, they kept the old President (the husband), paid him way too much for someone who not only did nothing helpful, but actually was detrimental to the company. They realized their mistake too late and when the economy tanked so did the company. It's a shame, because we liked working under the new CEO and I was finally getting to the point of getting paid more (although I should have been paid A LOT more for the amount of involvement that they had me participating in the running of the company. I actually miss it and my coworkers, although we try to keep in touch. Being unemployed sucks.
Rob
I totally HATE my job, not dislike,,,,,,,HATE! After being laid-off of my former job of
fifteen years, several years agos,I was forced to take a job with less pay and hours.
Huge mistake! The place I work for is wrong in every way, and so are the people.
The worst thing about working at the JOB, I can not relate to anyone there,
talk, communicate or finding anything in common with my co-workers. I feel like
an alien sometimes. Did I mention boring too?!? >:(
In the current economy I dotn think anyone should hate their job. Be greatful that you arent living on the edge with thousands who have lost everything and are either getting unemployment insurance or are even homeless. I know lots of folk who have ahd to take back in thier 30 or 40 year old children becasue they cant make it. My job isnt the best, but I sure would be F++ked without it.
I love my job......drive healthcare center residents to doctor appointments when needed. Maybe 15 or so hours a week.....lots of time off to work on job #2- finding cool collectibles by hitting auctions, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales etc. Which leaves plenty of time for job #3- musician......much fun but little money.....but again, much fun. Life be good! Very good! Bud
I fully understand the "be grateful for A job" My insurance is thru this company even tho the wife makes 15% more than me.. The main thing that sucks is the new "leaders" that don't know crap. 4 years ago my happy level would have been a 6+ even with the wage freezes. This new regime is just killing us. And the top 5 senior people in our place have literally 125 years of warehouse operations/logistics experience and they( the new geniuses) are still questioning our processes even tho we are as a branch # 1 out of 3 with a minimal crew comparatively. Just really sucks at this point going from a place you gave 2/3rds of your adult life caring about to thinking F&^% these A$$holes hope you die soon. u6juu
I empathize. My company is full of management twits who couldnt find thier ass with a metal detector. LOL. worse still they hire their halfwit children and family members to work there too LOL>
This is lengthy. I hope it will be an inspiration to those who hate their work, though. Try to read it all if you feel trapped by your job.
For the last 13 years, I had worked in a steel mill, repairing damaged rolls of steel for customers.
In 2006 there was a massive labor dispute. I was unemployed for 18 months as a result.
We lived off our credit cards during this period.
Unemployment only lasted 6 months back then. I racked up $57,000.00 worth of credit card debt during this period. How?
During this time I had some major medical expenses~ and we had to survive...with no job. And no insurance. With two children.
No one would hire me because they knew I would "just go back" to my employer once the labor dispute ended. The labor dispute ended mid 2007.
I went back and worked there until June of 2010.
The conditions for working for them aggravated my medical condition~as my job and working conditions had changed, and became even more labor intensive than before. "Doing more with less" like the company wanted.
My pay had changed too, I now had to pay $80 a week for my insurance on the family plan
So~ I reevaluated my position.
At 41 years old, I felt like I was 80.
Chronic pain caused by years of labor intensive activity, crushing credit card debt, (made worse when the respective agencies raised all my balances to 29.9% rate thanks to the change in rules(reform)scaring them to death), and stress over the revised schedule and responsibilities at work were, quite frankly, killing me.
Then the company told me they were changing my work schedule and I would "adapt accordingly" or find employ elsewhere. The Union was worthless and didn't care what the company did as long as they continued to collect dues.
The new schedule absolutely destroyed my ability to attend church or see my family at all.
Two of my checks each month went to credit card companies and we were living off 1/2 of what I was making before the labor dispute~and prices had gone through the roof since then. Plus the additional $80 per week insurance deductible.
Then along came the economic crisis.
I decided all of the rat race wasn't worth it, and I needed to focus on matters of a more divine nature . I resigned from the job.
I didnt care about my credit rating anymore. It wasnt worth having a good credit rating~but dying before I turned 50.
After I resigned from the job~ I contacted my credit card companies and settled all the debts for a fraction of the amounts owed. The 1099's they send me and the taxes that will insue are being paid from a liquidation of assets.
So- 7 months later:
I have no debt save for my home.
My stress from work is gone.
I have taken a more active role in my church helping others, and have accepted an associate pastoral position (having been active in ministry for 20 years).
I love my work~and it gives a great sense of satisfaction knowing I am helping others rather than filling some CEO's pockets.
My wife has been blessed with a supervisor's position at a job she loves. She has insurance that costs $40 per week.
We didnt have to file bankruptcy, and we can get our credit re-established in just a couple years using and paying off small cards like Kohl's each month.
Take an account of your situation. I have no college experience. I am a middle aged adult male with only a high school education. If the rat race is killing you~change the course. Focus on that "other avenue" with which you have skill or talent in, and make it your primary. We only get one go around at this life. Live~dont just survive.
Thanks UMA family, for entertaining your brother's rather long winded account of how I changed my direction because I hated my job.
Thanks for that Anton!! I'm happy things worked out for you buddy!! "All things work together for good (you know the rest brother!!).
Wonderfully inspirational story, Anton and thanks for sharing it with us! After all you and your family endured it's great to know life finally turned around in your favor in the end. A rare thing in a world full of unhappy endings. Continued success and happiness to you and yours!
I've been roofing houses with the same two stooges
for years-
I hate my job 'till I get there in the morning~ :D
Hate my job?
Nah.
Dislike some aspects of it? Sure. But you've got to accept a certain amount of annoyance. As a wise man once said: love without irritation is only lust.
Many years ago, I finished a BA degree in History/Anthropology. Not much job market there. So I went on to graduate school. Finished my MA and was working towards a PhD at Washington State University, when life happened. My teaching assistantship got cut. My wife had finished all her PhD work and all she had left was her dissertation. She got a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. So we packed up and moved to Madison. Then she got a job at Lawrence Berkeley Lab--so we moved to California. After three years of hell at work and scary living conditions, she quit and we all moved back up to Washington.
What was I doing for a living? Two things: diddly and squat! I could not even get hired at McDonalds. The few jobs I could find paid so little or cost so much in terms of commuting and daycare for the kids that I was working at a loss.
Up here in Spokanistan, we spent a year living in my wife's parents' basement while trying to find work. Eventually, we found work in the food service in the local convention center arena and ball park. To help make ends meet, I started donating plasma. I was bringing in $40 a week on my bodily fluids. One day, the plasma center had a sign up advertising job openings. I applied, and thanks mostly to my food handling experience, I was hired. My manager hired me because, as anyone who has worked in restaurants will attest, she knew I was used to being on my feet for long hours for crap pay, and could do anything from waiting on tables in tuxedos to mucking out floor drains in concession stands.
And I have been there for 15 years. Now, I am a center supervisor and am in the middle of the customers (donors) and employees and management. It can get stressful and frustrating at times. But, on the whole, I enjoy what I do.
I get to meet an interesting cross section of humanity.
It used to be that any wino or stoner in town could donate plasma. But not in the years I have worked there. The FDA has very stringent regulations regarding donor acceptability and disease screening. Many of the donors are hard working people coming in after their jobs to make a few extra bucks. A considerable number are laid-off workers augmenting their unemployment checks. Some are unable to work and donating plasma is a way of making up for what their Social Security or disability pensions don't pay. Oddly enough, when the economy is bad, business gets better in the plasma center. We also get lots of college students looking for a few extra bucks. Every one has a history and a story. But they all have one thing in common.
They are the front line in saving thousands of lives a year. My company produces several hundred vaccines and therapeutic products used daily. We make Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Rabies vaccines. Gamma Globulin (for when you are exposed to disease) platelets to help hemophiliacs, albumin to help burn victims heal. Concentrated antibodies to treat people with damaged immune systems, some forms of insulin, and a vaccine to help prevent Rh-factor based miscarriages.
Maybe that's the bottom line. My job is part of a process that helps save lives.
Hey Dave, I thought you could only give blood like once a month. How are folks giving it every week?
I've been reading this thread with a little guilt because I've been feeling bad that I don't love my, admittedly pretty great, job.
After getting laid off for the second time in '02, I decided to move to a smaller house and try to make it freelancing. And, I was pretty lucky, making it on my local rep and working pretty steadily until about April of last year. But toward the end of March, a couple of projects fell through or were delayed, and i knew that around tax time my cashflow was going to take a nosedive.
So one morning, I was at my computer and the thought popped into my mind, "you're gonna have to get a real job."
Not 20 minutes later, I get an email from someone I'd worked with in the early '00s: "Job opportunity."
I didn't think I was qualified for the job (at one of the local universities) but she called me an asked me to come in for an interview anyway. I didn't get the job, but was offered a one-year position: contract, but full benefits from day 1; not quite what I grossed freelance, but the oppt'y to work on outside projects.
The first three months were tough--the director of the dept left and I was pretty much left floating with not much to do. And of course, freelance offers came in as soon as I committed to the job. But I missed the freelance life, hated commuting (only about 30 min) and really had a hard time with the academic culture. But until October, I was about ready to bail every day.
Gonna have a hard decision to make in June, though.
MDG.........If you don't mind.....freelance at what? From the standpoint of a person looking at a distance, working on a campus....I imagine it to be a college campus, would be like never growing old and constantly interacting with young minds. Brings to mind the Twilight Zone episode " Changing of the Guard" with Donald Pleasance. The retired professor in that episode finds out the many years of constantly revolving students left a very lengthy and satisfying legacy that he hadn't fully realized, but was greatly appreciated by his past students.
Quote from: Scatter on January 09, 2011, 03:59:25 PM
Hey Dave, I thought you could only give blood like once a month. How are folks giving it every week?
We collect Blood Lite! ;D
It is true, if you donate more than 200 mL. of whole blood you can do it only once in 56 days or 8 weeks. Plasma donation centers use a plasma pheresis machine to separate the red cells from the blood. The remaining liquid is plasma. The machine then returns the red cells to the donor. People can safely donate plasma twice in seven days.
Here is a pic of one of the machines.
(http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/2094/95661798.jpg)
The round cover in the center of the machine contains a centrifuge which separates the blood into plasma and red cells. The yellow stuff in the bag is plasma (my company uses bottles instead). The bag on the upper left is sodium citrate an anticoagulant which keeps the whole thing from clotting up. That anticoagulant is an ingredient in many "energy" drinks such as Red Bull. The bag on the left contains a half a liter of saline. We found that fluid replacement makes for healthier happier donors. The computers and sensors make the machine extremely safe. Even the backups have backups. Each machine runs about $35,000 dollars each, and all the tubing, filters, centrifuge bowls, bags of solutions and so forth are sterile, one use only items.
Woah! Sorry about the long-winded explanation . . .guess I do like my job . . . ::)
Well.........shows what I know!!
Quote from: bigbud on January 09, 2011, 09:36:59 PM
MDG.........If you don't mind.....freelance at what?
Instructional design, but this has led to other things like writing marketing materials and competency modelling. At the university, I was officially hired to develop resources to help faculty convert courses from 10-week quarters to 15-week semesters, but, since that doesn't happen until sept 2013, I've been working on other things like staff orientation and tutorials for the online course software.
I really have very little contact w/ students, other than the fact that they're all over. My main problem has just been adjusting to a "job" after years of working on my own.
really have very little contact w/ students, other than the fact that they're all over. My main problem has just been adjusting to a "job" after years of working on my own.
Yea, I can see the adjustment thing, but adjusting in such a positive envirornment......sounds mighty good to me....outside looking in. .......Bud
Quote from: MDG on January 10, 2011, 08:36:25 AM
Instructional design, but this has led to other things like writing marketing materials and competency modelling.
I've done a little competency modeling. I did OK, but never could get past the swimsuit competition.
Scatter- I thought the exact same thing Haha- then I was ashamed of myself for thinking about the professional, educated and upstanding MDG modelling at the university. It's a constant battle in my head to stay "mature". I'm just glad I'm not alone :) Fester- you are AWESOME! I never knew what went on with blood donations and platelets. It's always been a mysterious world to me. I have Thallessemia Minor, (probably spelled wrong), so when things go horribly wrong, I've needed transfusions (only a few times) Whew! I don't know if I can donate because of my loser blood, but my husband always does. It's really interesting to haer about everyone's professions on here.
I don't think I would say someone with Thalassemia minor as posessing "loser Blood." It is a genetic condition and as such, is no reflection on the nature of its owner. And as you are a regular here, you must not be a loser. Unless, of course you have a full back Twilight tattoo.
(http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3238/twilighttattoo.jpg)
Erm . . .this isn't you is it?
Lets put it this way, I doubt it would be safe for you to donate. The machines spin the blood at a fairly high rate of speed, and we would not want to get your red cells all mushed up.*.
* A technical term, but I'm sure you get the idea. ;)
I'm very lucky to have the job that I have and enjoy it for the most part. Working in a post production company for a private, family owned company has been very good especially working under very insightful management. I've also enjoyed many perks.
I like my job very much, but the "film" Industry is changing very rapidly and I am working to evolve with it.
OG
I sympathize with Lester, I worked some miserable jobs in the past and I know the toll it can take on one's spirit, body and mind. These days I have to say that I truly enjoy my work. I teach high school and elementary art and have done so for the last 10 years. I work in a great school with a great administration and collegues. I also pastor a small rural church and have done so for 30 years. The congregation is comprised of a fantastic group of individuals that I've grown up with. And yet, even with these two great jobs...there are days!!!
Fester!! You are a real nut! Where would you even find a picture like that? :)
Quote from: charp13 on January 10, 2011, 06:19:44 PM
Fester!! You are a real nut! Where would you even find a picture like that? :)
It was in the papers . . .
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344355/Twilight-fan-49-gets-Robert-Pattinson-Kristen-Stewart-inked-WHOLE-back.html#ixzz1AHXa3nSO (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344355/Twilight-fan-49-gets-Robert-Pattinson-Kristen-Stewart-inked-WHOLE-back.html#ixzz1AHXa3nSO)
Quote from: Scatter on January 10, 2011, 12:24:19 PM
I've done a little competency modeling. I did OK, but never could get past the swimsuit competition.
Try a 1-piece next time.
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00525/CARREY5_280x390_525189a.jpg)
Quote from: Sean on January 11, 2011, 07:45:16 AM
Try a 1-piece next time.
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00525/CARREY5_280x390_525189a.jpg)
And hide those hips?? NOT A CHANCE
Quote from: Fester on January 10, 2011, 03:47:54 PM
I don't think I would say someone with Thalassemia minor as posessing "loser Blood." It is a genetic condition and as such, is no reflection on the nature of its owner. And as you are a regular here, you must not be a loser. Unless, of course you have a full back Twilight tattoo.
(http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3238/twilighttattoo.jpg)
Erm . . .this isn't you is it?
Lets put it this way, I doubt it would be safe for you to donate. The machines spin the blood at a fairly high rate of speed, and we would not want to get your red cells all mushed up.*.
* A technical term, but I'm sure you get the idea. ;)
This picture caused me to cringe. As much as I like Monsters~to have an entire mural forever etched on my back is too far out there for me. The pain alone would be unreal. Then theres always weight gain, etc. Then I saw it was Twilight and not monsters. That explained everything. She/he is obviously quite insane. ;)
Yea, tatoos can go wrong......very wrong.......
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/bigbud3/tattoo_fail.jpg)
Now Bud, How can we be certain this was a mistake? What if the tat recipient requested the artist make the subject look like she would had she come back as a zombie?
Quote from: Scatter on January 14, 2011, 06:28:16 PM
And hide those hips?? NOT A CHANCE
Then try just wearing the TOP of a 2-piece. That's what I do.
(http://s4.hubimg.com/u/1392115_f520.jpg)
Quote from: Sean on January 15, 2011, 04:01:43 PM
Then try just wearing the TOP of a 2-piece. That's what I do.
(http://www.travelblog.org/pix/shim.gif)
That's because you have moobs. Man hooters. Breasticles.
Quote from: Scatter on January 15, 2011, 04:05:10 PM
That's because you have moobs. Man hooters. Breasticles.
No. I'm quite chiseled.